I've been noticing that a lot of companies are asking for money to provide quotes, like around $100 for three quotes. If you knew the quotes were backed by reliable, top-notch work, would you be okay paying that fee, especially if it goes towards your project in the end? I'm feeling a bit conflicted about this whole idea and would love to hear your thoughts!
4 Answers
Honestly, I think quotes should always be free. Charging for them just feels wrong to me. It's a way to make things more complicated than they need to be.
I see the trend where charging for quotes is becoming more common, which is a bit worrying. From what I've heard, companies that charge seem to have higher success rates in landing jobs, while those who offer free quotes are sinking under the volume. It's a slippery slope that could lead to a rise in unreliable contractors. However, I'm not paying for a quote unless it's for something really complex; if I can describe the job simply, that's on them to provide the info for free!
I'm really uneasy about it too. Sure, you might get a good quote, but I've had experiences where I paid upfront and got ghosted or hit with ridiculous prices. With free quotes, at least I didn't lose any cash!
I get where you're coming from, but I wouldn't pay for them. Anyone who charges for quotes isn't incentivized to be competitive or fair. It just feels like a money grab.