I hired an electrician who initially quoted me $150 for installing a projector and $75 for the necessary outlet back in December. However, during a walkthrough in February, the quoted price changed to $225 for the projector installation and stayed the same for the outlet. I didn't contest this during the walkthrough because I thought I could just bring up the original quote when the work was done. After he finished the installation today, I was busy with assembling the projector screen and didn't check the invoice before paying him via Zelle. Later, I realized I was overcharged by $50. Should I reach out to him about this, or should I just let it slide? I really don't want to come off as annoying, but it seems fair to honor the original price, right? Plus, I'm planning to hire him for more work later and I'm worried he might try to raise those prices if I mention this overcharge.
3 Answers
It's also worth noting that quotes typically have a time limit, often around 30 days. If this job dragged out due to scheduling or any issues, the price might adjust accordingly. Still, if you agreed to a price and he didn’t honor it, that's a red flag to watch for on future jobs.
Honestly, the electrician probably had a reason for the price change. If he was estimating rather than providing a fixed bid, you might want to consider asking for a more formal bid next time. That way, you'd know exactly what to expect in terms of costs.
A quote is usually an estimate, not the final price. Sometimes things come up during the job that can justify a price increase, even a minor one. In this case, it might not be worth the hassle to pursue a $50 difference. It's just part of how these jobs work sometimes.
Yeah, but if there was no indication that the price would change, it feels a bit off. It's always good to clarify these things upfront!
Yeah, he did forget to show up for the initial appointment, and promised me a discount for that, which makes this situation even trickier.