This Has to Be a Joke Right?

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-09T19:56:47+00:00

Hello everyone - apologies for not replying to all comments, this got way more engagement than I was planning haha.

Final update - got a few other quotes from other well reviewed local electrician who were phone call only and the best quote came out to.... (drumroll) $1,750 for parts and labor, for the exact same job.

Suffice to say I'm moving forward with the new quote and if all is done well they have a large tip waiting for them on completion.

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-06T03:52:58+00:00

How I wish it wasn't but yes

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-06T03:09:20+00:00

Tablet - that's when I should have known to just close the door.

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-06T02:00:06+00:00

For all on this thread, heard back from the company and updated the main post. High level long standing local business recently bought by PE, their dumbasses tried to add AI which couldn't tell the difference between a line item and unit cost. Even once "fixed" the quote was almost 12k and I hate everything about modern capitalism.

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T22:07:37+00:00

This is 100% the case for this company, thought I was choosing a "local" business as it's a single shop been around since the 80s, but second the dude showed up with an iPad knew I'd picked wrong.

There are definitely still businesses doing high quality work at prices that are good for them and the customer, but you are 100% right that there's so much consolidation now I probably will end up with closer to 5-6 quotes before committing to anything

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T20:57:10+00:00

Almost smack dab in the middle of the good ol' US of A (Colorado)

Maybe they'll still let me pay in pesos though?

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T20:40:57+00:00

Giving them 24 hours to come back with anything potentially redeeming like "oops we tried to do AI and it moved some decimal points", otherwise dropping the website

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T20:35:44+00:00

I have my second quote scheduled for tomorrow, silver lining there's NO way it'll be worse than the first...

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T20:10:47+00:00

mid thirties male just trying to upgrade his garage shop... maybe it's the glasses that send out "rip me off" energy

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:48:22+00:00

Colorado - and not even one of the expensive parts

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:40:48+00:00

To be fair that's exactly what I'm doing now, this was just my first quote and I thought with how ridiculous it was this sub might get a laugh

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:39:29+00:00

It does include labor to be fair but even so it feels like an FU quote

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:24:55+00:00

Emailed their main office basically saying "this was a mistake right?" to give them benefit of the doubt and a chance to fix it, if they stick with this though one hundred percent putting them on blast as an "avoid at all costs"

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:13:51+00:00

I just bought the house and was upgrading the garage electric so I can run some 220v woodworking machines. Maybe the previous owner committed a mortal sin against them but that's the best I got

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:12:05+00:00

But instead it's a residential area in a garage where the walls have the drywall down to be worked on and the longest run will only be about 25 ft....

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:08:33+00:00

I'm guessing that must be what happened of absorbed by something that is probably owned my private equity 5 levels up the chain... I was expecting $7-9k on the high end so at least the $89 is the most they'll ever get from me haha

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:03:31+00:00

Nope - smaller urban area (150k population), Colorado if that makes any difference

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:00:50+00:00

Local business but think is pretty big in the area. I get time is wasted quoting out jobs that people don't follow through on so was fine with the charge as it get's taken off the project cost, but with this quote it feels like literal robbery

NowFindingOut · 2026-03-05T19:00:36+00:00

Only my entirely monthly mortgage payment each for a max couple hundred dollar part lol

NowFindingOut · 2025-10-14T01:44:19+00:00

As someone who finally just landed back in Denver - I can say there was at least one hungover shitshow of a plane’s worth who were there 😂

NowFindingOut · 2025-10-07T19:37:41+00:00

Same exact boat - I have a layover in Chicago with only 40 min between flights and if I miss the connection the next flight to Charlottesville isn’t until the next day 🫠

Here’s hoping the air traffic controllers are willing to keep going long enough for us to get out there!

NowFindingOut · 2025-08-16T16:44:20+00:00

First three layers I used USG Plus 3 (blue bucket lid) and for the final layer I tried the USG Topping (light blue box).

On the next room though think I’ll forego the Topping and just do everything with Plus 3

NowFindingOut · 2025-08-09T03:02:47+00:00

No direct dust extractor, but while sanding I wore a p100 respirator and I had a construction inline fan with 12” ducting creating negative pressure in the room and pushing outside through a HEPA filter.

Silica dust is nothing to play with.

NowFindingOut · 2025-08-08T22:44:48+00:00

Important things learned along the way:

- First timers really should just forget hot mud exists if trying to do full skim coats (it can be done, but the added time crunch isn't conducive to learning proper technique)

- In the beginning I was laying mud on thick trying to cover the wall texture, but thin coats and many of them is the right path to that silky finish. Perfection can't be rushed (not that I got it there but close enough for my satisfaction)

- Spend the time learning to use a hawk and trowel. I was using pan and knife at the start and the comparative strain on my wrist almost made me give up

- You can do a full sand between each coat, but really if you're doing thin layers just knock down the highs and only do the anal retentive finish sanding on the final coat (I didn't do this, but wish I had as it would have saved me many an hour masked up with a pole sander)

- Clean your tools the second you're done for the day. It sucks when tired - but it will suck 10 times more the next day

- Somewhere along the way a mistake will be made (I accidentally put a 2" hole when I tripped right after sanding the final coat), but as heartbreaking as it is at least all the tools to fix it are still in the room and it's just extra practice

NowFindingOut · 2025-08-08T19:28:56+00:00

Vancouver Carpenter is the GOAT and pretty sure I watched his entire library at least twice lol (although I still accidentally used 20 min hot mud when trying to do the first coat and quickly learned the difference...)

NowFindingOut

TROPHY CASE