<p>Wait… are you implying that the peace of mind of having a professional electrical contractor solve your problem for you rather than some random best friend’s father’s cousin’s fiance’s roommate off the street wasn’t worth $798? I’m simply astonished.</p>
<p>Really, though, that’s a pretty good story. Do you think it was price discrimination (by zip code, race, age, gender, whatever), or just an example of how people rip you off when they know you don’t know what they’re talking about?</p>
<p>I think it was the latter - the contractor could clearly see that I didn’t have even the first clue (BTW my best friend’s father is highly skilled; I’ve known him for years; they live five minutes away in the same home he bought 50 years ago with his new bride, and that he has personally remodeled and expanded). </p>
<p>But to your point, yes, I am convinced that plumbers, electricians and other contractors issue quotes based on specific criteria - could be zip code, race, gender; sometimes I suspect it’s based on their assessment of cars in the driveway, home furnishings, etc. </p>
<p>Over the years I’ve hired licensed plumbers, painters, general contractors, air conditioning contractors, siding contractors, landscapers, and arborists. About half of them I now have long standing relationships with, but, in general, in getting quotes for work (having learned a valuable lesson I now get multiple quotes) it’s amazing to me how disparate pricing can be for the same job, from multiple contractors. Some of the variation can have roots in things like margins and volume, but, I am convinced that a large part of it is based in discrimination.</p>
<p>In a way, I can almost understand it. I’m imagining, say, an air conditioning contractor who might very well be very empathic to a senior citizen who needs help, but may not be able to pay a repair bill. I actually don’t have too much of a problem with it if such a contractor overcharges me to compensate for undercharging the hypothetical senior citizen who might be miserable and suffering without AC.</p>