this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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My Mother hired a licensed electrician to install 1 ethernet drop in her home office. She already had a preexisting tp-link setup in the basement. She showed me the invoice today which totaled $958.00! I'm shocked and disgusted. Feels like they took advantage of my Mother.

I told my Mother to call them first thing tomorrow morning to see if they possibly made a mistake. If not, I advised her to never do business with that company again. This seems like highway robbery. Is there anything else she can do?

https://preview.redd.it/bcwk77klz63c1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5867d3241e035638a0504562ca5027488e6cf71

https://preview.redd.it/ulaih3klz63c1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b76a5d053ec93120dff1e68755478034954f27e

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I had a quote for $250 per outlet. I decided to do myself. Yes, your mom got screwed. Sorry, this happens often with older folks and disinformated people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Av lead tech here and yeah that price is absurd. 250$ job max

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's extreme but, so is a thousand

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's a bummer, but... it's one time sunk cost... and now she's got that ethernet!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I hate running cable but I would have done it for a third of that. Yeah, that is expensive but like I said, I don't like to do it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How fast is that network? Isn't 5e a bit outdated these days? I'm not an expert, so I am asking cautiously.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Cat 5e can handle 1GE at 100m and 10GE up to 45m according to spec. Even 2.5G for a PC is pretty uncommon currently outside of enthusiast hardware, and most consumers don't have 1GE WAN connections, so I think Mom is going to be just fine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

i live in HCOL PNW, this seems normal to me

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

What does it matter? There is an absolutely zero point wasting time with this. Your adult mother was presented an offer which she accepted and created a contract to do work. The work was done and I assume she paid them. Stay out of your mom’s finances unless she asks for your help.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I charge people my $1,000 / hr. consulting fee when I REALLY don't want to do what they're asking me to do. If they don't pick up on my facetiousness, or are gullible, then I'm making $1,000 an hour that day.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Get 3 bids. Choose the bid you like.

Only time there’s a problem is if the price you are told is a bait and switch tactic and the price they at the end have you pay is vastly different than the beginning.

If your mom was told the job was a million dollars and she agreed to it. That’s on her.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Wait until municipalities start requiring pulling permits for “low voltage”

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

She obviously was since it was $1000/hr.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

What country are you in cause brother you should really look into migration cause at 23 that’s not skilled!! That’s laborer

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I don’t know no plumber making $29/ hour my friend, don’t know where you are but skilled involves more than picking up stuff

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

First red flag is Ethernet drop installed by a electrician.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This is a total rip off. Sorry. There's nothing that can justify this amount for a 45 min job.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You are a bad son for not just doing it for your mom before she had to call someone in.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Damn! I did almost 48 drops in my house and all sorts of custom work for wall mounted tv installations and other low voltage stuff....I can't even imagine how much I saved by doing it myself!

That price sounds like the "didn't want to do it" price.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If there’s really no obstructions or obstacles with a drop ceiling then we’d probably charge something like $500. If it’s a normal house where we’re cutting up walls, etc it’s $1,000 per run minimum - and we don’t patch or paint.

PS - electricians are known for using the absolute shittiest Ethernet line. I swear wherever they get their 5e from could be mistaken for telephone line. I’d make sure he used good cabling for that pricing and followed punch down standards.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Was the rack already setup and populated?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

LOL over paid by a ton. I'd do that work for a pizza easy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

On the high end of fair for a licensed electrician. Picked the wrong trade to do this. You didn't get scammed. Don't beat yourself up over this op.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I run drops on the side.

$125 per drop with open access $200 per drop through closed walls and ceilings - repairs to drywall not included $250+ per drop for anything in attics or roof lines.

Your mom got ripped off hard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

He took one look at the the server rack and figured his level of pricing.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

OMG! I do same work and would of charged based on how far the run is to the switch but if there are no obstacles you run into, ie plumbing or homes electrical power lines in the way then it a low voltage cert tech would charge around 300.00 no more She hired a licensed electrician though & they do charge considerably more but over 900 does sound like a thief.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

1k isnt bad in NYC Ill pay that for a 1 proper run

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sounds pretty pricey, but it's hard to say without being there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

As an installer, I quote a $90 visit fee + $90/HR + materials. I never give a fixed quote unless it is very straightforward with good access. In some cases when I really don't want the job due to being busy, poor access or just a really shitty job I will double or triple the quote & hope the customer does not go ahead.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Damn, ATT chargers $150 to install an Ethernet anywhere in the house

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How far did the tech drive to get there? 30 minutes? 90 minutes? Double that for round trip.

Also, depending on the state, up to 10% of that could be sales tax.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

only ~900?

Not bad.

Typically see quotes in the 4-figure ranges.

You have to remember if you aren't DIY you've gotta pay for their labor, knowledge, and overhead.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

You suck as a son.

I wired all my house with almost no help.

YouTube tutorials on how to terminate cat 6 cables were what saved my day.

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