advice on quote, gas installation

[notenoughtoys]

aplogies if this is a repost, Itried once and can't find it, guess I hit the wrong button

I'm up for a new cooktop and have decided to go gas and get a gas heater at the same time. I've been quoted $550 for what they called a basic installation, gives me the gas bottles set up on an outside wall with a line running through some cupboards to a bayonet fitting for the heater on the other side of the wall (lounge room). I'm happy with that, but he's added $200 for the cooktop connect (tradies love round figures). The pipe will be run directly under the cooktop to get to the bayonet fitting, all he will have to do is insert a T piece as he goes through and run 200mm of pipe up to the cooktop (I imagine it will be a flexible screw on hose to facilitate removal??) . He doesn't fit the cooktop at all, that's my responsibility. Now don't get me wrong, happy to pay what a job's worth, just don't like getting touched up in the process. I may be wrong but I figure to insert the T piece with a threaded end may add 1/2 hour to the job at most. If we could get $400 an hour, we'd all have huge sheds full of goodies :rolleyes: .

Have I missed something or is he padding the job out nicely?? Don't forget, the $550 install should be covering his travelling etc already, it's just an add on.

Should I just pay it and get on with it or should I get someone else (this is the AGL's own installer, they also then pick up the gas bottle rental, gas purchase etc).

Plumbing I'm happy to do but gas is a different matter.

[Tools]

Sounds like he is trying to touch you. I would get another price for the whole installation.

Tools

[Amb]

Get another quote. You should also be able to get a deal where the first 2 lpg bottles are free (excludes the years rent). These days 2 bottles = about 180 bucks!

[Ashore]

. I'm happy with that, but he's added $200 for the cooktop connect (tradies love round figures). The pipe will be run directly under the cooktop to get to the bayonet fitting, all he will have to do is insert a T piece as he goes through and run 200mm of pipe up to the cooktop (I imagine it will be a flexible screw on hose to facilitate removal??)

I may be wrong but I figure to insert the T piece with a threaded end may add 1/2 hour to the job at most. If we could get $400 an hour, we'd all have huge sheds full of goodies :rolleyes: .




Mate I'm not saying his price is justified,( its proberly the rate that they can get away with at the moment ) but there are some costs other that a "T"
Extra Clips to secure extra pipe ............... couple of bucks ?
Three extra flare fittings for the "T" ..........proberly $5 ? each if you or I had to buy them
Valve to isolate the cooktop ....................$25 ?
Another Flare fitting for the bottom of the valve $5 ?
Length of approved flexable host to attach to cooktop $30?
Adapter to go between cooktop regulator and flex hose ...$5?
Thread tape , flaring pipe ends, etc etc
I don't accurately know the cost of the items above but think that I would be close on most of them so there are some other costs involved , as to his quoted price I would definately say get another quote or two and compare , after all its your dollars you are spending:rolleyes:

[bricks]

Hey bloke, the Price seems fairly expensive, but I doubt if anyone could come in after and cut it a tee cheaper.

Plus; If AGL are running a similar shop to that of origin energy here in adelaide then the various quotes are set by AGL and the Tradie gets paid what it costs to do the job.

AGL subsidise the cost and make it up in the gas you use. EG he's taking $550 from you for probably 4-5 hours work by the time he travells to and from your house- $100 / hour is pretty standard. Then he has to buy copper and fittings as well. So $200 is what it costs to put the stove in, $550 is nowhere near the heater cost.

[wonderplumb]

Sounds a bit suss, 200mm x 1/2" pipe a couple of fittings, screws, ball valve, perhaps an m&f elbow, flexi, a bit of mucking around, it would cost more to get him to come in off the street to do it after the installation, but while he's there...............
As for installing the cooktop, its only 4 brackets to be screwed to the benchtop and besides that he has to commission it, therefore installing the thing. Whaddya reckon Bricks?

[notenoughtoys]

cheers for the advice guys. I hadn't got a competing quote cos I wasn't sure if any plumber/gasfitter can hook up there bottles but I guess several will have some AGL licence or something. Would this be right. I guess this mob is banking on ignorant consumers thinking they're like telstra used to be, only they could install their gear

[bricks]

Yeah anyone should be able to do the set up, But you'll still pay a fee for the bottles to be delivered and hooked up.

What im saying is, for a new gas install + heater + cook top $750 is a good price. If you think your getting ripped off then get another quote.

AGL, Origin bank on you to buy gas from them so they normally do installs for a very good price. They have set prices that they go from and if it costs more they will make it up for the installing plumber.

I think your getting a good deal- even tho yes the cook top seems expensive but only in comparison to the cheap heater hookup.