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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that plumber is overcharging?

111 replies

Sam9769 · 28/07/2026 22:20

Plumber not prepared to give me his daily rate but is prepared to give me a quote for the job.
Cost to remove existing bath, wash hand basin and toilet in ensuite and replace with shower, wash hand basin and toilet.
LABOUR ONLY - £3,000.

AIBU - This quote is fine.
AINBU - He is over charging.

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 29/07/2026 13:33

HelenaWilson · 29/07/2026 05:41

Surely the cost of a job depends on how long it will take to complete not on how it looks in the end. Time is money.

He can't be sure how long it will take. He doesn't know what problems he might find when he takes out the old fittings. So he quotes for the job, not an hourly rate.

But he can give a rough guide.

greencatwitch · 29/07/2026 14:51

BoredZelda · 29/07/2026 13:27

What’s reasonable is whatever the market dictates the price will be.

Right now there is a major shortage of trades, and no shortage of work. It doesn’t matter what I paid last year, or what anyone else paid last month, what matters is, what is the current rate locally. £300-400 per day is a rule of thumb, but often these are two person jobs, most will have a labourer with them so £500-600 per day isn’t out of the ordinary. The complexity of the job matters, is it a small room in a top floor flat of a Victorian tenement, or standard room in a new build semi detached.

The only way to tell if it is a good quote is to get at least two others as a guide. If you are unable to get other quotes, then it makes no difference whether you think it’s reasonable or not, it’s the price you have and your choice is take it or leave it.

By the sounds of it you don’t have much experience of using tradies if you haven’t even asked how long the job will take so it must be said, do not pay anyone anything up-front for the work. If they need materials, buy them yourself.

Show quote history

''@BoredZelda
What’s reasonable is whatever the market dictates the price will be.''

Too simplistic.

If the quote is too high then the potential client will simply decide not to do the work .

So it is not just about what the market 'dictates', it is also about what people can afford and are willing to pay.

HelenaWilson · 29/07/2026 15:07

If the quote is too high then the potential client will simply decide not to do the work. So it is not just about what the market 'dictates', it is also about what people can afford and are willing to pay.

Which is precisely how markets work. The seller offers whatever he has to sell, the buyer decides whether to buy at the price asked. The price will be determined - or dictated - by the market, as in the balance of supply and demand.

LakieLady · 29/07/2026 15:14

I had my bathroom refitted 3 years ago. Nothing had to be moved, it all went where the previous stuff was.

New bath with shower over, basin in vanity unit, toilet, retiled 2 walls, fitted new laminate flooring; £5,600 all in.

Coconutter24 · 29/07/2026 15:36

Sam9769 · 28/07/2026 23:01

What's his expertise and skill worth?

Show quote history

On this job 3k!!

Coconutter24 · 29/07/2026 15:40

Sam9769 · 28/07/2026 23:19

Exactly and how can they price a job if they don't have an hourly or daily rate?
They should tell the customer what their rate is and not conceal it!

Show quote history

Why do you need to know though? You want a job doing and he’s told you how much it will cost for him to do it, you say yes or no 🤷‍♀️

MrsOni · 29/07/2026 15:59

greencatwitch · 29/07/2026 14:51

''@BoredZelda
What’s reasonable is whatever the market dictates the price will be.''

Too simplistic.

If the quote is too high then the potential client will simply decide not to do the work .

So it is not just about what the market 'dictates', it is also about what people can afford and are willing to pay.

Show quote history

That's literally what "the market dictates" means.

DetailRedacted · 30/07/2026 15:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And you sound like the exact type of nightmare customer that my husband would give a high quote to because he wouldn’t want to work for you. HTH

DetailRedacted · 30/07/2026 15:24

Oh and ps I’ve reported your post 👍

Wingingit73 · 30/07/2026 15:49

Get 3 or 4 quotes. Then compare. I dont think trades have a daily rate. Does this include the goods? I mean, goods, labour, vat. Probably right.

Coconutter24 · 30/07/2026 16:36

Sam9769 · 28/07/2026 23:36

A nightmare client who has the audacity to want to know a plumber's daily rate which he's not telling because he knows it's unreasonable! Yeah right!

Show quote history

You’re too hung up on his daily rate. You know what the job will cost!

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