Quote for curtain tracks - expensive?

[HappyAsIAm]

Is it me or does this sound a lot to you?

I have asked for a qote to supply and install two curtain tracks with pulley system for two of our bedooms. One window in each bedroom. one window is a 320 cm straight track, the other window is a 3 sided 300 cm in total to go round the bay.

The quote I've received is for £688 incl VAT.

Broken down its £258 for the straight track, £330 for the bay, £40 for travel to us and £60 to remove the existing tracking from the wall.

The only way I can see of cutting down the quote is to take the existing tracking off the walls ourselves, so saving £60. I simply don't know any firm more local to cut down the travel cost. Does anyobody? We live in Bromley.

But even so, is this really expensive, or is that simply how much it costs?

Corded tracks are more expensive than uncorded so if you can pull the curtains by hand that will cut the cost! However, if you're having expensive curtains made in something beautiful, you might not want to pull them by hand. If you're having curtains made, your curtain maker should have a curtain fitter you can use, or try a dept store like John Lewis to get a comparative quote.

he's priced it up to make the hourly labour rate look cheap. But I bet if you studied the market, you could find some lovely track for less.

If you really want to do it for 35% of the quote, can you spell DIY? Maybe your time is worth too much to make it worthwhile.

that's expensive. Contact local curtain makers, and get recommendations from them. Or buy your track yourselves and get a quality handyman to fit. If it is simply mounting track (not building pelmet boards etc) it really isn't that complicated.

I would say he doesn't want the job - possibly because he has to travel to do it?

Depends on the quality - you get what you pay for. I had a corded track for me sons room with a long window - Think it was 3.2m and sure it was £120. But I had already had lots done.

I would pay the extra to have them fitted properly my hubby hasnt the patience or time to do a good job. Taking into account they have to drive to you home, do the job and drive back.

I would get another quote, they already make the money on the tracks.

Thanks for your replies. I almost fainted when I saw the quote for £688. I have had work done by them about a year ago, and I can see from the previous work's quote that then I paid £550 for corded tracks for 2 very large bays and one large straight (all corded), with the same travel time, so I think they're taking the mick, or simply don't want the work.

My dad has said that he will be able to put the tracks up no bother, so I have founded very good quality ones that I can buy from a local curtains shop - £70 for the straight corded track and £60 for the bay track. Much better!