Repair Quotes

[J36ZT]

I'm getting frustrated with the whole price quote thing. Every time I've had work done on my boat the end price is always more than the quote. Some examples:

Mast repair (mast out of column): Price Quote $2,500...actual cost $4,000+
Haul out w/ rudder bearings: Price Quote $4,000...actual cost $6,000+

Most recently it was for new rigging to be made. The original quote was $4,883.38 and the actual charge is a few dollars short of $6,000.00. In addition, it was supposed to take two weeks to one month for the rigging to be complete. Four months later and I'm just now getting the rigging.

So, any attorneys out there or anyone had experience battling this sort of thing? Do I have any options other than paying the $1,000 increase?

Any info would help! (I haven't paid for the rigging yet.)

[knothead]

Originally Posted by J36ZT

I'm getting frustrated with the whole price quote thing. Every time I've had work done on my boat the end price is always more than the quote. Some examples:

Mast repair (mast out of column): Price Quote $2,500...actual cost $4,000+
Haul out w/ rudder bearings: Price Quote $4,000...actual cost $6,000+

Most recently it was for new rigging to be made. The original quote was $4,883.38 and the actual charge is a few dollars short of $6,000.00. In addition, it was supposed to take two weeks to one month for the rigging to be complete. Four months later and I'm just now getting the rigging.

So, any attorneys out there or anyone had experience battling this sort of thing? Do I have any options other than paying the $1,000 increase?

Any info would help! (I haven't paid for the rigging yet.)

If you were quoted a price, then that's what you should have paid.
If on the other hand you were given an estimate, the discrepancy is a little more understandable.

Mast repair. (mast out of column)...What was the problem here? Usually a proper tuning will bring a mast back into column. Was there something broken?

The rigging that was made. Was the price to include installation? If so, was the mast standing? How do they account for the difference in cost?

There's got to be more to this story.

[J36ZT]

Knothead; there's always more to the story.

When the mast went out of column, it caused the bottom foot of the mast to buckle.

Anyway, both times when I had the mast column repair done and the haulout with rudder bearings, the boat was in a boatyard. I really felt I had no choice but to pay in order to get my boat back. Thinking back, both times I signed an agreement and the prices were "estimates." I would have thought an "estimate" would be within 10% of the final total.

However, this time things are different and more complicated. Only the mast is in a yard this time. That yard has an agreement with another yard that actually does the rigging work. The prices I was given, four months ago after the rigging shop received the rigging, states "-- QUOTATION --" at the top. Being listed as a "quotation" instead of an estimate made/makes me believe the final price should be what was originally agreed upon.

You may not think you've helped me, but you really have. I'm leaving in a few minutes to find out what the business relationship is between the boatyard and the rigging shop and which one I need to plead my case to.

What I was most curious about was whether other people had experienced the same thing with the estimate/quote being so much less than the final bill. And, most important, if anyone has argued their case and what the outcome was.

I'll keep you guys/and gals posted as to the outcome.

[J36ZT]

To anyone interested:

I pleaded my case, price quotation in hand, and WON!

As it turns out, the original quotation included a 15% discount that the rigging shop passes on to the boatyard. This explained the $1,000.00 difference. Although not entirely happy to do so, the boatyard passed the 15% discount on to me when I refused to leave their office until we had everything sorted out.

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by J36ZT

To anyone interested:

I pleaded my case, price quotation in hand, and WON!

As it turns out, the original quotation included a 15% discount that the rigging shop passes on to the boatyard. This explained the $1,000.00 difference. Although not entirely happy to do so, the boatyard passed the 15% discount on to me when I refused to leave their office until we had everything sorted out.

Glad to hear! and congrats - btw you now have to spend the 1K savings in hosting a Sailnet party...just how it goes as we are a sadistic bunch!