Was this a fair bid?

So apparently my well pump went out unexpectedly. Obviously not having water sucks...so I called in a local pump company and was knocked over by the price tag. I started doing a little searching on pricing and I'm feeling like I quite possibly got jacked on parts markup...but would love to have somebody take a look at this before I really start doing my homework. It was priced based on 5" PVC and a 200 ft well, 60 water level, pump setting 160.

Here's the bid, and a few pieces I priced out:

22SQE15 1.5 HP 22 GPM Grundfos Pump
http://www.wwpp.com/products/grundfos/sqepump.htm#15gpm
$1,078 w/ free shipping

WellXTrol 102 Tank
http://www.pexsupply.com/Amtrol-WX-102-WX-102-141PR1-4-4-Gal-WELL-X-TROL-In-Line-Well-Tank
~$85 shipped


Grundfox CU 301 control box
http://www.pumpsandwells.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CU301
$660

Manifold Kit
Guessing $150 based on shopping
???


All 3 of the above items quoted at $2,750, my guess is $2,000 w/ $750 mark up.

12/2 Jacket wire $371.25
Couplings $24
Tape and stakons? $20
Check valve $45
Misc fittings $100
$560.25 (guessing at least $250 markup)


Labor $500 (call it 5 hours with driving so $100/hour)

Total $3,810.25

Thoughts?

If you supply your own parts, and something fails, then it's all time and material for repairs.
It's normal and common for a business to have markup. Without that, how do you pay someone to collect the parts up and make them ready for installation, who makes the phone calls to line everything up. Who pays the disability and insurance on the workers and for the homeowners dwelling? These things don't just jump into place by themselves. Someone is taking "TIME" to make these things happen. And any part supplied has an implied warranty. When an installer supplies a part, it's an implied warranty on the part, and the labor.

It's sounds like a bargain to me.

A homeowner called me the other day and wanted me to reuse twenty year old water heater flexes. That would never happen. I tell my guys, that if a flex is ever removed, it's only direction after that is into the trash.
The best warranty, is new parts installed perfectly one time.

Is that the price he quoted you, or what YOU think it should cost? The markup on materials is probably low, and the labor also, especially if it is a two man job to pull and install the pump. And HE is NOT going to buy it on the Internet, even with "free shipping".
I do NOT give the price of labor and materials separately, ONLY the final price, (YOU can break it down anyway you want to), "take it or leave it".

The problem is not the price and markup, the problem is what is being quoted. Have you done a Google search or even a search on this forum for the CU301 or the SQE? Anyone selling those variable speed type pumps is either not very experienced with them or they are very experienced and know how to get the most of your money. A standard Grundfos pump, model 16S15-14 would list at about $1200. Then a Pside-Kick constant pressure control kit would list for about $500. That $1700 would be about $1000 less than the SQE type pump. The price for the labor and misc stuff is not bad, except that the pump has a built in check valve, and you don’t want or need the extra one for 45 bucks.

So he is getting an extra $1000 from you for selling the SQE and CU301, which is the variable speed type pump. Not only will this cost you and extra $1000 now, but will cost you at least an extra $1000 every five years or so. And that is if you are lucky enough to just need to replace the CU301 every few years. If the pump doesn’t last, it will cost even more than that.

The standard pump with the Pside-Kick control should last about 20 years. A lot of people have been replacing those CU301 controllers 3 times in 5 years, and some have to replace them more often than that. The lucky ones only have to replace it, and or the pump as well every 3 to 5 years or so.

You can figure the $2700 system with the standard pump and Pside-Kick lasting about 20 years. The SQE system will cost you $3700 up front, then at least another $1000 every five years or so.

They make an extra $1000 on a variable speed system up front, but the real money comes from the fact that you will now be paying the pump man on a regular basis, instead of once every 20 years or so.

I have no problem with a pump man making a good profit. But variable speed pumps are a money pit, and speaks to the character of the person you are dealing with.

hj said:

Is that the price he quoted you, or what YOU think it should cost? The markup on materials is probably low, and the labor also, especially if it is a two man job to pull and install the pump. And HE is NOT going to buy it on the Internet, even with "free shipping".
I do NOT give the price of labor and materials separately, ONLY the final price, (YOU can break it down anyway you want to), "take it or leave it".

Click to expand...

Just read this old post. [ You can break it down any way You like,take it or leave it] My exact philosphy,Love it.

I'm with valveman! Find a qualified licensed Plumber/Pump Installler and contract them to install a good standard submersible (not variable flow) pump and a Pside-Kick. No need for any check valves other than the one on the pump. If they don't want to do this, find one that will.