Dude, maybe you dont get it. I have never heard of a body shop charging for estimates period, factory brand or not. You want to eliminate bid shopping? What happens to capitalism? The only thing charging for an estimate did was put those shops not even in contention for the job. Example, I called 10 shops, 4 gave me quotes, 6 wanted to charge for the estimate. I just elimated them and will chose from one of the four! And whether some customers just pick the plumbers brain and do themselves I dont know. But your accusation that I was doing such was out of line. Obviously I have come to an online site and asked for advice. Over 100 bucks an hour is ridiculous for skilled labor! Look here.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Journeyman_Plumber/Hourly_Rate Otherwise, I should quit my job and become a plumber, especially after Obamacare!!
From the last clause of your post, it sounds like you're in the healthcare industry. What do you or your employer bill per hour for services? Dental hygienists with a 2 year degree and 3 months experience get billed at an effective rate of $135/hr or more. With a lot less costs than a plumbing truck, driving to the customer. And doesn't the patient pay for a "surgical consult", which is how surgeons get their business?
I'm not a plumber, but don't begrudge their making a good living if they're good at what they do. To the extent I think auto mechanics, plumbers, electricians or other skilled tradespeople are overpaid for the skill involved, I do the work myself. I replace plumbing fixtures and gut & renovate bathrooms myself. I gladly pay a plumber to deal with tapping into or repairing existing cast iron.
You're entitled to your opinion, and what you do is your choice, but realize that one way or another, the customer generally winds up paying for the price quote. As a separate charge, or built into the hourly rate, it's a cost that has to be covered by the business.
One final thing to keep in mind: Often (but not always) it's the established firms with repeat customer bases and good word of mouth who charge for an estimate (to not waste time on people who try to get a dozen free estimates, looking for the lowest, a competition most won by an unethical or incompetent bidder), crediting it against the bill if they get the work. Many people like the certainty of dealing with such businesses. Others...well, they like the thrill of the hunt for a bargain.
Just reread your earlier post in which you say you're a physician, and only get around $100 per hour. That may be your compensation, but I don't believe you're billing only $25 for a 15 minute office visit/consultation. Are you? By me, it's $100 -150 for appointments 15 minutes apart.