Today's experience with Lenhart Electric
 

Had Lenhart come out to give me a quote on installing a 50 amp outlet in my garage. Was quoted $700 and when I called them to schedule the installation -- about 15 minutes after the guy left -- was told by a "supervisor" that the quoted price was wrong and the actual price would be $900!!


Looks like I'll never be dealing with them again. Others on here have given them good reviews but I will never be dealing with them again.:mad:

I would have only paid the quoted price of $700.

They seem like an honest company. If they corrected the estimate BEFORE work started, I don't see any issue. Maybe they didn't know you needed a panel or some other extra.

And the $900 estimate still sounds reasonable.

I wouldn’t cry too loud until you get a couple more quotes.

Go to Pikes electric. I opened a thread here a month ago asking for recommendations for adding a 240v outlet in garage for EV on order. Got 3 quotes. Very best was Pikes. Best customer service. Cost was $425 vs other quotes of $700 and $550. The $425 included a 10% discount in Jan. Call Pikes. The best.

Call Pike's Electric, speak with Casandra

Office: (352) 748-6251

We have used Pikes since 2010, have always have fair and honest quotes, as mentioned Casandra is one of the most pleasant and makes sure you are happy with results. Every employee is courteous, and respectful of your home.

did you ask for the reason the price changed? Could be legitimate.

If there was a reason, the customer should have been told before the work was done. It sounds like they just made a wrong quote, in which case, they should have honored their original quote.

Lenhart is the best.

Have used them a number of times.
EVERY time the tech is great.
VERY fair pricing.

Communication gaps are not always the vendor's fault.

:D

They DID correct the quote before the work was even started according to the gripe.

Huge, minor detail. :clap2:

Right. I don't get the whole never do business with them thing.

The original post is not clear about whether the quote was changed before or after the work was completed. Maybe the OP can clarify that point? If the quote was changed before the work was done, then the OP could have cancelled the job. Apparently, the quote was changed 15 minutes after the guy left? Left from where? I assumed the OP meant the guy had finished the job and left the OP's house. Very confusing.

123, as I read it......OP called to schedule and was told the new price during the "called to schedule" call.


when I called them to schedule the installation -- about 15 minutes after the guy left -- was told by a "supervisor" that the quoted price was wrong

So, if the OP called to schedule the job, how did the guy know to leave 15 minutes before the scheduling call was made? It is just not clear as to where and when "the guy left". If the company raised the price by $200 when I called to schedule, I probably would have cancelled the project, regardless of when the guy left the office. Obviously, the OP is not a satisfied customer. But, if the quote was changed before the work was performed, he could have just cancelled the project. Who cares when the guy left the office?

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Love It.


I take it as..............the Tech came gave a quote.
The Tech left.
Within 15 minutes of Tech leaving (the house after quote issuance) the price changed by the Superv.
All before any work was performed.

But that's my take.

:clap2::clap2:

Perhaps:
- Customer asked for an estimate
- Representative came to customer's home
- $700 estimate provided
- Representative left
- 15 minutes passed
- Customer called to schedule installation based on $700 estimate
- Supervisor states that estimate was wrong and correct quote is $900

If so, then the work has not been done and the customer likely will not be using Lenhart. The 15 minutes is significant because that seems like an awfully short period of time for the estimate to have changed.

Kudos to the company for updating the estimate before performing the work and charging the customer more than he expected to pay.

On the positive side, now the customer will get additional estimates. It's possible he will find that $900 is not out of line.

Seemed simple enough to understand for me as well.

And, not knowing how far from the panel the OP wanted the outlet located, there could be several reasons why the initial estimate changed.

You could be correct. If so, the OP is being unreasonable. A quote is just a quote until it is accepted, and 15 minutes is not an unreasonable amount of time to revise the quote. I assumed that the work had been completed and the OP was being asked to pay an additional $200 above the quoted price.

That was pretty much my take. The original estimate may not have correctly considered the location of the receptacle. I have gotten a couple of quotes for a NEMA 14-50 (240 volt, 50 amp) receptacle in my garage. The price will vary considerably based on where you want it installed. If you want it installed next to the breaker panel (easier, very little 6 AWG wire involved) then the cost is much lower than if you want it on the opposite side of the garage (more difficult and more 6 AWG wire involved). The issues are the labor involved in fishing the wire through walls and the attic and the fact that 6 AWG wire is expensive (if you want it installed anywhere other than right next to the breaker panel).

Is this ambiguous?

He got a quote for $700 and he then called to schedule the installation which was 15 minutes after the guy who gave him the quote left. When he called the office, they said it was $900 - not $700.

He didn’t use them.

Think the OP for coming on here and badmouthing the company is wrong.

I don't understand the vitriol being aimed at the OP. The "guy" was a professional estimator hired and sent out by Lenhart. If he said $700 and the actual estimate should have been $900 then he was poorly trained or lowballing his own company or bait and switch.

Nothing changed in the work being requested if the OP is telling it straight.

Or?
 

2 possible conspiracy theories:

1) Pikes Electric is the OP
2) Guy that gave original quote forgot to add THE $200
VILLAGES UPCHARGE!!!

Why would he be calling to schedule if the work had already been done?

I have read the original post, and I think the extra $200 was to remove the racoon nest and family from the attic.

I had galaxy put in a 220v line/circuit breaker/dryer plug in for my electric dryer, $250. A year later, I had more electrical work done and pikes was $400 more than the quote from galaxy, galaxy did the work.
Galaxy did great work, and while they were out here on the 1st job, I had them change the wiring on 4 fan switches, and install a variable fan speed/fan light switch, and they charged me $20 or $25 per switch.

They did adjust the quote before the work was done and on,y 15 minutes after the quote was given. No reason for them to honor a misquote in that short span of time if they don’t want to. What was the reason they gave? Seems there’s more to this story

Looks like the OP just wanted to dump his complaint and is not intending to come back to clarify. I wouldn't waste my time in giving a response to that.

Totally agree. Pikes has been my go to on four different occasions. Fair prices, clean and efficient.

Perhaps the original quote was an estimate and may vary depending on the complexity of the job. Did Lenhart come to your home to give the quote? Could have been a misunderstanding of the difference between an estimate and a quote. I have used Lenhart several times with great satisfaction. I was charged $250 to install an EV outlet but it was a simple job close to the main box.

I always ask for a firm quote, not an estimate. I would only pay additional money if the project involves hidden work, such as obstructions that may be located behind a wall. But, a contractor has the right to revise a quote before the work is performed. The quote is just an offer until it is agreed to by both parties. In this case, it appears that the contractor revised the quote within 15 minutes, which is entirely acceptable. I don't understand why the OP thinks the contractor did something wrong.

I put a 30amp plug in my garage, not here, a different place. Total cost of parts was about $60.00, my labor was free to me. <g> The biggest expense is the wiring from the breaker to the receptacle...... if you keep it short it's just not expensive. BTW, I'm not an electrician. I can't imagine why it would even cost $700.00. $900.00 is bizarre.

I think you might be right. If you look at the OP's profile it says he was on TOTV at 7:27 p.m. last night. He cold have straightened this all out then. No post..... probably just checking to see the turmoil and maybe getting a good laugh. :shrug:

I just had on installed for $500 by a licensed electrician. He works for a contractor but does sided jobs on weekends. He has done a lot of work at several of our homes. I pay him cash no CC.

Typical TOTV. OP was very specific and provided all details. Then he gets broiled by some here. Doubting his story and honesty.
I provided my input re having an EV charging outlet quoted and installed by Pike’s. All honest and true. Still yada by some here.

Sometimes TOTVrs are irritating. Case in point, this Thread.