Sooner or later it happens to everyone in the business. A disgruntled customer notices the prices of parts and merchandise sold at the retail stores and complains about the big markups charged by the contractor. This is a bigger problem for time and material firms, whose prices are itemized for all to see at a glance. However, even we flat raters face it from time to time.
An East Coast contractor recently sought my advice pertaining to this situation. He was authorized (in writing) by a woman to furnish and install a 12-inch, white, round-front Mansfield water closet for the flat rate price of $297.24. A little later the husband came across a Home Depot ad showing the same Mansfield closet on sale for $50. Then it hit the fan.