Frustrated with subcontracting quotes for these damn subpanel jobs in north jersey

Been subbing out electrical work for a few years now, mostly residential upgrades, and I'm gettin sick of undercutting myself just to win bids from GCs here in north jersey. Last week I quoted a 200A subpanel install using Square D QO breakers for a detached garage, figured it'd take two days with my helper, and I put it at $4200 all in, materials and labor. The GC came back sayin some other sparky did it for $3200 and can I match? Hell no, that'd leave me eatin costs on the 4/0 copper SER I had to haul from Ferguson. Saw a similar rant on r/electricians about GCs pitting subs against each other, and someone in the Electricians Network FB group mentioned always addin 20% buffer for these zone 5 headaches like permits and inspections. My margins are gettin razor thin, and with the way fuel and wire prices are spikin, I cant keep racin to the bottom. Any of you subs out there got tips on quotin firmer without losin the gig?

same here, GCs treat us like disposable.

HueHustler4

i feel your pain on those SER runs, kills the back.

add a line item for 'GC BS factor' at 15%, charge it every time.

north jersey GCs are the worst, always.

use jobber for quotin, it lets you build templates with your real costs baked in.

been there, lost a $5k job over $500.

proud to say I turned down three GCs last month, now im bookin direct.

yeah man, that square d markup aint worth the hassle.

commiseration, my last sub gig paid peanuts after changes.

controversial take: subs should union up and set min rates.

exactly, solo ops get screwed hardest.

we're all gettin bent over by these GCs.

hell yeah, time to push back collectively.

helpful: quote T&M for unknowns, saves your ass.

frustrated af, just fired a GC client yesterday.

controversial: sharkbite for temp fixes only, dont sub that crap.

GCs and their low bids are killin the trade.

feelin that, my quotes keep gettin shopped around.

commiseration, zone 5 permits alone add $800 sometimes.

frustrated, had a GC change scope mid job no extra pay.

we gotta stop this race to zero.

commiseration, same boat in PA.

commiseration, lost sleep over a bad quote last week.

frustrated, these GCs act like wire grows on trees.

funny story, quoted high once and GC called me arrogant lol.

helpful: always get 50% upfront on subs.

frustrated, margins down 20% this year from material hikes.

collective rage: damn GCs ruinin it for everyone.

humor: at this rate, ill start quotin in bitcoin to confuse em.