Quoting a deck repair with Trex boards, but my $1200 estimate got shot down

Had a customer ask for a quick deck fix using Trex composite boards to replace some rotted sections, figured it'd take 8 hours plus materials so I quoted $1200 flat rate. They came back saying it's too high and want me to match a $900 bid from some TaskRabbit guy. Man, estimating these multi-trade jobs like deck work always feels like pulling teeth when everyone's lowballing.

same here, every deck quote turns into a negotiation nightmare.

Trex is premium, charge what it's worth or eat the loss later.

don't ever quote under $1500 for any deck work, you'll thank me when the callbacks hit.

customer said my Trex quote was robbery, went with cheap pine and called me back in 6 months.

estimating decks without site visit is suicide, always add 20% buffer.

fml, just did a similar quote and they ghosted after i showed up.

i feel ya, trex materials alone ate half my margin on the last one.

quoting $1200 for trex is generous imo, id charge 1800 easy.

taskrabbit guys ruin it for all of us, no overhead or insurance.

had the exact same pushback on a fence job last week.

walked into a trex quote today, homeowner wanted it for free basically lol.

shittiest part is when they compare to big box store prices, no clue.

i always build in a 'dumb customer' fee now, up 15%.

these lowball bids are why half of us burn out.

frustrated as hell, quoted a patio similar and got undercut by my own apprentice.

PSA from r/handyman: never quote without photos, saves headaches.

collective bs, angi leads are full of tire-kickers like this.

just lost a $1000 trex gig to a neighbor with a truck and a hammer.

quoting is an art, but customers treat it like a game.

man, i commiserate, same crap on every estimate.

warning: add travel time or you'll get stiffed on half.

frustrated beyond words, this deck quoting bs never ends.

lowballers deserve what they get, crappy work.

i hear you, quoted $1400 for similar and they laughed.

every time, feels like starting over.

f this, went flat rate only after last trex disaster, hilarious how they beg back.

solid advice, quoting higher fixed my margins quick.