customer trying to haggle my $4500 Carrier install down to nothing

had a lady call me out for a new Carrier Infinity system quote, i laid out $4500 all in for the 3-ton unit with proper duct mods. she starts with the usual 'can you do it for $3000?' crap, acting like im ripping her off when i explained the R-410a refrigerant costs alone are climbing. now she's threatening to go with some shady DIY kit from home depot, FML.

screw these cheapskates, they always come crawling back when their hack job floods the basement.

man i feel that, had a similar one last week.

quoted a trane xv20 last month, hit $5200 and the guy said it was highway robbery.

ive dealt with three like that this year alone, walk away every time.

good on you for standing firm, thats how you build a real business.

ugh same here, they think were non-profit.

home depot kits? lol good luck with that warranty.

these people make me wanna quit the trade some days.

customer wanted a mitsubishi hyperheat for half price, i laughed and left.

pro tip: get 50% deposit up front on installs like that.

bro i hear ya, its exhausting.

never trust a client who haggles hvac, theyll nickel and dime everything.

had one try to pay with a bad check after the install, what a joke.

document EVERYTHING, texts emails quotes, saves your ass later.

psa: always run a credit check on big jobs.

lol id tell her to install it herself and see how that goes.

use housecall pro for contracts, makes hagglers back off quick.

dont do the job without a signed agreement, trust me.

charged $3800 for a similar carrier swap, no regrets.

they always undervalue the superheat subcool tuning we do.

same boat, client balked at $4200 for rheem.

ha, bet she ends up paying double for repairs.

try adding a line item for 'stupidity tax' next time.

flat rate your installs and stick to it, no negotiations.

these clients are why i went commercial only.

sharkbite fittings for hvac? nah, but diyers love em.

i upsell them on the warranty, shuts em up.

walked a $5000 lennox job yesterday over this BS.

hagglers suck, but standing your ground pays off long term.

document the quote and send a follow up email.

had a guy offer $2000 cash under table, reported him to the board.

15 years in, still hate this part of the job.

watched a tommy mello vid on handling objections, helped a ton.

you got this, dont drop your price.

proud of my crew, we turned down two lowballs this week.

r/hvac is full of these stories, makes me feel less alone.

same, guy in hvac techs network group had a worse one.

hit $120k this quarter by saying no to cheapos.

pe firms are ruining it, pushing low bids everywhere.

insurance rates up 20% cuz of these diy disasters.

frustrated af, lost a whole afternoon to this nonsense.

scaled to three trucks by firing bad clients like her.