Looks as though I am being taken for a ride

I like the fact you have given him the chance to recharge due to "inadvertent error" and hope he corrects your final total.
Why do people think we older clients are a soft touch when it comes to payments
I do hope you get it sorted Lucky

Wish you all the best here and I hope your 'handyman' realises you are not some old fool who can be taken for a ride - Good luck!

It often pays to get your own materials, if possible. Most builders get massive trade discounts when they buy materials. For your workman to try to cheat you like this is disgraceful. Just as we hire people on recommendation, we ought to be able to disgrace those who cheat and lie regarding price.

Agree suppliers do give trade discount.

One satisfied customer who would gladly recommend to others, is worth more in the long run than a 'Fast Buck'

Well said Day6.

What a $!!&$. I hope he corrects his 'little' mistake Please let us know what the outcome is!!

Always worth challenging prices Lucky we did the same recently ( queried the price) and it was reduced with an apology.Hope it will be for you.?

Maybe he has made an error, but he has a Company to run, overheads to pay , vehicles to run and various taxes to cover.

However, some tradesman will allow you to buy the products yourself and you only pay them for their labour.

Overheads would be included in the hourly rate. I bet he comes back and says it’s a typing error and it should be £19.99 per can. He was trying it on, thinking you were a soft touch.

You are right to challenge it Luckygirl. That sort of price hike is not acceptable. I thought that tradespeople often got products at a reduced price anyway.

I hope he amends his invoice.

Happens all the time

A tradesman who did flooring for us was annoyed we bought it ourselves at local store (where we negotiated discount). He actually said You got the discount instead of me!

My OH is a general builder and often gives the customer a list of materials needed to arrange them themselves if they want to. His quotes always give the cost of labour separate from materials so they can shop around if they want to and then they can see they are not being ripped off. It is true that many builders get a discount from suppliers but some things that are not normally used have to be sourced elsewhere or the customer requests a particular brand which the supplier does not stock.
Having said that this was a bit over the top! Hopefully he will see the error of his ways!