Can a quote to install a stove be too low?

Leif

I've been to 4 shops to ask about stove installation. The house is a bungalow, with a standard fireplace which I have opened out. One quoted £600 to £800 to install stove and liner. Total cost to install stove, line flue, supply and fit granite hearth is about £1200. Stove adds £700. So £1900 total. A shop almost next door to me quoted £1200 to install stove and line flue, and fitting a hearth is £350 + cost of hearth at about £350 making £1900 plus cost of stove, say £2600 total. Another shop quoted £1200 to install stove and line flue. A fourth shop quoted £1500 to install stove and line flue, but that would include installing a hearth if needed, and lining the chamber with fireboard and patching plaster if needed. So the total price might be £2500. In the absence of any other information the choice is obvious. The cheapest shop also has the most helpful staff, who say very sensible things about finishing the opening etc.

How come so much variation in price? How can companies survive if charging so much as the one that asked for £1500? Or does the price vary according to how much they need the work i.e. current state of business? Or does the cheaper one cut corners? I would imagine the cost of decent 316 liner does not add much to the total price compared to cheaper stuff. I might be wrong. Probably am! Or does the cheaper one get more business, hence allowing them to make less on each job?

smcqis

Some shops try suck people in by having super cheap stoves compare to competitors but charge alot more to do the work, its just business