GMA Construction Inc

Needed basic metal shelving installed the garage so called Lowe's to get a general feel of the price for the racks, wall mounts, etc. Also asked if they had a contractor who did this type of simple installation. Answer to that was 'No, we don't recommend contractors as a business policy.' That made perfect sense to me. "Lowe's and Behold" (bad pun intended) I get a call from this contractor and Lowe's had given him my name/contact info. Discribed what I needed done (wall hangers, metal shelving, nothing requiring a skilled contractor ... save for making sure the wall strips are mounted into studding behind the garage drywall. Fellow comes out, we measure up want a wanted (he gave me several good optional ideas) and said he'd be back with me in a few days with a final bid. OK by me as I know he's got to properly price out the materials costs based upon the diagram(s). BUT did ask if he could give me an 'experience ball park' as to what the job may cost (a fair question I thought). "Between $400 and $500 dollars." Blanched but it could easily cost in the high $200's to low $300's just for materials. Another $100 or so for labor was also fine (or so I'm thinking). In comes the 'bid,' but not from him, but from "Lowe and Beholds!?" Materials: $317.00 (within a few dollars of what I'd guessed). Labor: OVER $400.00 FOR ONE HOURS WORTH OF WORK! Now my curiosity is really peeked so called a major Temp Employee service in Medford, briefly explained the 'why of my question' which is what general carpentry labor usually gets billed out at: "$15.00 - $25.00/hr depending upon the nature of the job. For very skilled carpentry (finish work as an example) it could go as high as $50.00/hour for very custom construction." Called Lowe's (and name on the e-mail proposal), explained the above and said I'd be willing to pay a reasonable price for the 'help,' but what was being asked was waaaaaay out of bounds. She e-mails back a couple of days later telling me 'he's willing to cut the labor cost to $350.00' To cut this short, the end game is neither got, or will ever get, a penny's worth of my business. fae