Bunnings Aircon Installation, Installers Charging Extra $400 (Already Paid Bunnings $950). Rip Off?

rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 03:12
Last edited 06/06/2023 - 21:28

Hi everyone!

Looking for some informed feedback from this wonderful community.

Purchased a Mitsubishi Avanti 5.0kW Reverse Cycle Split System Air Conditioner from this great deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/757302. Thank you Dogsrule!

I helped arrange the selection, purchase and installation booking for my parent's home. Paid Bunnings $950 to arrange the installation who outsourced to a contractor. The install estimate included a standard back-to-back install, double storey, brick veneer. No condensation pump required. All this was correct. Was told there maybe additional costs if the install varied (which I didn't expect to be the case).

On the day when they finished the job they handed my elderly mother a surprise bill for an additional $400 to be paid direct to them. They said the switchboard was old and it cost extra to update. The house was built early 1980's. We had an electrician install ceiling fans about 7 years ago and at that time he added the new required safety switches to the circuits (QLD).

Invoice states:
Extras*

  • Left Hand Exit
  • Switchboard Enclosure for RCBO
  • Additional Cable Run

Total $400

They didn't itemise the costs. The aircon is second storey opposite side of the house to the electricity box. However, they gave my mother the impression that most of the cost was from the new enclosure not the additional cabling.

Do you think this charge is reasonable? Or cowboy tradies trying their luck preying on older folk? Haven't paid the extra bill nor contacted Bunnings to complain as yet, wanted some feedback from the OzBargain community before proceeding.

BTW, Bunnings themselves have been very good. They chased the installers after they had cancelled at the last minute due to light rain a couple of times and kept us updated throughout.

EDIT 1: Here's a photo of the electricity box. You can see they added a circuit for the a/c. Is that $400 worth of extra work?
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/118077/104205/img_2023…

EDIT 2:
Bunnings Standard double storey installation includes ($975 for 5kW):
A double storey installation is a split system with two main components – a wall mounted indoor unit that is mounted on the second storey of a dwelling and an outdoor unit mounted outside at ground level directly below the indoor unit. If mounting outside unit onto a wall, brackets are an additional cost.
What's Included:
Compliance and certification (mandatory in VIC & ACT)
Up to five metres of PVC ducting to conceal pipe work and electrical connections
Up to 20 metres of internal roof cable run (switchboard must be checked to have sufficient electrical capacity and room for another circuit)
Weatherproof safety isolation switch mounted near outdoor unit
Up to five metres of pipe work between the head unit and the outdoor compressor unit
https://www.bunnings.com.au/services/in-home/air-conditionin…

The bolded line includes the addition of a new circuit. Am I wrong?

Poll Options expired

  • 38
    Fair
  • 18
    Rip off!
Home & Garden Air Conditioner

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Comments

  • Lichen6420 on 06/06/2023 - 06:01
    +4

    If they supplied a new enclosure ($50-$150 cost depending on size, internal, external etc) and swapped over existing wiring into new enclosure then seems ok. I would expect a couple of hours work. Seems reasonable.

    If was just a single RCBO enclosure within the existing box then that is a rip because they are worth about $10.

    I am assuming the enclosure needed to be changed for electrical compliance reasons. The extra cable run charge seems a bit silly as cable would have to be run to the AC regardless. Left exit from an AC is a pain in the ass as it's all setup out of the box to be installed on the right.

    I think the thing missing here is communication from the installer, if they had explained why extra work was needed at the time this tread would likely not exist.

    I suggest you pick up the phone and have a quick chat.

  • djkelly69 on 06/06/2023 - 06:18
    +11

    So they performed 'additional work' without approval from anyone, and then just produced an invoice for said work after (apparently) doing it?

    That is not how contracts work.

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:57
      +1

      The Bunnings estimate T&Cs said there maybe extra costs for non-standard installation. However, after arriving and seeing what the job involved they did not give my mother a warning that there would be extra costs until the job was completed and she was handed an invoice. Rude at the very least.

      • DoctorCalculon on 06/06/2023 - 21:06

        A good tradie would be upfront about any addition works / costs (i.e. informed consent from the customer).

        Also, they separate out equipment and labour costs as individual line items.
        Unfortunately, this last practice is very rare to see these days.

  • LVlahov on 06/06/2023 - 06:49
    +1

    I just solicited 4 quotes to install 4 small (3x 2.5kW, 1x 3.5kW) split systems at my house, single story, only one of them a straight back to back though..
    ..and the cheapest quote I received was ~ $3300, extending all the way up to $7k at the higher end (install only). With yours being double story and requiring some other work it sounds pretty reasonable to me. I think if the last time people booked a tradie was a year or more ago, their appreciation of where prices are in the current market is going to be well out of whack. Guy that quoted $7k said that he knew he was pricing at the upper end, but that they were super busy and people were paying it, so no skin off his nose if we don't accept it.. he couldn't fit us in for weeks in any case (and seemed reasonable and genuine about this, not trying to lead us down the garden path).

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:46

      $7k. Yikes! I really chose the wrong career.

    • lgacb08 on 06/06/2023 - 22:54

      Depending on where you live, I know a decent guy who would go above and beyond to make the install look neat, only charge a bit extra. His standard back to back was $500 last year, I had a job doing over the ceiling with 6m run, installing on an internal wall with drain pipe running through the wall for only $250 extra. Only thing I had to do was patching 3 big hole and repainting the wall.

      • LVlahov on 07/06/2023 - 01:09

        We gave the go ahead a week back and have already paid a deposit but cheers for the offer. To be honest we went with a quote for $4k in the end because they guys just seemed a little bit more together than the other, and they'd been a little bit more helpful with positioning the systems where we wanted (one also with a 6m pipe run thought the ceiling which added to the cost).

        I went in expecting $3k, but had quotes of $5k and $7k and $4k before I received one. It does seem awful pricey but at some point you figure you have to stop getting quotes and make a call. With the system cost added the total bill is not much shy of $7k, whereas we could also have gone ducted for not much more (another $2.2k but with some issues with locating a larger outdoor unit vs multiple smaller ones).

      • michael9865 on 23/09/2023 - 20:11

        where is this at?
        I am getting two units delivered and looking for someone to install in Melbourne Area

  • thatonethere on 06/06/2023 - 07:24

    Yeah you have to watch those install "deals" from Bunnings. They are pretty cheap and fixed pricing regardless of site conplexity. So some crews resort to standover tactics or upsell tricks to make up for "losses".

    • scottishdave on 06/06/2023 - 13:34

      I had a bad experience with a Bunnings supplied, contracted installer for my MHI aircon. The team that was sent was unlicenced and could barely speak English. It was a complete balls-up. Bunnings did supply a remedial installer/electrician at their expense. The remedial sparky said that the team screwed up the electricals such that it could have caused an electrical fire.
      I recommend going for a third party, well known air conditioning specialist for your installation.

      Bunnings contract to a company in South Australia who then subcontract out to many small companies around the country.

      When I rang to book an installation date with the Bunnings contracted installers the November before last, I was offered several dates the following week. I should have known then. Any good air conditioning company would not have a bank of appointments for the next week in summer. When I checked more reputable aircon installers the price was more expensive but they had a 6 week wait. I stupidly went cheap and paid the consequences with Bunnings supplied installation.

  • donm on 06/06/2023 - 07:40

    Did the switchboard originally have ceramic fuses? If it did and the electrician swapped them over, then I'd be pretty happy about it. They may have been required to do it. But they should have discussed it with you.

    • FoxJump on 06/06/2023 - 09:53

      i think youre not allowed to do electrical work on a house with ceramic fuses. they must be upgraded first

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:29

      Yes originally, the old fuses had already been swapped last time we had electrical work done, not part of this job. But they added a circuit for the a/c, see photo. https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/118077/104205/img_2023…

      • sumyungguy on 06/06/2023 - 20:02
        +2

        … but you seem to have ceramic fuses in the current box?

        • donm on 06/06/2023 - 22:11

          Regardless of the outcome of this dispute, I'd get the ceramic fuses replaced. They're not safe.

  • Sinnerator on 06/06/2023 - 07:47
    +1

    What does the fine print in the bunnings install contract say? does it allow for extras? if not, don't pay the installers $400 and contact bunnings immeditately, if the installer threatens/intimidates you call the police.

    It's common practice amongst trades to charge extras above the quoted/contract price, at end of job, just to rip off the customer even more.

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 20:04
      +1

      The T&C's allow for extra costs for non-standard installation. I'm trying to gauge how non-standard was the job and how fair was the additional cost.

  • sumyungguy on 06/06/2023 - 07:50
    +2

    It fine - you needed an upgraded board to handle the 20 amp cable run to the outdoor unit.

  • dasher86 on 06/06/2023 - 08:58
    +4

    I think there might be something missing to this story.
    The part where they spoke to the elderly mother, and she may not have understood what they were saying and just said yes.

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:30

      I've asked her a few times to make sure. She said they didn't mention at all the job would cost more until the job was completed.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 06/06/2023 - 09:05

    We had extra cost to repair our central Ac System. As it happened, there was a series of things to be fixed over a few months. As thse issues surfaced they were quoted and the respective cost charged with no extras. However, looking at the documentation, it notes that extra can be charged if required, it was a standard clause.

    So I expect your installer's have a similar clause, and the were invokeing that. You could perhaps request some sort of discount from them.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/06/2023 - 09:45
    +1

    its expensive but it isnt like other plumbers will charge you less

    • elgrande on 06/06/2023 - 11:07
      +3

      Agree, most plumbers charge significantly higher for electrical work. It may be due to the increased risk associated with working with wet hands around electricity.

  • FoxJump on 06/06/2023 - 09:52

    great price for ceramic to modern fuses!

  • Switchblade88 on 06/06/2023 - 10:10
    +1

    Fair price for a full board upgrade

    Unfair presentation of the invoice at the end of the job

    Chase with Bunnings and complain about a lack of written extras quote beforehand; I'm pretty sure Bunnings has rules regarding their subcontracting

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:35

      They didn't, that work was done by a previous electrician. They added a single a/c circuit. See photo https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/118077/104205/img_2023…

      • Switchblade88 on 06/06/2023 - 21:50
        +1

        Yeah, since they didn't actually update the switchboard - only the RCBO, which is an included cost of the install - then that's a bit rich.

        They might still have some credibility if they had no choice on being a left-side exit through the wall, but being double storey brick veneer they should have had plenty of space to work with (unless you have photos of the inside/outside showing an obstruction).

        Definitely grounds for a complaint to Bunnings though

  • JIMB0 on 06/06/2023 - 11:08
    +2

    I'm guessing the quote was done without anyone looking at the fuse box.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2023 - 11:19

    It sounds fair for the job but I am not an expert in this. It costs half of that just to get the tradies to inspect anyway. As you were not present, the alternative was that, if they asked the older lady about it she would've refused work you would have been charged for a call or (if not charged) them returning not doing anything that day. I think it must've worked out better for you in the end that the job is done.

  • Drakesy on 06/06/2023 - 11:38
    +3

    Technically you never requested the work so yes you'd have a leg to stand on there.

    HOWEVER

    No electrician is going to cable up a house to electrical hardware that isn't to code anymore (electrical standards are changing rapidly). Insurance would automatically void it.

    Just accept it and consider it a good thing the box was upgraded.

    • rokufan on 06/06/2023 - 19:48

      They didn't, that work was done by a previous electrician. They added a single a/c circuit. See photo https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/118077/104205/img_2023…

      • Drakesy on 07/06/2023 - 10:39

        7 years is an eternity for Australian Standards and a lot can change in that period of time.

        • rogerwilko on 16/06/2023 - 07:12

          It actually takes them years update standards, i think about 5 years is the turn around time.

      • gravel on 11/06/2023 - 19:44
        +1

        You have said this a number of time's but many are not listening. If all they did was put the AC breaker in ( required anyway as far as I know ) then you were ripped off. Bunnings is pretty good and should help you out.

  • Overclocked91 on 06/06/2023 - 12:05

    A tiny bit steep but near to a fair price. The left-hand side exit requires a pipe join behind the indoor unit (Very difficult/annoying to fit the unit back), Extra cabling (it is what it is) and an RCBO (surface mount kit and RCBO). (Qualified Electrical Contractor and AC installer*)

    I think the Good Guys have their pricelist online so you can compare.

  • payless69 on 06/06/2023 - 12:11

    other option: leave windows open, no aircon..

  • tsunamisurfer on 06/06/2023 - 13:59

    When I had mine installed previously, the retailer was very clear that the fee they charged me was for the standard install.

    For example :
    - Within x distance
    - Was for a straightforward install, on ground where the outside unit was on the otherwise of the wall of the inside unit.
    - Brackets extra if elevated.

    So I would imagine this could cost more, just how much more I cannot comment on.

  • lunebyes on 06/06/2023 - 20:39

    That switchboard is very old. The original quote would have made assumptions about the switchboard that it more recent and that there was space to add a new safety switch with minimal work.

    I think the additional cost was fair.

  • Gros21 on 07/06/2023 - 20:01

    If it's back to back why is there left hand exit. Should be straight out and down.

    Cable is expensive may be run in 4mm plus if it's a shit show they will charge extra.

    Did they over charge likely, is extra work 40% likely depending on what they dobe they may of done other electrical work at the same time.

  • Bargain4Days on 16/06/2023 - 08:02

    Looks like you need to get your switch board up to date, ceramic fuses, definitely outdated, weird how there's an RCD for fuses not sure why he did that rather than just replacing the whole unit out with RCBOs instead, easier and way cleaner not to mention more practical.

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