Question : $150 for “installing and connecting” a switch... costs extra to mount the switch on the rack

This "small guy" contractor, has "installed" 4 switches for us.  3 were before my time, but the last one I was directly involved with.  So while I dont know the specifics of what he charged for the forst 3 -- I can guess based on what he said for the last one.

He quoted $150 for "installing and connecting" a switch we obtained ourselves -- I mostly work remotely, but when I was in the office, I noticed all 4 switches are just sitting on top of some UPS's.  None are mounted on the rack.  So I tell him -- they need to be mounted, next time we have him in to do something, and we need to not get charged because that should had been part of the original $150.

See the emails below (read top down, not bottom up) --- am I crazy -- or is this guy absolutely ridiculous?


ME
You charged us for 1 hour ($150).  The actual unboxing of that switch, and plugging 10 or so Ethernet cables it to it (most of which where already bundled together in a rubber band by Tommy) – could not have taken more than 15-30 minutes.  (40 if we are being very generous)
 
And if the time had been taken to mount it, it would have taken 5, maybe 10 more minutes to screw the thing into the rack.  At worst, you would still have only worked 50 minutes for an hours pay.  
 
I asked you for a quote to install a switch – you quoted $150.   It is totally absurd for you to say that you are going to charge extra now to mount it on the rack.

COLIN
Look Ben, this is very silly. You obviously have no idea what it cost to get around New York City. $150  is the minimum charge. Given the time spent in traffic it sometimes cost me more than the $150 I charge you as a minimum fee for connecting a switch.  And it's never as simple as you make it seems because I always double check and test connection before and after installations to make sure all is well.
Sent from my iPhone


ME
You are missing the point.   First – you are the one who made the estimate, not me.    Second – I had you wait to install the switch, until you came for the Verizon change.   So it’s not like you traveled there just for the switch install, and it’s not like you were rushed to get it in as quick as possible, like you keep saying.  You had a week advance notice on when you came to install the switch. (see emails I am about to forward)

It is irrelevant how simple I make it sound.  When I say 15 to 30… 40 tops – I am including any testing, you need to do.  But again – that is irrelevant.  What is relevant, is what you estimated.  

You estimated $150 for “installing and connecting the switch to the network” --- there is no reason this should not include mounting the switch on the rack.

Answer : $150 for “installing and connecting” a switch... costs extra to mount the switch on the rack

You do not use ISA or any publishing Rules to get to the internal OWA when using Clients that are already behind the ISA.

You have to run Split-DNS so that the Internal OWA resolves tot he Private LAN IP# when coming from a LAN Client.

[Those are underscores, not spaces between the words]
You Need to Create a Split DNS!
http://www.isaserver.org/tutorials/You_Need_to_Create_a_Split_DNS.html

Supporting ISA Firewall Networks Protecting Illegal Top-level Domains: You Need a Split DNS!
http://www.isaserver.org/tutorials/2004illegaltldsplitdns.html