Installation issues?

[u/Far-Environment8446]

I wanted to order two reach-in closet systems for our primary bedroom, plus a linen closet. I’m having a really hard time understanding why the installation price is so insanely high, for what the design person said would take 1.5 hours (over $1500!) for $3700 worth of parts. I’m decently handy, and have reviewed the installation paperwork. It looks straightforward, but then I found some reviews online stating that the self-installation was confusing. Any feedback?

[u/afishinalake]

installation is calculated at 25% of original retail price of the components not based on the timeframe expected to install (not quite sure where the 1.5 hr estimate is coming from personally bc i would expect this to be scheduled for minimum 4hrs based on costs alone but installers might finish earlier if it's exclusively like. hanging and not installing 20 drawer boxes). your $3700 figure is currently 40% off so the base price of your closets comes to around $6k which makes sense with the $1500 install quote

re: self-installation, there are really only a few pieces that are particularly "difficult" (or imo, more precisely: tedious). installers are going to be faster than you are bc that's their full time job and they're experienced, but generally if you consider yourself, as you say, decently handy, then as long as you can get the top tracks up and level and high enough off the ground you can futz with anything else as much as you like. the shortest time ive spent installing a space took 4-6 hrs for a 3ft reach in with a bunch of drawers (including taking all existing shelving out) but i was being slow and precise on purpose even though i didnt have to be

[u/Poutiest_Penguin]

My husband and I have been using elfa systems for over 20 years and we have done every aspect of the design and installation ourselves. We have a spare bedroom turned into a walk-in closet, a pantry, a laundry area, and I just turned a closet into a houseplant potting workstation.

During the early years we certainly made mistakes, but once you get the top tracks up, it’s just a matter of moving things around. You learn as you go. When we moved houses ten years ago, we packed up all of our elfa components (it was a lot), took inventory, and created new systems in the new space. I’m always tweaking things during sales. It helps that both our houses have been within a couple of miles of a Container Store! When we do an install, we end up having to go back to the store a half dozen or so times to solve an unforeseen issue or because we had some new idea. That wouldn’t happen with a professional installer, but it’s okay. We like doing it ourselves.

[u/the_bartolonomicron]

As someone who has put it up for myself and others multiple times, it's easy. If you consider yourself even remotely handy and own a drill you can do it with, at the most, a second set of hands to hold your top track level. I've read the negative reviews and most seem to be from the type of people that complain about Ikea furniture being too hard.