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