I NEVER HAVE & NEVER WILL do any business with any company that pulls this crap.
The first thing they'll tell you is "Well, we subtract the fee from the job."
To which I reply, "What if I don't trust you to do the job? What if your price is ridiculous? What if you show up intoxicated? What if I'm still shopping around? Your "fee" is designed to force me to hire you so I don't waste the money. NOBODY forces me to do anything.
Besides, I already don't trust you after you show such greed. You could be an honest, reputable company & I'd hire you, but not when you do this."
When I was getting estimates to have 3 trees in my yard taken down, two companies tried to charge me for estimates. I said, "No, thanks." They waived the fee & gave me estimates of $12,000.00. I said "No Thanks" again & posted reviews.
I had a company do the job for $6,200.00. They thanked me for the review. The other company's owner called me, complaining about the review & how it "Hurts their business." I said, "YOU hurt your business with your greed."
He said, "The other company is is cheaper because they're not bonded, licensed, insured & have no Worker's Comp insurance."
I said, "Try again. I checked all that info with the State Contractor's Board. They have everything you have......except greed."
My dentist spent 2 hours with me discussing my reconstruction. She charged me NOTHING. It took that long to inform me about all the treatment options. I knew I could trust her; I knew she cared about her patients; not just how much money she could make. I spent over $70,000.00 with her over the next couple of years.
NEVER permit greed to pay off; it only encourages more greed & more ripoffs.