The fallacy that low price always equates to poor quality

 Just like blaming referees for someone's favorite team underperformed, there is a disingenuous attitude put out by people who don't like or want competition that anyone who does work for what they claim is a low rate, it is pretty much always going to be a bad job of it.

This is false on many fronts, and they know it.  But, they've got nothing better to stand on themselves so it's easier to preemptively cut down a whole group of potential competitors. 

I won't deny, there are plenty of bad examples and bad apples out there doing work they should be ashamed of just to get a few quick bucks.  It happens in every industry where there are those that everyone has to live down.

But...

The multiple and various categories of builders, trades, and handyman types are filled with legitimate and earnest people just trying to make a living.  We use a variety of methods to offer incentives to customers.   One of those is pricing and rates.

First and most obvious are up-front, lower rates based on everything from low overhead to competitive pricing in markets that may have a high number of people offering the same services.  It's a recognized practice.  Price controls are unethical so they try to make it seem like offering a low rate up front is "undercutting" or taking something away from "real" whatever they are.  The truth is usually more like thise complaining have very high over and costs to pay for and can't afford to match lower, competitive rates.

Second is discounted rates and estimates for repeat and "guaranteed" customers.  Is not unheard of to offer an attractive discount to repeat, or hopefully repeat customers.   Again, a common method used by everyone.

Third is savings by connections.  Many providers use their contractor memberships and accounts at multiple brick and mortar stores and online distributors to funnel savings on parts and materials to their customers.  Sometimes it's small totals but catching a good deal at the right time can give customers a real bargain.

Fourth is sometimes just markets.  The market we work in and how rates are charged in general and sometimes a providers target market, the group of customers that they specifically choose to appeal to, will have a big impact on competitive rates and bids.

So go ahead, feel free to ignore the ignorant and misleading noise about how if it's lower priced, it must be bad.  It's not necessarily true.  In fact, odds are it won't be.  That is not to say that customers shouldn't be vigilant and and take care with who they hire.  The saying, "may the buyer beware" hasn't been around for thousands of years for no reason.

Sad to say there will always be those nere-do-wells who try to take unfair advantage of unwitting folks.