I got 5 estimates for plumbing and A/C work. In ev...

I got 5 estimates for plumbing and A/C work. In every case, the job was at least 10 times the retail cost of the replacement part on Amazon. Literally ALL of it except the duct cleaning can be done by the homeowner. (And will be.)

$3000 to replace a $300 thermostat (10 mins).
$800 to install a $400 UV light in the AC unit (30 mins).
$1500 to install a $200 water purifier device (20 mins).
$2500 to clean 25 AC ducts (2 hrs).
$700 to replace a $2 plastic plug-in plumbing fitting (5 mins).

Get the picture?