PAUL692..... You were quoted $4500.00 for a system replacement from a licensed contractor right? you had 1200 just in equipment cost so do you think $3,300.00 is profit? Do the installers work for free? What about installation material consumables? dose the contractor pay Fed, State, Social Security, Medicare taxes on the employees? Have you any idea what General Liability insurance costs? Vehicle insurance on a commercial vehicle costs? Vehicle overhead?, Company overhead? I am assuming a warranty was provided, Etc...Etc...Etc. Usually for Mechanical Contractors you will run about 62% Direct cost on an installation, then figure overhead and profit. So basically out of a 4,500 job the direct cost should be about 2,790 and about 1710 in over head and profit. You call this stealing? So do you not feel a contractor should make a profit? Anything you do yourself is going to be WAY cheaper than hiring a contractor. Painting, Carpenter, Auto Mechanic, roofing and so on. Yes I have to agree there are scumbag HVAC contractors just like Auto repair shops, Plumbers, Roofers, Doctors, and so on. So one would have to be pretty ignorant to think after just equipment costs, it is all profit. Real ignorant statement Paul.