It's reality to them whether or not there's any factual basis.
It’s brutal if you install generators. They see them on line at some lowball price at the big box stores and think they can get them installed for a few $100. When you start explaining all the rest, such as site prep if needed, a genpad or concrete, a permit and inspection, the install, the ATS install, maybe separating grounds and neutrals, and heaven help them if they want to put it remote from the house. AND THEN you explain either the cost of LP or NG connections. And if they don’t have a propane tank already, how enormously expensive that might be. And suddenly there little $4,999 generator is $10k to $15k, or more. Talk about being hit with reality!
JoeNorm, it can be tough if you are a small contractor to sit on a bunch of leftover wire. It’s really not a factor if you are running several service trucks. Especially with the common sizes of Romex. If I have to supply something out of the ordinary, and can’t get it cut to length, I’m sorry, but they bought the roll. But that is rare. It’s usually only when it’s something really weird like 12 conductor rubber cord, or something specialized like that. I have tried to be the nice guy on a few times on certain larger sizes or multi conductor MC. It sits in my way until I finally try to just use it up when I could use something less expensive. But hey, it’s just the way the world works in our line of business. BTW, I have sold a few things that I got tired of stepping over as scrap for a few pennies on the dollar. Now that hurts.