If the person spent a decent amount of time and gave what I consider a reasonable bid, I give them a call out of courtesy.

I may make contact via email (don't want to get tongue-tied which I tend to do).

On the other side of this etiquette question, is why so many pros show up to do a quote or take info in person/their office, but fail to respond. For instance, I went into a cabinet dealer because I need a new bath vanity. Okay it is not a full kitchen, but on the other hand, I gave them the exact dimensions and did not ask for them to come over to my home. Simple quote. After two weeks, no response. I guess it is too small of a job. Happens all the time. That is why I want to properly let the people who do take the time to quote in a proper manner that it is indeed worth doing so. I wasn't kicking the tires and I feel they need to know I appreciate their effort.

I think if someone takes the time, they deserve the courtesy of a response. Like mobuddy89, I don't want to get into a conversation, so I usually do it by email. If there is a specific reason that I chose one person over another and I think it would be helpful to the losing bidder to know the reason, I'll diplomatically explain (for example, the person I selected guarantees his work for a longer period of time).

That seems to be a regionalism Mo. Up north, you asked for an estimate and they'd at least pull a number of out of their posterior if not come out and do a real estimate. Down here in the south, getting them to actually even respond to an inquiry is iffy.
(this is across the trades, not even just electrical. I've had a devil of a time with HVAC and paving contractors).

In this case it was price that was the deciding factor because everything else was equal. Should I mention that the other bid was significantly lower?

I had an electrician that I like and have used extensively in the past, but he was too busy and would not commit as to when he would be available. He said it could be May or longer. I didn't want to wait that long. But just two hours ago he wrote and said he could now do the project in early April (the same availability of the other two). I told one of the two that I mentioned in my original query above that I was accepting their quote. I gave my regular guy two weeks to respond and when he didn't, I felt like I had to find an alternative. It would be cheapest to go with my regular firm but don't want them to flake on me.

Now I really feel torn.

If you've accepted the bid, technically, you have a contract. I don't know whether this contractor would pursue it ... you met him, I didn't.

@Earl, we are keeping with the guy who gave us a quote and that I answered. I still didn't answer the other quote. Now, I feel like he probably knows we are not using him or doing the work.

However, the guy we chose has not responded to an email from early this week about getting on the schedule. All the trades are really busy now. Patience is not my virtue.