I'm getting tired of listening to people whine about how much things cost here on Houzz. Now I know how we contractors sounded in 2008.

you claim the price is outrageous because you want the price to be lower but thats not how it works. reputable companies have a lot of overhead.

why dont you just buy low quality windows from hone depot and hire an inexperienced day laborer to install the window and then tell us if your original quotes are outrageous.

we also know nothing about the scope of the install.

$1000 per window for a good product from a reputable company WITH laminated glass is really not out of line even if the other options and install details are pretty tame. As you stated, laminated glass is very pricey. As MWM stated, quality isn't cheap. I'd also add that labor isn't either, particularly skilled labor these days.... I'd also venture to say that if you were to go to a box store, price out a custom-sized window with laminated glass, find a reasonably qualified installer to put them in, add consumables (caulk, foam, trim coil, shims,) and then pay yourself 10% commission (having sold it to yourself) and 10% GC management fee for ordering, coordinating the install, expert measurements etc, you'd be right there.... However you would have a likely lower grade product, and nowhere to turn when things go wrong which is not infrequent.

As far as "middle men", was the food that you ate for lunch grown/slaughtered/processed at the restaurant or store? Were your Nike's made by Foot locker? Was the dealership that you bought your car from owned by the car manufacturer? ... Furthermore, is that a bad thing? I'd rather have people that specialize in installing windows not manufacturing them doing my installs. People that specialize in cooking a steak, not raising a cow preparing my meal... You get the idea.

The fact of the matter is, construction is the second most complained about industry in existence (behind only automotive), but the vast majority of those complaints and dissatisfaction are due to taking greater risks to save a buck as opposed to getting "gouged" for too much on a good product install. Its a shame that there are some companies that do gouge (I know of some that offer low quality products, pay their installers pennies, and charge nearly $2k per window), but there are far more folks that get ripped off when the craigslist installer takes off with your money.

... If you can't tell , this is kind of a "soap box" issue and gets folks riled up, lol...

Laminated Glass = $$$$

Working in a state with heavy overhead (i.e. NY) = $$$

How large are the windows?

How far off the ground are you?

Are you doing full framed installs or simply insert replacements?

What trim/cladding/siding/masonry work needs to be included?

I think we have a runner......................

Licensed, insured, workman’s comp insurance, payroll, overhead for business location, trucks, tools, ladders, safety equipment, good credit with suppliers, accounting and legal fees, FICA contributions, advertising, phones, fax machines, computers, printers..... most definitely, they are ripping you off. They should pay you to give you windows.

My husband is a trade carpenter and installed our windows himself. That being said, it cost us over $5000 to buy 4 windows. Our windows were odd sized, but they aren't the very top of the line, but still good windows. So, your quote of $1-1500 sound really good. And you don't know what they will find once they remove the old windows. We had some sill rot and he had to replace all of that. I can't imagine what the labor costs would have been when all was said and done.

We just got quoted for 2 new construction windows into vinyl siding - over $11K! I was so baffled. I am so grateful I have loved ones who are willing to do this same project for me... or it would never happen, on principle alone. Approx sizes 70" x 54" and 70" x 30". Unencumbered walls, except we will need to move drainspouts. I am also grateful for capitalism, because this company is out of their mind. I also truly wonder if we would have been quoted differently in our less expensive previous home...

So...they are doing the framing? Cutting new openings? Moving utilities? Pulling permits? Getting the engineering stamp? Depending on the worksscope that was quoted, that 11K isn't necessarily out of the range of normalcy. A set of drawings around here will cost you about $1,500 from an PE to take to the permitting office. Figure on a solid half day lost to the permitting, plus the inspections and time and you have at least a day just in the misc. steps.