Stone mailbox question

[klee23]

We upgraded our landscaping a year ago and wanted to replace our mailbox this year. Current is a basic box on wooden post positioned way to close to our driveway- my mother in law has backed in to it multiple times 😳

Most houses in the neighborhood have brick mailboxes, often with a complimentary post on the other side of the driveway.

We had a hardscape company come out for an estimate: the mailbox up would be 20"x20"x54, sketch attached.

Estimate came in at $5500. I am in sticker shock. We are in a LCOL (pittsburgh suburbs). I was thinking low $2K.

So my questions are- am I just really out of touch? And what kind of professional does this- I've tried looking at masonry and hardscape companies but don't see many others that have this in their galleries. I've tried my local FB group and got crickets

[definitelyO]

I would find a handyman - this doesn't seem to require much actual masonry skill. and I would have estimated in my head at $1,000.

[deadwing]

When I put in my patio, I was shocked at the cost of the columns at either end of the seating wall. My columns are only half thst height. The price is in line with my experience.

I'd guess that this kind of thing is usually a small part of a big job, which is probably why it's hard to find examples. I bet lots of people are capable.

[bee20]

That seems like a lot, especially in Pittsburgh where there is brick everywhere. Maybe search for masonry or someone who does brick siding repair? I agree it doesn't look particularly difficult, when I've seen those broken open there is a rebar frame and then the bricks built around it.

[klee23]

Thanks- this is giving me motivation to call around some more. I'm hoping that perhaps this was too small of a job to be worth it or they weren't interested and overbid 🤞

Materials (bricks/mailbox) only accounted for $825 of the estimate (excluding concrete footer and mortar). The rest was labor.

I'll try my local FB group again for recommendations for someone that can handle it.