Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

If there is 5% in 9 years, then there was also a significant inflation in between. Accordingly, one can also afford a higher rate since wages will increase.

For us, the toilet also costs about €600, for example. However, including installation and concealed cistern module. Considering warranty, the time needed for delivery and installation, as well as markups for profit, I actually find that quite reasonable... The material alone is almost €300.

I find that completely reasonable.

With car repairs, workshops often charge double or triple. :-)

The prices I have mentioned are the pure material prices without attachments/accessories and exclusive of assembly. I would never remove anything from the scope of work out of spite unless I am absolutely sure that I can manage it myself. Now it pays off that I worked for a few years in my parents' company at a young age before starting the apprenticeship in the industry. If we can't find anyone, we won't have to make a concession and will just work hard ourselves. I see great savings potential here – as with the groundwater drainage – in a relatively short time. However, it is clear that there will be a warranty exclusion for the hardware brought in. For many other aspects of the construction, I would not decide so quickly.

The prices I mentioned are purely material prices without attachments/accessories and excluding installation. I would never remove anything out of spite from the scope of work if I were not absolutely sure I could manage it myself. It pays off now to have spent a few years working in the family business in my youth before going into industrial training. If we can’t find anyone, we won’t have to kneel down and will just work hard ourselves. I see great savings potential here – as well as with groundwater lowering – in a relatively short time. However, it is clear that a warranty exclusion will apply to the hardware brought in. For many other scopes of construction, I wouldn’t decide that so quickly.

You can do it yourself, Zu grohe, etc., there are installation videos everywhere. I had it done back then; I lacked the time. But someone did it “privately” for me – you have to reckon with about 20 hours per bathroom as a time investment; it was 60 hours for me. However, I had the silicone sealing done professionally – and I would also have a full-time silicone specialist do that – not the standard tiler. Silicone is actually its own trade.

How much does a bottle of wine cost at a restaurant? Or a glass of water? The sentence brake discs for the car? Surcharges are normal after all. I find this indignation silly.

Well, you should look at it a bit more nuanced. A certain margin as a surcharge that is still in relation to the value is acceptable, fair, and customary in the market. It was not a general rant against all surcharges. I had been outraged by the sometimes fourfold higher prices, which have now really gained momentum again. I suspect that the toilet now costs around €800 or so. If the same product can also be bought for about €200, I no longer see a normal surcharge. For the €600 difference, I can certainly find someone who after installing this one toilet also mops the floor, fills the bathwater, and lights a scented candle, where someone else wants to see another €200 for the installation. I recently read somewhere here about construction costs per m²: at €4,500/m², the fat Porsche for the developer is also covered. I see the same here for the restroom from the side of the supplier of these sanitary objects.

With us, for example, the toilet also costs about €600. However, including installation and concealed module. Considering the warranty, the time required for delivery and installation, as well as surcharges for profit, I actually find that okay… The material alone is almost €300.

I would be happy about that too – if it’s the same bowl or comparable quality :-D

You can do it yourself; for Grohe, etc., there are installation videos everywhere. I had it done back then because I lacked the time. But someone did it "privately" for me – with about 20 hours per bathroom you have to reckon as time effort, it was 60 hours for me. However, I had the silicone done professionally – and I would also have that done by a full-time silicone specialist – and not by the standard tiler. Silicone is actually its own trade.

I totally believe that about the time required; I also estimate that we will be busy for about a week if it is to be done properly. Silicone and acrylic joints were a daily routine in my construction time, so that should be doable too. As many have said, the right tools are very important for the result alongside experience. We were not keen from the start to do it ourselves now, but we probably have no other choice.

since wages will increase.

Do wages do that? I can name at least 10 companies in our area with >1k employees without collective bargaining agreement... In some cases, there hasn't been a cent increase for 5 years... Of course, everyone is free to quit... but the region also has to allow it.