I am not missing the point. It's dishonest to mark up a part to that degree. They do it because most people don't know what the part costs and it looks a lot better on the bill than that extra hundred bucks would look if they added it to labor or overhead where it belongs. I mark up materials 10 to 15 percent to account for my time but I can't hide my costs because anyone can go to home Depot and see what a 2x4 costs. I price my labor honestly where people can see it and make no excuses about it.