Absurd.

Shop around.

And just so you know, Bryant and Carrier are sister companies and have basically identical equipment across their product lines including Evolution/Infinity models.

IMO

Prices tend to be higher during the hottest and coldest weather, but it doesn't explain the very high price. You can do much better than this.

Can you wait until September? The rebates usually start in the early fall. Things also tend to slow down and contractors are looking to make deals.

I had a 3 ton and a 5 tone Infinity system (compleete with furnaces, installed on the 4th of July after a 109 weekend, complete with 3 media filters, 2 thermostats, an additional air return, the units relocated in the attic with new plywood decking to support them, new pads and levelling outside and a lot of new ducting. Oh yeah -- it was the boss man's wife's birthday and they put in a 12 hour day. I had been without AC for 12 or 13 days at that point and was a likely target for that supply and demand increase in the summer heat. My total price was about $1,500 above your quote. I did have the benefit of the rebates that expired a few days before (had to be installed by July 15th), but the rebates weren't that big. I was also told that if we missed the rebates there would be another promotion not quite as big replacing them.

I'm no expert, but I'd say your quote was well padded. The process makes your head spin, but do get several quotes and check out the installers.