Recession, still difficult to get work done?

I'v been trying to find a hall door and gates for the last few months, I've rang, left messages and sent numerous emails to various companies, 1 has got back to me, but they dont' have what I want.

I also wanted my front drive landscaped, most designers said they were booked up for a year, some didn't show up, finally I'm getting it done but really feel I'm not getting a very good deal....but at this stage I just want it done.

Has anyone else found this, I thought in this recession I might have more buying power but not only have prices not come down its impossible to even get quotes from people.

At the moment there is boom in home improvement. People are realising that they will have to live in the same house of the next few years, so are getting work done.

I needed to get a job done in my garden- rang 6 places to get a quote, 3 said they would ring me back only 1 ended up actually doing so and quoting me.