OT: I think I just got hosed!

[Matthew]

Was the drain trap a basic U shaped pvc type or something more complicated with older pipes, etc? Did she have to remove the old faucet too? Seems quite high to me. Unless there was more involved than a basic removal and install.

[parris]

There's a large HVAC outfit in my area that pulls this s**t with people that hire them. They REALLY zap elderly and "nice" people. Theres an employee at my facility that had a heating problem. She went to them because a "friend" of hers works there. They got her to the tune of 12g's for new heating gear. The kicker is that 2 zones in the house now don't work!

I these clowns have GREAT reviews locally. Sorry that you got zapped.

[parris]

Matthew I'm wondering if its an old P trap that got replaced. That's straightforward though.

[AngryScientist]

you got screwed.

and she took her time.

i could have done that job in 45 mins tops.

[zennmotion]

If you can install a drivetrain and adjust your derailleurs, you can do your own plumbing at this level. Youtube it. A lot of stuff you don't want to do obviously, but this sounds pretty easy, no torches, special tools required. That said, I'm discovering Bay Area contractor prices and even compared to the DC area, they are shocking- I think everyone got a boost with all the post-wildfire construction. We are planning to fly out a couple of contractors we worked with in the past, even with the extra travel lodging and per diem it's working out cost-wise. Plus we have people we know and trust for some remodeling, and they escape the cold for a week or two and have a few days of paid vacation to explore locally, everybody wins

[buddybikes]

We were moving out of a house that we were to close the following Tuesday, wouldn't you know the shower drain completely clogged. I ran a roto rooter through it, draino extra, nothing. Desparate we called rooto-rooter. Cost 475.00 to blow out the clog down near the septic, 1hr work.
He wasn't even a plumber which would of cost more

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

They took advantage of you in a big way. Any one with a scrap of ethics would have charged you actual time on a job like that and been honest about the quote. They would have 100% known how long it was going to take once on site. Call them out on it.

I will be doing that. They quote based on the job (their standard rate schedule), and again, I would have had less heartburn had it taken a ~few hours. This is nuts!

Originally Posted by donevwil

Did you get an itemized invoice? Breakdown of parts vs labor? Did she bring some pricey hardware to the project?

The prices seem more than simply "high" regardless of all the potential cost contributors, there must be more to their story.

Line Item 1: Travel Charge......$
Line Item 2: Install customer-supplied kitchen faucet.........$
Line Item 3: Replace sink double bowl CP Ptrap..........$

I'm sorry, but there isn't anything more to the story....

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Was the drain trap a basic U shaped pvc type or something more complicated with older pipes, etc? Did she have to remove the old faucet too? Seems quite high to me. Unless there was more involved than a basic removal and install.

Basic U-shaped PVC for a double sink, with clean-out port and line from dishwasher. Yes, she removed the existing fixture and replaced it with an identical model.

They actually sent me a customer satisfaction survey that linked to a review page on the local BBB. Believe I'll have a little pow-wow with them before I do anything with that...

[daker13]

Ooof. That's rough, but they certainly lost your future business. At least.

I had a plumber come out a couple of times, very well reviewed on Angie's List (which, I later learned, is a red flag in itself). He had to go to Lowes for a part and the trip to and from was on the clock, and the bill came in much higher than I was expecting. I had no idea whether the part was something a normal plumber would have in his truck (I suspect it was), but this guy had a real 'margaritaville' vibe to him, and I never called him back.

[William]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

you got screwed.

and she took her time.

i could have done that job in 45 mins tops.

Have to agree, seems extremely high for the work done.






W.

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by William

Have to agree, seems extremely high for the work done.













W.

Yup, I would have the entire job done in under an hour. That was an outrageous price for what it entailed.


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[OtayBW]

Thanks for the feedback. Wl Is just say that while this situation surprised me at the time, it isn't over....

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[YoKev]

You agreed to a price for a service. The service was completed. In this instance, it shouldn't matter how long it took.

Anything above and beyond what you feel the price "should be" can be chalked up to paying for the plumbers expertise and company overhead.

[Hindmost]

Originally Posted by OtayBW

Basic U-shaped PVC for a double sink, with clean-out port and line from dishwasher. Yes, she removed the existing fixture and replaced it with an identical model.

Unless there's something I'm missing--I imagine that to be $20 to $30 in parts and 0.5 hour labor.

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by YoKev

You agreed to a price for a service. The service was completed. In this instance, it shouldn't matter how long it took.

Anything above and beyond what you feel the price "should be" can be chalked up to paying for the plumbers expertise and company overhead.

Like I said, we'll see how this works out. .

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