Talk about price gouging...

[cantdrv55]

I was on a business trip yesterday when my hot water heater sprung a leak and sprayed the garage. My wife heads home at lunch to find a plumber. My mother arrives shortly to help her make decisions because I couldn't be reached.

Plumber arrives, assesses the situation (sees 2 P-cars in the garage) and gives my wife a $1700 quote to replace the water heater. Can you believe that ****!! Luckily, I had good cell phone coverage at the time so my wife was able to contact me.

She had me on speaker so the plumber could hear. I said NO FREAKING WAY AM I PAYING SOME DICKHEAD THAT MUCH TO REPLACE A $300 WATER HEATER! Dude starts back pedalling to explain what's all included in the service (bring gas line, venting, water lines to code, yada, yada, yada). I told her to tell him to take a walk but I'm sure he heard me say that.

I called 411, found another plumber to do the same exact work (up to code as well) for $775. I just can't believe how some people would try to take advantage. Dude must've thought he hit the jackpot when he saw two ladies in a flooded garage with two shiny 911s. Little did he know, I'm a cheap sonofagun and those 911s are old.

[PPilot]

As the Aussies would say..Good on you, mate!!!

[cantdrv55]

Oops, I thought I put this in OT. Mods please move the thread for me. Thanks.

[randywebb]

EXACTLY. Never let a contractor see your 911 - they all think it costs the same as an Fcar.

Some guys do see the car at my house and I then take any opportunity to tell them how much I paid ($12k) and how many years of work I put into it. We usually have a good conversation then. But don't let them see it "cold." Some will think you're rich and jack up the price - not all of course.

[cbeers]

Truth be told, Chris is as rich as they come

Well done Mr. Paterno!


-Chris

[David]

I had my 930 towed shortly after I got (I won't say why, doh). After he loaded it on the flatbed, he said it would be $250. What!!!! I've never paid more than $50.

I talked to the city of Houston and they it was perfectly legal and he could have charged me $1000 if he wanted. They only have to follow city rates if a police officer signs the request.

Now I know to negotiate a price and pay it before they ever touch my car.

[buttjoint]

My aunt got bent-over last week to the tune of $1600 for a $400 waterheater as well. She dosen't even drive!

[rs6er]

Every time my wife takes the "other" car for an oil change, they tell her it needs "this, this and this". She calls me. I tell her to tell them to just change the oil. Next time, I take it. I ask them how "this, this, and this" look. They tell me, "fine". I say, "So how come you told my wife they needed to be done when she brought it in?"

[sammyg2]

LOL, yesterday I paid a TV guy to fix my 3 year old big screen TV.
I couldn't troubleshoot it myself cause I don't know squat about TVs. I knew from research it was something to do with the convergence system but that was it.

I made sure he understood that I wanted each and every part he replaced.
He changed out two IC chips that control the convergence.
$350.

I googled the part number off the chips this morning, $9.99 each.
$330 labor for 1/2 hour work.
You can bet if the TV ever screws up the same way again I'll be replacing those chips myself.

[schamp]

The a/c on my mothers E320 went out. I knew the compressor was on its last legs. Best price for replacing compressor, etc was 1800.00 plus. I decided I will not let these people mess with an 82 year old lady. Found the compressor, new, for 300.00, a new accumulator/ drier 18.00 and I have a vacuum pump. Freon is cheap. I don't mind a little profit but damn. Gave her my car for a couple of days and will fix hers when parts arrive. Sometimes you just have to say "hell no". Spence

[quattrorunner]

I always change the oil on my cars even though I don't have time cause I'm sick of my wife getting charged the premium price because her car is from Germany! Seriously, they like to up the price for the same service. Not more oil, not better oil, just from a differant continant.

[boxster03]

If you are ever stuck with a hot water heater blow out and you have a Home Depot around you can't go wrong. You will get great and quick service and very good price on the new water heater. They are easy to remember and in a lot of cities. Note (I don't own stock or have any other interest in HD)

[randywebb]

Hey sammy:

LOL, 2 weeks ago I paid a heating place to put in a wall ventilator fan.
I figured they'd be fair and I don't know anything about putting these things in or sizing them (figured I could look up the latter but it would take a while).

They put in a fan in 3 hours (generous est. of the time) - charged $1,350.

I googled the part number off the fan and it was a $300 item.
about $300 labor per hour of work.

After I asked what was up via phone - and they just laid out a bunch of BS...
I looked up the home address of the company president and sent him an unhappy letter. No reply yet & I don't expect one.

It'd be fun to send the town anarchists over to his house for high tea...

[quattrorunner]

And people think Jewelers mark up.

[Barrpete]

Originally posted by randywebb
EXACTLY. Never let a contractor see your 911 - they all think it costs the same as an Fcar.

Some guys do see the car at my house and I then take any opportunity to tell them how much I paid ($12k) and how many years of work I put into it. We usually have a good conversation then. But don't let them see it "cold." Some will think you're rich and jack up the price - not all of course.

Yeah, don't their jaws just about hit the pavement when they find out you paid less than half of what their pickup truck cost

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by 125shifter
I had my 930 towed shortly after I got (I won't say why, doh). After he loaded it on the flatbed, he said it would be $250. What!!!! I've never paid more than $50.

And that is why I belong to AAA

[look 171]

Originally posted by boxster03
If you are ever stuck with a hot water heater blow out and you have a Home Depot around you can't go wrong. You will get great and quick service and very good price on the new water heater. They are easy to remember and in a lot of cities. Note (I don't own stock or have any other interest in HD)

you must like sorting through lots of crap in that store just to get at one thing that's may have been returned and have parts missing. And that parking is a mess. We do lots of work up there at Hollyweird. Good luck see you at the store sometimes. The one on Sunset?

[look 171]

Originally posted by quattrorunner
And people think Jewelers mark up.

It used to much better. The profit margin was good, now the market is busted with a bunch of crap.

[Gene Wilkes]

Just experience the hottest days in Pittsburgh! Wouldn't you know it, the A/C quit! I'm somewhat mechanical and diagnoised it as 'locked up compressor'! Expecting the worst, started calling all the local repair shops that advertised a 24 hr emergency line. Guess what, there is no emergency hotline for these companies, only an answering service that forwards messages to these shops! I hammered the emergency hotline people from 4:30 a.m. this morning to 7:00 a.m! I had a repairman at the door by 10:00 a.m.!!!!!!! Repair made by 11:00 a.m!!! Persistence pays!!!! Was only the condensor!!!!! Much cheaper than an a/c system, which I anticipated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blanco]

Yup... when I sold my house, I had a termite guy come out and give me a termite letter. He saw the 911 and then started saying that he will have to put down extra treatment and it was going to cost $$. I told him I will call his dispatcher and get a new guy to write my letter. He said he had it in his clipboard and just need to sign it. Yikes!