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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hamburg & Vancouver
Posts: 7,693
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What's wrong with this story?
So I'm visiting me mom's and find one of the toilets not working. Handle that moves the flapper is corroded off. It's a small piece of bent wire that looks like part of a coat hanger and costs about 2 cents to make.
I call the biggest plumbing company in the Yellow Pages—who also have the highest Better Business Bureau customer satisfaction rating. Lots of pictures of smart looking plumbers wearing bow-ties etc. (I'd do the job myself, but don't have the time or the tools handy). I give company the Kohler toilet model number on the phone, and tell them I need a new handle and describe it to them. I don't ask about price. Guy comes yesterday, spends 10 minutes, and says he doesn't have the right Kohler part. None of the six handles he brought along fit. Comes back today with the right part and installs it in 5 minutes. (I timed both visits) Total cost: $354.38 Total work time: 15 minutes. Total labour costs: $278.- (which works out to an hourly charge of $1,112.- per hour!) BTW travel time is negligible—the place is 5 minutes away—and this was during normal business hours. Breakdown: 1. Yesterday's visit charged at "minimum initial visit charge" of $180.- plus $31.- in parts for a piece of copper wire used for a temporary fix, plus taxes. 2. Today's visit charged at "continuation rate" of $98.- per hour(or portion thereof), plus $24.- for the actual part, plus taxes. Total: $354.38 Yes I paid. (Didn't have the time or energy to feck around with this guy.)
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx Last edited by Dottore; 10-15-2009 at 04:04 PM.. |
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10-15-2009, 03:42 PM
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The Unsettler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lantanna TX
Posts: 23,885
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Relative of someone you unsuccessfully defended or represented trying to "get square"?
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"I want my two dollars" "Goodbye and thanks for the fish" "Proud Member and Supporter of the YWL" "Brandon Won" |
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10-15-2009, 03:48 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hamburg & Vancouver
Posts: 7,693
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Quote:
Perhaps you're right.
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx |
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10-15-2009, 03:54 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14,093
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Simple, really.
He added in the Porsche tax. He obviously knows you own an expensive sports car and can afford to pay a "bit" more than other folks. 
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1981 911SC ROW SOLD - JULY 2015 Pacific Blue Wayne |
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10-15-2009, 03:59 PM
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
Posts: 14,164
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Why didn't you repair it yourself?!?
KT
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'74 914-6 2.6 SS #746 '01 Boxster |
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10-15-2009, 03:59 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hamburg & Vancouver
Posts: 7,693
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Quote:
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx |
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10-15-2009, 04:04 PM
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Formerly bb80sc
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hollywood Beach, CA
Posts: 4,361
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Damn, did you get at least get a kiss or some cuddle time afterward?
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Cheers -Brad 2015 Cayman GTS 2015 4Runner Limited |
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10-15-2009, 04:05 PM
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Control Group
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Kohler stuff is very expensive too.
I get far less than that for a house call.
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She was the kindest person I ever met |
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10-15-2009, 04:25 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hamburg & Vancouver
Posts: 7,693
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Quote:
Unheard of in these parts!
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx |
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10-15-2009, 04:34 PM
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
Posts: 14,164
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Hmmm.
Just for reference: You can do this job, including travel time, shopping, a disposable pair of pliers and install for about $20 and one hour... Just sayin' KT
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'74 914-6 2.6 SS #746 '01 Boxster |
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10-15-2009, 04:38 PM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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A cheap tool set at Home Depot + parts, about $40. I'm sure the plumbers are laughing about this one.
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10-15-2009, 05:12 PM
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Registered
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you sure it wasn't a Ducati toilet?
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10-15-2009, 05:17 PM
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Band.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 13,333
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Quote:
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1983 SC Coupe 1963 BMW R60/2 1972 Triumph Tiger 1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII |
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10-15-2009, 05:19 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14,093
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I purchased a pretty good set of basic tools to leave at my mom's house for such emergencies.
I once ended up replacing her shower controls while chasing down a leak for my parents............on a Sunday.............without access to Home Depot or Lowes. it didn't match but it worked. 
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1981 911SC ROW SOLD - JULY 2015 Pacific Blue Wayne |
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10-15-2009, 05:25 PM
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Registered
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you also could have just gone outside and pee'd behind the garage or something...
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10-15-2009, 05:33 PM
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Navin Johnson
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Wantagh, NY
Posts: 8,808
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What is wrong with the story is you...
The few times I need a repairman in my house.. When he enters the house I ask him for a ballpark estimate before he does any work. If his estimate isn't crazy, "yes go ahead" If he tells me $500 to replace a flush valve.. Its adios...
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Don't feed the trolls. Don't quote the trolls  http://www.southshoreperformanceny.com '69 911 GT-5 '75 914 GT-3 and others |
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10-15-2009, 05:40 PM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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Shoe string would have worked
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10-15-2009, 05:41 PM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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That's what we do round here in the sticks.... Hell I can change the flush lever in my toilet in 5mins with just my leatherman
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10-15-2009, 05:41 PM
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I've had this happen on a few toilets and always got some cheap, Chinese junk kit at Home Depot and fixed it myself in 15 min. Never cost more than about $10. For what you paid, you could have bought all Snap-On tools for the job and still done it in less time than it takes to drive to a hardware store.
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2022 BMW 530i 2021 MB GLA250 2020 BMW R1250GS |
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10-15-2009, 06:00 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mid-life crisis, could be anywhere
Posts: 10,382
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Moral of the story: Learn to fix it yourself. Even if you're a hack. I suck at fixing things, yet I will fix almost anything.
Things I won't do: Drywall & texturing Copper piping Changing oil in the cars. Motorcycles - no problem Hmmmm..... can't think of anything else.
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'95 993 C4 Cabriolet Bunch of motorcycles |
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10-15-2009, 06:05 PM
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2004 Mazda Miata
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
1986 Porsche 944 2.5l
Only Porsche
Only bike
