[ChrisBennet]

My water heat stopped making hot water the other day and my sweetie called the people who installed it to come and check it out. They told her it was $35 for a visit.

The plumber comes out and replaces the thermocouple.

The bill was $35 for the visit and $195 for the thermocouple (an $11 part at the local hardware store) for a total of $230.

I don't have a problem with someone coming out on a Saturday and charging $230 for the visit. I just don't like them saying they charge $35 for a visit and then marking up a part price over 1000 % to cover the real cost of the visit.

In other words, it they said they charged $195 for the visit and $35 for the thermocouple I'd be all right with that.

Is this a commong practice with plumbers?

-Chris
P.S. I'm switching plumbers to a friend of mine.