“Professionals” ripping people off…

[rivermobster]

I was going to teach him for free you thief.

Well I am a professional, sooooo...

Just trying live up to the reputation.

 

[lbhsbz]

Not incompetence one bit. You find a service tech that can make that repair in the field on a modern board and you found yourself a damn unicorn. These are extremely finite boards that would require magnifying glasses and such to do. One of those techs I trained used to build circuit boards for a living and was damn good at it. Even he said its really not a feasible field repair. It would even be difficult in a shop and at that point would cost as much or more than a new board.

Any more condescending comments on the subject?

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Soldering is not rocket surgery. Hell…you can even leave the old relay there and solder on leads for a remote relay.

Takes 15 minutes tops.

If I’m paying $200+ for a service call, I expect to get my money’s worth. If a “tech” can’t solder a new relay in place in 20 minutes during his first call, for another hour or so of labor, then I’ll have to pay for another service call, labor, and whatever outrageous price that the magic board goes for…which I think is bullshit.

 

[paradise]

So for those of you saying $x is outrageous or shouldn’t be allowed, how much are people allowed to make in your book? Is it a specific dollar amount or is it a percentage? Someone puts the time, money and effort to start and run that business they should make as much as they can.

If you think it’s easy and they are just gouging, you can start a business and undercut them. Free market and all…

 

[McKay]

I struggle with these scenarios. If I tell you it cost $200 an hour for me to diagnose the problem, I’m taking advantage in the eyes of the customer.

If I replace a broken part for $500 plus labor we are the hero. And we really took advantage.

What I really hate is charging someone an hourly rate to not fix anything.

Edit: perfect scenario.

I show up to a home and the garage power, garage fridge/freezer, HVAC FAU and garage openers are all dead.

I throw a meter on the panel and every circuit is good to go. I’m thinking a bad GFCI but every single one I look at is good to go.

Finally I see up in the corner a janky junction box with a door bell transformer. I ask if the Ring Doorbell is new? Of course our “friend” helped us install it.

Well they didn’t make up the box correctly and the hots arced and burned up the wire nut. A new wire nut and 3 turns with my linemans and the issue was fixed.

So what would you charge for roughly 30mins of diagnosis plus travel time?

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We treat service and or T&M work like the plague. Just too hard to make good money at it.

 

[DMF]

We treat service and or T&M work like the plague. Just too hard to make good money at it.

I hate doing service work mainly because of this issue. Especially, residential service!

 

[wishiknew]

That’s pretty rare now a days too. By that time it’s too late. You aren’t going to flip a job at that stage. We spend most our time at city council meetings. We get them before the project is even approved.

Oh I don’t know about that I was in Newport Beach and saw the non union people paid by union to stand behind the shame on Marriot signs If you want to complain about non union then send Union members to do your dirty work

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Soldering is not rocket surgery. Hell…you can even leave the old relay there and solder on leads for a remote relay.

Takes 15 minutes tops.

If I’m paying $200+ for a service call, I expect to get my money’s worth. If a “tech” can’t solder a new relay in place in 20 minutes during his first call, for another hour or so of labor, then I’ll have to pay for another service call, labor, and whatever outrageous price that the magic board goes for…which I think is bullshit.

Did you read what I wrote? It's really not feasible in the field. And that is coming from a guy that built circuit boards for a living.

I challenge you to find a company that would replace a relay on a modern board. It does not happen. Period.

Sorry, but your expectation is nowhere near reality.

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[BHC Vic]

Oh I don’t know about that I was in Newport Beach and saw the non union people paid by union to stand behind the shame on Marriot signs If you want to complain about non union then send Union members to do your dirty work

See I don’t believe that because my dad was the one standing there. Retired postal worker 38 years. Both sons union carpenters. I think he gets paid 15 bucks an hour

 

[lbhsbz]

Did you read what I wrote? It's really not feasible in the field. And that is coming from a guy that built circuit boards for a living.

I challenge you to find a company that would replace a relay on a modern board. It does not happen. Period.

Sorry, but your expectation is nowhere near reality.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

We treat service and or T&M work like the plague. Just too hard to make good money at it.

Why not?…aside from the fact that your guy said so?

You’ve already tested the relay and proved it bad…so you have access to the board. Walk down to the truck, grab a relay and you butane soldering iron and spend another 15 minutes fixing it. Then you don’t have to waste any more time, you can make a decent profit, and the customer doesn’t have to wait for the part to come in and the part installer to come back out.

 

[wishiknew]

See I don’t believe that because my dad was the one standing there. Retired postal worker 38 years. Both sons union carpenters. I think he gets paid 15 bucks an hour

He is not union behind that sign nor are the minumim wage people behind the sign

 

[wishiknew]

Send union carpenters

 

[BHC Vic]

Send union carpenters

They do. The reps are there as well. I’ve got pictures of me there too
Hemburg Ford in norco.
I really prefer not to do stuff like this though. I’m an instructor not a rep

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Why not?…aside from the fact that your guy said so?

You’ve already tested the relay and proved it bad…so you have access to the board. Walk down to the truck, grab a relay and you butane soldering iron and spend another 15 minutes fixing it. Then you don’t have to waste any more time, you can make a decent profit, and the customer doesn’t have to wait for the part to come in and the part installer to come back out.

The connections are too small and close to eachother to do without magnification and extra light, along with a steady holder for the board. AKA a shop set-up. Also, many new boards are sealed on the backside.

I'm sorry, but you are not right on this one. If an individual wanted to do their own, go for it. It MAY save you some money. As a company and a service tech, there is almost ZERO upside to doing so and that is one of the MANY reasons why NO COMPANIES replace relays on a board. That, along with the fact that service techs are NOT circuit board technicians. Soldering board connections is a COMPLETELY different world than soldering copper drain lines and such.

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[brgrcru]

Landscape
I asked a guy that we used in the past
To plant 5 Caroline cherry bushes and continue drip system .$1500 quote
I did it for $200. Plus planted 9 bushes .

Told him to give me a quote for same bush
For our back wall
25 bushes dig , trench , mulch , hook up to existing sprinkler .
Quote was $4700
I did it for $800.

I told him . Your ripping people off.
he said “ people are willing to pay , because they are lazy and they are not going to dig and trench .

 

[wishiknew]

Landscape
I asked a guy that we used in the past
To plant 5 Caroline cherry bushes and continue drip system .$1500 quote
I did it for $200. Plus planted 9 bushes .

Told him to give me a quote for same bush
For our back wall
25 bushes dig , trench , mulch , hook up to existing sprinkler .
Quote was $4700
I did it for $800.

I told him . Your ripping people off.
he said “ people are willing to pay , because they are lazy and they are not going to dig and trench .

Should he work to not make money? Everyone wants a deal

 

[hallett21]

Landscape
I asked a guy that we used in the past
To plant 5 Caroline cherry bushes and continue drip system .$1500 quote
I did it for $200. Plus planted 9 bushes .

Told him to give me a quote for same bush
For our back wall
25 bushes dig , trench , mulch , hook up to existing sprinkler .
Quote was $4700
I did it for $800.

I told him . Your ripping people off.
he said “ people are willing to pay , because they are lazy and they are not going to dig and trench .

How long did it take?


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[brgrcru]

How long did it take?


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the 9 plants and sprinklers . maybe have three hours total time

25 plants probably 16 hours

 

[brgrcru]

Should he work to not make money? Everyone wants a deal

really $300 a plant.
how much should he make $1200 on
Labor ?
For 3 hours work

3900 on 16 hours of work
Digging holes and trench

ya you pay it
I’m not .

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Landscape
I asked a guy that we used in the past
To plant 5 Caroline cherry bushes and continue drip system .$1500 quote
I did it for $200. Plus planted 9 bushes .

Told him to give me a quote for same bush
For our back wall
25 bushes dig , trench , mulch , hook up to existing sprinkler .
Quote was $4700
I did it for $800.

I told him . Your ripping people off.
he said “ people are willing to pay , because they are lazy and they are not going to dig and trench .

He’s not wrong. There are plenty of people that will pay.

 

[wishiknew]

really $300 a plant.
how much should he make $1200 on
Labor ?
For 3 hours work

3900 on 16 hours of work
Digging holes and trench

ya you pay it
I’m not .

Your time is not worth anything ? I think not

 

[brgrcru]

Your time is not worth anything ? I think not

all I got is time
Getting ripped off . When I can do the work
Nope
I like working in the yard
That’s great time

 

[rmarion]

my story...
Roofing business owner 32 years... I installed a small roof on a room addition. The owner asked for a quote on a small patio roof. Sure $1,250.00. Owner tells me its a little too much (east side Costa Mesa near backbay).... no problem... so I conduct a little preventative maintenance. Don't even charge him...

15 years later, same customer calls.... Hey Rick, remember me, sure Michael I recognize your voice..good to hear from you... he says... man, its a bit of fresh air hearing your voice...all my past contacts have gone out of business.... no problem, what can I help you with... remember the quote on the patio.... Michael let me check...yep still on my computer... shit 15 years..time flies....
well that's what I want to discuss.... whats your current price... keeping in mind, construction material cost have come down... etc... Michael, I don't know where you are getting that info... but, I'll tell ya what... I'll do the same job for $1,500.00 (WTF, I might have $300 profit, after all said and done)
well, Rick... I had a handyman come by and he said, if I paid for all the materials..he'd do the job....
Michael, I'll tell ya what I'm gonna do.... you pay two of my men... $250 each (granted this was mid 2000) and Supply all the material and I'll schedule the guys and a truck for you.....

well Rick, this handyman gave me a quote for $250.00.... LOL Michael, I won't even get in my truck for that amount..... kinda difficult to keep the lights on, pay fuel. rent, insurance etc....

Michael keep in mind... in 15 years when you call to redo his work.... I'll still be in business...

Great talking with ya....

 

[Melloyellovector]

is It just society in general that has created this unwillingness to repair anything because the second you touch it that the owner assumes you’re liable for everything that happens after that? Like if a mechanic saying you need a new car because the alternator is dead and worried you’ll blame him for when you get a flat tire?

A few things. They likely asked their “pool guy” to diagnose or replace
Most service guys don’t have the slightest idea how to diagnose and or fix a heater.
Out of 100 plus “service guys” I’d put money there is 1 that can do it all. Chemistry, pumps, motors, filters, plumbing, electrical, control systems, salt systems, ozone systems, uv systems, plaster, tile, coping, etc... the list goes on.
Hence why the pool guy gave inflated cost to replace heater. He doesn’t even know current replacement costs.
Go through google search and see how many pool repair specialists you find. Off the top of my head, between Oc, la, IE I can think of about 10 total.
Do you ask the guy at the Carwash how much to fix your motor on your truck? No, you ask a professional.
A professional would tell you. Heater needs to be completely taken apart and cleaned. Because of the rat nests. Then replace every wire internally that has any chew marks or nicks out of them. At that point best to remove heat exchanger and clean and inspect. Doing that now requires all seals and gaskets to be replaced.
You look at it as you got it working. I look at it as I must make it work and have zero liability when I leave
(knowing it’s not going to explode or catch on fire after I leave.

When did society change to, if I have a problem it must be someone else’s fault. I don’t know but it is reality.
If a mechanic suggested you need a new car because you needed an alternator. Maybe it’s because he sees 100 other things this car needs beyond an alternator. Like wiring is chewed up, fuel lines chewed up. By replacing alternator the car now runs. As you leave his shop, the wiring sparks and hits the dripping fuel lines. Car catches fire. You think for a second you would say hey shop, thanks for saving me a buck. You tried. A for effort
Or you would be hey it’s your fault, you owe us a new car. And cash for the traumatic experience. Oh and my kids blankly was in back seat and he’s now mentally destroyed because it gone so he’s needs cash reserves for future mental break downs over his life.

Like I said your goal was to turn it on. And awesome you got it.
Your goal was Not to make sure it is 100% correct because of what could happen when you leave.

You’d think a professional would carry stock of at least capacitors…a simple “send me a picture of the unit” during the initial call and you could grab the common “consumables” for that unit before you head out on the call…of course then you wouldn’t be able to charge for a second service call and a special order part that the customer didn’t know was under $20 more often than not.

That’s a big assumption they were dealing with a professional in the first place.
If your suggesting me as a professional should carry parts I already said I no longer do repairs. Or do very little repairs and certainly don’t stock parts. The common parts most distributors don’t even have on hand anymore.
Who created that mentality. Distribution. It’s all about inventory turns and profits. If a part on the shelf takes up real estate and only sales x amount a year. It becomes a special order part so that real estate can be freed up for every day high dollar profit turns. Where did they learn it from , HVAC and automotive industry. The president and Vice President of the largest distribution company in the world for pools both came from hvac and automotive industry. They made Pool Corp a publicly traded money making machine.
A capacitor for a heater blower is not exactly a common part to fail. Better to determine why it failed.
Heater blowers can and do fail. And usually special order.
A heater blower is a high dollar part and for a service tech to carry 1 means he would need to carry for raypak, Laars, Hayward, pentair, lochinvar, version 1,2 or 3, old style, new style, etc.
Your talking thousands in those parts alone. Plus the common parts, igniters, ignition controls, high limits, control boards, thermistors, fuses, transformers, again for not only version 1,2 or 3, new or old style but also add in millivolt heater parts. This is now a box truck full of parts. Because as you say a professional should have common parts. Now add in plumbing parts, every common motor and motor parts, pump parts for every manufacture, filter parts and grids and cartridges, control system parts, relays, boards, antennas, actuators, pop up cleaner heads. Gonna need a enclosed trailer to carry all this and the common tools and common specialty tools.

A 20 dollar part doesn’t mean that’s the cost for a professional to diagnose and repair. Above I explained why it needs more then just a capacitor.
A customer doesn’t pay for the time it took me for a 30 minute repair.
They’re paying for the 30+ years experience I have to be able to do it in 30 minutes
Could the actual repair be less then what I quoted above, absolutely, or it could be double. That would be determined on site and explained why I’m charging what I’m charging. But I can tell you just from pic alone that heater needs more then a capacitor to not be a fire / explosion hazard.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I can give my perspective. 1 - that’s a minimax nt 1st gen. They are notorious for burner trays being out of adjustment and exploding and catching on fire. 2 - you can see the rat nests and rat shit inside the heater. Notorious for chewing everything up. 3 - I’d charge 300 plus to clean it out before I even diagnosed problem. 150-200 for service call to diagnose problem 4 - discover ok needs capacitor. Now I have to special order and make another trip to come back. Charge another 200 for labor and part. With no guarantees heater will actually fire. Owner is now 700 deep into fixes. If it works, great. If it doesn’t we continue down the rabbit hole chasing fixes. The other problem is it works for a week. Then stops , now the customer calls me back again and expects a free repair because I touched it last.
Exposure to future liability and never ending calls to fix again. No thanks


It’s awesome you have the knowledge to diagnose and fix.
And they likely won’t blame you if it stops in a week/month/next year etc... it will be thank you for extending purchase date a little further out.

I rarely do repairs anymore, so no dog in this fight. Just giving perspective from the other side

I would hope that you would lay out the options to the customer. I have had many "this is probably only going to fix it for a couple of weeks" type repairs last years.

700 < 4000 and if it gets a heater through a season that is a good ROI in my book.

 

[spectra3279]

The connections are too small and close to eachother to do without magnification and extra light, along with a steady holder for the board. AKA a shop set-up. Also, many new boards are sealed on the backside.

I'm sorry, but you are not right on this one. If an individual wanted to do their own, go for it. It MAY save you some money. As a company and a service tech, there is almost ZERO upside to doing so and that is one of the MANY reasons why NO COMPANIES replace relays on a board. That, along with the fact that service techs are NOT circuit board technicians. Soldering board connections is a COMPLETELY different world than soldering copper drain lines and such.

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I can vouch for this. If it's a single layer board then yes it can be done but not by most Joe schmukatellys. If it's a multilayer board, it ain't happening.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[ka0tyk]

I would hope that you would lay out the options to the customer. I have had many "this is probably only going to fix it for a couple of weeks" type repairs last years.

700 < 4000 and if it gets a heater through a season that is a good ROI in my book.

not to mention that’s just a bullshit “it’s going to break in a few weeks” for all you know it could work fine for ten more years. This is exactly what I’m talking about in this whole post. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to use a vacuum and clean something and slap a $8 capacitor in to fix a problem. Instead wants to recommend thousands in replacement that is going to create its own set of problems. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s good. Newer systems generally have more electronics and cheaper hardware to reduce costs and increase profits. What if you messing with the pipes create a leak? What if you get the wiring wrong and short my pool controller, what if you damage something else? What a scam…

 

[C-2]

This thread reminds me of the offroad auto-responder thread - a failed opportunity by a company to establish a relationship with a new client.

Didn't we learn in HS/college not to go for the butt on the first date? lol

 

[Melloyellovector]

not to mention that’s just a bullshit “it’s going to break in a few weeks” for all you know it could work fine for ten more years. This is exactly what I’m talking about in this whole post. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to use a vacuum and clean something and slap a $8 capacitor in to fix a problem. Instead wants to recommend thousands in replacement that is going to create its own set of problems. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s good. Newer systems generally have more electronics and cheaper hardware to reduce costs and increase profits. What if you messing with the pipes create a leak? What if you get the wiring wrong and short my pool controller, what if you damage something else? What a scam…

Relax Nancy, we get it, you fixed it. And you don’t agree with the “pool guy, aka pool service guy, aka more times then not- not a repair guy, aka likely has no idea how to fix a heater in the first place” suggesting it needs a new heater. But blame the industry as a whole because they got advise from the wrong person = scam? Lol , ok
I agree the price he gave to replace is to high, and I agree he never attempted to repair.

Next time you get your boat cleaned/detailed, ask them to diagnose why your drive won’t go into reverse. They suggest to replace your drive with a stock bravo for 35k. Lol. Then you come over and adjust shifter and it works fine now. Go blast the marine industry for being a scam/joke

 

[Mandelon]

Found it:

A giant ship engine failed. The ship’s owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship’s owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!

A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

“What?!” the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything!”

So they wrote the old man a note saying, “Please send us an itemized bill.

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer………………….. $ 2.00

Knowing where to tap…………………….. $ 9,998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!

 

[530RL]

This whole thread is why I think having a relationship with your service/product suppliers matter.

If you always shop for the last penny, you have no relationship other than one that is purely based on a trade that day at that moment.

When you use the same provider, even if they may be a little more up front, you may end up saving a lot of money as they will send one of the few workers that are more experienced and talented that can diagnose and fix.

I've had the same AC guys forever, same plumber, same pool guy, same car dealer group, same A&P for aircraft, same whole house AV guy and on and on. By having a relationship they turn up quick when I have a problem, they understand I get that some repairs may not last forever, and they are more willing to send the senior guy to de-bug.

Also, as surprising as it may sound, because I use them on a repeat basis, many have talked me through a fix more than once on the phone, as they know they are going to get plenty of business from me, and they know that service guy could be better used on a bigger problems. They are not worried about me taking advantage of that 15 minutes on the phone.

My experience is that if every transaction is an independent trade, you end up with service consistent with that day's trade as opposed to a mutually beneficial longer term and bigger picture relationship.

 

[rivermobster]

all I got is time
Getting ripped off . When I can do the work
Nope
I like working in the yard
That’s great time

I'm retired. And I'm Still not doing yard work. F that!

That's right up there with taking out the trash, cleaning the cat box and shit like that there.

Maybe if my dad hadn't of Forced me to do the yardwork, as a kid, I might have a different opinion on the subject...

 

[BHC Vic]

Relax Nancy, we get it, you fixed it. And you don’t agree with the “pool guy, aka pool service guy, aka more times then not- not a repair guy, aka likely has no idea how to fix a heater in the first place” suggesting it needs a new heater. But blame the industry as a whole because they got advise from the wrong person = scam? Lol , ok
I agree the price he gave to replace is to high, and I agree he never attempted to repair.

Next time you get your boat cleaned/detailed, ask them to diagnose why your drive won’t go into reverse. They suggest to replace your drive with a stock bravo for 35k. Lol. Then you come over and adjust shifter and it works fine now. Go blast the marine industry for being a scam/joke

I don’t know why you are so worked up. There’s more shitty pool guys than honest. That’s nothing new. I grew up with Lindsay her dad owns baccarro pools her husband own dc pools. Went to school with Corynne her dad Jeff owns splash. Pools is a HUGE industry. 3 guys on my current street are pool guys. Curtis built my parents pool. They were a spin off of Malins

And then there’s GRADS

 

[Ace in the Hole]

This whole thread is why I think having a relationship with your service/product suppliers matter.

If you always shop for the last penny, you have no relationship other than one that is purely based on a trade that day at that moment.

When you use the same provider, even if they may be a little more up front, you may end up saving a lot of money as they will send one of the few workers that are more experienced and talented that can diagnose and fix.

I've had the same AC guys forever, same plumber, same pool guy, same car dealer group, same A&P for aircraft, same whole house AV guy and on and on. By having a relationship they turn up quick when I have a problem, they understand I get that some repairs may not last forever, and they are more willing to send the senior guy to de-bug.

Also, as surprising as it may sound, because I use them on a repeat basis, many have talked me through a fix more than once on the phone, as they know they are going to get plenty of business from me, and they know that service guy could be better used on a bigger problems. They are not worried about me taking advantage of that 15 minutes on the phone.

My experience is that if every transaction is an independent trade, you end up with service consistent with that day's trade as opposed to a mutually beneficial longer term and bigger picture relationship.

This!!!!

Relationships are EVERYTHING. I know that in my own experience I will walk a regular through something that I could have easy made money on..Hell often time on here I'll do it for a stranger (though I'll freely admit sometimes I forget to reply for a while...life with young kids and a business is busy). A construction firm that I used to be the RME for didn't understand this..I left. I rattled off specs to a guy who was a client in 2018 on Saturday. They were looking to sell and needed to touch up, while I may never make money from him directly again...his realtor is one of my best referral and investor sources.

When it comes to havasu, I refer a lot of people to "my guy" because they deserve/earned it...they do a fair job, and they take care of my issues promptly. That doesn't necessarily mean a discount either. I want to support either guys who have done us right, or guys who have done us right that are also my friends. I'm a firm believer in hiring friends businesses when they deserve it...and helping to ensure their success.

Price shoppers always end up waiting/paying more in the long run..they just don't realize it. If I have an AC issue, I'd about guarantee my guy is on site within a couple hours etc.


One thing I learned on this thread is there are several people here who have no clue the real costs of doing business.

 

[lbhsbz]

This!!!!

Relationships are EVERYTHING. I know that in my own experience I will walk a regular through something that I could have easy made money on..Hell often time on here I'll do it for a stranger (though I'll freely admit sometimes I forget to reply for a while...life with young kids and a business is busy). A construction firm that I used to be the RME for didn't understand this..I left. I rattled off specs to a guy from 2018 on Saturday that while I may never make money from him directly again...his realtor is one of my best referral and investor sources.

When it comes to havasu, I refer a lot of people to "my guy" because they deserve/earned it...they do a fair job, and they take care of my issues promptly. That doesn't necessarily mean a discount either. I want to support either guys who have done us right, or guys who have done us right that are also my friends. I'm a firm believer in hiring friends businesses when they deserve it...and helping to ensure their success.

Price shoppers always end up waiting/paying more in the long run..they just don't realize it. If I have an AC issue, I'd about guarantee my guy is on site within a couple hours etc.


One thing I learned on this thread is there are several people here who have no clue the real costs of doing business.

I think plenty understand the cost of doing business. I think there are a few business owners who don’t understand that customers don’t have money trees in their backyards.

the reason they sell parts for things is because the whole fucking assembly doesn’t always need to be replaced at 20 times the cost.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

I think plenty understand the cost of doing business. I think there are a few business owners who don’t understand that customers don’t have money trees in their backyards.

the reason they sell parts for things is because the whole fucking assembly doesn’t always need to be replaced at 20 times the cost.

Diagnostic time, drive time, insurance for the vehicle, insurance for the employee (liability), labor costs, etc etc. Are there some shady as companies yea....One 6 letter company that starts with a P in havasu comes directly to mind... as well as some others...but for the most part guys are honest or close to it....

What you are confusing is a "parts hanger" and a "technician". Sounds like you have been hiring the former.... Back in Votec this was something that was drilled into us...

 

[lbhsbz]

Diagnostic time, drive time, insurance for the vehicle, insurance for the employee (liability), labor costs, etc etc. Are there some shady as companies yea....One 6 letter company that starts with a P in havasu comes directly to mind... as well as some others...but for the most part guys are honest or close to it....

those costs are the same regardless if they change a capacitor or the entire unit.

wanna charge $300/hour? Fine. Add $40 (markup on a “special order” $10 capacitor) and bring the total to $340. That should also cover a few minutes to vacuum the unit and test it.
A new unit with installation has to be north of $5K.
Which option would you choose as a homeowner?

the part doesn’t even need to be in stock…hell….order $20-30 worth of components for the unit in question when the call comes in and bring them with you…whatever it doesn’t need gets put in stock.

adjust your rate to accommodate this practice and before you know it, every “repair guy” within 30 miles will be calling you for parts because you’re the only one that has them right now. People pay a premium for right now.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

those costs are the same regardless if they change a capacitor or the entire unit.

wanna charge $300/hour? Fine. Add $40 (markup on a “special order” $10 capacitor) and bring the total to $340. That should also cover a few minutes to vacuum the unit and test it.
A new unit with installation has to be north of $5K.
Which option would you choose as a homeowner?

As I added above...

What you are confusing is a "parts hanger" and a "technician". Sounds like you have been hiring the former.... Back in Votec this was something that was drilled into us...

When you are hiring the company spending a ton on commercials etc which option do you think you are getting... as stated above build a relationship with a tech...not a parts hanger who is incentivized financially to pad your ticket.

 

[lbhsbz]

those costs are the same regardless if they change a capacitor or the entire unit.

wanna charge $300/hour? Fine. Add $40 (markup on a “special order” $10 capacitor) and bring the total to $340. That should also cover a few minutes to vacuum the unit and test it.
A new unit with installation has to be north of $5K.
Which option would you choose as a homeowner?

As I added above...

What you are confusing is a "parts hanger" and a "technician". Sounds like you have been hiring the former.... Back in Votec this was something that was drilled into us...

i don’t hire anybody…but have heard lots of stories from those that have. People around here want $500-1000 to replace a water heater. That takes an hour at best…and that includes some pipe work.

 

[WYRD]

That’s why I don’t run a business. I refuse to rip people off. I’d rather work for someone else and earn an honest paycheck than stand behind some of the responses I’ve read here. I’m being 100% honest. I’m not the guy that’s going to nickel and dime somebody to death.matter of fact I just recently did a side job for an inmate. Basically did my part for free because someone else had already jerked them around and I hate that shit.I charged less than some of the “diagnostic fees” and I actually built what they wanted built. Am I going to get rich that way? Fuck no. But I sleep real good at night and helping someone makes me feel better than money. Not everything in this world is about money

True question with no offense intended. If you break something at work that belongs to your company or you mess up something you're working on, do you offer to pay for it?

 

[Ace in the Hole]

i don’t hire anybody…but have heard lots of stories from those that have. People around here want $500-1000 to replace a water heater. That takes an hour at best…and that includes some pipe work.

Oh so this is stories...not personal accounts...got it.

So I'll edit...your friends have hired parts hangers...not techs...and probably based off of commercials they saw instead of hiring a tech who is honest.

 

[JB in so cal]

Anybody seen a hospital bill lately...

 

[lbhsbz]

Anybody seen a hospital bill lately...

That’s why DIYers buy invermectin from the feed store.

 

[lbhsbz]

Oh so this is stories...not person accounts...got it.

So I'll edit...your friends have hired parts hangers...not techs...and probably based off of commercials they saw instead of hiring a tech who is honest.

Friends, family, quotes that I’ve received…there are more parts hangers than technicians because industry standards and enforcement are lacking. On one hand, nobody wants more regulation….on the other hand, lack or regulation floods the field with idiots.
I don’t know the answer, aside from not getting involved and just doing things myself.

 

[WYRD]

I can’t remember the last time there was a strike. Our contract is being negotiated right now. Should know by November delegate meeting what we are getting for the next contract which will probably be a 4 year contract.

thanks to the Council of industrial relations

 

[BHC Vic]

True question with no offense intended. If you break something at work that belongs to your company or you mess up something you're working on, do you offer to pay for it?

True statement. I framed a soffit 3/4” too low on a very high end job. I fucked up. I went in on Saturday with my apprentice and fixed it on my own time.

 

[WYRD]

True statement. I framed a soffit 3/4” too low on a very high end job. I fucked up. I went in on Saturday with my apprentice and fixed it on my own time.

Did you pay your Apprentice? Either way you're not the norm typical attitude out there is boss makes enough he can pay for it

 

[BHC Vic]

Did you pay your Apprentice? Either way you're not the norm typical attitude out there is boss makes enough he can pay for it

I did pay my apprentice. Out of pocket. I understand that if the company doesn’t make money I don’t have a job. Like I said I get it, I just can’t personally do it. It’s like doing work for family and friends. I’m never going to come out on top

 

[BHC Vic]

Another thing I’m bad at is firing people. I hate laying people off. That was in the field or in everyday life. I hate my gardener but I feel bad firing him. I don’t know why and I can’t figure it out. Never had a problem punching someone at the bar right in the mouth. But can’t fire the gardener I don’t like. I would suck as a business owner

 

[TimeBandit]

The one that gets me now are these plumbers that advertise a lot. "$99 drain cleaning" or what have you.

Guy shows up in a minivan with a quarter inch snake and a camera.. then his manager shows up and tells you they need to dig up the slab because you're sewer pipe is no good.

Nobody gets on the roof and snakes through a vent nobody snakes through the clean outs just a half-ass sales job from start to finish.

 

[lbhsbz]

I did pay my apprentice. Out of pocket. I understand that if the company doesn’t make money I don’t have a job. Like I said I get it, I just can’t personally do it. It’s like doing work for family and friends. I’m never going to come out on top

I’ve done the same.