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I think I may have posted something similar before, but the more I think about this guys email the more angry I get.
Here it is with my comments and of course all identifying names etc changed.
On January 11, 2007 I had some plumbing work done in my home by your technician. The service was great (that's awsome because we spend a lot time and money on it, and trainng); your technician arrived promptly as scheduled, and did a great job. (Fantastic, because a lot goes into finding qualified LICENSED plumbers.)
However, I am concerned about the price I was charged for this service. (uh oh, here it comes) I understand how menu pricing works, and how it is my price guarantee in case there are problems and delays. (very good, so far) And, Technician quoted the price to me before beginning the job, (exactly so you knew what you were getting into then) and I accepted the price before he started. (ok so what's the problem, the service was great, the work was great, you knew what you were getting into?) But, I also had an expectation that your menu pricing is based on the usual time it takes to complete a job. (We know that, but you do not. That is why you call us) Your website states "Mechanics look up the amount of time and parts required in a menu rate repair manual and quote a firm price. They know how long it takes to do a job, and so do we". (and your point?)
So, based on the quoted price, I expected the job to take several hours. (why did you expect that? Remember the old cliche about what happens when you assume) However, technician was completely finished in less than 90 minutes. (Good job technician, efficient and competent) As I supplied the majority of the parts required, this job was mostly labour. I was charged $452.13 plus tax at the "Value Rate" pricing (service call $39, install faucet $196.25, install sink $145.00, UPP $71.88 (to qualify for value pricing)). (Yes and you agreed to that in writing.)
I feel a more reasonable rate for this job would have been $159 as shown below. I was charged nearly $300 more than this. (where the hell do you get off deciding what a licensed plumber should make? Also there is more than goes into a service call than just the techinicans time. There is the fully stocked truck, the office expenses, the cost to host a web site, so you can go to it and quote it back to us. Oh and my time to have to deal with your sniviling little ass.)
service call $39.00
1.5 hours @ $60/hour $90.00
materials $30.00
TOTAL $159.00 + tax
I would appreciate your response to my concerns, and am seeking a partial refund of the amount I was charged. (yeah I'll get right on that, and as soon as the owners stop calling you every name in the book, I'll respond with a very carefully worded response basically telling you to go pound salt.)
Sincerely,
Mr. Cheapskate
So the guy got great service, by qualified people, and knew about what he was getting ahead of time, but now, the next day he decides that plumbers make too much. Dude if you want to pay Wal-mart prices you get Wal-mart service, if you want Premium service, you pay premium prices. (nothing against Wal-mart people, just trying to make a point)
Here it is with my comments and of course all identifying names etc changed.
On January 11, 2007 I had some plumbing work done in my home by your technician. The service was great (that's awsome because we spend a lot time and money on it, and trainng); your technician arrived promptly as scheduled, and did a great job. (Fantastic, because a lot goes into finding qualified LICENSED plumbers.)
However, I am concerned about the price I was charged for this service. (uh oh, here it comes) I understand how menu pricing works, and how it is my price guarantee in case there are problems and delays. (very good, so far) And, Technician quoted the price to me before beginning the job, (exactly so you knew what you were getting into then) and I accepted the price before he started. (ok so what's the problem, the service was great, the work was great, you knew what you were getting into?) But, I also had an expectation that your menu pricing is based on the usual time it takes to complete a job. (We know that, but you do not. That is why you call us) Your website states "Mechanics look up the amount of time and parts required in a menu rate repair manual and quote a firm price. They know how long it takes to do a job, and so do we". (and your point?)
So, based on the quoted price, I expected the job to take several hours. (why did you expect that? Remember the old cliche about what happens when you assume) However, technician was completely finished in less than 90 minutes. (Good job technician, efficient and competent) As I supplied the majority of the parts required, this job was mostly labour. I was charged $452.13 plus tax at the "Value Rate" pricing (service call $39, install faucet $196.25, install sink $145.00, UPP $71.88 (to qualify for value pricing)). (Yes and you agreed to that in writing.)
I feel a more reasonable rate for this job would have been $159 as shown below. I was charged nearly $300 more than this. (where the hell do you get off deciding what a licensed plumber should make? Also there is more than goes into a service call than just the techinicans time. There is the fully stocked truck, the office expenses, the cost to host a web site, so you can go to it and quote it back to us. Oh and my time to have to deal with your sniviling little ass.)
service call $39.00
1.5 hours @ $60/hour $90.00
materials $30.00
TOTAL $159.00 + tax
I would appreciate your response to my concerns, and am seeking a partial refund of the amount I was charged. (yeah I'll get right on that, and as soon as the owners stop calling you every name in the book, I'll respond with a very carefully worded response basically telling you to go pound salt.)
Sincerely,
Mr. Cheapskate
So the guy got great service, by qualified people, and knew about what he was getting ahead of time, but now, the next day he decides that plumbers make too much. Dude if you want to pay Wal-mart prices you get Wal-mart service, if you want Premium service, you pay premium prices. (nothing against Wal-mart people, just trying to make a point)
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