Wiser

Absolutely!!! We are in the service business. What is the point on fixing one running toilet that the customer hears, when chances are the 2nd toilet is leaking and they don't know it.

However, we use it as a service to our customers - NOT for the purpose of lining our pockets. General rule of thumb, we treat our customers the way we would want to be treated.

It works for us and we can sleep at night. We may never be wealthy, but we will be HAPPY!

Cal

The extra work is not my peeve !! It's the ALWAYS wanting something for nothing attitude that just pisses me OFF !! Sure I do it , I charge more money and make the customer happy. I just can't stand the ones who treat you like an enemy , or a "gouger " . I am in the service of others , don't treat me like I OWE you something .

Cal

Plumberman

I did a sewer repipe last week. Quoted a price for digging up the line, fixing the leak and busting up a sidewalk and pouring it back. It was on the lower end and we were going to discount the HO cause she was a first timer. Finished the job in 6hrs just like I had quoted. I tried to save her grass the best I could. Put back what parts we could. She said we didnt put her grass back like it originaly was. I explained to her that I wasnt a landscaper and that is why her price was low. I told her if she wanted to have it landscaped then the price would go up. It was a NTE price which excluded landscaping. Residental is hit or miss sometimes HO understand sometimes they dont.

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Chad-LJP 6656-LMG Installer/Brazer
UA Local 659

smellslike$tome

I remember an old guy that read me the riot act not very long at all after I first switched to flat rate. I mean it was so new to me that I was nervous and stumbled through the whole presentation. When I finished quoting him the pricing for everything he just glared at me as if I was holding him up at gun point. He started fussing and moaning and carrying on and I remember him saying something like "whatever happened to the days when a job cost $30 and was done ...". I restrained my laughter and let him go on a bit but finally I just had to cut him off and said "sir, I'll be more than happy to serve you and I will do excellent work but this is what it will cost you. Would you like for me to go ahead and take care of this for you or will you be finding someone else?" To my amazement he grumbled and told me to go ahead. Go figure.

In the end it really doesn't matter what they think what matters is whether they authorize the work. They don't have to like it they just have to accept it. My wife drives a mini van with 200k on it. We are having to take it to the shop with increasing frequency. I don't like much of anything my mechanic has to say to me. I don't have to like it, I just have to accept it and pay it.

smellslike$tome

This is why it should be written on the quote "finish to rough grade only". Write everything down and have them sign it.

Wiser

Smells - do you charge a show up fee?

Herk

Not so - you use the same plastic cutter with a heavier wheel for PVC. I had a plumber who used a hacksaw. This was the good ol' days of ABS when it was solid core - he'd cut halfway through and break it. Geez, but he could put pipe in fast. Of course it slowed things down when it started leaking in the wall behind expensive cabinets . . .

I have always used the cutter. And I've done both ABS and PVC with it.

OldPlumber

Smells said: This is why you ask them "Is there anything else I might help you with today" after you complete the task list but before you put everything up.

Never get upset about the request for additional work to be done since this means more revenue which is why you are in business to begin with isn't it, more revenue?

How does someone complain about a customer asking for more work to be done and then complain that business is slow or bad?

I should have been more precise .. I 'Always' ask if that's everything prior to putting my tools away and getting my ticket book. I pride myself on letting the customer know of anything and everything I find while there and allow them to decide what additional work (if any) they want done.

What I meant by my response was. Some people figure they can wait to the last possible minute .. ask for more and get it for free, or really cheap. I'll try to make sure to dot all the i's and cross all the t's so nobody 'assumes' anything wrong about me again ?

para1

always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ft. worth plumber . plumber dallas . keller plumber . plumber benbrook. plumber arlington

Alan

The journeyman i normally ride with is TERRIBLE about that. Run to the truck and grab my __________. So I run, and it's not where it normally should be. Run back. OK, I can't find the stupid thing. Oh, I probably didn't put it where it goes. It's either ________ or _________ or in _____________... I actually don't know....

WTF?

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Journeyman Plumber