Current Events > $130 plumber bill to fix garbage disposal?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Guy was here maybe 40 minutes. Didn't need any parts or anything...just had to clear up a bit of rust since I hardly use it.

Does this seem fair?
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Yes that is how much house calls cost

Learn to fix things yourself. A new garbage disposal is less than that
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You could have probably fixed it yourself with YouTube and a wrench. Its standard if you dont want to do the work yourself.
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Not really, seems a bit high.
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It costs a lot for plumbers to come out, the labor and parts are generally pretty cheap.
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I guess...

its just...last time i called a locksmith out to my house to unlock and make a key for my car and it took him an hour and it costed me $90. I guess plumbers just charge more for less work.

I wiuld have fixed it myself but you know how rental garbage disposals are....bottom line unit. literally nowhere to use a wrench and jimmy it loose on there lol.
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I charge $100 for the first hour (complete hour or not), and 65 after that, not including parts and materials.

Don't want to pay? Then do the work yourself or risk getting it done wrong by hiring somebody cheaper.
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As someone in the trades, that sounds right.
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okay just making sure that is market value. I'll try to get ky landlord to pay at least part of it.
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HenryAllbright posted...

I guess...

its just...last time i called a locksmith out to my house to unlock and make a key for my car and it took him an hour and it costed me $90. I guess plumbers just charge more for less work.

I wiuld have fixed it myself but you know how rental garbage disposals are....bottom line unit. literally nowhere to use a wrench and jimmy it loose on there lol.

If its a rental why didnt your landlord pay for it
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You forgot his time driving to you, the gas, his time fixing it and his time driving back.
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TheGoldenEel posted...

HenryAllbright posted...

I guess...

its just...last time i called a locksmith out to my house to unlock and make a key for my car and it took him an hour and it costed me $90. I guess plumbers just charge more for less work.

I wiuld have fixed it myself but you know how rental garbage disposals are....bottom line unit. literally nowhere to use a wrench and jimmy it loose on there lol.

If its a rental why didnt your landlord pay for it

they state in the lease agreement that tenants are responsible for unclogging our own drains. disposal wound up being culprit of clog, though.
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HenryAllbright posted...

but you know how rental garbage disposals are....b

Then why the fuck did you call your renter and have them fix it?
Or, buy a good one, install and use it, then swap it back with the old junker when you go to leave.
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GreatEvilEmpire posted...

You forgot his time driving to you, the gas, his time fixing it and his time driving back.

damn. by my math it sounds like plumbers must make at least $100000 a year easily.
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Next time ask up front what the cost is for just coming out. That way u won't be surprised.
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HenryAllbright posted...

GreatEvilEmpire posted...

You forgot his time driving to you, the gas, his time fixing it and his time driving back.

damn. by my math it sounds like plumbers must make at least $100000 a year easily.

Trades do make good money

But remember all the overhead costs and you likely called someone that works for some plumbing company
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HenryAllbright posted...

GreatEvilEmpire posted...

You forgot his time driving to you, the gas, his time fixing it and his time driving back.

damn. by my math it sounds like plumbers must make at least $100000 a year easily.

I guess you should have listened to Mike Rowe.
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Nice.

Cool. Thanks for the info fellas.
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Just use the Allen wrench to turn it. 99% of problems are related to it being stuck. Turn it and it should work.
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KiwiTerraRizing posted...

Just use the Allen wrench to turn it. 99% of problems are related to it being stuck. Turn it and it should work.

My unit doesnt have this feature.
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For that price they should have cleared your drain, and cleaned your pipes if you know what I mean.

Just kidding better than mr sparky wanting $8,000 for a job that normally costs $2,000 that I got done in the end for free.
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Should've called Mario.

Mistere Man posted...

For that price they should have cleared your drain, and cleaned your pipes if you know what I mean.

Just kidding better than mr sparky wanting $8,000 for a job that normally costs $2,000 that I got done in the end for free.

What was the job?
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Mario sucks at plumbing.
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HenryAllbright posted...

KiwiTerraRizing posted...

Just use the Allen wrench to turn it. 99% of problems are related to it being stuck. Turn it and it should work.

My unit doesnt have this feature.

They all do, should be on the bottom
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KiwiTerraRizing posted...

HenryAllbright posted...

KiwiTerraRizing posted...

Just use the Allen wrench to turn it. 99% of problems are related to it being stuck. Turn it and it should work.

My unit doesnt have this feature.

They all do, should be on the bottom

Nope. I even googled it first and looked at pics and videos. mine doesnt have it. thats why I called the plumber. He even confirned that my unit was so bottom of the line it didn't have it. Surprised him a bit.
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Vicious_Dios posted...

Mistere Man posted...

For that price they should have cleared your drain, and cleaned your pipes if you know what I mean.

Just kidding better than mr sparky wanting $8,000 for a job that normally costs $2,000 that I got done in the end for free.

What was the job?

Running new electric lines from the street to the house.
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HenryAllbright posted...

KiwiTerraRizing posted...

HenryAllbright posted...

KiwiTerraRizing posted...

Just use the Allen wrench to turn it. 99% of problems are related to it being stuck. Turn it and it should work.

My unit doesnt have this feature.

They all do, should be on the bottom

Nope. I even googled it first and looked at pics and videos. mine doesnt have it. thats why I called the plumber. He even confirned that my unit was so bottom of the line it didn't have it. Surprised him a bit.

I didnt know they made them without. Wow
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Its pretty much never gonna cost less than $100 for a house call, in any context.
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Mistere Man posted...

Vicious_Dios posted...

Mistere Man posted...

For that price they should have cleared your drain, and cleaned your pipes if you know what I mean.

Just kidding better than mr sparky wanting $8,000 for a job that normally costs $2,000 that I got done in the end for free.

What was the job?

Running new electric lines from the street to the house.

Underground, overhead, 100 or 200 amps?
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Ray_Dorset posted...

Mistere Man posted...

Vicious_Dios posted...

Mistere Man posted...

For that price they should have cleared your drain, and cleaned your pipes if you know what I mean.

Just kidding better than mr sparky wanting $8,000 for a job that normally costs $2,000 that I got done in the end for free.

What was the job?

Running new electric lines from the street to the house.

Underground, overhead, 100 or 200 amps?

Underground to the service panel, whatever amps they had before as the original lines got pulled down by a sink hole.

The power company was responsible as they buried them in a bad spot so they covered the cost, but the electrician said it normally costs around $2,000, and mr sparky likes to jack up the price as they get a commission on their work.
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I've worked at a plumbing company for 3 years. That's a fair price for his time. Our minimum price to do ANY work is $125, although sometimes if it's crazy simple and we solve the problem in 2 minutes we make an exception.

It does depend on your area, too. Here in the Bay Area we'd probably be a little more expensive than places elsewhere.

You have to understand that in that 40 minutes he could have made money elsewhere at another call. Contractors do have to take this into account when charging, and $130 is a decent balance between making a profit and not ripping you off.
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"Found your problem. The switch is off."
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