Heating company rip off!!!!

Well, I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I have to get this out before I kill 1 of the dogs! Yesterday I was informed by the wife that something is wrong with the furnace.The temp in the house was only 52 degrees. She knew it at 7:30 AM and didn’t bother to call me and left a message on the cell phone while I was at work. I got the message at 4:00! So home I scoot and the temp is still 52 degrees. Sweet! But yes,there is a problem with it. Call up a local private company here in the Hastings area and the kid showed up very quickly. Did an outstanding job! Very happy with the Hourly rate. I was charged for a $25 part 1000% more. $212!!! At any rate, The total of the bill was $389. I called another 2 other local companies and they told me they charge about $50 for the part. And that if they had done it, the cost would have been around $225-$250. Here I tried to give the little guy some buisness and got totally raped! I have a letter going in the mail today and am hoping to get a call from them to discuss the billing. If I don’t get a call by next week, the name will be made public,and they WILL NOT GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM ME!!!

This is the oldest trick in the book… of course everybody else would have done it cheaper… with better parts… and threw in a box of free steaks too… after the fact.

What did the “little guy” spend for time on diagnosing the issue ?? As opposed to the 2 guys on the phone that you called and told the problem to ?? Zip !!!

Why wouldn’t you call the little guy and ask him why the $25 part was $212 ??? Way better than a letter in my opinion. Good Luck

big G

No call call the BBB of MN. and file a complaint

Better yet, show up at the shop and get bids from the other guy showing the same part. Than ask them why they are so much cheaper for the part.

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This is the oldest trick in the book… of course everybody else would have done it cheaper… with better parts… and threw in a box of free steaks too… after the fact.

What did the “little guy” spend for time on diagnosing the issue ?? As opposed to the 2 guys on the phone that you called and told the problem to ?? Zip !!!

Why wouldn’t you call the little guy and ask him why the $25 part was $212 ??? Way better than a letter in my opinion. Good Luck

big G

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Could not agree more…Buyer beware…Sucks but its always easy to kick and scream after the fact…RR

Forget the BBB. They are just another scam company in my opinion. If you want your voice heard about this company make a review on google places or maps. Sounds to me like they got most of the job done right. Showed up promptly, figured out what was wrong properly, repaired it quickly. Be happy that was all done properly. There are plenty of companies that would not of even got that right and possibly cost you a lot more.

Did they give you a price up front?

Want a good BBB rating ??? Become a paying member. Want a bad one, don’t….

big G

Want to really get em. Put a ad in the paper. I mean big add, or contact the paper tell them you want to buy a front page slot. spend the money, they wont be getting much business after that article or add is printed

I used to tease this guy because he had issues with some business and his threat was to put a bad review on Angie’s List.

Angieslist. Ive heard about it, I’ve seen it but how many really use it? Not many because you have to PAY to use it.

I know these other companies and they are very well known. No.He diagnosed the problem and put in the new part right away. No mention of the cost. G, the point I’m trying to make is companies won’t be around long if they continue to jack up their prices on parts.You work for a dealership….Do you increase the price of parts on a car by 1000%? I don’t think the dealership would get much buisiness. I really don’t think so….. I did call the kid 1st. and asked him why a $212 instead of $50..He told me they use interchangable parts and they’re more expensive…..Really????

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Could not agree more…Buyer beware…Sucks but its always easy to kick and scream after the fact…RR

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Easy to say till you’re the one held over the barrel. Shopping around is all well-and-good, but when you’re house is in the low-50’s in mid-January, shopping around isn’t the first thing your mind.

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Could not agree more…Buyer beware…Sucks but its always easy to kick and scream after the fact…RR

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Easy to say till you’re the one held over the barrel. Shopping around is all well-and-good, but when you’re house is in the low-50’s in mid-January, shopping around isn’t the first thing your mind.

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Thank you Ralph!

Just curious, what part did he install??

Like Mike W said, he came and repaired the problem, and evidently the furnace is still working.

He didn’t mention cost of part (his fault) and you didn’t ask (your fault).

I’d call the owner of the shop and discuss it with him politely, if they refuse to negotiate, advise them your going elsewhere and consider it a learning experience.

Al

This is more info then…. did the other guys use interchangeable parts ? I will say, teh parts we sell here are more money… but they also come with the best warranty in the business. Although no part is marked up more than 300%, for a really small widget. MOst are 40%.

big G

Chappy, I know how it feels to have to pay the mark-up on parts. I have customers constantly ask why “I am so expensive”. Something to remember is this: That company has to not only carry that part in their truck, they have to warranty that part in case it fails in 30 days or so. Also “universal” parts are typically carried because there are so many makes and models of equipment out there today that you can’t carry the OEM part for every furnace. These parts are more because of their versatility.

Companies also have to pay that guy to be on-call so that when the phone rings at midnight someone answers it and the customer is taken care of.

I agree 1000% markup is a little high but I doubt they marked the part up that much.

I hope everything works out in your favor

Good post there, Scott.

-J.

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Could not agree more…Buyer beware…Sucks but its always easy to kick and scream after the fact…RR

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Easy to say till you’re the one held over the barrel. Shopping around is all well-and-good, but when you’re house is in the low-50’s in mid-January, shopping around isn’t the first thing your mind.

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Thank you Ralph!

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…You just made my point…Your house is warm…as Mike Tice would say,”Enjoy the season!”…
I’ve been ripped off before but will never go back at someone for services rendered if I agreed at the point when I wrote the check…RR

I don’t mean any offense at all, and by all means if you can afford it, pay it. For me, it breaks, I go to the web and find the correct forum, get the most commonly repeated advice, and fix it myself most times. I know heating is a timely issue right now, but it could have been something that is easily (and for the most part safely) such as a limit switch that can be cheated until the part comes or you find one local. Until I can afford $120 shop times and significantly marked up parts, I’ll fix my appliances with repairclinic.com, my cars with the titantalk and vwforums, my furnance and such with hearthnet. The only site that has not really helped me at all is this one, I still can’t catch fish no matter what you guys tell me!

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Good post there, Scott.

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I’ve been in the same position last winter with the furnace at the cabin – 600.00. And this winter with my house furnace – another 600.00. I didn’t want to check prices afterwards because I’m sure I would not have been happy. I was just happy I got both of them fixed on the spot.

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Could not agree more…Buyer beware…Sucks but its always easy to kick and scream after the fact…RR

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Easy to say till you’re the one held over the barrel. Shopping around is all well-and-good, but when you’re house is in the low-50’s in mid-January, shopping around isn’t the first thing your mind.

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By the same token, he responded quickly and fixed it…. could the others do that ??(of course they will say yes, after the fact ) Same situation, different scenario…. your on the phone, house at 50′.. company says “sure I can be there in 30 minutes and I have universal parts, so I can almost assure you, it will be fixed tonight, but I am $150 more than the guy who will be there in the morning, and he may or may not have the correct part, because they stock only the brands they install”… what would you do ??? Be honest…. Not siding with anyone here. What is the P/N of the installed widget Chappy… maybe we can find a price on-line and see how much mark-up there really was….

big G

“””””
but it could have been something that is easily (and for the most part safely) such as a limit switch that can be cheated until the part comes or you find one local. “”””

There is no such thing as jumpering or removing a safety device or limit safely, they are there for a purpose.
imho

Al

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Want to really get em. Put a ad in the paper. I mean big add, or contact the paper tell them you want to buy a front page slot. spend the money, they wont be getting much business after that article or add is printed

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I think once you find out the cost to do this add you might find it more appropriate to take the lumps and move on with life. Call the owner and discuss the pricing on the part you might be surprised.

From a guy in the industry. Call the company and in a respectful manner, ask about the bill. The company charged markup on a product, we really don’t know what the markup was, but ask to see the invoice and what they paid for it. Most businesses are happy to show you this becasue we don’t want any bad feelings from customers. I would dig up the invoice and who it to you and explain the markup.

Give them a chance. I am not saying what they did was right if it was a high markup, but let them explain before jumping to conclusions. It seems like you have given other HVAC companies the chance to bad mouth their competitors, without giving them the chance to explain.

Now if they are a “finger poke” to you on the phone, by all means smack the heck out of them.

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Angieslist. Ive heard about it, I’ve seen it but how many really use it? Not many because you have to PAY to use it.

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A lot of people must use it for them to be able to afford national TV ads.

It’s a pretty good business scheme for them too. They make people pay so that you don’t get a lot of “fake” reviews.

Now back to the previously scheduled topic.

I hate to say it but must take the heating guys side here. you had a chance to say give me an estimate and i’ll be in touch. Last i checked this is still a free country and if so called heating company want to mark up parts even 10000% it is there choice and even more so your choice to use them. Given todays economy everythhing is price driven. More and more I see cheaper is better no matter the quality. Some even go as far as cheaper and still expect the same quality.
And yes been there done it I once paid ford $79 dollars to replace a fuse cause my power mirros quit working. Yes I complained, did me no good but made me feel better
Suck it up… shoulda got an estimate

The bright side is the sun will come up tomorrow.

Did you know………….both a veterinarian and a heart specialist are considered doctors in the business of fixing medical problems?

Sometimes it pays to get something done right, and done right away.

They didn’t rip you off. You simply didn’t shop around. Considering what frozen pipes would’ve cost you, and the fact that you probably went to bed warm, I’d say you got off pretty cheap. Have a beer and chalk it up as a learning moment.

Problem with estimates is, your probably not going to get anything but a labor rate before the tech shows up and after they are there you’ll most likely get charged for his call, might as well have then fix it at that time.

It at least tells you who you won’t call the next time..

Ya got heat…that’s what counts I guess.

Al

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“””””
but it could have been something that is easily (and for the most part safely) such as a limit switch that can be cheated until the part comes or you find one local. “”””

There is no such thing as jumpering or removing a safety device or limit safely, they are there for a purpose.
imho

Al

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I politely disagree, and my reasons are based on simple affordability, and a little knowledge, and a measure of risk vs. reward. A $600 hit right now for me would be really ugly, and I don’t agree that disabling a safety device is always a for sure no-no in EVERY situation.

If it’s between my pipes freezing and jumping a limit switch while I’m present until it is fixed correctly, I’m getting out the paperclip to save some money.