Oh, then there are CUSTOMERS

[Another-Plumber]

I once charged this guy $145 to replace a dip tube in his water heater, i shut off the water, drained the system, removed all the necessary parts, replaced the tube, nipple and new copper flex in like 20 MINS,turned water back on, checked for leaks.... THIS DUDE FLIPPED OUT... i told him i fixed the problem, diagnosed the issue correctly, installed all new parts. all for $145... he called me a price gouger and a rip off artist, i told him, if im such a rip off artist ,"good luck with a different plumber in the future..watch this" as i walked away... and not charged him a thing... customers like that can eat shait and die, i wont stoop so low and beg for fools work like that, what he wanted off the bill? 20? next time Im sure you will be sold a new waterheater and leave you with cold water when you flip out, .. just dont call me, its NOT my problem...LOL

[lordofthepipes]

copper flex???

[havasu]

Originally Posted by Another-Plumber

I once charged this guy $145 to replace a dip tube in his water heater....

Was the customer provided a written estimate prior to the work being done?

[Chris]

Many times I try and take my time and double and triple check things on smaller yet profitable jobs so it doesn't seem like I am just running in and running out asking for money. Many people have no idea what kind of schooling and job experience you have had to get to be able to do what you do so well and no clue what it cost to run a business with all the permits, licenses and insurance we need to legally run a succesful business. You also can't blame someone for not wanting let go of their hard earned money so quickly. I know I hate to do it.

[Mr_David]

Got one similar. Had an Old Blue hair in La Jolla. $ not a problem.
Fixed her toilet. She ahd a broken hinge on the seat. I had a brand new seat on the truck for only $15. She started ranting about why I didn't havea hinge on my truck and why did she have to buy a whole seat.

I got a bucket full of stories.
It's your fault Another-Plumber, You started this thread.

I had a slab leak. T&M.
Located it and determined to be much easier to reroute than to open the tile floor.
Time I walked in, untill I was done with the reroute, it was only 3 1/2 hrs.
I handed her the bill and she went Off.
"NO NO NO, I not pay you to pick up tools. You done at 3 o'clock. You try rip me OFF"
My tools did not jump off my truck on their own and they weren't going to jump back on by themselves.
I told her if she takes up any more of my time I'll add another 1/2 hr on to the bill.
She paid me. I then tossed a $1 on the counter as I walked out.
It was for the soda she gave me earlier.

[Another-Plumber]

Originally Posted by lordofthepipes

copper flex???

of course I dont play with trash

Was the customer provided a written estimate prior to the work being done?
Nope, it was VERBAL, I was clear to what i was going to do, for the price, like with all my customers. upfront pricing.

Mr David, thats why i started this thread, cuzz i have many many many stories, i used to work at drain patrol, and OMG, shiat i used to do..

I always decline the drink, as soon as they offer i know the game..

[Another-Plumber]

I started at Drain Patrol in 1993 after being a helper so i did not have one on one time with customers, and you know DP, they train you for a week and off you go.. my first call on my own was a recall k-sink drain. The job was in Del Mar ocean front home, show up and some hot young babe answers the door, im like great all nervous already, im sorry but she was bangin.. she shows me the sink, i ask her about a C/O and she takes me in the garage, 2 Red Ferraris in the garage, im like damn... do I qualify for this kind of shait? great hot girl, super rich, im nervous, all im thinking i have to get outta here before i mess something up. (no lie) i snaked the drain, and as i tell her im done, she say she has a leak she wants me to look at.. she opens the pantry door and there is mold all on this one wall, i mean bad too like its been leaking for months... aprox 10 feet all along the bottom, just ruined... i know NOW what the prob was then, hot side leak or drain, but i told her, um ok, ill tell dave or eric, whomevers re-call i was on, and he will come out there and check it out.... DAMN, what ill do to get that call today.

[Mr_David]

Originally Posted by Another-Plumber

i used to work at drain patrol, .

OMG
That's where I started my plumbing career. Sort of.
'85-'87
Scott Buck was a Carpet Cleaner when he took over the business.
It was a Drain Patrol/Clean Patrol.
They were located in Kearny Mesa on Mercury near Ferguson Plbg Supply.
I was there with Ross Siebert and Gary Leroy.
The crew was only about 6 or 8 guys.
The three of us left and went to work for Tweed Fox.
I heard Greg Married Sandi.

You're not Greg, are you? Don't want to put my foot in my mouth and say something I shouldn't. JK. I know you're not Greg. That was one nasty guy.
There was this crazy guy. He left and started his own thing NILE plumbing.

[Mr_David]

First call in the morning. I knock on the door.
It opens. She is standing there soaking wet holding a towel to her chest.
Not wrapped just holding it.
" Oh! you're early come on in"
She turned around and when upstairs. NICE!
She wasn't a spring chicken but still nice.
She got dressed ,came back down and showed me her plbg problem.
I'm thinking Okay what do I do if she's lookin' for a different type of service other than what I was called here for.
About 20 minutes later this really big guy comes out of the back room.
She introduces me to him.
"This is my son."
HOLY COW.
Well I guess I was just there to fix the sink.

[havasu]

No guts.....no glory!