The Honest Plumber

Strangler Lewis · 06-03-2007, 08:07 AM

This could be the heady title of a spy novel, but I digress . . .

Since most of our plumbing issues had been dealt with through the home warranty company, I'd never really had to shop for plumbers before. Once, we had a kitchen faucet installed as a side job to a warranty job, and that went fairly painlessly. About an hour's work for $80 or 90.

This time we needed a new faucet installed on our ridiculous pedestal sink in the downstairs bathroom. A different plumber that had been sent out from the warranty company had declared that he couldn't fix it or find the necessary parts.

The faucet had only been leaking for a year or so, so once the new faucet arrived from Home Depot, we wanted it in quickly. I left a message at the first plumber, but they were gone for the day on Friday. I then called a "flat rate" company with a big ad in the yellow pages. The dispatcher couldn't give me an estimate, but said the guy would come out on Saturday for free to look at the job. He came out in his big truck on Saturday with a pre-printed book full of flat rates. Installing the faucet, he said would be a "flat rate" of $350, and if they had to replace the stops, which as Mr. Castorini might have said, you always have to do, that would be another "flat rate" of $175. I sent him on his way and said that it was less than entirely honest that they couldn't give estimates over the phone when he had his extremely detained shiny book. I then called another flat rate company and when the actual plumber called back to come over immediately for an "estimate," I was able to coax a rate out of him. It was somewhat less than the first company, but still in the stratosphere. I passed.

On Monday, the kitchen sink plumber called. Ninety and hour, they said, and they could come Friday. Two guys came Friday. In two hours, working like surgeons, they replaced the faucet, the piping and the stops. They also did a little carpentry so that the prior owners' ridiculous pedestal sink would be bolted to something other than air.

So, my recommendation is: flat rate plumbers are 100 percent con. You're better taking your chances with the hourly guy.

06-03-2007, 08:07 AM	#1
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	The Honest Plumber This could be the heady title of a spy novel, but I digress . . . Since most of our plumbing issues had been dealt with through the home warranty company, I'd never really had to shop for plumbers before. Once, we had a kitchen faucet installed as a side job to a warranty job, and that went fairly painlessly. About an hour's work for $80 or 90. This time we needed a new faucet installed on our ridiculous pedestal sink in the downstairs bathroom. A different plumber that had been sent out from the warranty company had declared that he couldn't fix it or find the necessary parts. The faucet had only been leaking for a year or so, so once the new faucet arrived from Home Depot, we wanted it in quickly. I left a message at the first plumber, but they were gone for the day on Friday. I then called a "flat rate" company with a big ad in the yellow pages. The dispatcher couldn't give me an estimate, but said the guy would come out on Saturday for free to look at the job. He came out in his big truck on Saturday with a pre-printed book full of flat rates. Installing the faucet, he said would be a "flat rate" of $350, and if they had to replace the stops, which as Mr. Castorini might have said, you always have to do, that would be another "flat rate" of $175. I sent him on his way and said that it was less than entirely honest that they couldn't give estimates over the phone when he had his extremely detained shiny book. I then called another flat rate company and when the actual plumber called back to come over immediately for an "estimate," I was able to coax a rate out of him. It was somewhat less than the first company, but still in the stratosphere. I passed. On Monday, the kitchen sink plumber called. Ninety and hour, they said, and they could come Friday. Two guys came Friday. In two hours, working like surgeons, they replaced the faucet, the piping and the stops. They also did a little carpentry so that the prior owners' ridiculous pedestal sink would be bolted to something other than air. So, my recommendation is: flat rate plumbers are 100 percent con. You're better taking your chances with the hourly guy. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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