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Message |
    
AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 61
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:31 am: | 
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I recently had my spring tune-up on the a/c units and I was told that my condensation pump should be replaced on one of my units. I was quoted a price of $400 to do this. This struck me as abnormally high - has anyone had this done?
Thanks,
Adam |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1953
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:52 am: |
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I don't have a condensation pump, but have seen plenty of homes with them. Heres the result of a quick google search -- its a brand I've heard of -- and its $61 (plus tax/ shipping probably). Unless there is something else that needs to be changed out, yes, seems high /p
http://www.alpinehomeair.com/viewcategory.cfm/categoryID/155/p/Condensation_Pump |
AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 62
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 11:24 am: |
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Thanks for the reply.
I checked the make/model # of pump last night and went online for a price check. A replacement pump is $61. I also checked on the manufacturers web site which stated that if you have a leak try and clean and/or change the o ring on the bottom of the unit. So it seems the true cost of my issue is somewhere between $1 - $61 plus labor (s/h not included). I then called those fine folks at Air Group whom I have an annual service agreement with. I was told by the manager that they dont fix units, they just replace them. I then asked, so how do you justify a $400 for a $60 unit that at max will take an hour to install considering its a replacement? He then tried to justify it by saying cost of gas and they needed to make a profit... I told him I was willing for him to make a profit but lets be reasonable here. He them offerred to reduce the rate to $321.60 from $400. Some people just dont get it. Seems like I will be looking for a new service company next season when my contract runs out.... any suggestions? |
gotoffadaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 705
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 3:38 pm: |
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You're going to be hard pressed to find someone (insured & legit) to come out to your home, diagnose the problem (they're not going to take your diagnosis), go back to the shop / supplier to pick up or order the part and then return to the job site and install same for the cost of the part and an hour's labor. You may not think it's fair, but the reality is that unless you are able and willing to do the repair yourself, you're going to have to pay market price for the work. If you don't understand that, then you don't understand the basics of running a business. Go and ask your boss how much he bills out for your time and compare that to your pay check! |
AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 63
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
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Are you serious? You sound foolish? I never said I was not going to pay a reasonable/market price, I dont think being guaged is acceptable. I have used plenty of contractors on this site, Bill Rega, Gateway, Toms Fencing, (a roofer as well - but I apologize as the name escapes me) and have never argued a price before this. Maybe the issue lies in the fact that I prepaid for service for the units (so theey already come out to the house 2x per year). Let me take my research one step further, I spoke to the manufacturer of the unit today who said the problem is most likely the faulty o-ring, which they said can be replaced in 10-15 minutes and they said the quote was rediculous. They were sending it to me free of charge. I was not told this could even be a solution, only that a new unit had to be installed. It was only when I talked to a manager that I was told that they dont fix pumps or replace o-rings, they just install new ones. Youre right, I should retire from my career in banking because I dont understand how a business works. |
gotoffadaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 706
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 5:45 pm: |
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You said it yourself, Ace.....
" Some people just dont get it." |
Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 7:27 am: |
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The sad fact of the matter is that the cost of the part is what the customer focuses on, but it is often the smallest part of the cost of providing the service.
Also as service technitians we often have to error on the side of caution when doing a repair. Lets say we find a condensate pump not working that is several years old and we replace a 1 dollar o ring. The following week the little electric motor burns out on the pump and it stops working again. Believe me the customer is not going to want to hear that we have to charge him again to now replace the pump and who could blame him.
Most of us have learned that in order to preserve our reputations and give the customer best job possible we sometimes have to error on the side of caution and do a complete as opposed to a partial repair.
P.S No job ever takes 15 minutes. Telephone time, travel time, the time to pick up the part whether it's on the truck or not, the cost involved in having the thing sitting on the shelf until you need it. Also, the cost involved in standing behind the repair afterwards is huge. These are just some of the DIRECT costs. I could go on and on. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11550
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 7:43 am: |
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I wouldn't try to rebuild a $60 part for the reasons mentioned by Dennis. Costs are always an interesting subject with repairs. The pump shown in the link probably would take about 20 minutes to install. The only skilled part might be wiring th sensor that cuts off the A/C if the pump fails. Otherwise it is a plug in item.
I doubt if AirGroup carries these on their trucks, otherwise it wouldn't have been such a big deal.
Just for fun:
Part: $100 (including markup)
Basic Service call: $150 (insurance, tax, maintenance of vehicle, driver salary)
1/2 hour labor: $100
Cost, about $300.
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AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 64
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 8:40 am: |
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Dennis,
Don't get me wrong, I believe and know the contractor should make money. In this instance (the unit is a Hartell KT-15 - (CLI1_DIV32_ETI3740%2C00.html,www.hartell.com/corp/details/0,,CLI1_DIV32_ETI3740, 00.html) cost approx $60 and is not a complicated refit. I think Bob's analysis is actually rather fair. My 15 minute comment was direct labor in the retrofit, I agree there is front end and back end time/insurance that needs to be billed. This is not a case where I called in people to give me a specific quote on a project/repair. In that case, if you dont like the quote(or anything else) you dont hire the person.
- First, if we were told - The condensate pump is leaking and it may be a simple repair but our approach is to replace the unit to be on the safe side thats one thing. But not to mention that it may be a simple fix is not acceptable (you have been reasonable in your thoughts but please take a look at the instruction manual on the website (its only 2 or 3 pages), it says to check the o-ring if there is a leak - I would like your opinion).
- Second, the markup needs to be reasonable when you are prepaying for an annual service contract (which I believe is somewhere north of $300 already) and are supposed to be receiving discounted parts as a benefit of that. The annual service contract should not be taken as an opportunity to squeeze the customer because you are inside the house. This was not a blower, ignitition coil or such, it was a simple condensate pump. I understand any return trip to the house is at minimum $100 (excluding parts). If the quote was $300 to begin with, I would not have done it but I would have not been so po'd - but $400?, come on.
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Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:02 pm: |
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Well, it sounds as if the serviceman neglected to get price approval from you and a "go ahead" signature prior to doing the work which is inexcusable and leaves them with egg on thier face no matter what they charged you. I suspect that was why they were willing to lower their price after the fact.
As for the o ring repair, the only time I would even consider it would be if
we had installed the pump and it had been a year or less in service.
We always try to quote up front and work out any issues before hand. It just makes life easier! |
AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 67
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:17 pm: |
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Dennis,
I did not let them do the repair, I stopped them at the quote. (I dont want you to think that they did the work and then provided the price).
Thanks
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Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 29
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:59 pm: |
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O.k. then, no harm, no foul, agree to disagree and move on. |
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