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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
so our hot water heater is STILL shot from Hurricane Irene. we are still waiting for a claims adjuster to come to our house. fine.
but we have in the mean time received 2 quotes from 2 different plumbing and heating companies.
I asked them for a detailed breakdown and I google the make and model of the heater and they are jacking up the price by a few hundred dollars.
***?????????????
why can I buy it cheaper on amazon than you can from your supplier?????
it's really pissing me off. they are already charging me separately for labor. over $100 per hour.
I would they are getting the damned things wholesale, so the markup is probably a lot more.
it just makes me not want to use them. it makes me sick.
is this normal business practice. 
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Posted 9/22/11 10:04 AM  |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
because they know that most people don't bother doing the research, so whatever they say it costs, people will pay.
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| Posted 9/22/11 10:13 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
So, why can't you buy the water heater and just pay for someone to install it?
My DH installed ours, he said it wasn't that hard to do.
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| Posted 9/22/11 10:19 AM |
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MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
Posted by neener1211
So, why can't you buy the water heater and just pay for someone to install it?
A lot of companies won't do that. Its either all or nothing. But she might be able to find someone install it. We have had the same experience. It's annoying and frustrating.
Message edited 9/22/2011 10:23:05 AM.
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| Posted 9/22/11 10:21 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
Posted by MrsA714
Posted by neener1211
So, why can't you buy the water heater and just pay for someone to install it?
A lot of companies won't do that. Its either all or nothing. But she might be able to find someone install it. We have had the same experience. It's annoying and frustrating.
Gotcha. I don't know, there has to be someone out there looking for work that will 'finish' a job that you started. (Even if you never really started it).
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| Posted 9/22/11 10:50 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
It is bascially a handling charge without saying it. It is always cheaper to order it yourself unless they get wholesale and you can't get that price sometimes.
You can ask the contractor if you can buy it and then just have them install it.
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| Posted 9/22/11 10:59 AM |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
Does the online price include delivery and any additional parts and fittings, valves, pipe, etc. that might be needed? Did the plumber include valves, pipe, etc. in his quote as a separate line item or was that part of the hot water heater cost? The plumber has to take the time to go to the supply center, pick it up, bring it to the house etc. so that's got to be included in his time estimate.
When I was looking on line for plumbing fixtures the prices looked really good for faucets but reading further showed that was faucet only , handles were seperate, lines leading to them had to be purchased seperately too whereas the set purchased from the local plumbing house had all the parts needed to install.
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| Posted 9/22/11 3:46 PM |
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CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
Posted by KLSbear
Does the online price include delivery and any additional parts and fittings, valves, pipe, etc. that might be needed? Did the plumber include valves, pipe, etc. in his quote as a separate line item or was that part of the hot water heater cost? The plumber has to take the time to go to the supply center, pick it up, bring it to the house etc. so that's got to be included in his time estimate.
When I was looking on line for plumbing fixtures the prices looked really good for faucets but reading further showed that was faucet only , handles were seperate, lines leading to them had to be purchased seperately too whereas the set purchased from the local plumbing house had all the parts needed to install.
The above is a good part of the reason. the other is that they are essentally a salesman, selling you the hot water heater. His supplier charges him a small markup and he charges you a markup.
getting pricing online can complecate things where essentially a business is selling at wholesale prices to the consumer. I bet if you go to his supply house they will definately charge you more than amazon. Also keep in mind, you're paying for him to size it, pick a compatible model, buy the misc crap to install it, and warranty it.
lets say you buy it on amazon and it comes damaged, you send ti back... lets say it comes damaged and you couldn't tell, so the plumber comes out and finds that its damaged, he just wasted time and still can't do the job. if he gets it from his supplier, he calls them up and goes and picks up the new one, and you get charged the same price as when you started, vs an upcharge for the wasted time.
If its a LOT I'd consider mentioning it to them and working something out. If its 10-20%, thats normal.
On my whole house remodel, we bought all the faucets, drains, tubs and sinks. we had the plumbing contractor buy the boiler, hot water heater and all the other stuff. the boiler had issues that needed a valve on it replaced and something else done to it. the plumber said that it was normal, they just ordered a new part and put it in. I imagine it would have been messey if I ordered the boiler online. Now that is more complecated than a hot water heater.
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| Posted 9/26/11 12:04 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: IIs this normal?? what can I do about this? plumbing/heating related
Posted by KLSbear
If its a LOT I'd consider mentioning it to them and working something out. If its 10-20%, thats normal.
ITA. They usually get overhead and profit on parts.
If I were a contractor, I would do all or nothing, too. If I got to a job where the homeowner claimed to have all the parts, I bet in most cases, something is missing and I would still have to go pickup something. I would rather know in advance what I need, pick it up myself and go do the job and charge the homeowner a fair markup for my time and effort.
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| Posted 9/26/11 12:17 PM |
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