Plumber rip-off?

dawsman · 30-09-2011, 06:28 PM

I had a plumber out today to replace an expansion control valve (small relief valve on the cold water inlet) on my gas hot water system. The part was $85 which is consistent with other prices I've seen. However the call out charge and labour came to $120!! It only took him 10 minutes to do the job!

Add GST and the total damage was $225. Have I been ripped off on the callout/labour charge?

I organised this through the manufacturer of the hot water system (which is out of warranty) - perhaps that was my mistake. Either that or it is the "FPV" or "WA rich mining state" surcharge because we had to walk past my new GT 335 to get to the system...

Probably should have done it myself - it looked to be an easy job.

xisled · 30-09-2011, 06:42 PM

I would have expected around $100 for labour, seems fair to me.

naddis01 · 30-09-2011, 06:48 PM

It seems as though alot of tradies here have a minimum callout of around $100.

nstg8a · 30-09-2011, 06:48 PM

yeah it will be a minimum charge id guess.

CJR09 · 30-09-2011, 06:50 PM

yeah that sounds high - but also depends on how they set up their charge out rates/travel etc

I charge in 1/4hr allotments time on job/site (rounded up of course), no charge for travel if within 20km radius - $1/km if outside that

they may have 1hr or 1/2hr minimum charge-out time

you didnt ask before you got them round?

dawsman · 30-09-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xisled

I would have expected around $100 for labour, seems fair to me.

$100 would have been the absolute most I could stomach without venting on this forum, but I've paid 20% on top of that. I know it's only $20 but...

I was expecting more like $90 for the call out fee which usually includes the first 15 mins or so labour.

dawsman · 30-09-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJR09

yeah that sounds high - but also depends on how they set up their charge out rates/travel etc

I charge in 1/4hr allotments time on job/site (rounded up of course), no charge for travel if within 20km radius - $1/km if outside that

they may have 1hr or 1/2hr minimum charge-out time

you didnt ask before you got them round?

When I called the manufacturer I asked how much the job would be (I knew it was the expansion control valve) but they wouldn't or couldn't tell me. I guess they didn't want to take my word for it which is fair enough I guess. I suppose I should have at least asked what the call out charge was...

I think he had to travel around 25-30km from his last job based on where he was when he called me.

Nothing personal against him - he was a nice bloke (for a Holden man) but I guess they all are when they're taking money from you...

YOB POM · 30-09-2011, 08:11 PM

I saw a brain surgeon driving a Rolls Royce the other day,and I thought to my self "what does he think he is a bloody plumber?"
Sounds like a pretty average bill mate.

John

pottery beige · 30-09-2011, 08:13 PM

you think plumbing vans run on thin air......
bloke doesnt have a family to support or a friggin mortage to pay......
$120 is chicken feed buddy... do the job youself next time!!!!!!!

Geez Louise · 30-09-2011, 08:21 PM

That is a normal charge for a plumber.

We are currently going through House Reno's...I will swap my electricians bill with you if you like.

Poidevin · 30-09-2011, 08:22 PM

Average-ish bill from what I've heard from friends, however I had all the piping under my sink (from under the sink to the drain outside) replaced for only around $190 all up and it took at least 3 hours. Used the tap doctor can not recommend them highly enough.

Stefan · 30-09-2011, 08:33 PM

Not ripped off at all...no need to vent.

dawsman · 30-09-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

you think plumbing vans run on thin air......
bloke doesnt have a family to support or a friggin mortage to pay......
$120 is chicken feed buddy... do the job youself next time!!!!!!!

Tradie pottery beige? Sorry mate but $120 for less than 10 minutes to replace a valve plus 20-odd minutes travel is too much in my opinion, otherwise I wouldn't be here ranting about it. That's no more than a $100 job plus parts.

Don't worry, now that I know how easy the job is I will do it myself next time.

vztrt · 30-09-2011, 08:40 PM

Maybe you should have shut your water off and found a plumber that was cheap enough for ya.

hendrixhc · 30-09-2011, 08:45 PM

$120 is a fair price for the job. It is what we charged in an related field and is half what a previous company i worked for charged.

Unfortunatley people see us tradies as second class citizens and we should do everything for nothing and then have the right to grizzle about it.

snappy · 30-09-2011, 08:48 PM

sounds fair to me dont forget the part just doesn't magically appear in his van

Geez Louise · 30-09-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsman

Don't worry, now that I know how easy the job is I will do it myself next time.

Well there is the answer right there. You didn't know how easy it was and had to pay a qualified plumber to do it for you.

I seriously can not see what there is to complain about. It may have been a more serious issue and maybe it would have still cost you the same. End of the day, the plumber knew what he was doing and deserved to be paid for it.

dawsman · 30-09-2011, 08:53 PM

Seems the consensus is that it is a fair call out/labour charge - fair enough, that's all I wanted to know!

I might take up plumbing....

Thanks all.

FPV8U · 30-09-2011, 08:54 PM

Pretty fair, it sucks on face value but this is why i try to get a few jobs done at a time with tradies, costs a little higher on parts but saves on the minimum call out each time.

pottery beige · 30-09-2011, 08:54 PM

delete.....

BHDOGS · 30-09-2011, 08:57 PM

Its a rip off plain and simple you can argue kids traveling petrol jesus tax carbon price how many beans make five the god xenu or his new subscription to gay mens monthly but the fact its to much for a simple job and the sooner people stand up to them the better

Geez Louise · 30-09-2011, 08:57 PM

Ease up Pottery...

He got a price and wasn't sure whether he was ripped off or not...Cut him some slack. It was a fair question.

rusty 351 · 30-09-2011, 08:57 PM

its the year 2011 so dont expect to pay 1982 tradie rates

sneaky · 30-09-2011, 09:05 PM

20 minutes there, 20 minutes back, plus pick up the part (or he may have had one already) and 10 minutes for the job = at least 50 minutes, and you can add the call out fee to that.

sounds fair from here - i'm thinking it would be a different story if i had just been charged that much for the work he did

Jason[98.EL] · 30-09-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsman

Tradie pottery beige? Sorry mate but $120 for less than 10 minutes to replace a valve plus 20-odd minutes travel is too much in my opinion, otherwise I wouldn't be here ranting about it. That's no more than a $100 job plus parts.

Don't worry, now that I know how easy the job is I will do it myself next time.

I hope you are Qualified to do the work

If not I say pay the $$$$ for a person that is to come out and do it

there are a crap load of video's on you tube etc that show what can happen if you do it wrong and no insurance co will pay out if you are found to have done the work yourself

sorry to add a bit more of reality yo your thread but that is the LAW these days to get QUALIFIED TRADIES to do the work

BAXR8_Ute · 30-09-2011, 09:23 PM

What's the hourly rate for a plumber? I was thinking similar to a mechanic? About $80? I could be wrong. Call out rates are always going to be contentious. Some trades charge them some don't. When I was landscaping a few years ago I was $65 an hour, no traveling charge... There was float for bobcats and excavators etc. It does add up...

**cs123** · 30-09-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

sorry to add a bit more of reality yo your thread but that is the LAW these days to get QUALIFIED TRADIES to do the work

Bunnings would be about 1/4 of the size it is if we deleted the sections selling parts for jobs that only tradies can do.

CJR09 · 30-09-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsman

Tradie pottery beige? Sorry mate but $120 for less than 10 minutes to replace a valve plus 20-odd minutes travel is too much in my opinion, otherwise I wouldn't be here ranting about it. That's no more than a $100 job plus parts.

Don't worry, now that I know how easy the job is I will do it myself next time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

I hope you are Qualified to do the work

If not I say pay the $$$$ for a person that is to come out and do it

no insurance co will pay out if you are found to have done the work yourself

sorry to add a bit more of reality yo your thread but that is the LAW these days to get QUALIFIED TRADIES to do the work

this^^

sleek7 · 30-09-2011, 09:38 PM

Always give it a go yourself if its not too bad a task, can save a lot of coin. My cousin has just finished his plumbing apprenticeship, business he works for has a standard $120 call out fee, even if its just to change a tap washer....

Jason[98.EL] · 30-09-2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

Bunnings would be about 1/4 of the size it is if we deleted the sections selling parts for jobs that only tradies can do.

yup very true but I was only putting that out there

god knows i have done things i am not qualified to do