Original message
| Manysmiles
 |  "Labor Charges / Fair Business Practices"
, posted Fri 15 Feb 19:54  
I live in small town in Kansas and recently had a furnace fixed. The company charged $44.00 for the "tech" to go to and from my house plus travel charges (60 mile round trip)of $.75 per mile. In other words it cost me $88.00 for them to get to the site but only $44.00 and hour for actual furnace work.
IS THIS NORMAL?
Any suggestions, is there any law against this business practice?
Have A Great day
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Replies:
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| tinmantu
| "Re(1):Labor Charges / Fair Business Practice" , posted Sat 16 Feb 04:16
I'd have to say that's a fair going rate...I too live in a small town in Kansas and have many rural customers, where small towns are 25 miles apart...the clock starts when the ignition key turns. There are many more expenses that go into running a business besides just filling up the van and heading out. Multiple insurance, depreciation of the vehicle, cost of equipment, workmans comp, etc. I wish I was getting paid for what my company charges for me, but I am realistic enough to understand why I don't. It is very costly to run a business.
It could be worse. I had to call out a plumber for my moms house and they charged 65 per hour and were 35 miles away...the clock started when they turned the key on the ignition.
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| jbwstroker
| "Re(1):Labor Charges / Fair Business Practice" , posted Fri 15 Feb 22:01
Sounds very reasonable to me. Most established companies in my area (Colorado Springs) charge anywhere from $69 to $99 for a service call/diagnostic fee (1/2 hour) and anywhere from $80-125 per hour thereafter. The cost of living must be considerably less where you are than where I am. I'd be out of business very fast charging only $44 per hour. If you paid a full hours labor plus the trip fee ($132 total) I'd say you got a bargain, so long as you weren't charged an outrageous amount for any part that may have been billed. For example, a hot surface ignitor replacement in my region, including the service call, the part, and the labor (1/2 flat rate) will typically run from $170-250 total, depending on the company performing the service.
"I am not responsible for mistakes other than my own. If in doubt call a pro!"
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| Freezone12
| "Re(1):Labor Charges / Fair Business Practice" , posted Fri 15 Feb 21:10
The sevice department in the Mechanical Contracting company I'm employed with charges $90.00 for the first 30 minutes the tech is there, and $70.00 an hour thereafter.
The 90 dollar first half hour charge covers the 'trip charge', the drive time and fuel it takes to get to the job.
We are strictley a commercial HVAC/R & Plumbing Business, so I cannot speak to the residential side of the business.
_______________________________________
If it don't fit
force it.
If it breaks
it needed to be replaced anyways.
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| | static
| "Re(2):Labor Charges / Fair Business Practice" , posted Sat 16 Feb 00:43
Oh goody.
I love seeing prices from other guys in other parts of the country. It has no bearing on my own market, but it's cool to see.
Here, we are flat-rate and I charge $59 for the house call, that's for me to pull into your driveway and spend up to 40 minutes diagnosing it. If it's a simple fix (flame sensor) then $59 is your total bill from me. Beyond that, the labor rate we use to figure the flat-rate price is $110 per hour. To use Mr. Jbwstroker's example of replacing a hot surface ignitor, the total from me would be $236.07 without a service agreement.
I must agree, you didn't come out badly at all for a typical service call.
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| | northernfitter
| "Re(3):Labor Charges / Fair Business Practice" , posted Sat 16 Feb 22:44
quote:
Oh goody.I love seeing prices from other guys in other parts of the country. It has no bearing on my own market, but it's cool to see.Here, we are flat-rate and I charge $59 for the house call,
...
lol its amazing how differently everyone works there charges but things still seem to come out the same. I run a largely rural area and charge a flat rate of $80 to come out and diagnose the problem. I then charge $80 an hour for repairs but charge by the half hour. Generally though once I have gone through the checks(temp rise, co in exhaust, safeties) an ignitor job will be up towards 45minutes. The last couple I did the total job cost was $232. I try to keep the time down to keep the charges fair but I don't leave a furnace without doing a set checklist. I don't need to be stuck up all night wondering if I missed something and someone might get hurt cause I was rushing to save them a half hour labor
14years as a service tech in Ottawa and the valley. www.reliableheating.ca. For furnace manufacturer ratings go to
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/gas-furnaces/furnaces-repair-history-205/overview/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=furnace
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