Professional Customary/Reasonable pricing Inquiry

Mike50

Mike50

DIY Senior Member
Messages
698
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Southern California
I have a good relationship with my plumber and because of extensive remodeling I have work for him about 4X per year. All installation work-no repairs.
I emailed the president of our local chamber (after the first job) to put the word out about the quality of his work and he got additional because of that. Small town-word travels fast.

I know he will charge me an hundred to put in my new Aquia next week which will include changing out valve per my request.

I have a standard outdoor garden faucet to be replaced. It was actually taped up with duct tape (bad leak) by previous owner so I want it gone asap..
It is a standing pipe out of ground and faucet is at waist level.
Simple replacement-don't know. Threads bad-don't know.

Interested in the customary price range you fellows charge for this Job including toilet.

thanks...

Mike50

:confused:
 
Last edited:
Could not really give a good estimate because (a) not enough details and (b) varies a lot by region.


If you love your plumber, perhaps you should trust that he will give you a fair and honest job. I think you realize that any plumbing job can appear simple, and end up being more involved and costly. It seems you have found a quality contractor, so you can sleep easy knowing that whatever it costs, it is an honest job/


I don't mess with cars. I found a mechanic several years ago and have found that I can completely trust him. If the truck needs something, but it is not "urgent", he tells me that and I live with it for awhile. If he tells me something really needs to be done, I know it is no BS! He's getting $65 an hour now, and is worth every dime. Every mechanic in his shop carries training credentials, so I have no worries about getting good work done.
 
True to what Jimbo said.

Quality work comes at a cost; but integrity, honesty and knowledge are not necessarily what you get at any price. Myself, I'd rather pay more in a situation where I trust the person than taking a chance on someone with a lower price.
 
Is he there when he says,,,or calls if he can't make it ? Is he friendly , fun to be around, trustworthy with your family and belongings ?

Would you leave him a key to let himself in and out ?

What's this all worth ?

Cal
 
Chance if the riser is old galve

it may snap off at the base underground, then what

SUGGESTION Fix this guy up with your single, sister in law :D

Although, He's allready treating you like family :)
 
Thanks guys. He's a great plumber. I just wanted to know what regional pricing was in comparison.

I started my journey with plumbing remodels with a bad taste in my mouth
with a contractor from Lowes (Pacific plumbing-So Cal.) who bid a drop in stainless kitchen sink-the bid was nearly $600.00. Lowes had told me to expect a bid in the 300 dollar range.
So I literally told them to piss off.

I'm currently spending a about a 1000 annually on plumbing remodeling, and no where near finished.
I think thats the kind of customer you want. Which I told them.
I'm easy going-buy lunch for trades guys...so I'm not the client from hell or anything either.

It became apparent that they *over bid the job* so I would turn them down because I live about 20 miles further than the Palm Springs area they typically service. Which I understand...but I'm not going to be jerked around. I guess I'm still suspicious because of that experience.

As they say in the deep south:

"I might be dumb and ugly...but I'm not Stupid"


Mike50
 
Last edited:
customer

$1,000.00 a year does not get you any perks. Many single jobs cost that much. In fact I would say the majority of them, other than repairing/replacing a faucet come close.
 
hj said:
$1,000.00 a year does not get you any perks. Many single jobs cost that much. In fact I would say the majority of them, other than repairing/replacing a faucet come close.
Click to expand...

I disagree with your business philosophy entirely.

I live in a semi-rural community.
People here aren't doing 20,000 dollar bathroom remodels. Very middle class community that shops price.

My family owns 4 high end restaurants in California. My plumber has no idea about that. Guess who I'm going to recommend as a plumbing contractor for the next store?
You never know who you are dealing with.

I have no idea what "perks" you are referring to.


Mike50
 
perks

The perks you imply by stating that at $1,000 a year you are a very valuable customer. That statement implies that you should get some extra consideration. My statement refers to that value being an average customer. In a small community, if $1,000 is a extremely good customer, then the average customer is well below that, and the plumber is going broke and doesn't know it yet, unless he also does work in some other areas.
 
If your plumbing contractor is a 1-2 man operation he will most likly not be able to handle a resturant job. Most repair plumbers don't do new work comercial jobs. Most comercial new work plumbers don't do repair.
 
hj said:
The perks you imply by stating that at $1,000 a year you are a very valuable customer. That statement implies that you should get some extra consideration. My statement refers to that value being an average customer.
Click to expand...

Firstly, I never said I deserved *extra consideration*.

hj said:
In a small community, if $1,000 is a extremely good customer, then the average customer is well below that, and the plumber is going broke and doesn't know it yet, unless he also does work in some other areas.
Click to expand...

He does, but that is besides the point imo.
I said I was the *kind of customer you want* and by that I mean when you look the big picture including referrals and anticipated business.
Residential and commercial.

I'm getting the impression that you are only really interested in jobs
in the 1500.00+ range...but I could be wrong.
If your phone rings all day and you can cherry pick top dollar jobs-then more power to you.

During my (former) career selling art on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, I treated all customers the same.
Clients included wealthy people from all over the world, along with wannabe rich guys.
If a kid walked in to buy a 75 dollar poster I made him feel special.
I also made sure the kid got an invite to invitation only shows.
Some of those kids became clients that bought painting(s) in the 12-25K
range.

Anyway, my point is that some smaller clients can become great clients.


My plumber moved here about a year ago and he is very interested in referrals.


Mike50
 
Last edited:
I think this thread is a good example of getting an education about what pros are thinking...compared with a customer like myself. Because the beauty of it is this, thanks to the net:

We can have an uncensored dialogue.
I mean to say that on some threads we see plumber/clients saying things that probably wouldn't happen irl.
It's all good...
and I don't want to tell you how to do your business.

My philosophy is simple: If necessary, I would rather pay a premium for important services. The reason is simple:
I don't want to have to worry about whether or not it was done right.
You can't put a price on that.

That being said- I have a lot of respect for plumbers. Otherwise I wouldn't be posting here. I'd be calling Forest Gump or a local cowboy plumber to do the work. heh.

As I originally said-my plumber is great....and I know I'm getting a good deal. I'm not sure I was clear about that in my first post.


Mike50
 
Last edited:
gift certificates

like the one guy said---fix him up with your single sister
or give him a gift certificate to a nice night out at some
good restraunt in town.......like a tip....



But if you really feel you are getting a great deal from the guy...

just be careful......


maybe he is like one of those "special cow-boys" in the movie

"Broke-Back Mountain" and has a crush on you.....LOL
 
master plumber mark said:
like the one guy said---fix him up with your single sister
or give him a gift certificate to a nice night out at some
good restraunt in town.......like a tip....



But if you really feel you are getting a great deal from the guy...

just be careful......


maybe he is like one of those "special cow-boys" in the movie

"Broke-Back Mountain" and has a crush on you.....LOL
Click to expand...


Gotcha. Well, I live in So. California's high desert horse country BTW. "where the men are men and the sheep are nervous" LOL

This a little town north of Palm Springs. population 2000.
Seriously, We have a hardware store, Taco stand, shooting range, pawn shop and a topless bar.
What the hell else do you need anyway?
Get the picture???

Special cowboys are in Palm Springs...just 18 miles south of the only stoplight in town. Rodeo too. uh huh. yea buddy...
:D
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

GrumpyPlumber
Lead services, Caveat Emptor
Replies
3
Views
3K
GrumpyPlumber
GrumpyPlumber
Brecchi
WaterSoftening company vs local plumber?
2 3
Replies
41
Views
14K
Brecchi
Brecchi
Corman2000
Input on professional furnace/tankless water heater install (bad work)
Replies
8
Views
3K
Corman2000
Corman2000
CableSCES
Need help deciding Saltless vs Salt (with research)
Replies
7
Views
4K
Monguila
Monguila
powtothemoon
Smelly bathroom; could it be overflow drain marked CLEANOUT?
Replies
8
Views
7K
Speedball
Speedball
Back
Top