protip: You need to have a few trusted handymen in your phone contact list. They may or may not speak english, but that's fine. You may need to pay them in cash, also. Calling these high dollar places for basic stuff like Dubious did is just naive and asking to get raped
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Profile-2-0-cu-ft-Countertop-Microwave-in-White-PEB2060DMWW/100604723 That's the microwave. It fits in a cabinet with a trim piece. The original was part of a Kitchen remodel. I use it for everything all the time. My point was , if the lady on the phone had said it was $90 to drive to your house AND another $90 for the tech to walk in, I would have just ordered a new one. He only spent 20 minutes to pull the cover and change the fuse.
My toilet runs, can you come fix it? I'll keep your number in my phone regardless of if you speak English. Seriously, I have a toilet that runs like crazy.
I guess you skipped the part where I said I was out of the state on business. She told me after the fact, I wasn't happy.
Thanks for the recap, but what he didn't mention in the OP was the 5 day wait to get this 'comparable' microwave from Home Depot. Being able to get something fixed now instead of replaced in 5 days is something of value and the repairman's value proposition still seems better at $212 for something old but working and ready today, then Home Depot's $260 for something new 5 days later. If the 5 days wasn't an important value driver, he never would have call the repairman in the first place. Obviously, they should have been more transparent about their pricing. But, I don't think the pricing is unfair.
Reasonable value is my argument. The repairman that showed up knew beforehand that he was going to charge $212 to fix a $260 microwave (no matter my naive assumptions). He knew the relative value and his own sense of integrity should have induced him to make it clear. The Comcast installer never said,"hey I've got to install another box at $99, do you want me to proceed with that?" The Abbaccus guy did show me the price beforehand from his official company price book. But I thought it was wrong to try to charge me $49 just to show up and tell me of his ridiculous rate. informed choices and reasonable values
I'm in Minnesota, but I think they provide the same or similar service in Texas. Their service has been excellent. They have come the same day twice on furnace issues (those days were really cold, even for MN) and the A/C (it was hot). For non critical repairs they generally schedule a day or more in advance. I looked at my account and for the rent house I have the "total repair plan" which is $41.95/month. It includes: Furnace or boiler Clothes dryer - gas or electric Water heater - gas or electric Range - gas or electric Central air conditioner Clothes washer Dishwasher Freestanding freezer Gas fireplace Gas grill Refrigerator Freestanding ice maker My plan for the house I live in is around $35. The dishwasher is not included in that one, other than that, I think they are the same. We have been extremely pleased with the service and it is a big help on the rental property. Rather than them having to call me and have me find someone to go fix things, it is set up so that they can contact CenterPoint directly. My parents had a similar plan in Houston, however, they were charged a deductible every time someone came out. We have never been charged one penny over and above the monthly fee.
You're making it sound like the extra 2 days was the only factor. I don't even think it the most important factor. I'm pretty sure he would still choose to repair the microwave even if it took 2 days longer than Home Depot as long as the price was $89 vs $260.
I'm not trying to make a federal case of it. Company should have been more transparent; OP should have asked better questions; $89 for a repairman from an incorporated services business to come to your house for anything is probably too good to be true. I hope we're all better people for having participated in this thread.
remember, companies like sears and abacus plumbing are all considered "big box company", which translate to charging you an arm and a leg for everything, regardless how small or minor the work. They got a huge company to feed, so you gotta go with a 1 man plumbing crew, either off craiglist, greensheet, or just ask folks for reference. and who fixes microwave? ?
