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Posted by Zephyr on June 18, 2007, 4:20 pm
There is nothing worse than "paying" to do the job!
--
Zyp
>
> > Friday I had a customer call..........
> > We installed his 90% American Standard furnace, uncased coil and 10
> > SEER A/C in 1999. I think we've been there 3 times since. Always for
> > problems...never for maintenance. He says its not cooling, suction
> > line frosting. I find the unit low on refrigerant. I search for the
> > longest time at the outdoor unit. I see the oil spot but bubbles just
> > are picking it up but the electronic is going nuts. Finally I find it
> > about a 1/4" from the where the aluminum is covered with spiney fins.
> > About 1" the other way is where the aluminum changes to copper. Right
> > on the aluminum tube is a little black spot (several actually) and
> > that is where the pinhole is. I tell the owner it needs a new
> > condenser coil, or new unit with matching coil. I give him all the
> > options and prices. As I button it all back up he comes out and asks
> > to see the leak. I am happy to show it. Take the door off, spray it
> > with bubbles and show him the leak. This is where the fun begins.
> > He keeps going back and forth as to what to do but keeps repeating the
> > number I gave him for a new A/C system. Then he tells me that is as
> > much as his cruise will be with his wife for his 30 anniversary this
> > year. (Oh, that breaks my heart..........NOT!) Then he tells me he
> > just has to ask. "How much of that price is profit?"
>
> This is where I tell him that there is no "profit", that whatever is
> leftover from the equipment, parts, tools, company overhead, insurances,
> advertising, etc is my salary. Then I ask him "if our positions were
> reversed, would he be willing to take a cut in pay to do the job??"
>
> > Again Im amazed
> > but never shocked. I toss a number out of my as and tell him Im making
> > $1000 on this install. (Its not an actual number but I thought it was
> > my turn to shock HIM). He looks at me and asks, " Do you really need
> > to make that much?". I told him, "Yes, I sure do!"
>
> Again the question.... "if our positions were reversed, would he be
willing
> to take a cut in pay to do the job??"
>
> > This business isnt
> > inexpensive to run and it costs what it costs. Then he asks me to
> > lower my price by $400 and he will do the replacement although he wont
> > be thrilled. I told him, "Nope, I cant do it". He tells me he has to
> > think about it and to get back with him if I can do a discount and/or
> > when I can do it. I call him back an hour later and he tells me he has
> > an engineer friend that can patch aluminum but he doesnt feel
> > comfortable doing it unless he can get the condensing unit to his shop
> > where he can control the conditions. I told him, "Thats fine but here
> > is my price to come out, leak check it, recover the refrigerant,
> > disconnect the refrigerant lines, line voltage and low voltage. Then
> > the cost to put it all back in running order after his buddy "patches
> > it" and all with absolutely no leak guarantee from me. Needless to
> > say, he is thinking it over for the weekend.
>
> Sorry, I would have told him that I can do it right, or he can call
somebody
> else to get it done cheap.
>
> > Im sure he will find someone cheaper even though its 90 and humid
> > here. It couldnt make me happier. :-)
>
> Yup
>
> > Bubba
>
>
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