Screwing the old people

[ctfjr]

My old college roommate & his wife returned to Florida after 5 weeks in the north. Surprise! Their AC was dead. No problem, Alan (ex-roomie) had purchased a 5 year service contract with a company down there (West Palm Beach) for $2k, paid up front.

So he calls them (1st service call outside of maintenance, which isn't covered). No problem. They come up diagnose the problem one day and come back the next to fix it. Almost $1300. It seems the contract only covers labor, no parts.

So what are these pricy parts? Well there are two line items on the bill. 5lbs of R410 and a 3/8 liquid line drier - each $625. $125 / lb for the gas and $625 for a drier (Alan sent me a pic of the drier, a Chinese special). That drier probably cost them $10. A Parker drier at Grainger (probably the most expensive place to buy one) is <$30.
The gas costs the trade <$10/lb

Of course the 'labor' was free.

How do some people sleep at night?

 

[mikester]

Get rich fleecing people, become a hero. Repeat.

 

[mcmxi]

My old college roommate & his wife returned to Florida after 5 weeks in the north. Surprise! Their AC was dead. No problem, Alan (ex-roomie) had purchased a 5 year service contract with a company down there (West Palm Beach) for $2k, paid up front.

So he calls them (1st service call outside of maintenance, which isn't covered). No problem. They come up diagnose the problem one day and come back the next to fix it. Almost $1300. It seems the contract only covers labor, no parts.

So what are these pricy parts? Well there are two line items on the bill. 5lbs of R410 and a 3/8 liquid line drier - each $625. $125 / lb for the gas and $625 for a drier (Alan sent me a pic of the drier, a Chinese special). That drier probably cost them $10. A Parker drier at Grainger (probably the most expensive place to buy one) is <$30.
The gas costs the trade <$10/lb

Of course the 'labor' was free.

How do some people sleep at night?

What has age got to do with it? How would this have turned out any different if the customers were in their 20s, 30s, 40s etc?

 

[Daren Todd]

I don't see that as just an old person problem.

I see that as an every person problem.

I've seen it many times over the years.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

It seems the guy got what he paid for, at least according to whatever contract HE signed. If he got 'stiffed' , it's cause HE didn't READ the 'fine print'. As for the cost of the parts...well NOBODY I know sells them at cost. It costs real money to buy a van, stock it, insurance,fuel, taxes, fees, bricks and motor building, cell phone, answering service,bookkeeper,accountant, tax guy,etc. Also , at least up here north of the 49th, you have to have a license and to get that pass exams......and $$$ fees of course.
If you really,really feel bad for your friend 'having been taken', cut him a check for $1280, the difference between what he was charged and what you say is a 'proper' fee.
Sounds like the guy got his A/C FIXED in about 24hrs.....considering it's SUMMER, that's no too bad.

 

[DustyRusty]

He should have read the contract before signing and paying. Some companies give you a contract that has such small print that you can't read it. I hand it back to them and tell them that I need it in large print, and if they don't cooperate I will report them to the US government for prosecution under the Americans with Disability Act. I usually get the deer in the headlights look.

 

[jaxs]

What has age got to do with it? How would this have turned out any different if the customers were in their 20s, 30s, 40s etc?

Funny you should ask. Just last week the wife and I were talking about how lucky one of our friends was to recoup most his money from a financial advisor sent to prison for stealing investment funds from his clients. The court room was packed with weeping ,outraged and devastated folks that lost life savings.
Rewind to months earlier when the scam came to light. Someone told our friend they had tried making a withdrawal from their account and found it drained. My friend was wearing ragged jeans and jean jacket doing landscaping at the time. He removed his Jewlery, credit cards and such then told his wife she needed to drive him to the advisors office with the expectation of her husband going to jail. This guy stands 6'4",240 lbs with gorilla size hands and face that could pass for Jack Elam's twin except for the eye.

When my friend entered he told the advisor he was leaving with his money or the advisor would leave in an ambulance. Our friends waited as the funds were deposited to their bank account. Frankly I would never try that if I was capable of whipping Mike Tyson with one hand tied behind me but this answerers your question of why people pull shit on old folks they won't try on younger ones.

 

[lynnmor]

It seems the guy got what he paid for, at least according to whatever contract HE signed. If he got 'stiffed' , it's cause HE didn't READ the 'fine print'. As for the cost of the parts...well NOBODY I know sells them at cost. It costs real money to buy a van, stock it, insurance,fuel, taxes, fees, bricks and motor building, cell phone, answering service,bookkeeper,accountant, tax guy,etc. Also , at least up here north of the 49th, you have to have a license and to get that pass exams......and $$$ fees of course.
If you really,really feel bad for your friend 'having been taken', cut him a check for $1280, the difference between what he was charged and what you say is a 'proper' fee.
Sounds like the guy got his A/C FIXED in about 24hrs.....considering it's SUMMER, that's no too bad.

The other sources of parts and materials have those expenses as well, there is no excuse for the highway robbery mentioned.

 

[ctfjr]

It seems the guy got what he paid for, at least according to whatever contract HE signed. If he got 'stiffed' , it's cause HE didn't READ the 'fine print'. As for the cost of the parts...well NOBODY I know sells them at cost. It costs real money to buy a van, stock it, insurance,fuel, taxes, fees, bricks and motor building, cell phone, answering service,bookkeeper,accountant, tax guy,etc. Also , at least up here north of the 49th, you have to have a license and to get that pass exams......and $$$ fees of course.
If you really,really feel bad for your friend 'having been taken', cut him a check for $1280, the difference between what he was charged and what you say is a 'proper' fee.
Sounds like the guy got his A/C FIXED in about 24hrs.....considering it's SUMMER, that's no too bad.

Thank you for the Business 101 lessons Greensvillejay. Sorry if my post was misleading. He understood the service contract only covered labor.
There is no license to steal just because you have a contractor license. No legitimate dealer sells a part that cost him $10 for $600. Everyone is entitled to charge what they want, its just when the sun shines on the transaction you are rightly branded a thief.

 

[Poohbear]

As was said, no HVAC co. sales parts at cost even tho sometimes after the crap from a few customers it seemed like free. This was probably a " flat rate " type billing where the part price includes the labor, matl. , & other misc. items such as refrigerant recovery and disposal, welding supplies, time diagnosing etc.
It costs money to have a well organized co. with skilled & well paid techs, stocked trucks, insurance, utility bills, fuel bills, license, etc etc etc. that show up on time and ready to repair.
I admit that a couple times in my 31 yrs operateing a HVAC business I wanted to write on the invoice " a-hole customer charge " but that was very few. Most all were a pleasure to be of service to.

 

[fried1765]

It seems the guy got what he paid for, at least according to whatever contract HE signed. If he got 'stiffed' , it's cause HE didn't READ the 'fine print'. As for the cost of the parts...well NOBODY I know sells them at cost. It costs real money to buy a van, stock it, insurance,fuel, taxes, fees, bricks and motor building, cell phone, answering service,bookkeeper,accountant, tax guy,etc. Also , at least up here north of the 49th, you have to have a license and to get that pass exams......and $$$ fees of course.
If you really,really feel bad for your friend 'having been taken', cut him a check for $1280, the difference between what he was charged and what you say is a 'proper' fee.
Sounds like the guy got his A/C FIXED in about 24hrs.....considering it's SUMMER, that's no too bad.

"It's SUMMER"
It is ALWAYS SUMMER....... in West Palm Beach, Florida!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: No legitimate dealer sells a part that cost him $10 for $600.

Really ?
One example that I KNOW.
Lookup the plastic wheel well trim for a Nissan Quashqui ! Left front costs $523 or $532 from dealer !! We're talking about less than 2 pounds of black plastic made in HUGE quantities

As for HVAC parts..
ventor motor/fans ( exhaust fans) are obscenely pricey for what they are, especially when volume manufactured is considered. Most are $700-$1000 for a small fractional HP motor in a plastic shell.
'smart' thermostats,like 'NEST' style sell for 100S of $, cost lest than $20 to make, in China of course.