Why Do Some Plumbers Charge So Much?

jhs14

HUMBUG wrote: »

Is there price fixing going on in the plumbing industry and other trades? In these days where people can share databases, I wouldn't completely discount this . It just seems strange that I get a quote from one reputable plumber (just outside the postcode I live in) which is nearly 50% higher than the one just around the corner . And I know that both owners are the best of mates because one of their engineers told me so (they both studied together to gain accreditations for membership of the Institute of Plumbing and keep in close contact with each other). Could there be some gentleman's agreement between certain well know plumbers in my area to 'own' certain patches so that they all get a fair share of trade rather than compete against one another? Each plumber agrees they will quote way over a reasonable rate if the customer is not in their patch? If they win the customer than 'Hallelujah' but more often than not the customer will be deflected back to local plumbers who quote less. So the customer sub-consciously thinks he's getting a bargain when he is being conned into accepting a quote still above norm but way less than the plumber outside his 'patch'. My distrust of the trade has made me very cynical in my old age.

Is there a price fixing cartel in the murky underworld of domestic plumbers? No.

captainhindsight_2

HUMBUG wrote: »

Is there price fixing going on in the plumbing industry and other trades? In these days where people can share databases, I wouldn't completely discount this . It just seems strange that I get a quote from one reputable plumber (just outside the postcode I live in) which is nearly 50% higher than the one just around the corner . And I know that both owners are the best of mates because one of their engineers told me so (they both studied together to gain accreditations for membership of the Institute of Plumbing and keep in close contact with each other). Could there be some gentleman's agreement between certain well know plumbers in my area to 'own' certain patches so that they all get a fair share of trade rather than compete against one another? Each plumber agrees they will quote way over a reasonable rate if the customer is not in their patch? If they win the customer than 'Hallelujah' but more often than not the customer will be deflected back to local plumbers who quote less. So the customer sub-consciously thinks he's getting a bargain when he is being conned into accepting a quote still above norm but way less than the plumber outside his 'patch'. My distrust of the trade has made me very cynical in my old age.

No that is just silly. Different companies charge what they think their product is worth. Just like anything else a sandwich, a drink, a jumper, etc etc.

unclebulgaria

HUMBUG wrote: »

Get this one! I hired a reputed plumber to change a 3 port valve. Trusted him enough to give him the keys to my house as I had already booked a holiday abroad for 2 weeks . Arrived from holiday , keys left in the kitchen, 3 port valve replaced (looked okay but I'm not a plumber so couldn't judge ). The guy was so cold while doing the work that he lit my gas oven to keep warm, finished the work but didn't switch it off for 2 weeks. Further , 15 years later when the valve broke , I couldn't just unhook it and replace it with another (5 min job) because unknowingly , he had fitted the 3 port valve in such a way that you could not unhook it from its casing (ie. behind pipes and the HWT). Cost me £300 to get another plumber in to drain the systems , cut through the pipes and then fix the new valve to its casing (should have cost £25 without the need to employ a plumber ). That's a prime example of a plumbing company with all the CIPHE, APHC logos conning the public by employing someone to do work who isn't qualified at those expected levels. And I've got lots of similar examples , more bad than good over the last 30 years or so . This is not a rant , just plain bad experiences with lots of different tradespeople. Poor quality work at rip-off reputed company rates.

As I said Humbug, I sympathise and I bet there are trades reading your thread who, between perhaps rolling their eyes at what they've already said was a rant, will be shaking their heads at the way you and others are treated by supposed qualified people.
My Son will be moving into a new rented flat in the next few days and I've got to meet the Managing Agents Gas engineer at the property to let him in because my son doesn't want him around his stuff. I already know that the boilers flue is currently At Risk due to boxing that's never been removed from around the boilers flue connections. He won't be told that I'm a Gas Engineer and we'll see how he goes on. Oh and you can rest assured that he'll get a right b!!!!!!!!g if he cuts any corners because I hate people in positions of trust taking the pee.

HUMBUG

unclebulgaria wrote: »

As I said Humbug, I sympathise and I bet there are trades reading your thread who, between perhaps rolling their eyes at what they've already said was a rant, will be shaking their heads at the way you and others are treated by supposed qualified people.
My Son will be moving into a new rented flat in the next few days and I've got to meet the Managing Agents Gas engineer at the property to let him in because my son doesn't want him around his stuff. I already know that the boilers flue is currently At Risk due to boxing that's never been removed from around the boilers flue connections. He won't be told that I'm a Gas Engineer and we'll see how he goes on. Oh and you can rest assured that he'll get a right b!!!!!!!!g if he cuts any corners because I hate people in positions of trust taking the pee.

I wish I had a relative who was a gas engineer. Anyhow , today I was speaking to the plumbers/engineers installing my boiler (whose owner studied with the owner of another plumbing company - the creme de la creme one who charges 50% over the norm!). They say that if they are busy they refer customers to 'creme de la creme Ltd' . Great!!!

It also looks as if I am going to be unlucky with this install. They turned off the mains , did some work and then turned it back on again (water only dribbling through the taps, electric shower and loo - no pressure at all). Spoke to Affinity Water (had to shout at them with all their excuses to not send an engineer) to do a quick check of the external stopcock to ensure nothing collapsed inside the stopcock valve. Engineer came out , not a problem on their side. More plumbers now required for their expertise asking me where the internal stopcock was. Took all the laminate flooring up - removed floorboards and found it . They examined it and it looked okay (an old faucet type ). So it looks like either something from the mains or my internal piping has caused a blockage somewhere in my pipework - nightmare!!!!!!! So had to remove all the floorboards in my hallway and kitchen to try and identify where the old lead pipes junction off . That is after having to remove all my kitchen carpet (which was glued to the floorboards). Discovered a 'T' joint which fed the mains supply to my kitchen, toilet and central heating. They cut it out and hey presto , found a half inch lump of old lead solder blocking everything. Had to cut the lead pipe from the internal stop !!!! to this T area , feed new plastic pipes and install a new stop-!!!!. Cost for this extra work £375 . Actually , this the best value plumbers I have ever hired but fingers crossed that no further emergencies or leaks.:(.

Cost of install has now escalated from 2.8k to 3.3k.