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Post by funnel101 on Jul 17, 2010 11:49:30 GMT -4
Our central AC unit stopped producing cold air around 9:00 last night. We called another company first, who told us we'd be unable to schedule the service call until Monday, and that it would cost $150 just for the guys to come out and take a look. So, we ran out to Kmart to buy a window unit for the weekend, and ran into a friend of my husband's family, who recommended we call Mr. Lenny at Anne Arundel Refrigeration.
We called him as soon as we got home. He told us he'd be here tomorrow (Saturday) at noon and it would cost $50 for him to take a look at it. He's come and gone already, and our AC is back up and running, for less than it would have cost for the other guys to just come out! (Turns out we had a blown capacitor.)
We are very impressed. His phone number is 410-643-1231.
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Post by AquaHolic on Jul 17, 2010 23:59:38 GMT -4
Our central AC unit stopped producing cold air around 9:00 last night. We called another company first, who told us we'd be unable to schedule the service call until Monday, and that it would cost $150 just for the guys to come out and take a look. So, we ran out to Kmart to buy a window unit for the weekend, and ran into a friend of my husband's family, who recommended we call Mr. Lenny at Anne Arundel Refrigeration. We called him as soon as we got home. He told us he'd be here tomorrow (Saturday) at noon and it would cost $50 for him to take a look at it. He's come and gone already, and our AC is back up and running, for less than it would have cost for the other guys to just come out! (Turns out we had a blown capacitor.) We are very impressed. His phone number is 410-643-1231. That is impressive....good for him and his customer service...which I believe is so important ...
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Post by bchevy on Jul 18, 2010 12:31:34 GMT -4
I have QUIT using the companies that have "service call fees" or "Fuel Surcharges" It's an ignorant way of getting a few more bucks out of customers that are between a rock and a hard place.
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Post by Family Heating on Jul 18, 2010 22:10:44 GMT -4
One thing that should be kept in mind is that just because a company might charge a "fuel surcharge" or a "Travel charge" you also have to look at the hourly charge. It may not show a charge of that sort but your paying for it in the hourly charge. With my company we had no choice but to start charging a $10.00 fuel surcharge last summer cause of the increase in the price of fuel, but our reg. hourly rate stayed the same of $80.00 an hour and our time doesn't start till we arrive at your home also any service call will be handled the same day and any call received after normal business hours will be handled immediately, if we are not on another service call we will arrive within the hour and our trucks are stocked to fix almost all repairs, some company's start charging from the time they leave there shop till the time they get done there service call. So by the time they get done your paying ten fold for that "travel charge". Some times a travel charge is a small fee to pay for excellent service.
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Post by bchevy on Jul 19, 2010 18:38:57 GMT -4
I've been in, and around the service industry for about 30 years, I know how it works.
$80. an hour is plenty to cover 1 guy on a truck w/fuel. That # would be more if it's a bigger company with a shop? or big overhead? My opinion.
When the gas prices went up guess what? we all paid it and not everyone could tack it on to their invoice. We didn't get a raise in our check because of it. I still call cheap shot on the fuel charge.
I might not mind a "small" travel charge, but 80, 90, or $125. or $150.! as listed above is not small.
Travel time: The companies I worked for charged it one way, going TO the job. If you're more than 1/2 hour away you should plan your day better IF possible.
A 1/2 hour of travel time at the $80./hr rate, would be the same as a $40. service call fee and fine in my book.
FYI: I got the exact same "excellant service" if not better when my unit needed charged up this spring, paid $75. with 2.5 lbs. compared to last year at $127. for the same 2.5 lbs.
I'm not tryig to pick on any one vendor, just the practice itself.
It pays to shop around people.
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Post by kibizowner on Aug 22, 2010 15:22:21 GMT -4
I give another vote for Lenny... He's done our AC for the past couple of years... reasonable prices, arrives when he says he will, and cleans up when finished... only downside is his recruiting for the Elks ;-)
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Post by moosie on Aug 22, 2010 21:42:46 GMT -4
two words:
family heating
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Post by EnjoysKI on Mar 16, 2011 11:14:55 GMT -4
Lenny does all my Heat Pump, Stove and Refrigerator service for quite a few years and agree he is efficient and reasonable.
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