The week a plumber fixed my main line for $150 and I nearly cried from relief

Last March my sewer line backed up on a Sunday, I called five local plumbers who all wanted $400 just to show up, but this old guy named Frank came out in his beat up truck, snaked it in twenty minutes, and only charged for the call since he said I was his last stop of the day anyway - has anyone else had a local service person surprise you with a crazy low bill like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

piper_thompson3114d ago

Frank's the kind of guy you want to keep on speed dial (seriously, ask if he gives discounts for cash or off-peak hours, a lot of old-timers will work with you).

wendyc5314d ago

You better BELIEVE you keep Frank's number safe and maybe slip him a little extra next time. @piper_thompson31 nailed it with the cash discount tip, a lot of those old school guys would rather take cash than deal with credit card fees and paperwork. I've had a similar thing happen with an electrician who charged me $50 for a fix that should have been $200 just because I let him use my bathroom and gave him coffee. These guys are out there, you just have to treat them like people instead of calling around like a headless chicken. Ask around at your local hardware store or feed store, that's where the real pros hang out. And for crying out loud, when Frank saves your weekend, you buy him lunch or send a referral his way.