I just got off the phone with Mr. Sherlock of Sherlock Plumbing questioning why he charged my 83 year-old mother $401.50 to install replacement parts for two toilets that were constantly running. After complaining about gas at $3.00 a gallon, his truck maintenence and his $2 million in liability insurance, he informed me that his base call price is $180.00 and that to "rebuild a toilet" his cost is $225 (per toilet). He did in fact inform my mother of the price before hand and even allowed her to pay in two payments as she survives on a small monthly federal annuity. I recently did the same job in my own house and the same repalcement parts cost me $7 at Walmart - and the job took me about 20 minutes when I got home. Mr. Sherlock told me that I was lying. If you figure he paid a high price for his parts and take into acount that he had to drive 10 miles round trip; the wear and tear on his truck and his liability insurance, I figure a high cost for his actual expenses at about $33. Since he has to make a living I will give him $120 per hour for his labor and even an additional fee of $30 for incidentals (cell phone calls to his attorney, charities, churches, old-folks homes). That makes his cost + profit at $183.00. Pretty good for an hours work. So where does he get off charging $401.50? Only Mr. Sherolck knows. But to quote him, "I can't afford to even walk in the door for less than $180". Mr. Sherlock is either a bad businessman or a lousy accountant. One thing we know for sure, he isn't fair, he isn't equitable and he IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
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