trying to get a contractor to come out and lay a natrual gas pipe from my generator to my gas meter. for a year now.
last year, during the hurricanes, no chance. the only way to getthem to come out was promise them 2 or 3 grand plus what the job would cost. so, i waited a year. a year with no storms. now, i can get them to come out, but, in the true american capitolist fassion, they still want to price gouge and walk away if you balk.
200 bucks for a ditch witch. MABE 200 to 300 for materials depending on weather they use galvanized pipe or poly pipe. tops. 120 for permit fee. thats the total cost of the job for ANYONE not counting labor.
South End Plumbing. 1700 bucks. i asked what the extra grand was for, he said "thats just the way it is here".
Any Time Plumbing. 2900 bucks. didnt even try to justify the price, just shrugged his sholders and said, with a smile on his face, thats what i have to charge.
have a third contractor who is supposed to come out today, dont expect much differant but there is always hope.
my lawyer gets 250 bucks an hour. my plumber? he wants 600 to 1100 an hour. its a two hour job tops. my code enforement official? we dont handle price gouging, we just enfoce codes and fine the hell out of anyone who tries to do it themselves without a permit.
a licence to steal.
and we want to pass this wonderfull capitolist concept on to other countries? or boitch about immigrants who are willing to do the job for a FAIR price?
im thinking we need to clean up our stink, starting with plumbers and electricians in south florida before we try telling some one else how to run their bussiness.
for me? i will wait another year. hell, i may sell the house with an open permit for the unfinnished generator. but i sure as hell am not going to pay a plumber a rocket scientists wage. im ornery like that,