040519 0654 - DaveG posted:


"Snoop Drew" wrote in message
news:e4Cqc.4691$zw.4@attbi_s01...
I hired an electrician from the yellow pages to replace a faulty Ground
Fault Circuit Interruptor (GFCI) in the garage, and install two new ones
in
the kitchen to bring it up to code.

The guy charged me $261 per GFCI, for a total of $783. He spent an hour to
do the job. I told him before I signed the work authorization that this
seemed expensive and asked about a discount but he just frowned. Is this
really a fair price?

Their yellow page ad reads "reasonable prices" and "complete professional
&
reliable service" with "30 years experience!!"

I don't think someone who has 30 years of professional experience would
say
that $783 is "reasonable" for installing three GFCI outlets, with no new
wires to be run.

i have no one to blame but myself, but do i have any recourse? Can't i
just
call the guy to complain and ask for a partial refund? Or can I really win
in small claims?

yes, I deserve an award for stupidity and gullability, but i think there's
a
special place in hell for people like this...

Lets see. You can purchase a GFI outlet for no more than $15 in most home
supply stores, probably less then $10. So you paid almost $800 for no more
than $45 in parts and an hours labor.
Add in drive time, and the total would be closer to $200 give or take.
I'd say you were overcharged by perhaps $500 or more. Next time, get a
least 3 estimates. I'd still call and ask a few other pro's in your area
what they'd charge, then go back to the company you hired and ask them why
they are so overpriced. If you get nowhere, offer to take your story to the
local news "I" team, and see what happens.



And definitely report this to your local Better Business Bureau...