A fair price or a fleecing?
Our cooker started acting up the other day. The timer panel wouldn’t allow us to use the oven. After all that’s gone wrong with us lately, that was all we needed!
We found a cooker repair company and was given a quote for £200, and told we had to wait 8 days, as they had to order the part in. £200 is a lot of money for such a small thing, but cheaper than a new cooker, so we said OK.
Later that day my niece telephoned and said that her hubby would pop round and see if there was anything he could do. He is a fire alarm installations manager, so might be able to help. We hadn’t thought of him. He had a look at it and said we did need the part after all. He searched Google and found a company that sold cooker parts. Just what we needed at £82 inclusive. The deal was, we would cancel the other one and order the part for Gary to install.
This morning we cancelled and I went on line to order the part. Just as I sat down at my computer, a delivery van arrived. Mo collected the package, wondering what it could be and yes, you’ve guessed! It was the cooker part. So much for 8 days for delivery!
We telephoned Gary and he came round immediately. Six little screws and three minutes later our cooker was fixed. Now that company would probably pay around £30 for the part, so £170 was for screwing in six tiny screws!
So far we haven’t paid for anything. I wonder what we will be charged for the part.
Stumble it!
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Maureen | 22 August 2008 at 17:59
Glad to hear you got it fixed! I hate hearing about ripoffs like this though. Some companies have no qualms about taking advantage, eh?
granny grimble | 22 August 2008 at 18:16
Why am I not surprised! I’m a bit puzzled as to which part you ended up with. Was it Gary’s ebay choice or the repair company’s?
Glad that you can now go back to your macaroni cheese!
Lidian | 22 August 2008 at 18:26
That’s unbelievable! It’s hard when it is something like the oven that you really need almost every day -
Babs (Beetle) | 22 August 2008 at 18:46
Maureen:
I think about the people that can’t get it done themselves, and have to pay these prices.
Granny Grimble:
I hadn’t ordered the part yet. This was from the company that was going to install it.
Lidian:
Yes, we were only without it for a couple of days, but we missed it :O)
Jay | 22 August 2008 at 22:39
Wow – interesting!! We have a great domestic appliance repairman. He’s been doing our stuff for over twenty years and has never fleeced us, he’s reasonable and likes to repair rather than replace when possible, although he’ll tell you when something isn’t worth repairing – and then advise on the best brand to go for.
Priceless. Rather like the sweet deal you managed to get yourself.
Babs (Beetle) | 22 August 2008 at 22:54
Jay:
You are very fortunate to have such a man in this day and age! We haven’t been able to find a decent, reliable workman in years – not even a gardener!
Sioux | 22 August 2008 at 23:50
Never hurts to have a handy relative, does it?! BTW, love your graphics!
Babs (Beetle) | 23 August 2008 at 0:29
Sioux:
It most certainly doesn’t hurt :O)
manager mom | 23 August 2008 at 2:33
OK- I see from the pound sterling that you are all British and stuff and I am an ugly American, but that cooker just looks like an instrument of torture to me…
Babs (Beetle) | 23 August 2008 at 2:56
Manger Mom:
Well, it is actually. I’ve never got to grips with all the buttons and bells ;O)
Lux | 23 August 2008 at 5:24
Glad it’s fixed now – I hope that company won’t charge very much for the part!
Angela | 23 August 2008 at 5:33
I just had to tell you how much I love your header…makes me smile every time I pop in!
Jaffer | 23 August 2008 at 5:52
Your oven looks futuristic. And spotless !
Sarah | 23 August 2008 at 12:54
We had the same cooker at our old house! But white and a single oven. It all sounds like a bit of a rip off. My sister has a Stoves oven too and it cost her £5 for a new hob knob, which seems reasonable.
I agree with Jaffer, it is spotless!
Hugs, Sarah x
Babs (Beetle) | 23 August 2008 at 13:18
Lux:
So do we Lux, Still, it wont be £200!
Angela:
I’m glad you like it ;O)
Jaffer:
Not really Jaffer. It’s 12 years old!
Sarah:
I think it’s a case of ’supply and demand’ They can charge what they want, as the average household wont be able to fix their own!
Redbeard76 | 23 August 2008 at 14:24
I work in sales of appliance parts, and I agree that parts prices are outrageous and have gone up even more in the last year. However if it was under warranty we would have sent out a replacement at no charge. In the olden days even if the part was out of warranty and the customer made enough of a fuss about it, we would sent out the part no charge as well, but in today’s economy we’ve had to crack down on that and charge the exorbitant amount, which would be easiest. Although with some searching, our customers could find parts from somewhere else. It’s just that we can’t undercut our retailers which is why we have to charge the “list price”, everyone else works off a discount.
Babs (Beetle) | 23 August 2008 at 15:06
Redbeard:
It’s good to hear the other side of things. I am sure it’s a sign of the times, and not individual companies. Many years ago, if something was faulty, or it broke down within the guarantee period, shops actually replaced the item with a brand new one! Now they take it away to repair it at your inconvenience.
Christine and FAZ | 23 August 2008 at 18:16
Mind you, cost aside, how nice to have someone who can help with repairs. We would love a friend like that.
Babs (Beetle) | 23 August 2008 at 18:34
Christine and Faz:
Yes it’s a great help, and we’re very thankful!
Samantha and Mr. Tigger | 24 August 2008 at 2:30
So glad your stove got fixed! It’s always nice to have someone to help who knows what he is doing! The water you see is what drains to the street so it doesn’t stay in the yard! We are so thankful that we didn’t get flooded, no trees fell down and we only lost power once in the middle of the night! Have a great Sunday!
Your (we don’t need any more TS/Hurricanes this year) FL furiends,
Mimi Lenox | 24 August 2008 at 2:48
What a dilemma but at least your stove is in working order. Thanks for visiting me lately! I appreciate it.
Babs (Beetle) | 24 August 2008 at 3:03
Samantha & Tigger:
So glad you were Ok and had no damage. It's a worry when these storms hit.
Mimi Lennox:
Yes, everything is fine now, just waiting for the bill :O) I enjoy reading your blog.
GMAC | 24 August 2008 at 8:23
wow for six tiy screws only! good thing you have a repairman!
thanks for visiting mate. see you at photo hunters!
Swubird | 24 August 2008 at 15:33
Babs:
It’s an old story. These guys really rip you off any way they can. One time I priced a part for my air conditioner atm$45. However, the repairman told me it would cost $300! It always pays to check it out yourself first.
Happy trails.
Babs (Beetle) | 24 August 2008 at 16:06
GMAC:
Yep, six screws, and not even large screws!
Swubird:
Just one of the great things about the internet! I always do my research now, before buying anything ;O) Unfortunately, without the expertise, we are sometimes at the mercy of repair men.
JD at I Do Things | 24 August 2008 at 20:31
Oh, how frustrating! They think they’ve “got” you and you have no choice but to pay whatever they deem appropriate. A friend like that is invaluable!
Babs (Beetle) | 24 August 2008 at 20:57
JD:
We haven’t been billed for the part yet, so we wait and see.