While I am reluctant to write this review, I feel I've got to put it out there. I am a landlord who lives out of state. My tenant called to tell me there was a leak, & she thinks it's from the water heater.
Gobie Plumbing had done some work for me years ago (about 2003), & I thought they were fair, so I gave my tenant their number, as well as the serial number of the water heater.
Later, my tenant calls me. She said the plumber was there for 5 minutes, said it's not the water heater & left her with a $150 bill.
So I called & spoke to Mr. Gobie himself. He says, based on what the tenant told him, he went & picked up a replacement water heater..which, as it turns out, we didn't need. So he is charging me for the time it took for him to drive in traffic, wait in line, pick up that equipment...and now, return it.
Yes, he feels he should charge me for that time he took **before he even visited the apartment** and diagnosed what the problem was.
Now, I would have no problem paying for him going to the apartment, & seeing it wasn't the heater. I'm guessing that would be ~$100. But my problem is that he went on what the tenant told him - sure, he thought he was being proactive, but come on - and now he is charging me for the mistake he made.
I don't think this is fair. But, in any case...I paid the $150. I have a soft spot in my heart for old-school plumbers who have been in business for 30+ years in Miami.
So, why the 3 stars? Because I DO appreciate Mr. Gobie's honesty, that he did not just go ahead & replace the water heater, which would've been a lot more. And I'm sure other plumbers would've done just that. I think fair plumbers are few and far between.
I welcome the business to contact me and/or address this review.