My laundry tray pump stopped working, so called Metcalf to replace it. Their service call is $59, reasonable if you don't know what the problem is and it gets applied to total bill if you hire them. I am a DIY'er but plumbing and electric is where I know to hire a professional, still I did my homework. A replacement pump of same or a better caliber can be bought online or retail for about $250-$500 all day long so say $400 is already a starting price, plus maybe few inches of new pipe and fittings which is negligible and then there is labor. I reckon the swap is no more than an hour job for a licensed plumber driving a company van loaded with tools. Let's say he is better than a plumber, he holds a PhD in hydrodynamics, 3 patents in plumbing and fittings and carries a space alloy wrench so charges $400/hr. I'd still be looking at a bill no more than $800 for a pump swap. What did Metcalf estimate say you wonder?? $1,400 with tax etc. No kidding! $1,400!!! WTF is wrong with this industry??? And to think I turned down another companies estimate ($129 service call, $398 for new pump + $100/hr after first half hour) only because their service call was $129. Obviously I refused the service, but still had to pay Metcalf $59 just for showing up and giving me no information other than I had already known.
Update: I uninstalled the bad pump, it's just a sealed 6 gal box sitting on the floor. Went to local plumbing supply store where pros go (name starts with Fer) and bought the latest model pump for $259 out the door, while there ran in to a plumber who was doing his own parts shopping. I asked him how much would he charge to install the pump, his answer was a couple of hundred bucks. I'd take him up on his offer but he was on another job and couldn't spare the time. Long story short looks like it's a $500 job if you hire a pro. $1,400????? What a joke!!
