Response from Sembower-Mikesell Inc. Plumbing and Heating
[member name removed], there are companies called flat-rate companies who charge you a ridiculously inflated price for a job. Sembower-Mikesell, Inc. is not one of them. We almost wish you would have experienced service by a flat-rate company so that you can see how honest we are with our pricing. For our service work, our price structure is simple: we charge for time and materials. We do not tolerate our workers wasting time running in and out because it does not help us or you. What appeared as wasting time running in and out was our guys getting the parts that you need for your particular brand and model of bathroom sink. There are hundreds, or rather thousands, of different parts for all the different lavatory faucets and quite frankly, it would be impossible to stock all these parts on our trucks and even in our warehouse. We hope this explains your perception of the workers running in and out. Regarding your comment about debating the bill with the owner, we would just like to clarify that there was no “debating” the bill. The bill is what it is – a charge for time and material. There was no overcharge or mistakes on the bill. As a courtesy, we reduced your bill because you were so extremely dissatisfied, not because you were overcharged. If we should make a mistake and/or overcharge, we take care of it. Sembower-Mikesell has been a family-owned and operated business serving Pittsburgh since 1923. We have survived as a service company by providing professional, quality service, and it’s unfortunate that you do not see us in this light.