Another AC question

[on-a-mission]

For the AC guys on the GS.

I had a AC company come out to check one of the units at the shop that was not blowing cold air. He spent maybe 30 minutes there and repalace a
35/5 440v capacitor. charged me $225 parts (capacitor) and $85 labor and a fuel surcharge (they are 2 miles from the shop) Invoice totaled $335. After looking up prices on the capacitor I found it at Grainger for $28.
Don't get me wrong, I know they need to mark up the parts but, $200 markup ?
Is this normal in the AC business or did I get hosed ?

[Uncle Saggy]

Did you at least get a hug and kiss?

[Uncle Saggy]

Yes it is common......these are the "book rate " crooks that get in the door with a CHEAP diagnostic rate and then break one off. Legit companies charge a real labor rate for the actual time of the repair.....The customer that looks for the cheapest rate up front deserves what they get.
Not saying that about you, just answering your question

[LWolken]

Its normal for some ac companies. I sell most caps for $59.00 unless its an odd ball and $100.00/hr for (comercial labor) plus a trip charge $40.00 so, by the time I pay gas, insurance and taxes and parts I'll put less than $100 in my pocket.

[on-a-mission]

They are a legit company, matter of fact we have used them in the past for service and felt we got treated ok. This time it just seemed really high for what they did.

Last summer we had a new unit installed in the front offices and got 3 bids, they were the highest bid by a pretty good margin and we didn't use them.

Guess they had hard feelings. They have lost our business !

[pickles]

You didn't get hosed. You also didn't get a great deal.

Most service companies these days need to make around $150 an hour off their trucks to break even with overhead, slow season, etc. I think $200 to $250 would have been a good price.

If you sign a service contract with a company they will usually cut you great deals on service calls. Most service contracts at a top notch outfit run $200 a year.

[Txjourneyman]

Call and ask for a discount on the parts. Explain the price you found and ask why the high mark up? They may give you a break in an attemp to keep your business.

[systemnt]

Sounds like they slapped a hardstart on it.. not a good deal by any means.
You could have replaced it.