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| - *UPDATE* - Change from 3 to 4 stars. I don't think it was an hour after posting my experience with LFP, when I received a call from Jeff - the owner.
Jeff first noted that the pricing I posted didn't have any comparisons, and that he almost never gets complaints about pricing. Jeff mentioned two other large, popular plumbing companies by name that have far higher pricing than LFP. I've called one of them before - - and he's right - - not only is their pricing higher, but they have a 2 star yelp review status. Both reasons are why I've never hired them.
Jeff also explained some of my work was "flat rate".
He told me there was an error on my invoice, and was making a price adjustment accordingly. With the price adjustment, LFP's rate is now much more tolerable - - and we will in fact consider them for future work.
He said that they take their 5 star yelp status seriously (and he should - - that's what made me a new customer), and I should have first called LFP prior to leaving a 3 star review. I disagreed with Jeff on this point (that I should have called him first). While I understand that LFP wants to maintain a good online reputation, I really had nothing to call and "complain" about: the work was completed correctly and the invoice gave me no indication that there was a pricing error. Unless I've been "price gouged" (I was not), or there was an invoicing error (I did not detect one), I am not going to call you and complain that I don't like your pricing. I firmly believe that businesses may price their services as they please.
In summary - I very much appreciate Jeff's commitment to providing both quality and value with LFP's services. His phone call to me is evidence of his dedication to satisfied customers. The invoice correction means we will be able call LFP for help in the future.
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I am a landlord with multiple properties in the east valley. We often hire plumbers - - not just for repairs, but also for maintenance, appliance installations, and upgrades. The licensed plumber we've used in the past has great pricing, but is often not available as quickly as we need - - and occasionally his workmanship requires rework.
I called Lawson after reading yelp reviews, hoping to find a new plumber we can do business with on a regular basis. LFP returned my call a few hours after I left a message on Mothers Day (I was surprised, but pleased). I described the work I needed done, and we scheduled their plumber to arrive this morning. The person returning my call was friendly and courteous.
They arrived on time. We inspected and discussed the work I needed completed, and I agreed with the verbal estimate. I would likely have agreed to any estimate because LFP has a yelp 5 star rating with nearly 150 reviews - - - this tells me they're not "ripping people off" and that they care about their reputation. Their yelp rating is the reason I called.
The work was completed in 2.25 hours - - -but about 20-25 minutes of that includes the time the tech had to leave to buy a part to connect my dishwasher. I was a little surprised that he did not have the part(s), because I advised them during my first call that I needed a dishwasher hooked up, and that I had not purchased anything but the dishwasher.
The tech removed my old dishwasher, connected and tested the new one, removed and replaced a sink disposal (and tested), removed and replaced the hot water riser, and removed and replaced the hot water stop valve. I was satisfied with the technician's work. The tech applied a $50 discount to my invoice.
So why the three-star rating? Mainly price.
LFP does not specify every line item for parts and labor on their invoice- - but it's easy enough for me to comparatively price up the parts, and then compute Lawson's labor rate.
If I bought all the parts used on this job (exact) at the big orange store, they would have cost me $150 (actually $147.66 tax included). My invoice was $583 - - which works out to $192 an hour for labor.
$192 an hour for labor includes my discount - - and is also the rate I paid for the time the tech left to buy parts. Without the discount the rate is $215 an hour.
I don't pretend to understand the plumbing business, or the components behind the hourly rate. I also understand that some jobs are flat rate. And LFP absolutely may charge whatever they care to.
But our little rental business spends many thousands on plumbing supplies, fixtures, and services every year. As a business, we are more sensitive to pricing than if we were only calling the plumber once every 3-5 years to clear a drain at our home or replace the water heater. Our business can not tolerate $200 an hour labor rates for plumbers - -- - That's almost what we pay our attorney.
Although the work was completed on-time, courteously, and with good workmanship; pricing will likely preclude us from putting LFP at the top of our partner list.
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