This guy was just way out of line. We've had other more difficult jobs done by Roto Rooter for less -- a more difficult draining cleaning for $100 (the spousal unit had cleaned drywall equipment in the laundry sink in spite of my protests) and a gas dryer connection for $160 that required removing & replacing an obsolete style of gas valve. In this case I already had the plumbing mostly disassembled.

It turns out that each Roto Rooter responder is an independent contractor or company. There is little consistency except the sign on the truck. Roto Rooter itself is little more than a call center. What you might think is their central office has no ability to resolve or decide anything.

He netted nothing for his travel & paperwork time. If his quote had been reasonable, he would have been adequately paid for 7-10 minutes of work.

 

I'm going to drop off my computer tonight for repairs. I don't know how I'll handle being without it for however long they decide to keep it. Maybe that's a sign that disconnecting would be a good thing. It's also a good thing I'll be traveling for a couple days and don't really need it on this trip.

 

Yep - I had a five man Roto Rooter crew dig up my front yard, replace the sewer line and add a new inbound water line for $1,500 total ($300 a day each staffer, including backhoe and supplies).

 

I would expect that to cost several thousand up here.

 

Of course, where you are it will need heavy explosives to break through the tundra; the ground doesn't defrost until late June, and then freezes up again in September.

 

At your guy's effective rate, I would indeed.

 

Welcome to The Lounge™, StayingHomeIsBetter and RobOnLI!

By the way, I know of yet another FlyerTalk member with a long screen name, four words including “home” in addition to the one whom you refer in your signature, StayingHomeIsBetter...

 

Ca' - Na - Rsi - E

(ref. the Venetian dialect Ca' for "Casa", or Home)

 

I would say that you'll be missed. But since you won't see this post 'til you get your computer back, I'll say, "Welcome back!"

 

Isn't "Ca" Venetian dialect for "alley"?

 

$3500, and I had to fix the grass myself.

 

No need. We have self exploding lines up here:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/dis...l-inspections/

 

Shhhhh... Canarsie and Mike don't know this stuff.

 

House of gold?

You are correct. I know no Italian...

 

That would explain why Canarsie got lost on the way back from the Venice Meet and spent hours trying to find the railway station -- which was a 5 minute walk from the hotel.