Maybe it's me....

jrobert890

So I just had my AC charged with 3 lbs of R22 and it cost me $165. The guy was here for about 45 minutes. Online R22 goes for about $226 for a 30lb tank if you only buy 1 - 2 tanks which is about $7.53/lb. My guy said he picks it up for about $100/30lbs=$3.33/lb. Another guy wanted $240 for 3 lbs. How is it reasonable that contractors are making $900 - $1500 profit on a 30lb tank of Freon? I just wish I made that kind of profit on my job! Where's my KY?

yuri

Just the cost of doing business. Insurance, vehicle leasing, inventory, biz taxes etc etc all have to be paid by a contractor. Dominos makes a pizza for a buck or two and sells it for 15 to 20 and we don't complain. HVAC is no different.
http://www.diychatroom.com/blogs/business-vs-diy-158/

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drtbk4ever

You are missing a lot in your profit calculation. Maybe better to contemplate that before pulling out the KY.

And of course Yuri says it more eloquently than I.......

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Bill

A DIY Noob that knows just enough to be dangerous.

hvac benny

Very good link, Yuri.

12penny

....and wages, tools, uniforms, fuel, building morgage and taxes, building maint, electricity, continuing education.....$165 sounds like a bargain.

yuri

I worked for a small 8 man company and saw the REAL costs of doing business from the private owner. Half the time people were bouncing cheques, businesses going bankrupt and stiffing him ( 5-15 cents on a dollar he got from the bankruptcy trustee) etc etc. I could have had my own biz 32 yrs ago but rather like having a paycheck and not dealing with all that. Go to Dominos and offer them 5 bucks for a pizza cuz you can make it for 2 and see what they tell you.

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Marty S.

Currant customer cost is $12.54 a pound plus 84 an hour labor plus $20 trip fee and tax. At 45 minutes labor your cost would have been 129.07, pretty darn close to what you paid.
Whoops I forgot yesterday was Saturday. Try $126 for 1 hour minimum and $30 trip fee + tax=$207.17. Looks like you got off cheap.

biggles

did he find the leak and pull a micron test or was it a hit and run calldid he leave his truck running during the call