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January 27, 2007
GATEWAY PLUMBING
question for master plumber aka gateway plumbing .
my friend used you guys back in NOV for a few things .
1) changed 1 washer in a bathroom faucet
2)hooked up a drain , kitchen sink ,material used one brass trap and about 12" of brass pipe .
3)connected a stove . he had the flexable hose btw .
labor was two men just ove an hour .
he gets a bill two weeks later for 1 k . how do you justify $1000 for that work?
Comments
wow !
$1000 for that ? I heard that they were expensive but . That's a rip off !!
I can't wait to hear MASTER PLYMBER'S response to that
Posted by: anon at January 27, 2007 2:42 PM
One washer ..that's $300
And $200 for the brass
$500 to connect the stove
and check for leaking gas
Two men for a full hour?
there's union dues, you see
but then you got a discount cause
the bill we sent for free !
Posted by: Ben Dover at January 27, 2007 2:45 PM
OP HERE
Worst part is they didn't check for leaks at the stove . The valve at the gas meter was closed .( NOT LOCKED BY KEYSPAN ) I opened the valve and checked for leaks . There weren't any .
NOW i see why they charged SO much . They have a 212 area code . Manhattan rents are high
Posted by: anon at January 27, 2007 2:50 PM
Childish post
Posted by: Anonymous at January 27, 2007 3:04 PM
First of all this sounds like a junior high after school special- my "friend" has this problem. If your friend has a problem, why don't they call and talk to them about it instead of using this forum? Have they ever heard of an estimate? Before I let people work on my house in a nonemergency(ie sewer backup on a sat night) I ask HOW MUCH. When I have hired plumbers, painters, electricians, they do the work, then I pay them. That way I can dispute the bill if needed, or the quality of the work. If it is a large job, we have a contract and a pay schedule.
I find it difficult to believe that a company would send a bill two weeks later on a first time customer. Last time I trusted someone like that, I had to have him arrested and I get a restitution check once a year if I am lucky.
Posted by: Alisa at January 27, 2007 3:08 PM
While I have no reason to believe there is anything legitimate about this post, I'll offer that as a matter of policy I will not engage someone in a public forum about pricing be it by my company or otherwise.
If your "friend" has an issue with services rendered by Gateway Plumbing and Heating, I suggest you have that person call our office at their convenience or send an email to MasterPlvmber@hotmail.com
This is the problem with anonymous posting.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at January 27, 2007 3:15 PM
Like it or not master plymber . Everthing i said 100% true . BTW he has contacted your office about this issue and they say the bill is fine
Posted by: anon at January 27, 2007 3:19 PM
"I will not talk of pricing"
and that's all that I'll say
we did the job ..so pony-up
it's time for you to pay!
You hired us and now complain
what action could be dumber?
next time get a quote BEFORE
..yours truly; Master Plumber
Posted by: Ben Dover at January 27, 2007 3:33 PM
Pretty cheesy .
i agree with Master Plymber on this . anon post should NOT be allowed . For all we know the OP might be another company looking to bad mouth Gateway .
Posted by: eletricgreek at January 27, 2007 5:08 PM
I think this is unethical for Brownstoner to allow this kind of a post. Who the F is this poster going on line to publicly bash a decent and honest business? Brownstoner should do a real service to the community and do some actual reporting instead of just allowing every dissatisfied person, (and this person is, in my mind is lying,) bash a company with a great track record. Gateway has done a heck of a lot of good work for us. Additionally they fixed a friends' very messed up heating system that was installed by another plumbing company. Believe me that if Gateway charged excessive costs for their services they would not get my business. One time I ordered a part and installed it myself and it cost me 1/2 of their total cost for the part alone and at least 45 minutes of researching what to buy, and where to buy it and then an hour of actually installing it. So I don't think they have a big markup on their materials and I think they are cheaper than a lot of name plumbers with vans you see riding around Park Slope routinely.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 27, 2007 8:06 PM
I've never used Gateway and know nothing about them, other then what I've read on Brownstoner. Nevertheless, I do know that reputable businesses of this type rely on repeat business, so IMO the original post just isn't credible--not with a business that's received somuch praise here.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 27, 2007 8:24 PM
Anon 8:06 - Are you related to them?
Posted by: Anonymous at January 28, 2007 12:48 AM
Since Gateway is getting bashed here, I figured I'd throw in my experiences with them.
I called them last week to fix a no circulation problem with one of my gas-fired boilers. When they came over, they could have just said "yip the pump is busted", but instead they tested the system first and found out that the problem was just a large amount of air in the pipes. They taught me how the system works and how to remove the air should it happen again.
Their price was fair.
Posted by: victor at January 28, 2007 2:00 AM
Anon 8:06, it would be great if Brownstoner could have a vast staff of investigative reporters to check out allegations of corruption, consumer fraud, etc., the way newspapers used to, but, um, that is expensive. This is a great blog, but it's just a blog. It's staggering to me that people don't understand that good journalism is really vital to our democracy, and that blogging, as great as it is, is not the same thing as a comprehensive newsgathering organization. I mean, do you bother to subscribe to the Times?
Posted by: anon at January 28, 2007 2:12 AM
Gateway has been providing me with honest, informed, and reliable service for 3 years. Never been upsold, and everything is always well explained. If you want to use someone else, fine, but I tried 3 plumbers who would have screwed me (or my system) with dishonesty, or incompetence before I found Gateway.
-pk
Posted by: pk at January 28, 2007 9:24 AM
The sucess of this board is based on Brownstoners ability to step back and let people post their comments uncensored. Lets not put this on his shoulders.
That said - I dont believe any plumber would do a job and then rely on the good will of their first time customer to pay a bill several weeks later. Does the supermarket let you walk out without paying first? Don't think so. So this post sounds completely ridiculous.
I dont know if Gateway is fair or not having no experience with them but I doubt that any damage has been done to their reputation based on this post which is dubious at best.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 28, 2007 10:23 AM
Gateway is not an honest and repuitable business. They tried to overcharge us. It was LAUGHABLE. Luckily, we got a price quote before they did the work.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 29, 2007 10:16 AM
I for one really appreciate the posts that Master Plvbmer makes on this blog and I hope this thread doesn't do anything to cause him to pull back.
We've used them a couple of times at our house and great confidence in them. No business has 100% satisfied customers and misunderstandings do occur. Based on the tone of the original post and the credibility of Gateway, I have to chalk this one up to a misunderstanding.
Posted by: trudy lou at January 29, 2007 10:46 AM
anon 10:16
How can you say a company is not honest and not reputable because they quoted you a price you felt was too high? Luckily you got an estimate? Does anyone buy anything without checking the price? You don't do it at the grocery store why would you do it with a plumber? I find most of the shops in my neighborhood to be overpriced what with selling $50 t shirts or a $9 sandwich that comes with nothing. I don't tell the owners they are disreputable and dishonest, I don't buy their product.
Posted by: Alisa at January 29, 2007 11:09 AM
I think MasterP... is right in not dignifying this post with a response. If most customers really understood how difficult it is for a contractor to make a decent profit on a job without making the client feel ripped off they would jump into their clawfoot tubs and cower in fear.
As a fellow business owner I can identify with MasterP.. Gateway is a good company with a good reputation. Problem is that folks want work done on the cheap. You get what you pay for as the saying goes. My work speaks for the prices we charge and I am sure that Gateway's work is of the same caliber.
Grow up, Mr. Anonymous....
Posted by: BoilerMan at January 29, 2007 4:44 PM
This isn't democracy, it's a sleaze fest on this blog. Get over yourselves. Any idiot should get a price quote for any kind of job before they commit to it. I guess you get what you pay for in journalism and plumbing. Similar businesses in many ways if done incorectly.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 31, 2007 8:28 PM
Gateway plumbing proven to be terrible from my experience. They ripped me off for unprofessionally, poorly done job. I would stay away from them. I am also suspicious of the highly positive feedback about this company throughout this site, they all very similar. This kind of behaviour only undermines the efforts undertaken by such community driven sites like brownstoner.
Posted by: guest at October 16, 2007 6:47 PM
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