After 24 Years We Have A New Kitchen Faucet... For $1100.00? I. Don't. Think. So.

After suffering through a couple of weeks of the dishwasher overflowing on the kitchen island and thus, the floor, we decided to have a new faucet put in and get the overflow problem taken care of at the same time. I called our regular plumber and we talked about faucets for a few minutes. I told him I wanted one of the new ones that pull out and he knew exactly what I wanted. I had been looking at them online and knew what the prices and models were that I was interested in, so he said he could get me one for around $270.00, about $350.00 with installation. After momentary nausea, I agreed.

Mind you, we're not getting new sinks or anything else with the deal. All we were getting was the pull-out faucet and the soap pump... not a new garbage disposal or anything frivolous.

So, a very lengthy 2 weeks later (I could have gotten it faster on Amazon) the plumber's (butt crack) assistant shows up. Oh. Joy. Surely you recall how very fond I am of his disgusting backside. He and an assistant spent three hours repairing the dishwasher overflow (caused by a kinked rubber hose that HE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY to begin with) and installing the new faucet and soap pump. I hid in the den/office, praying that he wouldn't call me into the kitchen with one of his lengthy, detailed, stoopid dissertations because then I'd have no choice but to view that which I did not want to see. Again.

Thankfully, Mr. Snoots came home from the office early. Otherwise, there might have been bloodshed. He busied himself doing chores in hopes they would be leaving soon, which they didn't appear to be in any great hurry to do. So, he finally sat at his designated evening post (chair) in the kitchen, reading the newspaper and listening to the evening news. I was still hiding out in the den with my iTunes turned up so I didn't have to hear anything. We're not Ward and June Cleaver by any means.

At long last, they finally departed but it was too late for starting dinner so we ordered takeout. We both loved the new faucet and the no-longer-leaking dishwasher valve. We marveled at why we had waited so long to do this, but were both happy and content. For $350.00, or so we thought.

Then the bill for said work arrived on Monday morning. HUH? Surely it was a mistake. $1,100.00? You bet your sweet nothings it was a mistake and I was spitting-nails-mad. I've had a call into the owner of the company, for him to call me back. He needs to know that I'm not paying that bill. Furthermore, I'm not paying the labor they charged because the plumber's crack idiot was training some other idiot who would soon be sporting his own plumbers crack, no doubt. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck although they apparently thought I had. Neanderthals.

I fully intend to tell him that I'll pay the price he quoted me over the phone. On the bill, they charged us over $460.00 for the faucet fixtures and I found it at Amazon for half that amount. You must know as well as I, that he only paid wholesale for it, right? If he can counter offer with a reasonable price, I'll be happy to pay it. Otherwise, our attorney can rip him a new conscience, which he offered to do on contingency.

The moral to this story is.... don't try to rip off loyal customers you've had for 24 years who actually pay their bills. Frankly, for what I've had to endure, they should be shaving dollars off the bill for the entire plumber's crack exposure ordeal. However, I'm willing to let this pass if he can come up with a workable amount. So far, this is not a acceptable deal, by any means.

My next faucet project was going to be the guest bath but Mr. Snoots says he's not going to pay that kind of money and he's right. I'm not either. So, we might perhaps be in the market for a new plumber... If I don't get the fairness of price I expect, after being customers for 24 years. Get. Real. Mr. Butt. Crack. I charge extra for having to look at THAT... Besides, I watch HGTV and I know that there is no faucet installation that takes 3 hours. Hello!

Whew! I'm glad to have gotten that out of my system. Thanks for letting me vent.

Okay, The Plumber Is Beginning To Really Try My Patience...

I was hoping and praying the plumbing company would send the guy without the butt crack showing. No such luck. I got the annoying little man with the crack showing, who wants to give me a blow by blow explanation of everything he's doing. Like I would want to hear about the sewage lines. No! I've even told him that I don't have a clue as to what he's talking about and don't want to know what he's talking about. Still, he perseveres. It makes me insane.

God only knows how long this is going to take. This guy is such a mental midget and, he always leaves a huge mess behind. Last time he was here he got mud all down the hall carpet and I had to shampoo the entire hall after he left. I've actually requested that I get the other guy, which they have apparently forgotten about. Did I mention they had to send the other guy after last time... so he could repair what the mental midget with the crack showing, screwed up.

Now I can hear him in the kitchen talking to my housekeeper, who only speaks like 20 words of English. Good luck with that, buddy.

This going to be a very long day...

If you want to see a really funny video click here:

<http://www.dnaco.net/~vogelke/pictures/water-leak/water-leak.wmv>

UPDATE!

The plumber finally left... after the maid. So I went to kitchen to see what kind of horrendous mess he'd left this time. I mean, this guy ALWAYS leaves a mess. I was even telling my housekeeper about it. Apparently he heard me because this is what I found. I'm still in shock.