I've attached the email I received from the owner when I inquired about service... Never asked me my budget, never did anything to qualify me as the customer. Just made the assumption I was unqualified because 2 of my neighbors chose not to use him. Despite the fact that 2 of my neighbors did buy from him. This is a Lake Travis Waterfront community with homes ranging from 800k- 2mm + hardly "the other side of the tracks" Ohh well lots of plumbers out there... This cat is wei
Thanks for your interest in Austin Lake Pumps, I know your neighborhood having installed 2 massive long pump systems there.
One was ~$15,100 as I recall and the other was over $10,000 for Eric, the HOA president.
It's because you guys are on the shallow side of the lake (or the shallow lake itself) - - - and the runs of poly pipe and expensive thick copper electrical cable are HUGE.
It's also one helluva drive to get to your street for me.
I have bid 2 other systems on your street more recently but they never called me back - - so I reckon my odds are not good enough to waste driving out there for nothing, I am absolutely swamped right now with calls from guys with very DEEP pockets closer in, like Lake Austin, Lakeway, Steiner Ranch, etc. . . and these guys have their checkbooks out and are writing, they are not fiddle farting around, "kicking tires".
I wish you the best of luck.
And his reply
Jake:
Your "preferred" contractor list ? Please do remove me from that Chimney Cove list so I don't waste anymore of my time typing emails explaining why I PREFER to avoid Spicewood and Smithwick.
Everything I wrote is true and is based on 39 to 40 years of my experience as a contractor, way more years in the trenches than you have.
It is widely known among local contractors that Spicewood and Smithwick are "the ghettos of Lake Travis", the muddy side of the lake that floods catastrophically every few years.
If I even bother to risk driving out to these areas I always bring up the properties beforehand on Google Maps and look at the house, boat dock, cars, etc to see if it's even worth my time; often I check the Travis County Appraisal records to see what value the property is appraised at.
One of the most telling things I have learned over the years if there ain't no boat dock and a nice boat - - - - - the chances go way South they will be buying a pump system from me.
The real wealth lives in closer to Austin, the limestone lake bottom which provides a clearer, cleaner water.
Obviously I prefer to work for the guys with DEEP POCKETS and strong hands, not the guys with weak hands and shallow pockets.
. . . and I am the only lake pump guy in central Texas with a university degree, only one with 22 years experience as a licensed irrigator, and the ONLY one who owns and knows how to use a digital insulation resistance tester which is the most important tool I have. Also the only one with 40 years experience as a certified diver, the ONLY one with a proven method of preventing Zebra mussels. Too many other qualifications to waste time mentioning.
Have a nice day. read more