UPDATE! (AT END OF REVIEW)
Just had Mike from this company out and it was a real mixed bag. Difficult to explain, but I'll try:
I have a clogged toilet. I tried to unclog it myself, but apparently I'm crappy at it (dad pun, sorry not sorry). I tried some chemicals, the plunger, I bought an auger at home Depot, nothing worked.
I found Howdy Plumbing in the classified section of Craigslist, had a nice conversation with Kyle who set me up with an appointment with their 99 dollar drain clearing special this very day. Mike came earlier than I thought and got right to work on his tablet. He didn't touch a thing, he just looked around with his tablet.
Mike then said it would be over $200 to clear my drain. Confused, I asked why. He explained to me he wrote The $99 special, and this is why I wasn't eligible: he had to pull the toilet. I asked why don't we try to snake it out, and if it doesn't work, no harm no foul, I will get a new toilet and put it on myself.
He seemed to agree and shook my hand, then walked out the door! I called Kyle back, confused again, and he said he would call Mike and get an explanation. Kyle call me back shortly later and told me that apparently I was rude and dismissive to Mike, and that he left because. Because. Because I don't know. Dude just left. He agreed to do work in a friendly and very normal way and then just got in his truck and left.
Good luck with these guys! If you're willing to pay full price sight unseen, they're the ones for you! They will just skip to the most expensive step and shake your hand and smile :)
UPDATE 4/26/25: after everything above, today I received an invoice from these people. What a joke! I ordered a air-powered toilet plunger from Amazon, and it cleared my drain in one shot. Go figure. I'm going to send them an invoice. read more