I want to preface this review by stating that I was satisfied with the employees who provided the…read moreinitial estimate and performed the repair. However, my complaints with Bounds Heating & Air stem from their business practices, lack of pricing transparency, and poor communication.
Earlier this week, just days after my wife and I welcomed our first child, our AC stopped blowing cold air. While the unit was cooling, the blower motor had failed. Since Bounds had installed the system when the home was built in 2013 (their sticker was still on the unit), I assumed they would be well-suited for the repair.
I called on Tuesday, and they sent a technician who diagnosed the issue and quoted me $1,420, plus a $90 diagnostic fee, bringing the total to $1,510. While I had seen similar repairs estimated between $800-$1,800, I needed the repair done quickly and didn't have time to shop around, especially with a newborn in the house.
Scheduling Issues
The technician was scheduled to arrive between 3-5 PM the next day, as we had a doctor's appointment earlier that afternoon. However, I received a text just before 2 PM stating the tech was on the way--meaning no one would be home. When I called the office, they claimed the appointment had been scheduled for 1 PM and that the tech was actually running late. I still had the original voicemail confirming 3-5 PM, but despite the miscommunication, they did send another tech later in the day.
The technician arrived around 4 PM and completed the repair in 40 minutes, which I appreciated. However, after researching later that night, I found the blower motor itself typically costs around $500 at retail, and likely less for a contractor.
Lack of Pricing Transparency
The next morning, I received an invoice--but it was not itemized. There was no breakdown of parts or labor, no part numbers, no taxes, and no indication of whether the parts used were OEM, aftermarket, or remanufactured. I had never seen an invoice so lacking in detail.
When I called to request an itemized invoice, I was told that Bounds does not provide itemized invoices and that it was "not standard practice." After pressing the issue, I was eventually contacted by a manager named John, who explained that Bounds uses a third-party national company to determine pricing and that they would not disclose the cost of parts or labor.
I expressed that while I understood a markup was involved (as is common in many industries), a business should still be able to break down what the customer is actually paying for. If the motor cost around $500, that would mean I was charged $920/hour for labor, assuming a one-hour minimum. When I pointed this out, John refused to provide any further breakdown and made it clear the owner would not either.
Essentially, the response was:
"We're not going to tell you what we paid for anything. Tough luck."
Final Thoughts
I have never encountered a company so unwilling to provide basic pricing transparency, and I will never use Bounds Heating & Air again. I strongly advise others to seek out a business that values clear, upfront pricing and better communication with their customers.
