Look at all the other 1 star reviews for similar predatory prices…read more
I have a simple shower valve replacement, the wall is already cut open in the room behind the shower. It's a matter of using wrenches to remove the old valve (4 pipes attached) and using wrenches and plumbers tape to put the new one on. Simple, but still not something I am confident enough to do myself (yet).
Nixco sends a tech out, and quotes me over $1200.
Let that sink in... $1200. No cutting, no drywall, should take maybe 30 minutes tops, unless some 'problem' is discovered.
$1200
I think the tech knew as well, because as soon as I saw that, I chuckled and asked "What's involved in getting to that price?". He looked at the floor and quietly said "well, uh, that's just what the labor involved, uh..."
I said, you can stop there, no thanks.
I called Nixco just to half complain but also half give them a chance, like are you standing behind this quote? To which they gave me the typical "we'll pass it on to the service manager".
I'm not using them again. I ran in to this kind of set up with Apollo. The quotes seem absurdly high, but also the tactics seem like that of old school used car salesmanship. He looks at the project, goes to his van for like 10 minutes, then comes back. He's likely calling in to someone that's guiding him on the price, and they are seeing what they can get away with. Or, and I'm just speculating here, the techs are getting some kind of commission on the overall price. There doesn't seem to be any drive to get the job done quick and efficient. I'm just scared for people that don't know any better that fall for this.
I used Nixco on one other project, where the tech had to cut in to the wall, saw pipes, weld new pipes, and attach valves. So much more involved than this, and that job was under $900. he rationalized it to me that having to cut in to the drywall, cut/weld pipes, is more labor intensive and more complex, so I went with that. Compare to this job, which involves none of that, and it's $1200?!
Don't use this company.
----- UPDATED ------
So, i'm responding to the response I got with the cost breakdown, and follow up from another local Cincinnati service below.
"licensed and trained technicians": sure, goes in to the hourly rate, right? That's $400 per hour, correct?
"quality materials designed for long-term reliability": what materials? Maybe a foot of copper and some solder?
"proper installation methods (not temporary or shortcut fittings)": you charge extra for install things properly? what's a temporary install? duct tape?
"warranty coverage": warranty on what? I bought the valve at another store, you're just installing it. if it's defective, that's not under your warranty is it?
"insurance": sure, cost of doing business, but am i paying the whole monthly premium for this one job?
"and the accountability of standing behind our work": Customers have to pay extra for this? How about, do a good job, and make people happy. If you made a mistake that requires follow up, do that, at no cost. Don't heavily pad the bill in case you make a mistake and have to fix it.
FOLLOW UP on the project:
I found Russell Plumbing Inc. (513-561-2804), and they were great. It wasn't an emergency, but they said it's a relatively small job, and could squeeze me in early. Came out about 830am the next day, done by around 1030am. $275. Nice people, didn't disappear in their truck for 20 minutes to work up a quote like a used-car salesman, got it installed, cleaned up, and moved on. Give them a call! I'll write them a great review as well.