The aluminum trim facia on part of the front of my home got banged up a bit a long while ago by hail. No big deal... never notice it really.

So... yesterday a siding crew was down the street doing some work. I got the bright idea to stop and asked one of the fellas if they wanted a couple hours work after they finished up. Just needed some aluminum for a couple gables. Easy job... gave him my number and that was that. Later that day I get a call from someone who wants to stop by and tae a look. Apparently the guy I talked to must have called their office and told them I wanted a quote. Ok. So today some fancy-pants dude drives up and introduces himself.

He looks at it and whips out his calculator and starts doing his thing. He tells me $3,500! I cheerfully ask if we are on the same page. A 24in X 50ft aluminum coil that I don't even need half of which costs $60 at Home depot, $1 worth of trim nails, a brake, ladder and maybe two hours work is $3,500, right? Are we on the same page?

He gets this sheepish look... as I tell him I very much appreciated his time but he would do well to get out of my driveway. Which he immediately did.

You guys got any ripoff artist stories?

He was just going to wheel in a new single wide for ya!

Every week I get some bozos with a pickup truck and a ladder who want to trim my trees! Ya you bet!

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Asked for a security system rep to stop by and give me a quote. He listens (?) while I explain in detail what I want, features, camera pointing angles, etc... all the time the guy is looking at my toys in the open garage. When I get done with all this he says "what you need is a security system". All I could say was "GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY!"

Unfortunately that happens every day in the automotive business

__________________
Jorge

A couple of free lancers were cutting down some trees in the neighborhood. One of them asked if I wanted a tree taken down. Actually I did, a 16" at the base tree that if felled wrong would fall on my house.
I asked for a price to just drop it. He said $200. That was high, but I said I guess so.
They set up and get ready to cut it down. The "head" guy walks over to me and says, " you know this looks a lot more difficult than I originally thought, and I think we are going to need $400 to drop that tree."
I said, "you better get your partner to turn off his saw and get off my lawn."
He went back to $200 instantly and they dropped the tree and left.

After my basement was filled with sewage during the flash flood in August, I had an unrelenting wave of guys with no credentials offering to clean out and rebuild my basement on the cheap.

In order to do it so cheap they all required a cash deposit.

They must have seen the turnip truck parked in my driveway.

__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan

Phil, you seem to have been nicer than I might have been.

I'm afraid I might have made some anatomically unlikely suggestions.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

When you live in the country one thing is for certain, there are very few competent construction companies available for any type job. Most of these “so called companies” are just one or two guys, with a combined IQ of 50. Getting them to do anything in an expeditious manner is an exercise in frustration.

Last summer while I was mowing, a rock struck our double-paned glass front door, shattering it. The door was custom built so I couldn’t get new glass panels from Home Depot.

The two “contractor” guys who came out said that they would have to remove the door, take it with them, order the glass, and then install it. They said that it would take about two weeks.

Their quote was far cheaper than replacing the entire door unit. They removed the door and boarded up the opening with plywood. They used MY plywood to do it!

Over two weeks went by and no door.

When I called, they told me that the glass they ordered was delivered two inches too wide. They couldn’t cut it down because it was tempered glass. Sorry, they were going to have to reorder the glass and I would have to wait another two weeks. I don’t think either of these guys are capable of reading a tape measure.

Long story short: One excuse after another and three months later, they show up with the door. It took them less than fifteen minutes to install it.

__________________
A gun has no brain.. use yours

How about the guys driving around in a beat up pickup with a load of "Expensive Steaks" in a freezer. They were on their way to deliver to a restaurant when the order was cancelled, willing to sell them cheap.
Old scam, told them no thanks.

I had a half dead maple tree out front. The dead half was leaning toward the sidewalk, street, and a phone pole. I'm a chain saw kind of guy and had just been putting it off until cool weather. So along comes the proverbial guy with his beat up pickup truck. He says he'll drop the tree and saw it up for $40, right then. OK, too hot outside, my wife's rose bushes were under it just inside of the walk. He did it in about a half hour. He even stacked the cut wood. I paid him gladly. He said it paid for his gas for next week.

Everyone who comes along isn't a crook. Just most of them. Catch me with some green in my pocket and give me a good price, and I'm a sucker.

__________________
Dick Burg

Those guys show up in my neighborhood periodically, all from a metro area about 50 miles south of me.

Always wonder why, if the steaks are so good, they have to make a hundred mile round trip to a rural area, to sell em.

I really try to do everything I can by myself. The older I get, the harder it gets.
The other day when I had a new AC system installed( which I can't do),
they needed to increase the duct size to 16". Fine, but when they were in the closet cutting the floor, I saw one of them looking at my safe behind him.
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'm thinking' what are you looking at?'
Look at the hole you are cutting, not my safe.
Yes, I am officially a suspicious curmudgeon now.
And proud of it!

About 15 years ago I had some trees I wanted cut but there was a lot of poison oak and I take it bad. I thought if it wasn't for the poison I could do it in a day. I called a local tree company and was told it would take 3 people 3 days to do the work. I talked to another person that said he thought he could do it by himself in a day and a half at the most. He ended up charging me for 10 hrs.
About 10 years ago we needed some electrical work done and got 2 estimates for about $3000. which I thought was unreal. The 3rd est. was $500. and he was also a lic. electrician and the work passed inspection.
Larry

Last time they stopped at my place I told them I wouldn't feed their **** to my dogs!

__________________
Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

Yeah, where do these people come from? And more importantly, where does their meat come from?

Not so much a ripoff tale as much as a "you gotta be kidding me"

Several years ago I had a yard service doing my lawn, mowing and such because my shift had changed. We had a brick border around a tree in the backyard, made sure that the guy was aware of it beforehand. Of course the first thing he does is run over the brick with the mower and sheared off a corner. It flew straight into the glass security door and broke the bottom pane.

He first denied it was his fault claiming there was a rock or something in the yard. Too bad for him the wife was home and had seen it happen. He said he'd pay for it and put it in the following day. I'm OK with that. He shows up the next day, goes to get the glass cut, then returns. So far, so good.

Next thing I know, the wife is calling me at work, he wants to use my tools to take the frame apart to install the new glass. I blew up. You break my glass, lie about it, then want to use my dang tools to fix your mistake?

Not naw but hell naw! Get the heck outta here. I called a professional glass guy and sent the bill to the yard guy with a sternly worded note that he was no longer my yard guy.

Good for you. That's the way things should work.
As somebody famously says " You're fired!"

A few years ago my Crown Vic started having transmission problems. I took it to a local place that charged me $90 for a "diagnostic". Can't remember the exact problem but was told they could repair it for $480. Okay, didn't sound too bad considering I figured I was looking at close to a $1000 if I needed a new tranny. So go back and he shows me the old parts and explains that the new parts didn't fix the problem. They figured out I need a new or rebuilt transmission and it would cost $2200. I said I'm taking the car else where. They wanted me to pay the $480 for the work and I refused. Said I'll give you $90 for the bum "diagnostic" and not a penny more. Actually got quite heated as the mechanic was a jerk and wanted the parts back and was refusing to put the old parts back. Yeah not happening, took the car and never heard from them again.

Place I ended up taking it too was another story. Went to the shadier part of town and found a mechanic by the name of Roy. Big greasy burly guy with a huge unkept beard. Actually trusted him on his appearance right away. Charged me $1000 cash and got me a rebuilt tranny installed. On the test drive he was putting it through the paces and showing me it shift with no problems. He then cocked his leg and ripped the biggest fart I've ever heard. "Scuse me son" To be fair to Roy he at least had the common courtesy to cock his leg away from me. He now goes by the name "Dirty Roy" when telling the story. Apart from that he was a stand up guy and would use him again.

Sounds like Roy is well mannered. At least he said "scuse me son" instead of blaming you for the deed.

__________________
wanna do right-- not right now

You are lucky. In Michigan, a mechanic can have a lean put on your vehicle for repair work not paid for, especially if you signed paperwork before hand. I know this because I once bought a car a mechanic had done just that to, and got the title from the Secretary of State. The first mechanic must have figured it wasn't worth the time.

__________________
So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Had a leaking hose bib on outside faucet, a quick and easy fix. Plumber arrived looked it over and asked about main water shutoff for house. showed him inside shutoff. First words out of his face. I'm going to have to open up the sheet rock to get to this. I responded, NO it's an outside fix, try that first. 10 minuets later plumber is back. Advises all it needed was a new washer and the bill for the service call and parts was $125.00. Here's a check now go away.

__________________
Always Stay Strong!

I fell for that once and bought a box, didn't buy them to eat, just wanted to read a newspaper through them....they worked just fine.

We had a problem with our furnace a while ago. I called the repair company and they came out. He said I needed a part installed and gave me a price of $329 dollars. Seemed high but it had to be fixed. He installed the part and I paid him. I looked up the part on the WWW and it could be bought for $30 dollars. I took the paid receipt and the WWW price to him and asked if there might be a mistake. He said he'd review it and get back to me. He called a couple days later and said "yes there was an error, stop by the shop and pick up your check". I went by there and he gave me a $92 dollar check. I thanked him but I changed furnace companies.

The last time, and it will be the last time, I took my car into the local Ford dealer they tried to get cute. The key just spun in the ignition {it is a 1995 LTD Crown Vic with 170K miles}, this happened at a Yuma gas station when I was 200+ miles from home. Finally got it going and had to disconnect the battery when I got home to shut it off.

Local mechanic who was too backed up to get to it for a couple of weeks said it would be less than $300 to redo the rods and pins in the steering column. Took it to Ford and they said $300/1 day so told them to do it.

They call in the morning and say it's going to be $550 to $600. I told him "Button it up, I'd pick it up in the morning and pay him the $106 minimum diagnostic charge."

My wife said what happens now and I told her wait for it...

Sure enough the phone rings about two minutes later and they want to "discuss" my car. Nothing to discuss, button it up I told him again. He suddenly decides he can do it for $400. Since I was on the hook for the $106 and the other guy could do it for $300 or less I said OK but not a penny more.

Showed up with 4, one hundred dollar bills in my wallet which I handed to the service writer and asked for my keys. He disappeared while they re ran my bill to get it down to $400 even. Drove off and won't be back.

I guess I'm blessed. I live on a rural island. Never had anyone hit me up to do any work. Over the years we've had lots of work done, new hardwood floors, new siding, new roof, chimney repair, road work, stuff like that. Never had a problem with a contractor. Actually, I've been more than pleased with the work. I had to wait a few months sometimes to get them started but it was worth the wait. I have a list of contractors now that I would call and I frequently refer them to others.

I must live in a time warp or an alternate universe.

__________________
That's just somebody talkin.

Sir, I hope you know who lucky you are. I am happy for you..

__________________
Always Stay Strong!

Ouch!

Reminds me of when my father-in-law called the TV repairman to fix his TV. Guy came out, plugged it back in and charged him $50. Mother-in-law had unplugged it to vacuum. I told him next time I'd plug it back in for $20. He failed to see the humor.

__________________
So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I used to get People offering to seal My asphalt driveway for cheap because They just happened to have some extra sealer left over from another job,Or some want to re roof My house with extra shingles for the same deal.
A good rule to remember is that if You didn't call Them then it most likely is a scam.

Last time I saw them coming up my drive I met them at the end of my driveway. I told them I don't buy meat out of the back of el caminos, he said "no the meat's in the freezer." I just stared at him for about 10 seconds and he left.

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

I don't buy meat out of the back of vans, pickups, or even El Caminos, but do live in a smaller town where good help is definitely hard to find. Businesses big and small seem to think they have a captive audience here and the public has to pay whatever they demand. After all, where ya gonna go? Could relate several stories, but recently experienced another silly one. We had a rug, about 4'X6' IIRC, that the wife wanted cleaned. Probably cost $50.00 or less brand new. Took it to the local carpet cleaners to be cleaned. Wanted $105.00 to clean it, after we hauled it to their facility. We made other arrangements.

__________________
NRA Life, COTEP 640

Several years ago we wanted to update our master bath,A friend told me she had a friend that was a good handy man and worked fairly cheap. He came in looked at the job and quoted $5,000. I seemed reasonable, the first guy I had told me $6500. The guy wanted all the cash up front to buy the materials. I told him I would open an account at the local lumber yard. He wanted to use Home depot. I told him I use local stores and they will give a better price for material. He said he couldn't do the job. I called the first guy he did it, he was happy to use the local lumber yard and he came in $400 under estate for material. I am glad I used the pro, he was licensed, and insured and honest.

I live in a small rural area, we have a bunch of contractors the majority are honest. some will rip you off. when I find a guy I trust I tell my friends. I had new windows and doors put in this summer. the guy was fanatic, I told friends and he got 3 calls. He called to thank me for the referrals.

__________________
Carpriver.

They just won't learn not to mess with an old fart.

"You guys got any ripoff artist stories?"

over the past 50 years...i can write volumes about my encounters with crazies.....

in the beginning they thought i was young and gullible...now they look at me and think im old and gullible....bless their hearts.....

__________________
There's nowt so queer as folk

It can be a challenge getting anything done in northern Wisconsin. Promises are made to do work, then someone might show up, eventually. Don't bother trying to get anyone to work during deer season. Or if the Packers are playing.

__________________
Common sense isn't so common.

I'm old enough to remember the Fuller Brush man.
I've got a set of kitchen knives bought from their catalog 25 or so years ago.
I think they stopped making the rounds long before that.

Had a contractor install a cement fiberboard shingle on our house.

We had a contract, due date, amount of personnel to be working per day, cost, objectives and special points, all signed and notarized.

Didn't know he was a scumbag. Didn't know he had built a house on spec just before the crash and lost his behind on it.

So, four workers specified per day and suddenly there's two. Nipped that in the bud. Then he does it again, nipped it again. Then things included were not included, read him the contract.

Then extra costs and purposeful screw ups, had him redo things and by this point we were no longer friendly.

Then as he was a tall fellow, used to intimidating people when needed, he tried to back me up against the house and "explain" how things were.

I was at that moment preparing for my Kenpo Black Belt test and had dropped bigger guys than him that were Black Belts. Talk about turning the tables! I shocked him and fired him on the spot.

Get off my lawn! LOL!

I gave everyone on the crew a $100 bill in front of him and told him to have a nice life. He almost cried in front of me.

They did a good job, he introduced many problems.