How should I handle this attempted rip off? My house has a stainless steel
chimney. In one of the recent windstorms the cap that keeps out rain and critters was damaged and needed replacement. I had a company come out to inspect it for which I paid $99 simply for the inspection. I told him to go ahead and order the cap. Yesterday they called and said they had the cap and wanted to schedule installation. They also said that they accepted only credit cards and cash. I asked what the total would be and they quoted a ridiculous figure of $2300. I said no way. They said they had sent me a quote which I said I never received. I have offered to pay them their cost to purchase the cap if they showed me an invoice for their cost but that I would not do business with them.
One of the reasons I feel they were trying to rip me off initially was that when I protested the original price, they immediately dropped it to $1000 which tells me the original price was a very intentional rip off.
Should I reimburse them for their cost to purchase the cap or just tell them to take a walk?
Posted: 04/16/2024 at 08:19 AM ET
Thread Replies (22)
How should I handle this attempted rip off? My house has a stainless steel
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-- Galenahokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 08:19 AM ET
Galenahokie
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04/16/24 08:19 AM ET
If you verbally communicated to them to buy the cap but did not sign
-- jdkhokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 10:23 AM ET
jdkhokie
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04/16/24 10:23 AM ET
If the estimate includes coming to your property and going up on the roof,
-- Late 80s Hokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 11:21 AM ET
Late 80s Hokie
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04/16/24 11:21 AM ET
Yeah, but $2300 to install a chimney cap? Must be traveling from Brazil??**
-- HOKIERIT
Apr 16, 2024 at 04:26 PM ET
HOKIERIT
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04/16/24 04:26 PM ET
I have no dispute with the estimate fee**
-- Galenahokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET
Galenahokie
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04/16/24 12:00 PM ET
Time for them to walk. That is an easy, and inexpensive repair. Unless
-- Stork
Apr 16, 2024 at 10:23 AM ET
Stork
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04/16/24 10:23 AM ET
Bro and I replaced one for Mom after my Dad passed. He had it made, we
-- DonHo-kieHi
Apr 16, 2024 at 08:38 PM ET
DonHo-kieHi
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04/16/24 08:38 PM ET
the universal sign of disapproval is also effective**
-- bigbadbird
Apr 16, 2024 at 11:10 AM ET
bigbadbird
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04/16/24 11:10 AM ET
Listening to Reggae on Sirius this a.m "Who the cap fit, let them wear it"**
-- Tuckahokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:31 AM ET
Tuckahokie
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04/16/24 09:31 AM ET
Don't have a contract! An estimate isn't one. Either buy or restocking fee.**
-- TomTurkey
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:25 AM ET
TomTurkey
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04/16/24 09:25 AM ET
i bought a metal cap at home depot for around $100- it's on the roof-
-- bigbadbird
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:22 AM ET
bigbadbird
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04/16/24 09:22 AM ET
I would damper my expectations.**
-- Guy LeDouche
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:15 AM ET
Guy LeDouche
•
04/16/24 09:15 AM ET
Oh, just soot me, another one of these threads?**
-- BG Hokie
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:25 AM ET
BG Hokie
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04/16/24 09:25 AM ET
happens every shingle time**
-- JoesterVT
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:45 AM ET
JoesterVT
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04/16/24 09:45 AM ET
the old one had a problem with the johnson rod
-- bigbadbird
Apr 16, 2024 at 09:23 AM ET
bigbadbird
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04/16/24 09:23 AM ET
I'm only paying for the cap if I'm getting the cap.**
-- hokiehill1117
Apr 16, 2024 at 08:56 AM ET
hokiehill1117
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04/16/24 08:56 AM ET
At worst, pay a restocking fee...no more than 30% of the cost of the part**
-- JoesterVT
Apr 16, 2024 at 08:47 AM ET
JoesterVT
•
04/16/24 08:47 AM ET