Arsenio Latimore2 months ago
I hired Lawrence Air Systems to perform prepaid maintenance on my two AC systems. The technician was very nice and professional, and I want to be clear that I do not place the blame directly on him.
During the appointment, the technician found that the compressor sides of both capacitors were below their specified tolerances and recommended replacing them. I was quoted $1,084.04, which seemed high, but I approved the work because I trusted that I was being charged a fair price.
Later that afternoon, when I had time to research the cost, I found that the two AmRad Turbo 200 capacitors retail online for approximately $82 each. Based on my security camera footage, the capacitor replacement portion of the visit took approximately 20 minutes. The technician was also already at my home for a prepaid maintenance visit valued at $340.
I contacted Lawrence to express my concerns. They acknowledged a billing error due to the same part being listed at two different prices and reduced the invoice to $917.75.
I understand that professional pricing includes labor, training, insurance, stocked inventory, overhead, profit, and warranty coverage. Even accounting for those expenses, charging $917.75 to install approximately $164 worth of parts, with about 20 minutes spent on the install during an existing $340 visit, does not feel reasonable to me. Based on my research, a charge of $350-$650 would have been a fair price range. Lawrence declined to make any further adjustment.
I paid the invoice in full and explained that, because of this pricing experience, I would use another HVAC provider in the future. Lawrence responded, “We agree that ending our services here is the best path forward.”
Although the technician was courteous and the replacements appear to have been legitimate, the final cost left me feeling that I had been taken advantage of when it came to the pricing. I will be using another HVAC provider for future service.
