AC-Appliance Pros FAQ's & Info Service Costs Don't Judge Service Charges Solely by the Time the Technician Spends in Your Home When our professional service technician arrives at your door, many costs have already been incurred just to get him and our service truck there, ready and able to complete the job. Without years of training, it would not be possible for a doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe a remedy. Consider for a moment that it isn't just his initial training, but an ongoing variety of continuing study, and the expense of maintaining an adequately equipped staff and office. As a patient, you pay for knowledge and skill plus a share of his business costs (overhead). Even if he spends only a few minutes with you, his fee could range form $100 to $200 depending upon his degree of expertise. This analogy holds true in any service business. The technician is trained to handle repairs that are minor to the most complex. The technician has a high degree of expertise. The charge for providing service in your home cannot be determined solely by the time it takes the technician to make the repairs. A qualified service organization's costs begin with the salary of the professional technician. This amount is the same whether the technician is actually making repairs on customer premises, traveling to keep service appointments, or participating in training programs to sharpen their skills. The cost of doing business (overhead) must also be added to the technicians salary. These overhead costs can amount to substantially more than the technicians salary. Now come profit. A 10% net profit on the selling price, although seldom realized, would be ideal. Accordingly, if your service charge is #200, and we are efficient enough to earn 10% of the $200, we earn $10 after tax. We are sure you'll agree that this is not excessive for providing top quality services on your premises. All things considered, the cost to a service organization for its service technicians time on the job is the same whether he works with tools or not. A service call that results only in a diagnosis and estimate for resolving the problem warrants a service charge.   Good Service Doesn't Just Happen Operating a dependable service business requires organization, competent management and a substantial capital investment. If your service charge is more than you expected, remember . . . You see only the service technician who comes to your home The quality of his service depends on four things: His knowledge and skill The necessary people who train, schedule, route and supply him - telephone operators, dispatchers, training specialists, warehousemen, parts personnel, clerks and administrators. His company's sizable investment in facilities, trucks, equipment, tools and replacement parts. Fixing it right the first time If you don't know which firm to call, ask if the contractor is a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). consumers can call (972)247-5383 or 1-800-260-8041 to confirm the contractor is a member or to locate a contractor who subscribes to the organization's code or ethics. ©2007 AC-Appliance Pros All Rights Reserved 1701 North Greenville Ave. Suite 606 Richardson, Texas 75081 972-664-0055 TACL B00027067E