Hello there, plumbing enthusiasts and sceptics alike! Welcome to Whywait Plumbing, the company that doesn’t wait to deliver first-class plumbing services to your doorstep. Today, we want to talk about a common misconception that some people have about our industry: the idea that plumbers should provide free quotes on demand.
While we understand the appeal of free things, we also know the value of our time and expertise. So, in this post, we’ll explain why we don’t do free quotes and why you shouldn’t expect us to do so. And we’ll do it in an informative and entertaining way because we believe that humour and authority can go hand in hand. So, let’s dive in!
“Free Plumbing Quotes”: The elusive mythical creature of the plumbing world
First, let’s clarify what we mean by “free quotes”. A free quote is a rough estimate of how much a plumbing job might cost based on a brief description of the issue and some general rates. Some people assume that plumbers should be able to give them free quotes over the phone or email without ever seeing the problem in person or doing any diagnostics. Unfortunately, this assumption is flawed for several reasons.
No matter how experienced, a professional plumber cannot provide legitimate plumbing quotes over the phone. The only way to diagnose a plumbing problem is through an on-site investigation.
Stand out from the crowd by saying No to Free Plumbing Quotes and Yes to Quality Workmanship
For starters, plumbing is not a one-size-fits-all kind of service. Every plumbing problem is unique, and every solution requires a tailored approach. What works for one blocked drain may not work for another, and what looks like a simple blockage may actually be a sign of a more significant issue. Without inspecting the problem firsthand, a plumber can only make educated guesses about what the job entails and how long it might take. And as we all know, guesses can be wrong.
Secondly, plumbing is not a static industry. Prices, materials, and techniques can vary depending on multiple factors, such as location, weather, availability, and complexity. As a result, what might have been a fair price for a similar job last year may not be the same today.
Plumbers risk overcharging or undercharging for their services by providing free plumbing quotes. This can lead to dissatisfied clients and lost profits. Moreover, providing free quotes can also attract price shoppers and tyre-kickers, who are not necessarily interested in hiring a plumber but rather in comparing prices between competitors. We don’t want to waste our time on non-committal inquiries, and we don’t want to waste yours.
From a business perspective, free quotes don’t add up
Plumbing is a skilled trade that requires education, training, experience, and equipment. Our plumbers have invested time and money in becoming licensed, insured, and qualified to handle multiple plumbing issues. They are not hobbyists, amateurs, or volunteers. They are professionals who take pride in their work and expect to be compensated fairly for their time and skills. By providing free quotes, plumbers devalue their expertise and make it seem like anyone can do what they do. We don’t want to undermine our profession, and we don’t like to encourage others to do so.
Now, we know that some people might still insist that we should provide free quotes because “that’s how other plumbers do it”, “that’s what customers expect”, or “that’s the only way to get new business”. But we respectfully disagree.
“Genuine Free Plumbing Quotes”: A mythical creature like a Yowie, except they’re not as much fun and just as rare in plumbing
We believe that providing accurate, fair, and transparent quotes is more important than giving free quotes. We believe that building trust, communication, and relationships with our clients is more critical than providing instant gratification. We believe educating our clients about plumbing issues, prevention, and maintenance is more important than just fixing the symptoms. And we think having a sense of humour is more important than being too serious or stiff.
So, to sum it up: we don’t do free quotes because we care.
Plumbing quotes over the phone are meaningless without any validation as they are based on perception rather than experienced observation and onsite investigation. Every day we receive phone calls asking us to diagnose a plumbing, drainage or gas problem over the phone. We can only talk in generalities based on the vague information we are given.
Generally, after receiving this general broad sweeping advice, we are then asked how much we would charge to undertake the repair. We then have to explain it’s impossible to give any accurate pricing over the phone without an onsite investigation to diagnose the actual problem.
“When we are asked to diagnose and quote a plumbing problem over the phone, we put on our genie costume and look into our crystal ball.”
The reality is every plumbing problem is unique in its own way. Despite what you think, plumbing installations can be complicated.
Regrettably, 90% of the plumbing infrastructure in any building is concealed.
So what you are observing and attempting to describe to us over the phone is regularly wholly the reverse of what is transpiring under your floor or in the wall.
Sending us photos or videos can be of assistance. Even so, they still only show the extent of the problem, not the actual cause. But the reality is we always cannot give you plumbing quotes over the phone as photos and videos never tell the complete story.
No Professional Plumber Will Give Plumbing Quotes Over The Phone
No professional plumber, no matter how experienced they are can ever give legitimate plumbing quotes over the phone. There is only one way to diagnose a plumbing problem, and that is by an onsite investigation. No matter what you think, you can visually observe, you only see part of the potential problem at best. No two plumbing installations are ever wholly the same no matter how alike they may appear.
Unfortunately, there are too many plumbers who will give quotes over the phone. This is entirely unprofessional and no more than a marketing ploy to entice you to engage them to come to solve your problem. Think about it would you expect a doctor to diagnose a medical condition over the phone. In reality, it’s actually easier to diagnose a medical problem over the phone than it is a plumbing problem, but no doctor will do so without first examining you.
I guarantee that 99% of the time that the plumbing quotes over the phone increase within ten minutes of the plumber’s arrival. This will always be explained away by a myriad of excuses that your description of the problem was not accurately disclosed. It will always be your fault.
The reason the quote they provided to you over the phone increases is simple. Once onsite, the plumber can have a better understanding of all the variables. Even then, once they start on the repairs, there are frequently multiple changes to the cost as more faults appear that were not detected in the initial visual inspections.
Google Searches Do Not Make You a Plumber
It’s continuously amusing talking to someone who has done a Google search to locate what the remedy to their plumbing problem is. Usually, they have already decided what rectification work is required and are ringing getting multiple plumbing quotes over the phone.
It is my experience that 90% of the time the diagnosis is wrong, which in turn ensures the remedy they have decided upon on Google is wrong.
After their Google search, they further confuse themselves by talking to multiple plumbers which just creates further confusion. Ultimately every decision then only becomes about price so they choose a plumber who will come to site for free who advertises “No Call Out Fee”.
Once again, this is a fallacy because no legitimate plumbing business can come to your house for free. Sending a fully equipped truck with a licensed plumber costs at least $150 so I guarantee you will pay all of the costs in one way or another.
Plumbing Problems Are A Challenge For Both Plumber and Client
The reality is solving plumbing problems takes time and patience. We accept that finding a reputable plumbing company can be daunting as often you need to act quickly when a plumbing emergency occurs.
Solving a plumbing problem that is not completely obvious such as water leaking out of a wall can be frustrating. Here at Whywait Plumbing, we are specialist maintenance plumbers so we know that a leak can be occurring in a multitude of locations and running internally until it finds a route to flow freely. That is why we don’t smash open walls or floors to look for the problem but instead use our leak detection equipment to pinpoint the location of the leak.
For a client, this can create a perception we are procrastinating, but the reality is we are using our experience to solve the problem. When it comes to maintenance plumbing, hiring an experienced specialist who is older and wiser will always remove the misconceptions.
Regrettably, plumbers are only remembered for the terrible events that occur, such as a burst pipe or overflowing sewage. Due to the emergency type situations that most people call a plumber, there are numerous misconceptions about what a plumber can do and cannot do quickly. In too many circumstances, this is aligned to the cost rather than the outcome.
Do yourself a favour always and engage a plumber that is clearly experienced and been around a while. Above all else, avoid the temptation to get plumbing quotes over the phone. You need to ensure that your plumber comes to the site and undertakes a thorough site inspection before any work is undertaken.
If you need assistance on any plumbing, drainage or gas problem, call us 24/7 on (07) 55804311 as we have 43 years of experience in solving dilemmas that others cannot.
