Dewolfe Contracting

I called a plumber to get a quote for installing my gas dryer. There was a gas dryer in my basement before I moved in so all that needed to be done was to connect the dryer to the gas line, run the duct outside (also already there from previous dryer) and plug it in so I could start drying. In MA, a plumber must do this. In all 49 other states, the purchaser can do it and the directions are in the dryer’s manual. I did it myself when I was 19 in 10 minutes when I moved into my first apartment. Well, the first plumber I called quoted me $ 150 including permit. I found that to be ridiculous but the permit was $ 50 and one hour of labor was $ 80. I knew the job would take 15 minutes so to be charged for a full hour seemed unfair to me. I was hoping to find a place with a set fee or that would charge me for just 30 minutes. I just moved and I’m unemployed and living off my savings so every penny counts.
Instead of hiring the original plumber I called, I emailed my property manager and asked for advice, letting him know that $ 150 was a little high for me right now and that I’d rather leave the dryer uninstalled if that was what it would cost. He replied with the name and number of a plumber I had to use to install my dryer. I called the guy up and scheduled the appointment. I actually thought that maybe it would be covered by the management company since I was forced to use this plumber and technically my lease says «dryer hookup» which should mean that all I have to do is buy a dryer. Well, it wasn’t included and this is company that I had to use charged me $ 274. There was nothing I could do once it was done but pay so I had to fork it over. The dryer only cost $ 300.
The reason it cost so much was that he charged me for 2 hours of labor at $ 85, the $ 50 permit, and $ 54 in materials. He had to replace the duct that was in my basement and didn’t bring enough. He brought 8 feet and had to leave and pick up another 8 foot section. He charged me for this time that he spent picking it up (about 30 minutes). As a plumber who installs dryers, he should have had more than one section in his van. He opened the hose I bought to do it myself (before I found out in MA only a plumber can do it) and didn’t use it. The bag was clear. If he knew he couldn’t use it, he shouldn’t have opened it. Now I can’t get my money back from Home Depot.
He lollygagged on the work itself. He took phone calls while in my basement. He moved at a snail’s pace. I don’t even know that he was doing in my basement for 30 minutes after he’d done the gas line and came back from getting the duct. It doesn’t take 30 minutes to connect a duct from a dryer to a hole in the wall. He took the gas line apart in three places just to turn it about 45 degrees which was not even necessary. The gas hose connected to my dryer is coiled up behind it. The dryer is 6 inches from the pipe. It could have wound around to the way the pipe faced before. Also, why did he take apart the whole thing? He added more goop to the parts he’d pulled apart but why was that necessary? Just to make the job last another 15 minutes? Even if that was necessary, the rest of it should have taken 15 minutes.
I realize that installing dryers is a quick task and it probably costs a plumber more to drive to someone’s place and miss out on another more complex job elsewhere than they make but this is not the solution. A set fee for installing and proper scheduling (2 – 3 in the same area that can be done in an hour’s time) would be more appropriate. I feel like I’ve been swindled here. On top of all this, I found out while he was working that the plumber is the cousin of someone who works at the management company. I’m fine with nepotism but not when it costs me double what I should pay for something. The only reason I am giving 2 stars instead of one is because there was no issue with the actual work. The carbon monoxide detector has not gone off and the dryer works fine. So far the inspector from the town has not come to check it but I believe it will pass since really all he did was connect a new line from the dryer to the pipe.