Rant: That plumber on Forest Avenue wanted $350 to swap a toilet flapper

I live over near Forest Avenue in Springfield, and my toilet was running nonstop last weekend. Called a local plumber, he quoted me $350 just to replace a $7 flapper... said it was a service call fee plus labor. I watched a 4 minute YouTube video and did it myself in 15 minutes. How do you guys decide when it's worth calling a pro vs doing it yourself?

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terry14mo ago

It's funny how common that is now. Seems like every trade charges a minimum just to walk in the door these days, and they price simple jobs like they're doing brain surgery. I think the YouTube test is a good rule of thumb for most things around the house, unless there's gas or major electrical involved.

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zarap144mo ago

Yeah but the YouTube test has its limits for a lot of stuff. I tried fixing a leaky faucet with a video once and ended up with water spraying everywhere. Some things look way easier on screen than they are in real life. That said, you're right that trades often charge a lot just to show up. It's smart to know what you can handle and what you really need to call someone for. Just don't assume every five minute video is the whole story.

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