My plumber charges me $44.50 p/h plus materials! Since when did common laborers get paid this sort of money?

Question

This is the real Oparh!

Answer 1

I like that. The "real" Oparh who can't even spell her name (Oprah), is worried about paying $44.50 an hour when she is one of the richest people in the universe.

Answer 2

First of all..... Plumbers are not common laborers, they are among the class of skilled trades, which cost $$$$. And if your only being charged $44.50, your getting a deal.

Answer 3

since it is not common labor. plumbers are usually highly skilled "laborers", for a lack of better words. ever try to fix a sink or toilet yourself? probably made a mess and cost more than if you would have gotten a professional in the first place. i have a good friend who is a plumber, and he makes more in a 6 months than i do in a year, and i have a college degree, but i don't have to deal with all the s*feces*t

Answer 4

Since everyone started going to college and people left the plumbing industry, creating a demand for more plumbers. I wouldn't call him a "common laborer" either, I think of plumbers and electritians and those sorts as more of "skilled labor"

Answer 5

In my area plumbers rates are on average $85.00 per hour!

I own a machine shop and my rate is $50/$60 per hour

Electricians in the area charge about $85.00 per hour

This subject comes up among machine shop owners often.

Oparh, I have had the skills to do and be "anything" I could dream
of since I was a kid.Even if I knew things would turn out like this
I would have still chosen my trade.
After all who would build the cars,trucks,and tools for
the plumbers & electrictions? (from scratch mind you!)

Answer 6

A plumber is not a common laborer. There is a great deal of skill and experience involved. The alternative is to learn how to do the plumbing yourself or go back to school to learn a skill that will earn you more. My wife went to a dental specialist who charged her $1,600.00 for one hour in the chair!

Answer 7

Opara, I feel your pain. ( i love you by the way )

Over the 4th of July week-end I broke a hose bib on the front of my house. I called a plumber and he explained that his response would be billed at the "emergency" rate because of the holiday.
I agreed and he shows up at my home about 15 minuets later.
he changed the bib in about 5 minuets and gave me a bill for $200.00!
I was outraged! "$200 for a 5 minuet job?" I shouted. "I'm a doctor and I don't make that kind of money!" I exclaimed.
He looked me in the eye, smiled and said " I didn't make that kind of money when I was a doctor either".

Answer 8

Did that plumber ride a bicycle to your home or did he drive a truck?? It's called the "cost-of-doing business". $44.50 is a bargain.

Answer 9

I think to call a skilled tradesman a 'common labourer' is somewhat of an ******** thing to say. When you look at what some twats in suits earn, what plumbers charge is sod all.

Answer 10

not a common laborer's job. that's why.

maybe he has a family to feed, too.

don't like the price, don't have the work done or learn how to do it yourself. if it's a 'common laborers' job like you say, then there should be no problem learning how to do his job. then YOU can charge people 44.50/hr.