Classic Plumbing Systems

Invoice #14262 dated 5/10/2019 for 1007 McDougal Rd. Mahomet, Illinois

I am absentee landlord of this property.
When I reveived their invoice for $206.50 and I questioned the amount for materials because it looked like a lot for what they bought to fix the leaky pipe. When I sourced out the cost it came to $40.00 (rounding off some figures) which is quite different than the amount they charged me which was $94.00 for materials. Now since I'm an absentee landlord unable to do the work myself, I just told them to fix the leaky pipe without an estimate first, thinking that they are a credible, honest business doing business in a fair credible manner. Should have asked for an estimate first! My fault!

I wasn't satisfied with their cost of the materials to do the job so I called Ace Hardware in Mahomet and got the cost of materials if bought there:
I have no problem with them charging a little bit more for getting the parts etc., but I think there's a big difference between $40 (actual average cost of the part listed below) and $94.00 which is what they charged me for those same parts. Below is a breakdown of the retail price If I personally bought the parts.

Dielectric Union...7.59 x 2 = 15.18
1/2"Ball valve...12.00
Close Nipples 4.00 ea... 8.00
1 ft Copper pipe...1.39
TOTAL...$36.57

Basically they're charging me a 260% markup on materials, is that fair?

So I sent them a check reflecting a 50% markup on materials (36.57 x 50% = 18.26 (but I'll round it off to $20) which totals *$56.57for mat'ls which if feel is more than fair, and told them if they could support that figure of $94.00 for material expenditures with recieps, we'll re-figure my payment. They just ignored my letter and set me a note back saying"Pay the additional $37.43 or it will go to collections. I paid it and wonder if the $37 is worth being exposed as they are, and poorly reviewed on every complaint site, contractor's board, Angines List, and BBB site I can find. GET AN ESTIMATE FIRST! The picture incl shows what I paid $206 to get done.