| The number of heating and air conditioning | | | | go around even in the busy times and knowing |
| companies in Virginia Beach, the city I live in, as in | | | | this will allow you to negotiate pricing... yes, you |
| many cities across the nation, is completely | | | | CAN negotiate the price. |
| disproportionate to the actual need for heating | | | | When you place a service call the company |
| and cooling. Although Virginia Beach has three to | | | | charges a diagnostic or trip fee to cover the cost |
| four months of hot summer temperatures, rarely | | | | of coming to your home and they are just |
| does it climb into the mid to upper nineties for | | | | breaking even at this point so they do not want |
| any measurable amount of time. | | | | to walk away from a repair. You can use this to |
| And, as far as winters go... we had a picnic and | | | | negotiate the price for the repair. Believe me, |
| enjoyed seventy degree weather the day after | | | | there is a lot of room for negotiation because |
| Christmas! It can get cold but it does not often | | | | most companies try and maximize every call they |
| fall into the teens or single digits with the average | | | | can get their hands on. |
| winter temps around 46 degrees. | | | | So, don't settle for their first price. Most likely the |
| There is a need for heating and air conditioning in | | | | service technician will look at you with a confused |
| the Virginia Beach area but nothing drastic or | | | | look on his face and tell you they don't negotiate |
| reason to have several hundred heating and | | | | price. This is usually true as most companies do |
| cooling companies all going after the same | | | | not allow the service technician to lower a price. |
| customers. So, why are there so many of them | | | | However, if you call the office someone will |
| if the weather is not extreme and supply out | | | | definitely talk with you and will likely lower the |
| weighs demand by a long shot? | | | | cost of the repair to get your business. |
| Well, I don't have a definitive answer for you but | | | | It is worth a try, especially on an expensive |
| if you find yourself in need of heating or air | | | | repair. And remember, most heating and air |
| conditioning repair you can certainly use these | | | | conditioning repair companies offer maintenance |
| numbers to your advantage! | | | | agreements where they give these "special" |
| These guys basically starve six months out of | | | | customers 10-25% off of repairs so there is |
| the year during the mild spring and fall months but | | | | room to lower their price, and you don't have to |
| try and "make up" for it in the busy season. As I | | | | sign up to one of these contracts to get it either! |
| mentioned though, there is not enough work to | | | | |