Re: Brinks Alarms: Beware of the Fuel Surcharge Tax

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Matt Ion wrote:
> Jim wrote:
>> On Jul 22, 6:13�pm, "Doug" <n...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> I think the issue is that people are not �telling the customer in
>>> advance,
>>> so if �you tell your customer �the service call is $135.00 for the first
>>> half hour plus a $5.00 fuel surcharge or even if you add $5.00 on and
>>> tell
>>> them its $140.00 for the first half hour then its �OK. �What I
>>> believe the
>>> problem is when you tell someone its going to be $135.00 and then
>>> when you
>>> are finished you tack on a $5.00 fuel surcharge.
>>>
>>> Doug-
>>
>> You mean, if I tell them that there's going to be a wire surcharge,
>> and a fuel surcharge, and a battery surcharge, and an employee wants a
>> raise surcharge, and my boat needs a new radar surcharge, etc, that
>> you think they'd pay them?  I mean, ...... as you say, as long as they
>> understand why and in advance ...... they shouldn't be upset.
>>
>> Hey, NEAT! This could be a whole other untapped source of income!!!!!!
>
> "How much for this system?"
> "Oh, it's FREE!"
> "WOW, REALLY!"
> "Yeah... but we add on a fuel surcharge... and a labour surcharge... and
> a wire surcharge... and an equipment surcharge... and a whiskey
> surcharge... and a crack-and-hookers surcharge... and..."


I saw a GE Security (Edwards) invoice today.  They're charging a minimum
of two hours per service call at $159.00 per hour and a "truck charge"
of $54.00.  Now...  just for the hell of it...  let's figure the guy
does four service calls a day (for sake of argument)...  That's $216.00
a day...  The unmarked Caravan he was driving leases for about $318.00 a
month (loaded).  He probably goes through about 1 and a half tanks of
gas a week (say 45 litres) at $1.50 per...  that's $67.50...  Their
truck charge is a rip off.  I'm surprised their customers "stay" their
customers.