The Conservative Cave

Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: BadCat on July 15, 2008, 12:00:59 PM

Title: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: BadCat on July 15, 2008, 12:00:59 PM
Was phone shopping for an electrician.  Every one I called gave me their rates and now had a "fuel surcharge" of between $8 - $12 per service call.  Kind of odd that they are not just rolling the increased fuel costs into their normal service fees, but instead, pointing out to the customer that the increased price of gasoline (thank you Dimocrats) is gaffing you DIRECTLY.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Lord Undies on July 15, 2008, 12:11:32 PM
Unless they are coming from 20 miles away, it isn't a fuel surcharge.  It's a gouge.

Offer to add to your payment 50 cents for every mile they travel from their shop to your house and back to their shop after they subtract the amount for usual fuel cost already included in their service charge, as it certainly is.   
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Lord Undies on July 15, 2008, 12:24:03 PM
Unless they are coming from 20 miles away, it isn't a fuel surcharge.  It's a gouge.

Offer to add to your payment 50 cents for every mile they travel from their shop to your house and back to their shop after they subtract the amount for usual fuel cost already included in their service charge, as it certainly is.   

Hey, I live $5 from ANYWHERE at those rates.

Exactly.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Bondai on July 15, 2008, 12:26:21 PM
Quote
Was phone shopping for an electrician.

eh...the little switch thingy goes up for "on", down for "off."  :-)

I crack myself up..... :rotf:
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Lord Undies on July 15, 2008, 12:30:59 PM
Quote
Was phone shopping for an electrician.

eh...the little switch thingy goes up for "on", down for "off."  :-)

I crack myself up..... :rotf:

Try some spackle.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Zeus on July 15, 2008, 12:44:02 PM
Depending upon state tax laws a service charge may be taxable while a surcharge is not. I wouldn't suggest asking a service provider to do jedi tax tricks but just outright waive the service and/or surcharge if they want the gig.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Zeus on July 15, 2008, 12:46:58 PM
Quote
Was phone shopping for an electrician.

eh...the little switch thingy goes up for "on", down for "off."  :-)

I crack myself up..... :rotf:

Yeah, yeah.  We got a new ceiling fan for the Arizona Room.  A real nice 16 degree blade pitch, lifetime guarantee Quorum fan.  Had it installed - no workie.  Changed the wall switches (one for fan, one for light kit) - no workie.  Had fan tested, works.  Power at switch, no power at fan.

You can feel free to go up in my attic with our current temperatures to see if you can find the "disconnect".  That is why I will pay someone to do it.

Two cords. One powers the fan,one powers the lights. 

No charge, not even a service or surcharge fee.     :tongue:
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Chris_ on July 15, 2008, 04:59:39 PM
Quote
Was phone shopping for an electrician.

eh...the little switch thingy goes up for "on", down for "off."  :-)

I crack myself up..... :rotf:

Yeah, yeah.  We got a new ceiling fan for the Arizona Room.  A real nice 16 degree blade pitch, lifetime guarantee Quorum fan.  Had it installed - no workie.  Changed the wall switches (one for fan, one for light kit) - no workie.  Had fan tested, works.  Power at switch, no power at fan.

You can feel free to go up in my attic with our current temperatures to see if you can find the "disconnect".  That is why I will pay someone to do it.
Turn off the power.
Remove the "bell" housing that covers the wires and ceiling support for the fan.  Check to be sure all the wires are connected.  They can still be covered by a wire-nut, but not making a proper connection.
Turn on the power & try the fan again.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: JohnnyReb on July 15, 2008, 05:19:37 PM
Quote
Was phone shopping for an electrician.

eh...the little switch thingy goes up for "on", down for "off."  :-)

I crack myself up..... :rotf:

Yeah, yeah.  We got a new ceiling fan for the Arizona Room.  A real nice 16 degree blade pitch, lifetime guarantee Quorum fan.  Had it installed - no workie.  Changed the wall switches (one for fan, one for light kit) - no workie.  Had fan tested, works.  Power at switch, no power at fan.

You can feel free to go up in my attic with our current temperatures to see if you can find the "disconnect".  That is why I will pay someone to do it.
Turn off the power.
Remove the "bell" housing that covers the wires and ceiling support for the fan.  Check to be sure all the wires are connected.  They can still be covered by a wire-nut, but not making a proper connection.
Turn on the power & try the fan again.


Better throw the breaker before doing anything in there. They may have just hooked the 'light' wire to the 'fan' wire and vice-verse.......or just ran the live wire to.........nevermind....... call the electrician again before you eletrocute yourself using the  "Basic Internet Wiring 101" hand book.
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Crazy Horse on July 15, 2008, 06:41:55 PM
All of this advice is great the bad kitty................he's an engineer afterall :lmao:
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: debk on July 15, 2008, 06:53:52 PM
Bought a plane ticket lately?

Just got one the other day to fly to Cleveland next week......$75 dollars in "extras".....plus $25 more for an extra bag.... :censored:

I figured with the price of gas and it would take almost 4 tanks (last week's fill-up was $69 and it's gone up 7cents since) ....and losing 2 days of work....it was worth it to fly....
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: Miss Mia on July 15, 2008, 06:55:24 PM
FedEx has had these fuel surcharges for years now. 
Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: RobJohnson on July 15, 2008, 09:42:25 PM
I used to charge surcharge for the price of natural gas during the winter.

Not only did we have to keep the shop warm to repair vehicles, we had to use alot of BTUs to "bake the paint"

Title: Re: Have y'all noticed the "fuel surcharges"?
Post by: NHSparky on July 15, 2008, 10:09:35 PM
Back when we didn't have any electricity in CA back in 2000-01, businesses were adding on "energy surcharges" all the time--even in Vegas, I got a room with a $5/night energy surcharge.  There was, believe it or not, a story on the news back then about TACO BELL, of all places, adding .25 onto each order.

Oh, and if you go to Carnival's website, they've got a fuel surcharge (supplement) of $9/day based on double occupancy.  That's one more reason I didn't book a cruise with them this year...2 people X 7 days X $9 = $126 on top of the $2K they wanted already.  No thanks.