From: "@frank.net   
      
   On 11/26/2025 5:54 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:   
   > On 2025-11-26, Carlos E.R.  wrote:   
   >> On 2025-11-26 01:25, Ed P wrote:   
   >>> On 11/25/2025 7:03 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   >>>> On 2025-11-25 22:28, Ed P wrote:   
   >>>>> On 11/25/2025 1:45 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   >>>>>> On 2025-11-25 03:16, Ed P wrote:   
   >>>>>>> Couple of weeks ago there was discussion of dishwashers.  I   
   >>>>>>> mentioned mine failed the night before leaving for a couple of   
   >>>>>>> weeks.  It is a 7 year old GE that does a good job so worth fixing.   
   >>>>>>> I called Mike, the appliance guy while away so he could come today.   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> I could have done the job after watching a video.  My guess for   
   >>>>>>> time would be about an hour+ for the repair, plus time getting the   
   >>>>>>> part. Mike said it is a common failure and he has probably done a   
   >>>>>>> hundred of them and carries a couple of the circuit boards with   
   >>>>>>> him. It was amazing to watch him do the job in about 20 minutes.   
   >>>>>>> remove lower panel, removed door, disassemble door, remove circuit   
   >>>>>>> board, then reverse.   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> Cash price $280.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> Do you know how much was "work" and how much the components? These   
   >>>>>> things are still much cheaper on my corner of the world, often the   
   >>>>>> replacements boards are too expensive, not the workmanship.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Labor was $99   
   >>>>> Part and tax $204   
   >>>>> Credit card total $303.   
   >>>>> Cash price $280.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Ah, ok, so labour was not that exorbitant. The part was expensive. But   
   >>>> now I am curious about some other thing: they charge differently with   
   >>>> credit card than with cash?   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> Seriously?  If you pay with a credit card, they pay about 3% fee, and   
   >>> there is a record of the transaction.  As a business, you report it, pay   
   >>> various taxes on the income, both business and personal.   
   >>   
   >> Well, I know that the cost for the merchant is different, but it is   
   >> forbidden to charge differently. It is usually written in the contract   
   >> with the bank.   
   >   
   > Small contractors will often accept a discounted payment for cash,   
   > which they need not report as income.  That's illegal, of course,   
   > but it's a problem only if they get caught.   
   >   
      
   This discussion has disclosed to me that the guy that recently installed   
   a new garage door opener probably stole from his company.  He would only   
   accept the credit card with 4% increase.  Would not accept a check but   
   would take cash.  I paid cash but now suspect he over charged and stole   
   from his company as if I had paid by check it would have been to his   
   company.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)