M.S. Bellows, Jr.Aug 14, 2025

🧵
AC went out yesterday. The company that installed it 6 years ago got a technician out the same day. Yay! Service call was $185 (boo, But hey, they have expertise I don't and overhead people deserve to get paid so I can live with it). Guy arrives and diagnoses a bad capacitor.

Cool so far, except:

Capacitor costs $389. (That's the part, in addition to the $185 service call.) I do a web search and find the exact same capacitor for $32 at my local Ace hardware.

I call the company and ask what I'm missing. They say that they need to mark up the part cost because of overhead, trucks, travel, etc. Me: But that's what the $185 is for. Them: (mumble mumble mumble).

I asked the tech, if I run to Ace Hardware a mile away and I'm back in 15 minutes, will you stick around and just install the compressor I buy instead of the one you stock? Him: no problem....
1/3

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Aug 14, 2025

2/3: I run to Ace Hardware and buy the exact same capacitor the technician proposed to install. I even bring the box from his capacitor to make sure they're literally identical. When I get back home about 20 minutes later (traffic), the tech is gone.

I call the company back and go ???. They get me to the service manager who says, no, we will not allow our tech to install a capacitor you bought.

I holler, just a little.

He says he'll come out personally this morning to make things right.

Cut to this morning:...

Show threadCohoAug 14, 2025
@msbellows
I bet you could change the capacitor yourself, YouTube has detailed diy videos on every fix it issue in existence. I find it's empowering
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Aug 14, 2025
@Coho Yep, I finally realized that. It'll be easy now that I know how to pull the local cutoff and which wires go where.
Show threadCohoAug 17, 2025
@msbellows
Good for you! Repairing something successfully always gives me a little rush, and feeling of accomplishment.
My friend Peggy had a spark plugged break off in her truck engine. She couldn't afford a mechanic, so a diy YouTube guided her through reboring the plug hole, and her truck ran perfectly. We can diy anything.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Aug 17, 2025
@Coho Agreed. (Which is why I was sad when my wife insisted on seeing the doctor instead of letting me DIY her pacemaker from leftover radio parts and a cell phone battery. No faith!)
Show threadCoho
@msbellows 😂 with the healthcare system as it is we may have to attempt things like that.
Aug 20, 2025 at 7:39amWeb