by Steve Fordham

Air Conditioning and

Refrigeration Technology

A local business calls you to come out and check a commercial refrigeration reach-in cooler that is too warm. Upon inspection you find out that the compressor is defective and needs to be replaced.

The owner of the business gasps in horror when you tell her of your findings because she said it was replaced just two years ago and it cost her $3500.00.

Your cost on a new compressor is $500.00 and with the cost of a new dryer, freon and the labor to install them you tell her it will cost her $1250.00.

She is very pleasantly surprised and asks why your competitor, who is one of your former students, charged nearly three times more than you did.

Questions:

Is it ethical to charge three times the cost on repairs?

Would it be ethical of you to "bad mouth" your competitor?

Should she report him to the Better Business Bureau?

What do you tell her?

Are you sure you want to claim your former student?