Business ProfileforAlpha & Omega, LLC

In March, I lost the chimney cap for my fireplace chimney. In April, I called this business to ask if they could replace it. I was told that there would be a $208 survey charge, that would be applicable to any costs in excess of $500. I immediately told them that the chimney has not been used in 25 years, and there was no plans to use it while we lived at this house. As soon as the employees pulled up I told them that the fireplace has not been used for more than 25 years and there are no plans to ever use it again. I needed a new cap for the chimney to keep critters out, and nothing more. The employee was on the roof for two minutes (I timed it), and upon descending he sat in the truck for a few minutes, then quoted a price of $795.00, but he would try to waive the $208 survey charge. After sitting in the truck for five minutes, he e-mailed an undetailed invoice for $495, half of which was to be paid immediately. He told me that he would cut me a deal and waive the survey charge. I got the distinct impression that he was just making up a price. It wasn't until I got the e-mail receipt later on, did I learn that the 50% up front payment qualified me for the waiver of the survey charge, and he really didn't cut me a deal. For this I would get a new stainless steel cap installed at a later date. I told him I would give him the check, but I would need a definite installation date. This later turned out to be the next day. Installation was completed the following day, by placing the cap on the chimney and tightening four screws. Again, I timed the installation, which took a total of five minutes. How could a stainless steel chimney cap, and nothing more, could cost nearly $500, while requiring only 5 minutes of labor? I looked this item up online, and nowhere was it costing more than $165, retail. How do you reconcile the additional $325 dollars for labor that amounted to considerably less than 10 minutes for installation?E-mails were not answered.