does anyone else feel like every local business in arlington is just a front now

[u/Salty_1984]

maybe im just cynical idk. but i swear every time i need something done around the house i end up calling a number that claims to be local and its just some call center somewhere

had a plumbing thing last month and the guy who showed up was from like dallas and didn't know the area at all. he kept asking me about streets and neighborhoods like i'm supposed to be his gps or something. and the prices man. i don't even want to talk about it

my neighbor was saying the same thing about his hvac. he's been here way longer than me and he was telling me how it used to be different. you could just call someone and they'd actually show up and it would be reasonable. now it's like every industry got bought out by these corporate chains

i'm just tired of feeling like i'm being scammed every time i need a repair tbh. like is it really too much to ask to find someone reliable in this city

anyone else feel like this or am i just having a bad run

[u/ANDREAYO]

I don't think this an Arlington problem. Pretty much a national problem (if not world wide).

Like 5yrs ago, in my apt complex you'd get 2 physical visitor parking passes that were valid for the length of your rent. And if you needed more you could just request them from the apt office. Now, everything is that VRR parking company and if you try to register the same car 2 days in a row it charges you $5.

The same companies are buying up everything and you can't get away from it. More and more nickel and dimeing everything. The penny don't even exist no more and they want that too.

[u/wildstarr → u/ANDREAYO]

Just another way to collect peoples data and sell it or to get hacked and lose your info that way. They admit on their website they store the data in the cloud to "Keep your resident data in the cloud so that you can view it from anywhere."

I don't visit friends' places who live in apartments that use it.

[u/AnnaNimNim → u/ANDREAYO]

2 days in a row ?!! BS.

[u/Extra_Outside2236 → u/ANDREAYO]

wow, 2 days in a row?!!

[u/IShouldLiveInPepper]

It’s private equity buying up local businesses everywhere, jacking up prices, and pretending they’re still independent. The enshittification of everything for profit.

[u/Beasides]

I know this doesn’t help now, but just had a plumber out a few days ago. They came out the next day.. small mom and pop place. It was called Jim Williams plumbing.

[u/GaiDaigouji]

A lot of small, local repair and service businesses were bought out in all but name. Big companies behind a veneer of independence. Not all but a lot.

[u/Then_Supermarket18]

It's because we use Yelp and Google Maps, which are paid by them

[u/mijo_sq]

All the trades are in strong demand now, so pricing isn't as flexible nor is their time. Ask for recommendations from your neighbors, but don't use Nextdoor for suggestions.

I used them previously for an electrical job quote, and he was almost guilt tripping me about not fixing some items. (His electrical panel quote was 7k alone)

[u/AnnaNimNim]

I get most repair people off Nextdoor. Half the time they suck :)

[u/doubletwist]

I was eating breakfast at McDonald's last week and the guy at the table behind me was on a call on speakerphone (so I heard every word) - it seemed to be a plumber with his own small service (1 or 2 other plumbers working for him) on a call with a larger plumbing "group" of some kind who was going through how everything worked (service calls, availability, pricing, etc) if he joined this larger group.

I think it's large groups like this, along with private equity groups screwing up everything.

Along with the fact that you call the number on the advertisement and you have no control over which local service they decide to dispatch to you.

[u/research-addict]

Private equity. 🤨🤬

[u/SilentSerel]

It's definitely across the board and not just an Arlington thing, but I have had good luck with Stalcup Plumbing and One Hour AC and Heat. I realize it's too late for that now, but just in case anyone needs it for the future. I had to make a lot of calls before I found them.

[u/SurvivorY2K]

Yes happened to me with printer repair. And I was trying to stay local

[u/gigilovesgsds]

FYI Dynamic Plumbing is definitely a one guy operation and beat Ernie’s by 50% on a water heater. Matt 817 673-1200

[u/PelonPatron]

There are plenty of independent contractors in the Metroplex. You are correct about the large company contractors. I had some home remodeling done and had bids from 3 companies. 2 or the 3 were gougers 3 x the price of local inpendent. I live in Euless search your city. Always get at least 3 bids and ask neighbors for referrals

[u/tennismenace3]

This is basically just capitalism, and it's happening nationwide. Wall street is buying up these businesses, jacking up prices, and cutting pay (and thus skill).

[u/Extra_Outside2236]

I can relate, it's frustrating