Raising rates on Carrier service plans - how do you guys do it without losing customers?

I've been running Carrier maintenance plans for years at $150 a pop per year but costs are killing me with R-410a prices up. Thinking of bumping to $200 but worried folks will bail for the big box stores. Anyone got tips on announcing this without the backlash?

Those corporate chains are the real villains here, undercutting everyone with their BS pricing.

Just send a polite email explaining the increase covers better parts and faster service. Works every time.

Same boat, feels like every year we gotta eat more costs.

Screw the homeowners who complain, real ones stick around for quality work.

Grandpa always said charge what you're worth, or you'll be broke.

I bundle the rate hike with a free duct inspection - turns complaints into upsells.

NGL, I just do it quietly and phase out the old plans over time.

Man, that sucks when loyal customers push back.

Feels personal but it's just business.

In the HVAC Techs Network group, everyone was raging about this last month.

Proud to say I hit 20% growth after my raise, customers value the Trane expertise.

Big box stores are ruining it for all of us independents.

Damn right, they flood the market with cheap labor.

My mini-split installs went up $500 and clients barely blinked.

Haha, one guy called me after trying Home Depot's 'tech' and begged to come back.

Lol, serves em right for cheaping out on superheat calibration.

You gotta laugh or you'd cry at some of these jobs.

Don't sleep on the warning labels - tell em ignoring maintenance costs more long-term.

How do you word the increase letter exactly?

We've all been there with the pricing squeeze.

Yup, parts from Ferguson alone ate my margin last quarter.

ServiceTitan users, how's the rate adjustment feature?

Just did it for my Goodman warranty work, no big deal.

I frame it as an investment in their comfort - cheesy but effective.

Man, explaining R-410a phaseout to boomers is a nightmare.

We're in this together, rates gotta go up or we all sink.

Same here, feels like swimming upstream.

Up in Minnesota and our winters demand premium service anyway.

I offer a loyalty discount to soften the blow.

Grandfathered the old rate for top clients, new ones pay full.

Hit $180k this year after my bump, worth it.

Insurance companies are the real crooks pushing costs up.

Totally, workers comp for HVAC is brutal.

One customer threw a fit over $50, then called back sweating.

Haha, classic - panic buys make up for it.

Watched Tommy Mello's video on pricing confidence, game-changer.

Don't warn em too much, just implement and handle calls.

How much pushback did you get on the first round?

Feels good to finally value my time on those long calls.

$250k revenue now, all from strategic raises.

Proud of sticking to my guns on commercial RTUs.

Everyone gripes at first but comes around.

Yup, same old song and dance.

Techs in the field deserve better pay too.

Those PE rollups are buying up shops left and right.

Just use Housecall Pro to automate the notices.

Hate when clients compare to Angi quotes.

Man, the lowballers are everywhere now.

$220 for my plans, and I upsell air purifiers.

SharkBite for HVAC? Nah, stick to soldered lines.

PE firms are gutting the industry, fight back with rates.

Disagree, some fittings are fine if done right.

Controversial take: flat rate everything, no more T&M debates.

We've weathered worse rate hikes before.

ServiceTitan integration helped me track who to grandfather.

Frustrated with the constant refrigerant shortages.

Those corporate giants deserve the rage.

Just raised to $175 on Lennox, smooth sailing.

Haha, my dog ate the old price sheet.

Out here the heat pumps pay for themselves quick.

PE vultures circling small ops like ours.

Damn straight, time to unionize or something.

Watching HVAC School podcast changed my quoting game.

Feels like a crapshoot some days.

One guy tried DIY mini split after my quote, total disaster.

Haha, YouTube made em think they were pros.

Classic.

Rates up or bust, that's my motto.

Amen to that.