Pricing & Payment
How much is your hourly charge?
I charge by the job, not by the hour. You get a single price per visit, and it won't change based on how long I'm there.
What is included in the price of my repair?
Everything — parts, labor, travel, overhead, taxes, all of it. Unless the repair doesn't succeed, the price you're quoted and accept (via email/text) is the final price.
Do you provide cost breakdowns?
No. The total price you're given is either a price we both agree the appliance is worth repairing for, or it isn't.
What payment forms do you accept?
I accept cash, check (preferred), and card. For card payments I'll send you an invoice that lets you pay online with any major credit card.
Do you offer a warranty?
The warranty is 30 days — that's how long I have to return a part if it's defective. I don't manufacture the parts, so I can't offer a warranty longer than the one I receive.
Diagnostics & Estimates
How can you diagnose my issue without coming to see my appliance?
Most appliance problems are recurring, and after 9 years in the field — plus the 20+ years of my father's experience I get to lean on — I've developed a system and logic models that help identify most issues.
How much for a diagnostic call?
If you complete the full intake process and answer any clarifying questions, a diagnostic call can be avoided 95% of the time. In the rare cases where one is required, it's usually around $175, depending on the town's distance from Biddeford.
Does the cost of a diagnostic call go toward the final repair cost?
This depends on the reason for the call. If you've fully completed the intake and clarification process and provided as much information as possible, I'll apply $75 of that cost to the final total.
What happens if your diagnosis is wrong and the repair doesn't work?
While rare, this is certainly possible and does happen. When it does, that visit becomes a diagnostic call at $175, and we discuss next steps. The only exception is computer boards, which can't be returned once installed — in that case you pay for the board and nothing more.
Scheduling & Service Area
What towns do you serve?
Check the Find a Technician page — it'll tell you whether I, or one of my partner businesses, service your area.
What brands do you work on?
Check the Find a Technician page to see if I work on your brand and appliance type. If it isn't listed there, I don't work on it.
Are you, Mike (Appliance Doctor of Maine), and Jack (Jack Be Nimble Appliance), the same business?
No — we're simply associates (in the case of me and Mike, father and son) who mostly serve different towns but work together occasionally when an extra pair of hands is needed. We run completely separate business entities, with different practices, preferences, and personalities.
Do you work outside of Maine?
No, I don't do any physical work outside of Maine, but I can help remotely if you want to try to DIY your repair.
How far out are you booking?
At this time I'm usually able to schedule a repair within 2 weeks of fully completing the intake process. Some of this depends on shipping of parts, which I have no control over.
How long does it take you to get parts?
Usually 1–5 days, but it's highly variable — both because of part availability and shipping. By the time I give you a quote, I'll know roughly how long the wait for your specific parts will be.
Can you repair my appliance today?
No.
Do you do emergency calls?
No. There are only two true appliance emergencies, and in both cases you need to turn off the water or the gas to the offending appliance or the house.
Do you work on weekends?
No. The only time I work weekends is if I had an issue and couldn't complete all the jobs I had scheduled during the week.
I need to reschedule my appointment — what do I do?
Just send me a text or email, whichever we've been using, and we'll get it rescheduled.
Getting Started
Why are your only communication options text and email?
A few reasons, the most important being that these methods let me easily review and refer back to what was discussed — and there are no surprises for you about what will be done or what it will cost.
I'm a returning customer — do I have to fill out the intake form again?
Yes, but it's quick: click here, enter the email or phone you used before, and we'll email you a link that fills in your name, address, and lets you pick from your previous appliances — as much as possible gets filled in automatically. This also works well for landlords and property managers with multiple locations and repeat appliances.