Got burned - Don't go to Lansing Jet Center.

I decided to fly from my home north of Indianapolis Indiana to visit
family in Lansing Michigan. My trip up was a beautiful, uneventful hour
and a half flight. I was to stay until Friday morning and then return.
The weather on Friday made it impossible to return because of icing
issues. No problem better safe than sorry right... Saturday dawned
much better. Got to the airport to find the plane with a coating of ice
that needed to be removed. My FBO at home takes care of this for free. I
wasn't expecting it to be free but when they finished the job and
presented me with a $462.50 bill I about lost it (**** my pants). Hell
the plane rental for the 3 days wasn't even that much. I paid the bill
and vowed to not go there again.

Any one got any stories of being ripped off? I feel the need to
commiserate... ;-)

Jon Kraus
PP-ASEL
Student-IA

In a previous article, Jon Kraus said:
much better. Got to the airport to find the plane with a coating of ice
that needed to be removed. My FBO at home takes care of this for free. I
wasn't expecting it to be free but when they finished the job and
presented me with a $462.50 bill I about lost it (**** my pants). Hell

It's pretty god damned stupid to ask for a service without asking how much
it costs, and then complain when it costs more than you expected.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
PROGRAM - n. A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to turn one's
input into error messages. v. tr.- To engage in a pastime similar to banging
one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities for reward.

I agree, to a point. I would have asked, but I wouldn't have expected it to
cosat anywhere near that amount. It's also pretty inconsiderate, and IMO
really bad business practice, to not mention up front that that particular
service might be quite pricey. I'd much rather pay for a couple of hours
heated hangar time (assuming that would be less). Barring that option, I'd
go buy a friggin' hairdryer and do it myself. Wonder what they'd charge for
the electricity?

FWIW, beware of any facility that has the word "jet" in its name. They're
used to big bucks.

mike regish

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
In a previous article, Jon Kraus said:
much better. Got to the airport to find the plane with a coating of ice
that needed to be removed. My FBO at home takes care of this for free. I
wasn't expecting it to be free but when they finished the job and
presented me with a $462.50 bill I about lost it (**** my pants). Hell

It's pretty god damned stupid to ask for a service without asking how much
it costs, and then complain when it costs more than you expected.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
PROGRAM - n. A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to turn one's
input into error messages. v. tr.- To engage in a pastime similar to
banging
one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities for reward.

In a previous article, "mike regish" said:
FWIW, beware of any facility that has the word "jet" in its name. They're
used to big bucks.

That's for sure. That's one reason I would have asked the price of
*anything* (including the coffee in the waiting room) before saying "sure,
I'll take that".


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
You know the saying, every time you develop an idiot proof system they
develop a better type of idiot... and now you know who "they" are.
-- Matthew Malthouse

Paul,
I think that God is spelled with a capitol "G".

By the way, I did ask how much it was going to cost. They told me $12.50
a gallon. My stupidity was thinking that it would take 5 to 10 gallons
max. Even then $12.50 for a 50% mix of glycol and water is pretty damn
steep (I thought so anyway). I appreciate your support though....

Jon

Paul Tomblin wrote:

In a previous article, Jon Kraus said:


much better. Got to the airport to find the plane with a coating of ice
that needed to be removed. My FBO at home takes care of this for free. I
wasn't expecting it to be free but when they finished the job and
presented me with a $462.50 bill I about lost it (**** my pants). Hell



It's pretty god damned stupid to ask for a service without asking how much
it costs, and then complain when it costs more than you expected.

"Jon Kraus" wrote:

I think that God is spelled with a capitol "G".

I think that "capital" is spelled with two letters "A."

I've never gone anyplace where I needed a preheat, much less a deice.
For future reference, what would they have charged for parking in a heated
hangar?

Even if God is the capitol of "The Universe"?

I know it is spelled with an "A" I just wanted to see if anyone got the
joke. Good for you... Yea in hindsight the heated hanger for 3 days
would have been substantially cheaper... unfortunately, they don't have
this option...

It sounds like you don't go fly to colder climates in the winter much.
In Michigan at this time of year it is very possible that you could use
either a pre-heat, deicing or both. For me the lesson is well
learned.... ask ahead about the services and the cost of those
services. Thanks for the post. Jon

Craig Prouse wrote:

"Jon Kraus" wrote:



I think that God is spelled with a capitol "G".



I think that "capital" is spelled with two letters "A."

I've never gone anyplace where I needed a preheat, much less a deice.
For future reference, what would they have charged for parking in a heated
hangar?

Now, would "damned" also have to capitalized in this context?

mike regish
"Jon Kraus" wrote in message ...
Paul,
I think that God is spelled with a capitol "G".

By the way, I did ask how much it was going to cost. They told me $12.50 a gallon. My stupidity was thinking that it would take 5 to 10 gallons max. Even then $12.50 for a 50% mix of glycol and water is pretty damn steep (I thought so anyway). I appreciate your support though....

Jon

Paul Tomblin wrote:

In a previous article, Jon Kraus said:
much better. Got to the airport to find the plane with a coating of ice
that needed to be removed. My FBO at home takes care of this for free. I
wasn't expecting it to be free but when they finished the job and
presented me with a $462.50 bill I about lost it (**** my pants). Hell

It's pretty god damned stupid to ask for a service without asking how much
it costs, and then complain when it costs more than you expected.

In a previous article, "mike regish" said:
By the way, I did ask how much it was going to cost. They told me
$12.50 a gallon. My stupidity was thinking that it would take 5 to 10
gallons max. Even then $12.50 for a 50% mix of glycol and water is
pretty damn steep (I thought so anyway). I appreciate your support
though....

Now *that* is outrageous. What did they do, pretend you were a 747 and
spray all the area 100 feet either side of you as well?


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
There are mushrooms that can survive weeks, months without air or food.
They just dry out and when water comes back, they wake up again. And call
the helldesk about their password expiring. -- after Jens Benecke and Tanuki

By the way, I did ask how much it was going to cost. They told me $12.50 a
gallon. My stupidity was thinking that it would take 5 to 10 gallons max.
Even then $12.50 for a 50% mix of glycol and water is pretty damn steep (I
thought so anyway).

So they used 37 gallons? How many gallons does it normally take to de-ice
Cessna sized aircraft? I just checked the local airports pricing and it is
$50 +tax to "defrost" the plane in a heated hanger and/or $20 a gallon for
type I aircraft deice.

But wow, if it really took 37 gallons you would have been charged $740 at my
local airport.