Varsity Commercial Service

Jen C.

Varsity sent their staff to assess a plumbing issue in our building, a service that we were informed would be $59.95 plus tax.

The staff were courteous and diligent and gathered extensive information to develop a proposal. They told us that they needed to return for a second visit in order to gather further information. Unfortunately after this assessment process we were slapped with a bill of $970 (based upon a rate of $205 per hour plus travel time). We were told that the price would be $59.99 plus tax on two occasions over the phone and in none of the conversations with the staff were we told of this other rate. I have worked with many contractors and in the course of investigating this problem have dealt with 5 different plumbing and drain companies and have NEVER had an experience like this one. In fact another local plumber did the same work of developing a proposal that diagnosed the same issue without any charge (and with 1/4 of the time it took for Varsity's staff to do so.) We will be proceeding with this other company. I would definitely go elsewhere.

Kurt B.

At first okay, then they became crooks. The recommended a entire new system for almost $10,000 because the system is starting to get old. They being the professionals, why should I not believe them. I called a independent HVAC for a second quote and he said this system is fine and should last you another 10 years if not more. I would not trust them at all. The cost of there repairs are extremely expensive. The mechanic was respectful but had no problem lying to me. His supervisor also had no problem lying too.

Gulbin A.

I had them come in to change a bath tub spout (that I had the part for) and they charged me $308 for a 10min job. It's crazy. And when I had them come for the boiler issue- they told me to change the whole boiler for $8000+ but I had another plumber come in and change something and it was fixed. Go figure. They just want money. It's ridiculous. Will never use them again. Don't recommend them at all.

Anna Z.

We had Varsity come on Christmas Day when our boiler decided to stop working. We were charged $202 for the visit and gave a good tip since it was a holiday. The technician told us we needed a whole new burner and it would be $10,500. He was pressuring us to make a date to get it done. Good thing we didn't. The day after Christmas we had another plumber come over. He replaced a tube, flushed our system and within an hour we were up and running. His cost was $140. Enough said.....

Benny M.

I had Varsity come over to diagnose a heating problem with one of my zones. They told me it was a bad flow check valve. I actually had a brand new one. They told me they cannot use any of my parts I had to buy their own. They were going to charge me $630 plus labor. I paid the $80 service fee and ask him to leave. I had a second plumber come over to look at the same problem and it winds up I just had air my lines I just had to drain the system and everything is has been working fine since. Varsity also told me I needed to buy a new hot water boiler because of the leak. The other plumber said you just need to change your pressure relief valve which was $20.

Mike D.

I am adding a review for a friend who is not on Yelp. I recommended Varsity to him for a problem his mom was having in her Flushing high rise apartment. Her heat would not shut off. Varsity replaced a defective baseboard zone valve. The initial visit diagnosis fee was $59. refundable if my friend went ahead with the repair. Repair was quoted at $350 plus tax so he hired them and work was done in two hours total time. Job well done! While some complain about high prices, people have to realize that the cost of doing business (insurance; comp, liability, auto, health, and other overhead like rent, vans & trucks, equipment) is high. There is a difference between hiring a legitimate company or someone else off the street

Amala L.

Reading the other reviews it's hard to believe that replacing the valve inside my toilet would cost nearly $400 while fixing a boiler was only $325. The pricing seems totally outrageous.

Additionally, when I said I wouldn't go through with the service, and they were billing me for the service charge - $129.95 plus sales tax - they came up with a number over $300. I did the calculation myself and the plumber called into the office to get the correct amount.

That brought it down to $140 and change. Phew! But I shouldn't have had to do that and others might not have balked or protested and paid nearly $300 for a math error.

Plumbers have gotten a raw deal though. This guy who came was formerly an independent contractor with his own business but he had to sell. Most of these businesses have been bought up and consolidated. So it's a raw deal all around.

I miss the good ol' days - plumbing could be pricey but not just to fix the fixings inside the tank.

Susan L.

A/C stopped working the other day, forced hot air system so blower on furnace wasn't working. . Called Varsity they came the next morning and said it was a bad circuit board , he thought, he called it the ""first step"" that we could try that for about 1400$ and see if that was the problem told me it would take several days to order the part. Told me couldn't put power to the motor with the model I had to see if that was in fact the issue. Furnace is 14 years old so we decided to get a new one.

Varsity person goes out to truck for 30+ minutes comes back in with a quote of 5800 for just the furnace replacement. While he was out in truck I did some quick research and everything I found for 100,000 btu high efficiency furnace was in the 3300-3800 range installed.

I questioned him on it and his response was that I better see if they were licensed and insured. I asked for a couple of quotes on specific brands that I was seeing Lenox and Rheem and he came back with 5400 and 5200 , a little bit better but still extremely high and he told me that was the best they could do.

As soon as Varsity person left I called several other contractors who confirmed the prices I was seeing the highest was 1500 less then what Varsity was charging.

A friend gave me a referral to a liscensed, insured company with 35+ years in business, guess what same Rheem furnace that Varsity quoted is being installed in my house today for 3500$ . What a rip off Varsity is, get second opinions.

Jenifer D.

I had hired Varsity about 20 yrs ago for a HW heater replacement in another home. This time I called because my hot water was not hot. Joanne in the office was very polite and helpful in getting me an appointment quickly. Clint came & explained how the boiler worked and that it would need a new coil. Unfortunately this unit is no longer made and the part had to be special ordered. Once the part came in he returned and the coil was replaced. Other issues popped up affecting the heat that required additional repair. He was on time, professional, courteous and worked diligently to get me heat & hot water. I would use varsity again, and recommend them.

Patty O.

I think it's only fair to let everyone know that after my scathing post regarding Varsity they have finally called to apologize and did refund my $97 service fee.