BIZNOTE: South West Plumbing moves headquarters out of West Seattle
Thanks to the reader who sent a tip that South West Plumbing‘s North Delridge headquarters appeared to have suddenly cleared out. We went over to look and indeed – dark, closed, no one there, trucks gone, So we called today, and here’s what we learned: They’ve moved to Renton, to a site near IKEA. The move happened this past weekend, They stress they’re still serving this area (and the rest of the region), but they’d outgrown the site at 2401 SW Alaska. As for what happens next with that North Delridge site, we’re still looking into that; it’s 20,000 square feet, zoned C1-55, which means commercial/residential development up to five stories.
SW Plumbing serves mostly commercial customers anyway. When I asked for a bid on a new water heater, the salesman told me that their prices are high because commercial customers will pay more. He even recommended that we get other bids or do it ourselves. There are plenty of local plumbing services here in West Seattle to patronize.
Unfortunately not surprised when going downhill ever since it sold
Doesn’t seem like it’s going downhill since they’re moving into a bigger building…?
I love Bee’s plumbing!
Thanks for sharing this tip!
Bee’s quoted $2500 for a very simple, tanked hot water heater replacement
Will not be missed. I had heard many times they were very over priced and that the service was not good. Now, we will see what they do with the property.
Typical WS Blog commentary. Trash a business on it’s way out.
Actually I have been trashing them for years. When you want to charge people to simply provide an estimate, I guess you have enough other biz to stay afloat.
Used them one time. Overpriced and the drain repair needed to be redone a year or two later by another local outfit. No problems with that drain line since then.
SW does thousands of residential jobs. They moved because they’re growing so big. WOW what comments.,
Bye! Will not be missed. My neighbor and myself had the exact same issue happen in our house (from same builder). I used SW. She used O’Neil. I had to talk/brow beat SW down from 900 to 500. O’Neil did the exact same work for 200. We can all do this math. This was just about 1 month ago.
Same here. SW way way way overcharged me years ago. Later several neighbors had the same story about their super high prices and lack of quality. I subsequently used O’Neil and their prices were reasonable and much lower plus O’Neil did the jobs very professionally and right.
That checks out. I had to replace the water line between the meter and my house over the winter. O’Neill did it for $5,000 when Southwest quoted $12,000.
Your neighbor is lucky. We had O’Neil come service our leaky hose bib. They charged $275 and didn’t fix it. I called multiple times to get them to come back (within a week of their work being done), then called again for a couple weeks after. No response. I gave up. They were awful.
I am not in the business of “trashing” local businesses, but my experience with SW Plumbing is consistent with what I am reading here. I brought them in for a quote on an issue with my toilet, and they said I needed a completely new one and quoted me $700 to $1000. Knowing I could get a new toilet for less than $200 easily, I sent them on their way. I later discovered it was a simple problem that they should have caught. A few YouTube videos and a $50 part later, and all was working again. Maybe I justI don’t understand their business model, but they are one local business I do not recommend.
Good riddance. Other commenters have rightfully noted their prices were outrageous for mediocre work. Additionally their trucks routinely blew through the stop signs in the neighborhood around this location. The business was a nuisance for the neighborhood and more often than not when neighbors needed plumbing it wasn’t a SW truck parked outside.
Not missed 15 years living across the road.could never park my car infront of my house. There personal and business trucks all day and evening s. I spoke to management. Waste of time.
I have lived across the road from this business for 15 years, and its been terrible . the workers always parked there trucks and cars in front of my house day and night, taking up two car spaces. I even went into there office and spoke to management which was a complete waste of time. As far as over charging , yes I would totally agree, one time I had a block sewer, they said they would give me the neighborhood discount. S600 later for one hours work, they said it cost about $12000 to clean the line. I called another company for $1600
Good to see them leave, they have been terrible neighbors
$800 estimate to remove an old warer heater and install a new one that I already purchased and had ready.I am sure they were a fine business, and that somebody would have paid their ask, but… damn, I’m in the wrong line of work.
Totally agree will not be missed. I have lived next to this business for 15years. There trucks and personal vehicles blocking parking spaces in the neighborhood. As far as overcharging my personal experience again i would totally agree
Suthwest plumbing the ones NOT TO CALL…THEY ARE A COMPLETE RIPOFF
One experience & one too many. Really unprofessional; frustrated technician threw his tools across the room.
I never had anything to do with SW Plumbing. I do recall them being featured in a few articles in the paper regarding shady business practices, such as replacing side sewers when snaking would’ve been fine. I’m more curious and appalled at the charging customers for an estimate. I used to write million dollar proposals, basically a formal and very detailed estimate, for electrical work. This often required the services of others to ensure that insurance and bonding met the requirements of the customer, soliciting bids from vendors-these could be extensive-etc and there was no guarantee that I would get the project, meaning that those costs were simply lost. The idea that I could’ve charged someone to come and provide an estimate for a 2 hour job is nothing short of appalling. I would never do business with ANYONE who charged me for an estimate. Ever.
We had a poorly done, overpriced job from them. Do not recommend.
Just for entertainment, read Yelp and Google reviews for SW Plumbing. I did a few years ago and they were scathing. So negative, in fact, that SWP had to hire an internet reputation cleanup firm to create canned and coached positive reviews to counter all the bad publicity. And so it goes….
Will not miss their trucks flying down my street on 26th. Horrible young drivers with no respect for their neighborhood. They also filled our streets and community center parking lot with their trucks because they didn’t have enough space. Would never use them just for those reasons.
Interesting collection of comments here and on other review sites for Southwest Plumbing. Their reviews are bi-modal, almost all highest or lowest ratings. They certainly make people feel strongly about their work! Better Business Bureau has more 5 ratings than 1 ratings for them. Yelp is the other way around.
Well when you have 1st hand experience after the fact with them taking a Senior (80+Yr.old) with a whole sewer pipe replacement ($40k) when they were called to fix a water leak on a toilet then you’d also would have a bad taste left in your mouth!
AND guess what…3 1/2 months later the toilet is leaking (again) even though SW said the toilets problem was from the sewer piping (40k) and that the toilet would be good after the replacement of sewer pipe.
Hopefully we get some good mixed use development here! Would be a great place for a grocery store with some apartments above it! Always thought that was a wasted space with it being along a major public transit route.
Yes, that’s a terrific idea!
Instead of complaining and bashing the company for it’s prices you so could learn to fix these issues yourselves. The point of home ownership isn’t to hire someone every time something breaks. Do it yourself! Save the money.
When I had a blocked sewer, they said I would get the neighborhood discount. One hour later cutting and damaging my crawl space metal mesh which allowed rats and mouse to enter. they charged me $600 and said it was additional $5000 to clean out the line. I called another company they charged me $1300, without neighborhood discount.
Handy Andy just to let you know I normally do 100% of my repairs, have been working in construction as a Licensed commercial Electrician for the last 40 years, in the Seattle area I have completely remodeled three homes myself. but i don’t do main sewer pipes broken underground. I call it like I see it, getting overcharged is not cool.
Oh yeah I know that’s a lot more than anyone I know could do. Sewer repairs are not something that one person could put should attempt to do. I totally agree they overcharge like crazy. I actually used to work and manage their warehouse years ago. Thankfully they were bought out in the overbearing ruthless owner is no longer. They had outgrown that location years and years ago. All in all getting a few quotes first is always the way to go.
I am happy its gone. Nothing personal but I wont miss the early morning beeping of the trucks backing out.
Southwest Plumbing left an extra hole in my house due to not measuring correctly, but he gave me a card for his buddy, who could repair my drywall.Bad taste in my mouth. Boo SW plumbing.
No loss to WS that they’ve left.They were terrible to deal with over a side sewer repair many many years ago.
Good. They took over the street near them with endless trucks in the mornings. There will be more parking around delridge comm center when they are gone.
In 1981 the building was used as a Datsun dealership. Bees Plumbing is owned by the daughter of Southwest, so maybe the building may be used as another plumbing building?
I’m glad they’re gone. Used them once and never again. Quoted 22k for a job that other company quoted $7k-9k. They are predatory in their pricing and non transparent when asked to see a detailed invoice. An absolute ripoff. AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS.
Hi
everyone!
I work for South West Plumbing and
wanted you all to know that we are aware of this blog post regarding our move.
While we absolutely loved operating out
of West Seattle for over 20 years, we ran out of space at the current facility.
We have more trucks and plumbers than ever before and are continuing to service
the entire Seattle community.
You can read more about our move and the reasoning behind it on our blog.
Best,
South West Plumbing