Gouging people for towing is just wrong!

Pardon me while I vent a little. I am just flabbergasted at the outright price gouging being practiced by some of the towing companies in this area and these are not fly-by-night nobody's; these are large, well-known businesses in the area. Just in the last week, I have heard from three customers shocked at the prices they were quoted for fairly routine, short haul towing. Here's the breakdown along with what we ultimately charged for the tow when the customers were astute enough to shop around:

#1 - Company A quoted a customer $180 for a 6 mile tow; our charge was $93.

#2 - Company B quoted a customer $225 for a 2 mile tow; the charge (my buddy, Mike, at Dalmation Towing did this one) was $110. It was a little out of the way, so had a slightly higher rate, but nothing near what the other company quoted.

#3 - Company C quoted 2 different figures when customer and her son inadvertently called the same company while looking for a tow. Mom was quoted $148, son was quoted $170 for the 9 mile tow; our charge was $113.

I could go on and on; this is just this week.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; we hear these stories almost every single day. I can only assume a lot of people just assume going in that their tow is going to be expensive and they agree without giving it another thought.

Personally, I couldn't quote or charge rates like that and still look at myself in the mirror.

TIP: Shop around!