some people take p

[Robotstar5]

Working in a maintenance department I get folks bringing things in for repair and as I am doing it on company time with their tools and materials I don't mind but I've still been "slipped a few quid" for the repairs

 

[inchpincher]

He's still a good friend but I think 100% mark-up for doing nothing is taking the **** out of me and the customers, most of whom I know personally too as its a fairly small scene. On the odd occasion I still get arm twisted into doing the small 'emergency' jobs I charge him an absolute extortionate amount...

 

[the snooper]

He's still a good friend but I think 100% mark-up for doing nothing is taking the **** out of me and the customers, most of whom I know personally too as its a fairly small scene. On the odd occasion I still get arm twisted into doing the small 'emergency' jobs I charge him an absolute extortionate amount...

i once had a similar situation where a guy i know sent someone round that wanted a repair on his motor bike and wanted to make the same amount as i did for doing nothing, i told the bike owner to come back later, i dont like people that rip others off and they certainly aint ripping me off

 

[MattF]

i knew someone that restored scooters for a living, full restores but he couldnt spray so he took jobs on including car body repairs and got people in to paint for him, he also was expensive for that reason and work dried up, he had to close shop because once people get stung they dont return or recomend

Never ceases to amaze me as to why people do that, as in taking on work they can't do else know nothing about. I guess there must be some supposed logic in their reasoning, but what it is eludes me.

The bad work or high price versus continued custom theory doesn't always work out though. How many bodgers, con artists etc. are there still knocking about? I know there have been plenty of occasions in the past where I've done work after someone else had been in there and rodgered the customer with a vengeance, but some of those blokes or companies continued surviving, (and a lot still are), for donkeys years. The really irksome ones are where you lose work to an outfit like that, especially when the customer knows what they're like.

Just back-tracking to the original point of the thread for a moment, I've always found that one needs to be very selective in favour doing. Always being dubious of people is the best place to start from, but even then, I bet there's not one of us who hasn't been shafted at some point in the past? Being a grumpy, cynical, pessimistic devil can have its benefits on occasion though.

 

[the snooper]

He's still a good friend but I think 100% mark-up for doing nothing is taking the **** out of me and the customers, most of whom I know personally too as its a fairly small scene. On the odd occasion I still get arm twisted into doing the small 'emergency' jobs I charge him an absolute extortionate amount...

with friends like that who needs enemys, he was actually making more then you were from your work as he had no electricity or materials for that particular charge

 

[rtbcomp]

When I repaired computers I had a reciprocal arrangement with another firm whereby I did his Sinclair products and he did my Commodores, fixed prices each way.

What he didn't realise that I kept statistics on Sinclair faults and it soon became apparent that he was doing the easy jobs and giving me the rubbish.

He soon got his marching orders.

 

[the snooper]

The bad work or high price versus continued custom theory doesn't always work out though. How many bodgers, con artists etc. are there still knocking about?

but thats usually because they could talk the hind leg of a donkey and they usually get less then intellegent customers who know nothing about the work thats being done for them

 

[rtbcomp]

................I've always found that one needs to be very selective in favour doing. Always being dubious of people is the best place to start from, but even then, I bet there's not one of us who hasn't been shafted at some point in the past? Being a grumpy, cynical, pessimistic devil can have its benefits on occasion though.

I always give people the benefit of the doubt initially, but if they mess me about once they rarely get a second chance, and never a third.

 

[the snooper]

When I repaired computers I had a reciprocal arrangement with another firm whereby I did his Sinclair products and he did my Commodores, fixed prices each way.

What he didn't realise that I kept statistics on Sinclair faults and it soon became apparent that he was doing the easy jobs and giving me the rubbish.

He soon got his marching orders.

but if you both stuck to the specific brands and neither did the opposite brand, how could could he give you the rubbish jobs ? you did sinclair he did commodore

 

[MattF]

I always give people the benefit of the doubt initially, but if they mess me about once they rarely get a second chance, and never a third.

Everyone? I'm guessing you follow your instincts in general? There are some you just know aren't even worth the time of day, and then there are the ones whom you'll risk it when it could go either way, and then there are the few whom you do trust and will gladly help unless they do the unexpected one day.

 

[rtbcomp]

but if you both stuck to the specific brands and neither did the opposite brand, how could could he give you the rubbish jobs ? you did sinclair he did commodore

Because he lied about not doing Sinclairs.

 

[rtbcomp]

Everyone? I'm guessing you follow your instincts in general? There are some you just know aren't even worth the time of day, and then there are the ones whom you'll risk it when it could go either way, and then there are the few whom you do trust and will gladly help unless they do the unexpected one day.

When it's a case of doing favours complete strangers don't come into the equation.

I was meaning amongst friends & neighbours, and yes, I've come a cropper a few times! As they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

 

[the snooper]

Because he lied about not doing Sinclairs.

the dirty sneak

 

[MattF]

I was meaning amongst friends & neighbours

Some of those generally come under the first part of that clause too though.

and yes, I've come a cropper a few times! As they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

At least we have the benefit of a clear conscience. It doesn't put any food on the table, granted, but I'd still rather be like that than the other way.

 

[the snooper]

best thing to do is just tell them it will cost you x amount even if its just to recover costs you have to make sure your not paying to do work for someone else

 

[arceyered]

Once a doormat always a doormat ?
Solution stand in front of a mirror and practise saying ~*%< OFF

 

[KemppiFrog]

Where I used to live, I got a reputation for doing difficult work that others wouldn't touch and doing it quickly. Natch, I got a few tossers, but most were OK.
Most of my friends and neighbours are very careful to keep me happy, so they can call on me again. But frequently it is a swop of favours. Or at cost.

One guy does stick in the mind. Used to drop round for a chat and coffee, I welded his van at short notice, he paid a week later, OK. I did some fabrication for his customers, he usually paid me when he got paid, but sometimes a bit later. Finally, after waiting too long for a payment and he not answering his phone, I checked up. He had done a bunk, leaving quite a few unpaid bills (mine was smallish) and, bought lots of kit on rubber cheques just before he left. This was a while back, so I expect he has run out of luck by now.

 

[gordon stephenson]

The trouble is,in the original post your Neighbour values his time as being more valuable than yours, you are not asking him to work on your tap instead working for a paying customer,You welded his car outside your regular working hours and you expect him to do the same.

 

[KemppiFrog]

The trouble is,in the original post your Neighbour values his time as being more valuable than yours, you are not asking him to work on your tap instead working for a paying customer,You welded his car outside your regular working hours and you expect him to do the same.

In an American mag (Mother Earth News) some of the backwoods guys, when asked their hourly rate, charge at the same rate as the customer. This tends to fall down when the customer is the CEO of a biggish company, but the idea has merit.

And, part of the deal is that you do the job quickly, when otherwise he could wait in somebodys job list.

 

[naughtyboy]

got in to find tap fitted, polish lad down rd came up after our lass was talking to his lass at school about it.
she asked him how much to be told your husband lent me spanner to change wheel this is my thank you.
didnt even know he worked for council plumbing.

there are some decent people around.