some people take p

[naughtyboy]

one of neighbours came up before hols asking if i could weld up his wifes escort.
usual batt tray area stuff he says , well turned out to be quite bit more.

told him no probs did it all for cost of bits ( not inc welding wire etc ) as had spare time to do it.

saw him other day asked him about putting outside tap in for us ( hes plumber)this morning he drops of full written quote which when i asked about it said included his time etc.

his boys just been up to say dad wants to know if ill weld his work van up as its failed mot.

best bit wants me to do it for cost of bits as we are neighbours.

 

[MattF]

Write him a quote which includes both the cost of his quote to you and also includes your time, parts and other costs to do his van.

 

[Leedsutd]

Isn't that always the case!! Had the same with the electrician but in this case it was only for information/advice on exterior lighting. Told him to bog off when he came round with his snapped windy drier and he got all upset saying it was different because it was his job whereas welding was just a hobby for me!!!!!

 

[gordon stephenson]

I think he definitely taking the P...If you don't need to be particularly neighbourly with him he deserves a two word reply!!!

 

[astro_al]

Wow. That's so cheeky. Why don't you give him a quote

You sound like me - too easy going. I've just done constant favours for the past 4 years, almost non-stop, including having someone (on a 6 figure salary!) living in my workshop for 5 months in a truly massive camper van. Didn't even say thank you, let alone apologise or feel any obligation to hurry up and leave.

Another guy in my village asks me to make some feet for his stove - no probs - have them, I say. Next thing I hear his company need some metalwork done on a decent scale (£) and he gives the work to someone else... Then he asked for another favour and I refused - he couldn't understand why. WTF?

Had enough. The moment you ask for a favour to be returned even in the smallest way people suddenly have better things to do. So that's it. I no longer do favours for anyone.

That would be my advice. Do it for money or don't do it. Its a sad thing, it'd be nice to help people out and have it reciprocated (or at least appreciated), but it just doesn't happen. The richer they are, the more they just don't get it.

People of a certain generation get it - I was once paid for repairing a parasol with a nice trout he fished out the river! No problem with that.

As for your plumber - whatever you do, don't give him the work. Its better to pay someone neutral than someone who is taking the P out of you.

Good luck. Stick to your guns. Al.

PS - sorry, MattF was typing at the same time - I think his quote idea is excellent!

 

[rtbcomp]

Always a difficult one. I charge friends/neighbours for blasting because that's what I do for a living, but that said if it's a small job I can fit in alongside someone elses work I'll do it for a pint. Similarly if I wanted a neighbour who's a builder to do building work for me I'd pay him the going rate.

I'd always do odd non-work jobs or help neighbours out with something they're doing FOC though.

 

[garethp]

One of my ex mates once appeared with a knackered Beetle, I did some welding and general fettling to get it legal (god knows how it had an MOT) and he didnt even buy me a pint.

I got my revenge though, someone rear ended him and the car was written off

Another ex mate got a load of work done at the local garage and ******ed of down south without paying the bill - both of them are now Coppers!!

 

[stuvy]

iv stopped doing the favour thing now, i do they "suck air through teeth and grimice as i tell them what there gonna pay look"

 

[bill_gj]

Neighbours = pain in the @rse, it's a mathematical fact.

Most people can only see the world in one dimension, theirs.

 

[inchpincher]

I share a workshop with a guy who restores scooters for a living (where as I am just a serious enthusiast!). I stopped doing jobs for him on principal - I would charge him ~£30/h to weld stuff and he would charge the customers £60/h. No wonder they would look at me funny when they got the bill!

 

[brightspark]

a friend nearly convinced me to spray his car for free .as he didnt have much money i was going to do it . his big mistake came when he said he was gonna trade it in after it had been done to get a better car and he would get more for it my reply was il do it after i have sprayed mine . and when is that ??when i get time

 

[MattF]

I share a workshop with a guy who restores scooters for a living (where as I am just a serious enthusiast!). I stopped doing jobs for him on principal - I would charge him ~£30/h to weld stuff and he would charge the customers £60/h. No wonder they would look at me funny when they got the bill!

Provided you were charging him an amount you were happy with, I can't see the problem in that scenario personally. Granted, his mark-up may have been a tad steep, but as long as he pays your bill, what he charges the customer is his concern.

 

[breezer]

Provided you were charging him an amount you were happy with, I can't see the problem in that scenario personally. Granted, his mark-up may have been a tad steep, but as long as he pays your bill, what he charges the customer is his concern.

I believe thats the reason f o brian decided to start making his own drills rather than for Progress though...

 

[MattF]

Fobco, I assume?

 

[mike os]

People get one chance on this front...either you get it or you get a bill....

really pees me right off

 

[the snooper]

Provided you were charging him an amount you were happy with, I can't see the problem in that scenario personally. Granted, his mark-up may have been a tad steep, but as long as he pays your bill, what he charges the customer is his concern.

i would have a problem with it aswell, the problem being they shared a workshop and they probably knew the op was going to do the welding.
so when they got the bill they would have no idea that the markup was 100% so firstly they wouldnt use him for any work and would probably say to people dont use him he's expensive, word soon spreads good or bad

 

[pedrobedro]

I had a neighbour like that a long time ago. He was hard up and someone gave him an old 1100 with a bit of tax but it needed some work for the test. I welded the inner sill for him for nowt and he had a good motor after he tested it. A week later it was gone, he sold it for £250 and I never got a pint out of him.

 

[TechnicAl]

Hear all, See all and say nowt
Eat all, sup all and pay nowt

and if thy ever does owt for nowt...do it for the sen

Im a Yorkshireman

 

[MattF]

i would have a problem with it aswell, the problem being they shared a workshop and they probably knew the op was going to do the welding.
so when they got the bill they would have no idea that the markup was 100% so firstly they wouldnt use him for any work and would probably say to people dont use him he's expensive, word soon spreads good or bad

Fair enough point. I suppose it would depend on how people viewed the situation, and the specific circumstances.

 

[the snooper]

Fair enough point. I suppose it would depend on how people viewed the situation, and the specific circumstances.

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