A buddy of mine called me Wednesday and asked If I would go to the little tractor shop in Ky. and help get his tractor that the old fellow there had fixed. My buddy talked to the man about the repairs that were made and asked him how much the bill was. The old gentleman said drop what ever you think it was worth in the oil can on the way out. The old gentleman went back to working on a chainsaw as we left my buddy dropped a Wal-Mart gift card in the oil can. We got into the truck and headed down the road I looked at my buddy and ask him what the deal was. He said he had met the shop owner thru one of his friends and the owner had retired and was now just trying to stay active and have something to do. I asked about the parts and my buddy said the owner had gave him a list to buy so that is how the parts got paid for. I asked about the gift card. My buddy told me it was for $ 75.00. I asked if it was fair to the old fellow and my buddy said he had done a lot of business with the man in the past and his rate was $ 22.50 per hour so he just tried to guess about how long the man had worked and got the card for him. I looked at my buddy and said I bet some people think it's free! My buddy looked at me and yes, he knew a guy who never paid a dime!
- Thread starter old61
- Start date
mab570diesel
Member
not cool thats just taking advantage of someones trust and good heartedness by not paying a dime wow never could do that
the tractor vet
Well-known Member
Your BUDDY is a cheapskate . I am one of the OLD guys and i can fix your wore out JUNK that you play with. so If you want me to do any fixing welding then you are going to pay for my expertize . If i come to the farm and bring MY tools and equipment with me and drive my truck that requires fuel parts tire plates and insurance Your going to pay for that as well . and NO i am not going to take a Wal Mart gift card and NO i am not going to do the work for 22 bucks and hour . But i will work for less then what the dealer will charge you . Other wise your old broke down piece of equipment can stay broke down our you can just pay the dealer to fix it and i can set back and relax. Am i grumpy yep sure am when people try and take advantage of someone . Did you ever think of giving the OLD GUY a little extra as a tip and be thankful for his service .
todd hamilton
Member
I used to do a lot of work for a blind fellow (and very good friend). On the first big job he handed me his business check book and said write out the $900.00 check and I will sign it. I said how do you know I am not cheating you - he replied "you'll only do it once!" 
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Sorry, No Takey Wallyy Marty Cardsy!! If I WORK in the USA. Stand behind MY repaires in the USA. I don"t want Wallyy Marty Stuffy!! I WANT USA CASH!! What ever you feel is OK, Long as it is fair! AND USA.
You did not say what was done to the tractor. but, $75 seems kind of low. Like a lot of people on this forum I take on some shop work and do not try to scalp people.
This month I got my tax and insurance bill at the same time. It seems like every time I go to the store for shop supplies $50 to $100. Use waste oil for heat, but the furnace was quite
expensive.I would likr to chsrge $22 sn hour,
but I would be better off staying in the house.
Maybe it is just me?
This month I got my tax and insurance bill at the same time. It seems like every time I go to the store for shop supplies $50 to $100. Use waste oil for heat, but the furnace was quite
expensive.I would likr to chsrge $22 sn hour,
but I would be better off staying in the house.
Maybe it is just me?
dr sportster
Well-known Member
Do unto others... So would you want a Wall mart gift card?
You're like me, only I use furnace oil. I average 30.00/day in heating during the winter and my electric bill works out to approx 18.00 a day.
Unfortunately I have to pick up these jobs to pay for life. My day job allows me to survive while the shop allows us to live.
It's tough to lend out your shop for a friend or family member when you know you're instantly out of pocket at least 50.00 for the day. Add in the bolt bin (which people think is free to fill), penetrants, cans of paint, hand cleaner, insiurance, taxes, etc, etc, it adds up quickly.
Not to mention my snow blower tractor uses about 6 galhr when in use. It usually takes 2 hrs to tidy the shop yard/drive for good access.
I'm cursed with a talent for software development, so that's what I do for a living. But I much prefer to work with my hands.
So I occasionally post myself on craigslist for small carpentry jobs, plumbing, brake jobs, painting, etc. etc. It gives me a break from the mental pressure work.
I keep a huge amazon "wish list" of all the tools I'd like to own, from $2.00 trinkets on up to $5000 table saws. Whenever I do a job, I tell the person they have to buy me something off the list, but I'll never know who bought me what, or what they spent. If you can't afford much, don't feel bad about not spending much.
I only do it in my limited spare time, so in reality I pretty much DO know what people have bought for me. But I have to say, people have always been fair.
There are some that I knew couldn't afford much at all, but even they always bought something, even if it wasn't a lot.
If somebody ever blew me off completely, I wouldn't complain - if I NEEDED the payment, I wouldn't leave it to them to decide in the first place.
I think it's a good way to help people out, especially if they're hurting. And
I just continue getting surprises in the mail. It's like a continuous Christmas.
I get the feeling this guy's probably of the same mindset.
He may be richer in satisfaction knowing he helped somebody out financially. That might be more important to him than getting paid fairly.
So I occasionally post myself on craigslist for small carpentry jobs, plumbing, brake jobs, painting, etc. etc. It gives me a break from the mental pressure work.
I keep a huge amazon "wish list" of all the tools I'd like to own, from $2.00 trinkets on up to $5000 table saws. Whenever I do a job, I tell the person they have to buy me something off the list, but I'll never know who bought me what, or what they spent. If you can't afford much, don't feel bad about not spending much.
I only do it in my limited spare time, so in reality I pretty much DO know what people have bought for me. But I have to say, people have always been fair.
There are some that I knew couldn't afford much at all, but even they always bought something, even if it wasn't a lot.
If somebody ever blew me off completely, I wouldn't complain - if I NEEDED the payment, I wouldn't leave it to them to decide in the first place.
I think it's a good way to help people out, especially if they're hurting. And
I just continue getting surprises in the mail. It's like a continuous Christmas.
I get the feeling this guy's probably of the same mindset.
He may be richer in satisfaction knowing he helped somebody out financially. That might be more important to him than getting paid fairly.
Couple of years ago I lost the clutch on my 1206. A friend let me use his shop and helped me with it. I gave him a set of crows foot wrenches, bought some hand cleaner, shop towels and dry sweep. He was amazed. He'd helped out a lot of guys because he has splitting stands and I was the first one ever who gave him tools he didn't have and could use or bothered buying towels, hand cleaner or dry sweep. I can still use his shop if needed but he now charges everyone else.
Rick
Rick
Robert Major
Well-known Member
Hi Maybe i"m reading this wrong but how is he not paying anything. customer got the parts and left a $75 gift card wich is non traceable for income tax purposes!. Unless he was given the card for Christmas it cost the customer something.
I"m sure the guy could go to walmart and spend it pretty easy.
A bar local to us used to take Canadian tire money for payment at face value. His thinking was I sell beer to a guy that didn"t have cash, I go to Canadian tire to buy stuff, so why not Take the tire money.
Just a shame the government didn"t see it that way and stopped him doing it by threatening to shut him down.
Regards Robert
I"m sure the guy could go to walmart and spend it pretty easy.
A bar local to us used to take Canadian tire money for payment at face value. His thinking was I sell beer to a guy that didn"t have cash, I go to Canadian tire to buy stuff, so why not Take the tire money.
Just a shame the government didn"t see it that way and stopped him doing it by threatening to shut him down.
Regards Robert
mab570diesel
Member
you are robert it was a 2 part story read the last few lines is what i was commenting about
Robert Major
Well-known Member
Ah ok Thanks I got what you mean now.
I don't have customers here that bad but some sure don't seem to like paying real value.
The favorite line here is how much if I come help. I tell them $100 an hour they say your rates only $45, I say yes and the extra $55 an hour covers you being a pain in the @$$ in my shop, annoying me while I have to tell you what to do, and clean up the mess you made doing it when you drive your tractor off into the sunset. Some still try but the others have taken the hint!.
Regards Robert
I don't have customers here that bad but some sure don't seem to like paying real value.
The favorite line here is how much if I come help. I tell them $100 an hour they say your rates only $45, I say yes and the extra $55 an hour covers you being a pain in the @$$ in my shop, annoying me while I have to tell you what to do, and clean up the mess you made doing it when you drive your tractor off into the sunset. Some still try but the others have taken the hint!.
Regards Robert
todd hamilton
Member
My friend was amazing too. He and his wife also blind operated a piano delivery and piano service business. They employed ten people but did their own office work. They only personal help they had was a book keeper on fri mornings and a driver.
Ted in NE-OH
Well-known Member
You provided that gentleman with some meaningful work to do.
Anyone running a shop for $22.50 an hour is doing so off the books. $22.50 tax free isn't a bad deal for a "retired" guy.
If he's not happy with a Walmart gift card the next time the customer goes there he'll tell him what the bill is rather than tell him drop whatever in the oil can.
If he's not happy with a Walmart gift card the next time the customer goes there he'll tell him what the bill is rather than tell him drop whatever in the oil can.
Kevin S SC
Member
He did say anything. Personally I'd only give cash, if it's really worth the work. He may need his light bill paid.
Dave Sherburne, NY
Member
I too would only have given cash, what can you buy at walmart that is worth bringing home. with cash he/I can spend it where we want. I fixed the pastors washing machine,the day before Christmas, they have three kids. He gave me a TSC gift card. I went there a few days ago, "what you need out here" Yea right what a waste of time.
First off, no clue was given as to what work was done. He apparently knows the "old guy who charges 22.50 an hour" and felt it was well within those guidelines. Maybe he put in points and plugs or cleaned a carburetor. Who knows. At any rate, I am going to WalMart tomorrow and a $75 gift card would go a long way toward what I will get. Same stuff I get in other stores. I don't know if the "old guy" works under the table or not. All my work orders are recorded in my books be it in check, cash, or gift cards. I might just be called an old guy at 77 also.
James Williams
Well-known Member
Dave,You actually took somthing from your pastor?
Dave Sherburne NY
Well-known Member
Yes I did, I treated it the same way as everyone I do small jobs for. I refuse it twice, and if they continue to insist I take it an say Thank You. Perhaps he also considered rewiring his cellar, hooking up his sump pumps properly, giving him a chicken house, plowing his driveway, helping his wife start her car while he is hunting and other small jobs I have forgotten about.
larryanderson
Well-known Member
Some of the young help you get need to pay me for the chance as some [certainly not all] only know how to use their phone.I needed some hay help and they were on their phone instead of loading bales.I pulled out of the windrow and drove up to their car stopped told them they had to choices either work or play with their phone.Two of the best kids I have had.I would rather pay too much than to cheat someone and that would be 90% of the people.Tractor people are usually fair as I have dealt with people for many years and that is what I like.Fair,honest[describe most] but those other 5% or less enough said.
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