Garage + Tools = Freeloaders?

[ovilla]

Okay, let's hear your stories, or am I the only one being asked lately "Can I just drop off the car?" - so I can work on it. Seriously, friends I haven't seen in forever and who never have time to hang anymore, yet they know that I have tools and know how to work on cars, so they want it done ASAP (AND for free - of course). I'm getting really good at saying NO.

True friends and family, who I know are truly grateful and really need the help (and yet never even ask for it), and have always been mutually respectful and helpful, I'll help them right away, especially when they need their car to get to work, school, or doc appointments.

So, who's burned your garage/tool access bridge lately?

 

[RedneckWelder]

Oh yeah people come out of the woodwork when they hear you can fix stuff. These are the same vultures that show up when a distant relative or "long lost friend" kicks the bucket.

 

[ovilla]

It just irks me when you have something, that you truly enjoy doing, and then others find it helpful for themselves so they want to take advantage of it.


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[DemoFly]

So far I have gotten lucky charging $35 an hour.

I haven't had anyone ask me to do anything for free. Sometimes I do them for free, though.

 

[dbabicky]

You gotta love it !! The old, " hey you got a lift in your garage, I'll be over on Saturday to ............................." Tell them to get bent !!!

 

[crocket468]

Old fella once told me if you had a truck, trailer, or a boat you would always have friends... I suppose garage and toolbox should have been added into that.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I had a garage space with a lift and all my tools. A guy I know would want to use it when I'm not there, leave tools in his pockets and bring them back later, use my snappy ratchet as a hammer.... I locked my tools when I wasn't there. By he got the hint.

 

[PoorOwner]

Helping closer family e.g. in law types fix their cars is not good either. They demand perfection even though the work is free.

I tell them to go to a shop since I don't have time

 

[BaMaDuDe87]

Lots of my friends work on their own stuff so I guess I'm lucky. The few who don't, I don't mind helping as long as they are lending a hand as well.

You don't work, I don't work.

 

[pmiranda]

I used to tell people I charge $100/hr but I was worried that wouldn't work so now I tell them my jack is broken or something. Of course, Karma being what it is, my floor jack did die so now I'm using a crappy little craftsman portable because I can't decide what to buy. I actually let the dealer do my last oil change since I needed a state inspection anyway. That actually worked out well since they found the source of passenger-side water leak was the windshield they'd replaced a few years ago and redid it for free

 

[ezover]

I have some old friends that we do not get the chance to talk or see much any more but if they were to ask I have no problem helping them, but there have been a few that I have told I am done

 

[wrench409]

Back when I was the family (mine AND hers) mister fixit, I didn't have a garage or even a driveway. I got EVERYTHING from them, and nothing was too big or small or complicated.

Now I have fully functional garage and great driveway, no more miister fixit.

But that's fine with me!

 

[bczygan]

Okay, let's hear your stories, or am I the only one being asked lately "Can I just drop off the car?" - so I can work on it. Seriously, friends I haven't seen in forever and who never have time to hang anymore, yet they know that I have tools and know how to work on cars, so they want it done ASAP (AND for free - of course). I'm getting really good at saying NO.

True friends and family, who I know are truly grateful and really need the help (and yet never even ask for it), and have always been mutually respectful and helpful, I'll help them right away, especially when they need their car to get to work, school, or doc appointments.

So, who's burned your garage/tool access bridge lately?

My answer?

Sure, drop it off any time. Be sure to leave your signed over title and keys on the front seat. I could use another car. I only work on my own cars.

Bill

 

[jd_1138]

I had a garage space with a lift and all my tools. A guy I know would want to use it when I'm not there, leave tools in his pockets and bring them back later, use my snappy ratchet as a hammer.... I locked my tools when I wasn't there. By he got the hint.

I would've tossed him out on his ear if I saw him use my ratchet as a hammer. What a jerk.

 

[upndown]

I have one simple rule. I do for those who do for me. That goes for family as well! If I'm gonna do charity work, it'll do just that. Not for some able bodied lazy ****.

 

[kazlx]

Post a picture of a milled out 80% AR lower and see how many people you get that you haven't talked to in years message you out of nowhere

 

[Blazinzuk]

You help me, I'll help you.

If your in a bind I'm more than likely to help.

If your family I might help.

It's the guys who can pay and act offended when you ask them to pay that really bug me.

You saying well fine I will just take it to a " real" shop. Doesn't hurt my feelers one bit

I tend to work on other peoples stuff more than I want too. But karma does kick me down a screaming deal every now and again

 

[RayBob58]

Post a picture of a milled out 80% AR lower and see how many people you get that you haven't talked to in years message you out of nowhere

Am I the only person who has no idea what ^^^he^^^ just said?

 

[bwringer]

It took me a while to find the right balance on motorcycle work.

I'm happy to help out as long as it's on my schedule and you're helping and learning. I won't do the "drop it off" type work at all unless it's easier that way for some reason.

Not being taken advantage of is a necessary life skill. Spend your time and energy with people who respect you.

 

[kazlx]

AR-15 lower receiver. It's a firearm, the part that is serialized. You can buy an 80% over the counter or through the mail and finish the machining yourself. Totally legal. Not legal to do it for other people.

Every time that I post one that I finished, I get a ton of people I never talk to messaging me to ask if I can 'hook them up'. Uh no. Not exactly looking to commit a felony for you.

 

[Fixed]

I used to tell people I charge $100/hr but I was worried that wouldn't work so now I tell them my jack is broken or something. Of course, Karma being what it is, my floor jack did die so now I'm using a crappy little craftsman portable because I can't decide what to buy. I actually let the dealer do my last oil change since I needed a state inspection anyway. That actually worked out well since they found the source of passenger-side water leak was the windshield they'd replaced a few years ago and redid it for free

If they're willing to pay $100/hr, would that be freeloading?!

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[Streetbu]

Am I the only person who has no idea what ^^^he^^^ just said?

Must be. I know what he means.

 

[taumac]

I used to but no more. My vehicles and immediate families only. Anybody ask now I tell them the dealership is down the block.

 

[Stuart in MN]

People can't walk all over you unless you let them.

 

[ItsNemo]

I open my garage to friends quite often but I don't do the work, I just sit back and supervise them. Means no liability, nothing of mine gets broken, their stuff gets fixed, and I get to chill in my garage with friends.

 

[ltusler]

^ same here, but only after the proper beer tax is paid.

 

[Richard Cranium]

beer Tax.

 

[ItsNemo]

^ same here, but only after the proper beer tax is paid.

I usually request a pizza to go along with the beer too lol

 

[Farmall450]

beer Tax.

That's a good one. You'll need a vending machine

 

[kaymccampbell]

The good folks offer to pay and help me out. And, we spend an enjoyable afternoon chatting and wrenching.
The mooches just drop it off and I let it sit till they get cranky and ask why I haven't fixed their thing. So I break it some more and tell them it's dead and to come pick up their junk.

 

[Empty Pockets]

The kids and step kids have always been more than helpful, they will always get whatever help that I can provide.

The something for nothing crowd gets nothing.

 

[Marcm157]

I actually had the building inspector ask if he could use my lift to do some simple work on his sons car. This was after he did my final inspection.

He was really a pretty cool guy during my build process and never gave me any grief so I said sure, why not? Not really a freeloader story but kind of unusual. He brought beer, pizza and cigars the day he came over which is more than some of my family do...

 

[92GreenYJ]

Wife asked me to fix her sisters car for her as a birthday present. Came home from work the other day and it was sitting in the driveway. Hopped on Summit, ordered a new radiator and alternator for it. Came in next day. Just finished it up this afternoon. Wouldn't have been so bad except the wife went shopping with her mom leaving me with our 19 month old who flipped out when I busted out the cordless impact to speed things up. I then was severely slowed down as I had to hold her on my hip and spin the ratchet one handed.

 

[drmarkr]

Am I the only person who has no idea what ^^^he^^^ just said?

I damn sure know......he needs some of what I have.....ha!!

Jenga, anyone?!?

(see next post below)

 

[drmarkr]

Post a picture of a milled out 80% AR lower and see how many people you get that you haven't talked to in years message you out of nowhere

Bet we can be friends......!!!

 

[RVDan]

My friends and family know my garage and driveway are completely stuffed full of my junk and there's no room for theirs.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'm glad I never became a "car guy." I hardly even work on my own car. I'm more of a home improvement type of guy, and to help anyone with that I have to go to there house. So it's a little easier to get out of work I don't want to do.

 

[ovilla]

I have a great friend that's a high school English teacher and likes to bake on the side, so we have a "will work for pie" exchange that we do. I gladly fix anything car related (he pays for all parts and new tools - if needed) and then I just give him my order and he makes it. He bakes a ton of stuff and it's really good too. I think he was a baker in a previous life.

The one I really miss though is my old neighbor who moved to South Carolina. I'd work on her brakes or fix other car stuff and she'd cook and bring us over these great dinners for my whole family. I'm talking all the fixings from scratch, including pies too. We all still miss her buttermilk biscuits.

 

[Catadj78]

Before I started building my shop I was asked by family all the time to do stuff for them telling them in return i would need some help building my shop. After starting the shop build I havent been asked. Also received 0 help from all that I helped. Which is fine by me because they are cut off now

 

[DemoFly]

My friends and family know my garage and driveway are completely stuffed full of my junk and there's no room for theirs.