How do you handle garage work requests?

[zmotorsports]

Work requests in my shop have pretty much dropped to nil. One of the benefits of moving was no more mooch neighbors coming over and wanting something for nothing. I also dissolved my business when we moved and cancelled our land line which was tied to our business so that makes it harder for people to find me.

 

[Roushford6]

I'm an auto mechanic by trade and I always get requests for side work. In my experience it's not worth the aggravation. I also have 2 young sons and time with them is more valuable than a few extra bucks in my pocket. I'll do anything for my immediate family though and occasional favor for a close friend.

 

[CJ7VFR]

no more side jobs for me...so i hate to say it but FU*K the rest of the cry baby's . its NOT my vehicle and its NOT my problem it broken....

This for me too.

I have helped people in the past, but what seems to always happen is that once you help someone they feel you are now their personal mechanic/carpenter/electrician/plumber/you name it.

And they also feel that you are at their beck-and-call to help them 24/7 no matter what the issue is. And God forbid something else happens to whatever is was you helped them fix! They will blame you for it, even though the new problem is nowhere near related to the other.

Example: I rotated the tires for a friend because he doesn't have the equipment. Three weeks later the water pump starts making noises on his car. He calls me and says I have to fix it because I was the last person to touch his car! I told him the tires have nothing to do with the water pump. Nope, I touched his car last so I must have done something and I have to fix it ASAP, and at my cost.

This person is a friend no more, and I will no longer help ANYONE who has a problem with their vehicle. I won't even change a wiper blade. If they want something done, I will tell them I will let them use my tools/garage, but THEY will be doing the actual work as I supervise. No exceptions. If they know their way around tools, great. If not, and they get all wiggy, I tell them well, then you have to go to a shop to get it worked on. Period.

My life is much less stressful after this.

Jim

 

[bczygan]

I warn them that I wouldn't hire myself to do any work!!!

I tell them that I am in school for auto technician training, but usually only get 80% right on my tests. If they're OK with me getting 80% of their repair right, then I'm willing to proceed.

That usually solves it.

Bill

 

[LeonardY]

I make stuff for my wife all the time for her classroom.

I don't have a wife but my neighbor is a school teacher and her husband is an administrator.
I will help her out whenever she asks. Kids get so little and she often pays for supplies herself. So it's the least I can do. She tells me that all the other teacher's are jealous.
They have me over for dinner quite often and for a single guy it's gold.
Seems like we all have similar horror stories. It's really unfortunate.

 

[LeeG]

I am a hobbyist. My tools and my shop exist just for my personal enjoyment. I seldom have a pressing need to get any specific project done, so I am always willing to help friends and neighbors with their projects. The key word there is help. I do require those I am helping to actually do part of the work.

I do regularly do projects for church or the non-profit my wife and I work with, but I am not really interested in hiring myself out to do work. If I want more money, I make it at my real job.

Lee

 

[gtsgarage]

I help neighbors and a few friends. I actually don’t mind showing off a bit sometimes. My neighbors aren’t handy at all. But if something is too big or annoying I politely decline.

I have a group of car buddies we will help each other when we need a hand.

I don’t work on any new cars no exceptions. Only classics with simple electronics.

 

[CraigStu]

I have helped put together 3 Factory Five Cobra replicas. One was a 2 week bonzai where I was there every day. I am retired and I enjoy that. I don't charge anything. The others were 3-4 hour jobs here and there over a year or two. I have helped another friend w/ some Mustang upgrades again because they were interesting to me. Way back I did some side work for pay. One was rear window motor on an M-B sedan. Took the door apart to diagnose and had to reassemble because the part would take a week to get. Got the part, took it apart again and the part was wrong. Reassembled it and re-ordered. Got the next part which was correct and installed it. So I did that job three times. That was the last side job I have done trying to make extra money.

 

[az45]

The best way to wreck a good hobby is to turn it into a business, I learned that a long time ago. My shop is like my house, I don't want customers there.

I help friends that help me with racecar projects, but decline anything that smells like a job.

But..I'm also the guy that will stop and tow someone out of an intersection or change a flat tire for someone on the side of the road that looks like they need help.

 

[brownsmustang]

I help those that will help me. I have two friends that are willing to drop everything to come help me, so I return the favor.

 

[crook038]

I have the means and the ability to help friends, I do so when I can. I built my garage not just for my pleasure and use, for enjoyment with friends whenever possible. Every day is a gift and I will enjoy it as long as possible. I'm a relatively healthy 46 year old so I hope to have many more years of garage time with friends. If a project is too big or to time consuming I'm happy to direct the project somewhere else. Just how I do things.
Sean

 

[LXCam]

I’m a firm believer in what goes around comes around. I entertain nearly every opportunity to help just about anyone. If I can or want to, I do it. If I can’t or don’t want to, I don’t. Regardless, I’m kind about it and make sure everyone feels good with the situation. I’m not always home and I’m not always with my family members. I figure, if I help everyone I can, hopefully someone will help my family in the event that I can’t.

Thats me as well. But I always include one caveat for anything more then a days work. There’s no guaranty when it’ll get finished.

 

[TractorJeff]

I used to do a lot of Semi-Tractor work for one of my neighbors and got paid because he knew what a Shop would charge. He is retired now, I do some welding and fabrication for him and he pays at least for the materials and consumables.
Another guy usually comes around with a fabrication project idea, I give him a list of needed materials that when he gets it I'll do it. He doesn't always come back right away.
I do a lot of Hobby Farm work for another guy who pays very well and has no problems with the price. This is beneficial for me as it helps offset my Fun Project Money.
Shop and Hobby money has always been self generated, never coming out of primary incomes and household budgets!

 

[xavier296]

I'll help anyone who asks. I only charge if they insist or they won't help. I've done everything from checking out squeaky brakes to installing new floorboards. I move constantly in the Navy, so I never have time to develop that many car friends. I've been burned a few times by inconsiderate people, but I just take every project as a chance to learn. I once completely redid the drive unit on a classic mini (motor, transmission, suspension), including powdercoating the subframe, and the guy complained that it cost $300 total.

One gripe: If someone asks me to help them, I'm not much on waiting. I said I would help, so its on my to-do list. When I ask when we are going to take care of it, and they blow me off, I get pretty butthurt.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I've had fewer moochers as time goes on, but the best one I have found to use is a trade in time. I have a large yard that takes some time to mow. If I'm doing your project, I'm not mowing. So you mow my lawn and I'll do the project you need.

Not one time has anyone accepted the offer.

That sounds extremely acceptable, besides, who doesn't like cutting grass? For me it's very therapeutic, one of the many reasons I moved south so I could have an 8 month grass season instead of an 8 month salt season.

I wish more transactions were taken care of by time trade or bartering vs. an exchange of an ever less valuable federal reserve note.