low ballers

Topic: low ballers (Read 1521 times) previous topic - next topic

low ballers

April 26, 2006, 01:40:25 AM

well guys, Im really trying to decide what to do here.. so any input is welcome.

this guy off a local forum approaches me about doing some work on his step daughters car (1989 ford probe 2.2l) he brought it over to me to look at. i diagnosed the problem, (bad powersteering pump) as the shaft on the old one had exited the unit! He supplies a pump assembly, I spent 2.5 hours tonight installing this part still needing to install a new belt, flush the rack and pinion, and purge the air . He called me to get a total i told him 100.00 total.He is now acting like i am trying to rip him off, Called me a few names etc.. I simply told him for the time in total i had involved wich would be close to 3.5 hours total by the time the job was complete. At any shop they would charge him flat rate + book hours + additional time and charges, he proceeds to tell me i am not a mechanic.... Ive been doing this for over 10 years ive done it all. or a shop so why am i charging him all this book hours etc.... I told him im not im trying to make you a deal while not cutting my own nose off for the time involved. he is now trying to low ball me 70.00 and i supply the fluid etc.. I currently have the car here unfinished.. pump is installed but no fluid or belt... what would you guys do?

Should i go ahead and look up book hours?

I told him tonight he could come settle up and take it as is.

what to do? I am really apalled over this

low ballers

Reply #1 – April 26, 2006, 02:04:24 AM

$100 is a reasonable price, tell him to pay or hes not getting the car back, is there stereo stuff to repo? This is usually why I try to get a set price before doing a job but alot of the time thats hard with backyard stuff. If hes unwilling to pay for your time i'd just push it on to the street and report it as abandoned, they'll tow it and he'll have that bill to pay. but i'm an asshole like that.

low ballers

Reply #2 – April 26, 2006, 02:07:56 AM

Quote from: tbirdscott

$100 is a reasonable price, tell him to pay or hes not getting the car back, is there stereo stuff to repo? This is usually why I try to get a set price before doing a job but alot of the time thats hard with backyard stuff. If hes unwilling to pay for your time i'd just push it on to the street and report it as abandoned, they'll tow it and he'll have that bill to pay. but i'm an asshole like that.

I thought it was very resonable. He seemed a stand up guy i was trying to help him out. Im having a hard time not running it off into the creek....

low ballers

Reply #3 – April 26, 2006, 02:15:41 AM

Finish it all. If he still will not agree to pay $100, take 70 and put sand in his oil and piss in the gas tank. $100 is cheap.

low ballers

Reply #4 – April 26, 2006, 02:27:06 AM

just take the pump back out and tell him to come and get it and then he can bring it to a shop to finish

low ballers

Reply #5 – April 26, 2006, 04:17:49 AM

Isn't there some sort of legal position for you there? You could claim a "mechanic's lein" against it should he be an ass and take you to court over $30. I'd look up the book hours on it, charge him that, then tell him to pay up or you'll take HIM to court (of course you won't, but he would more than likely settle at the 100 you wanted in the first place.)

low ballers

Reply #6 – April 26, 2006, 07:52:11 AM

mmm, my friend, i was many times in situations like this, only with the computer side. I dont usually repair computers from another people, only from the family, but i have some good skills fixing them. Sometimes i accept to fix pc`s from others guy`s, and trust me, every one wants to lowball the final price because "it`s not a professional job". I dont know what they mean with "professional" when you are only installing norton 2005 or office 2003. And the prices are reasonable and the job is guaranted, but well... they can argue very much because i have their computers...
If someone does to me this, simply i`ll left the job in the middle of something and got the car towed....or you can use the book price like others said...

100 bucks for the pump work is pretty good.....

low ballers

Reply #7 – April 26, 2006, 08:35:52 AM

Quote

I currently have the car here unfinished.. pump is installed but no fluid or belt... what would you guys do?

Tell him you'll take the $70, but he's getting the acr exactly as described in your quote.....no fluid or belt. Belt change is $25 labor +parts. Fluid is $20 labor+parts.

low ballers

Reply #8 – April 26, 2006, 08:38:59 AM

I just looked it up, and flat rate time to R&R the pump is 1.8 hours and bleed the system is an additional 0.4 hours, and this does not include flushing the rack. The average shop rate is $70/hr, so he's getting a bargain at $100. Unfortunately unless he signed a work order you can't puit a lien on the car

low ballers

Reply #9 – April 26, 2006, 08:57:49 AM

Quote

he is now trying to low ball me 70.00 and i supply the fluid etc.. I currently have the car here unfinished.. pump is installed but no fluid or belt... what would you guys do?

Just take your parts out and tell him to get his car. It's not worth the trouble for a couple of bux..

Than he will take it to a shop and realize what a good deal he had..

low ballers

Reply #10 – April 26, 2006, 11:00:38 AM

GET IT IN WRITING FIRST!

as mexcougar said this happens alot in computers, especially when you start getting hours into fixing windows. give them a quote at a price and have a signiture, then you are doing a "professional" job, all be it freelance, this is then a contracted job and you are due the contracted price.

and THAT IS CHEAP! that is alot of work.

low ballers

Reply #11 – April 26, 2006, 11:41:22 AM

How big a boy are you? Being a tennasee boy I could see you kicking some ass.

low ballers

Reply #12 – April 26, 2006, 11:47:06 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken

I just looked it up, and flat rate time to R&R the pump is 1.8 hours and bleed the system is an additional 0.4 hours, and this does not include flushing the rack. The average shop rate is $70/hr, so he's getting a bargain at $100. Unfortunately unless he signed a work order you can't puit a lien on the car

yeah i looked it up in my manual and you are spot on.

I know there is not much legal recourse in this, Heck i guess it is what i get for trying to help a friend of a friend out.

low ballers

Reply #13 – April 26, 2006, 12:02:15 PM

Heck guys i figured this up a few diff ways here

MY Rate @40.00 hr

1.8 R&R pump 72.00
(cust supplied no warranty)

.4 Fill system 16.00

.5 tension and install new belt 20.00

- supply fluid @ 3.00 qt 6.00

1.0 to flush system and supply add. fluid 40.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 154.00

Regular shop rate@70.00 hr

1.8 R&R pump 126.00
(cust supplied no warranty)

.4 Fill system 28.00

.5 tension and install new belt 35.00

- supply fluid @ 8.00 qt 16.00

1.0 to flush system and supply add. fluid 70.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 275.00

Tax 9.25% 29.72

Grand Total 304.72

Most Indepent shop rate @55.00 hr

1.8 R&R pump 99.00
(cust supplied no warranty)

.4 Fill system 22.00

.5 tension and install new belt 27.50

- supply fluid @ 6.00 qt 6.00

1.0 to flush system and supply add. fluid 55.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 209.50
Tax 9.25% 22.64
Grand Total 232.14

low ballers

Reply #14 – April 26, 2006, 06:15:44 PM

take the pump back out, throw it in the back seat, push the car out to the curb with a for sale sign on it with his phone number. And if he calls back and asks about it, tell him you are trying to get the rest of the funding for the pump change.