Customer had me grease his boat lift.

Church camp paid $400 for electrician to run 185' of CAT6 cable between a building and a telephone pole.

It left the building at the peak of a two story plus attic building. He had to climb up a fully extended 36' ladder.

The rest of us are in 60s or 70s and not eager to climb a ladder that high and mess with securing the CAT6 cable.
 
the guy has a boat and a landscaper, $200 to him is like $20 to you and me. likely the $200 is also so he has your full attention next time he needs something else done, and also a reward for honest dealings.
 
the guy has a boat and a landscaper, $200 to him is like $20 to you and me. likely the $200 is also so he has your full attention next time he needs something else done, and also a reward for honest dealings.
What do you mean honest? If it's not fixed, then they won't want to pay typically. I'm just glad it went in my favor this time. I actually didn't know we were fixing a problem. I assumed it was just a maintenance thing and just wanted their annual greasing or whatever. I usually say no to repair jobs because of this, but I assumed greasing a few zerks would be simple enough.

This was actually an example Of why. He wanted the pulleys greased, well they didn't have zerks, then the problem ended up being up by the motor. Usually you get there and whatever someone wants you to fix is only a fraction of what's wrong, and it's just a disaster.
 
What do you mean honest? If it's not fixed, then they won't want to pay typically. I'm just glad it went in my favor this time. I actually didn't know we were fixing a problem. I assumed it was just a maintenance thing and just wanted their annual greasing or whatever. I usually say no to repair jobs because of this, but I assumed greasing a few zerks would be simple enough.

This was actually an example Of why. He wanted the pulleys greased, well they didn't have zerks, then the problem ended up being up by the motor. Usually you get there and whatever someone wants you to fix is only a fraction of what's wrong, and it's just a disaster.

it's kind of strange that you have had all this exposure to affluent people and don't know their basic psychology. when i say honest, it's because you fixed the problem in a few minutes instead of greasing the pulleys and then saying, "oh you know, it looks like the zerks also need some greasing. gonna need another billable hour for that onerous labor".

he was expecting an hour of so of billable labor, instead you forthrightly told him, "hah no it's just 10 minutes" and he could tell it never crossed your mind to take advantage of his ignorance
 
it's kind of strange that you have had all this exposure to affluent people and don't know their basic psychology. when i say honest, it's because you fixed the problem in a few minutes instead of greasing the pulleys and then saying, "oh you know, it looks like the zerks also need some greasing. gonna need another billable hour for that onerous labor".

he was expecting an hour of so of billable labor, instead you forthrightly told him, "hah no it's just 10 minutes" and he could tell it never crossed your mind to take advantage of his ignorance
I see what you mean and know a few sleazy people who would try and milk more out of the job by doing what you said. I'm not going to monkey around with something that's not going to fix the problem. I just straight up said it's not your pulleys, it's up there that's squealing and pointed to the two zerks and asked if he greased them lately. Had to hold my ears it was so loud. Maybe some people just hear noise and can't pinpoint the location idk. He definitely never saw those zerks in the last 15 years I bet. This was the whole point of my post. Why pay $200 for something that takes 10 minutes? I get it though, he doesn't want someone to rip him off, but I still feel like I ripped him off by taking the money. That's not how you build a reputation. He was the one who said he would pay $200 so whatever. It probably took 15 minutes to get up onto the boat and grease it, then we chit chatted about boats for another 25 minutes or so and I was on my way.
 
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I see what you mean and know a few sleazy people who would try and milk more out of the job by doing what you said. I'm not going to monkey around with something that's not going to fix the problem. I just straight up said it's not your pulleys, it's up there that's squealing and pointed to the two zerks and asked if he greased them lately. Had to hold my ears it was so loud. Maybe some people just hear noise and can't pinpoint the location idk. He definitely never saw those zerks in the last 15 years I bet. This was the whole point of my post. Why pay $200 for something that takes 10 minutes? I get it though, he doesn't want someone to rip him off, but I still feel like I ripped him off by taking the money. That's not how you build a reputation. He was the one who said he would pay $200 so whatever. It probably took 15 minutes to get up onto the boat and grease it, then we chit chatted about boats for another 25 minutes or so and I was on my way.
Almost 100% of people don’t know what grease even is or that it is needed. That’s why you can’t grease anything on cars anymore, people wouldn’t do it anyway.
 
I see what you mean and know a few sleazy people who would try and milk more out of the job by doing what you said. I'm not going to monkey around with something that's not going to fix the problem. I just straight up said it's not your pulleys, it's up there that's squealing and pointed to the two zerks and asked if he greased them lately. Had to hold my ears it was so loud. Maybe some people just hear noise and can't pinpoint the location idk. He definitely never saw those zerks in the last 15 years I bet. This was the whole point of my post. Why pay $200 for something that takes 10 minutes? I get it though, he doesn't want someone to rip him off, but I still feel like I ripped him off by taking the money. That's not how you build a reputation. He was the one who said he would pay $200 so whatever. It probably took 15 minutes to get up onto the boat and grease it, then we chit chatted about boats for another 25 minutes or so and I was on my way.

The $200 is not for the labor performed. it is to ensure your availability for the next job. i.e. you would move him to the front of the line if you were busy with other work. i assure you, that guy knows that the $200 is an act of generosity, he does not feel ripped off. you should continue to charge fair rates to ensure that you maintain a good relationship with someone who is clearly a desirable client but don't be shy about asking for more money if you expedite his work orders, or work on the weekends or after 5PM.
 
The $200 is not for the labor performed. it is to ensure your availability for the next job. i.e. you would move him to the front of the line if you were busy with other work. i assure you, that guy knows that the $200 is an act of generosity, he does not feel ripped off. you should continue to charge fair rates to ensure that you maintain a good relationship with someone who is clearly a desirable client but don't be shy about asking for more money if you expedite his work orders, or work on the weekends or after 5PM.
I see
 
You did good. Lifts are simple systems but they never get preventative maintenance and then when they start acting up you really can’t find the one problem, because everything is wonky. Old grease covers up all the bolts, it’s all up high, and the only thing you can put a ladder on floats and swings and shifts. If you’ve got good balance and like monkey bars, it can be methodical and peaceful. If you don’t have good balance or a good approach, you’ll do something silly like buy a new motor when the problem is dried grease on the screw. You did good. I’ll bet a bunch of these get replaced when they were still serviceable.
 
Boat live in nasty places and experience end-of-day, tired-boater mishaps and general neglect. All the parts suffer. Belt slip as a “fusable link” is a GOOD THING.
 
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