Doing work for your friends

[boboelectric]

I started a trade off deal with a guy down the road,years ago.Me electrician,you equipment operater.He got behind in our trade offs,had a panel buss burn out,got another electric guy that owed him a few favors for his machine time.I told him maybe an insurance claim.Gave him bid,No more trade offs.

 

[ceb58]

I agree! My banker told me once "Nice guys finish last, Fred."
When I'd work for the lonesome old spinster lady I'd feel like I needed to give her a break.....then the next job would be for some mentally-challenged low-income folks and I'd just automatically give 'em a break......and the next job would be for............ad infinitum....This all led to a "scolding" from the banker. I do not envy anyone working for the poor. Keeping focused on business costs is paramount to a successful enterprise.

With out going deep there is a quote out there that says " the last shall be first and the first shall be last". I will do work for friends but I put it to them like this. You pay for material and what you feel is fair. I go into the job not looking to make any thing but most of the time I come away with about what I would if I did not know the person. I will and I have done work for cost or less for people that I know cannot do any better financially. I have never regretted it. Now do not get me wrong I am not looking for financially strapped people to work for and I know that running a company takes a flow of money to keep operating and you must draw the line sometimes. It's the ones with two or three cars in the drive way, a boat around back, living in a $1,000,000.00 home that want to gripe about a $70.00 service call that gets my shorts in a wad

 

[khixxx]

I don't have a business but any work I do for friends is free but they will not piece mill a project it WILL be to NEC spec. I will not put junk in like a used ceiling fan from 1970. Like others, friends come to you for a deal, so they look to cut corners. I don't have a problem if they run the circuit or cut holes. I know I will be dealing with head aches so why not just eat it. They will have beer on site, They will feed me if I will be there all day. I did a job for my uncle who is disabled and it cost ME $500.00 I didn't tell him that. I just GAVE my sister money for a roof. I will NOT see that that money again. Sometimes you just have to eat the SH$t sandwich. I know they will be there for me when I need them.

 

[electricmanscott]

I don't have a business but any work I do for friends is free but they will not piece mill a project it WILL be to NEC spec. I will not put junk in like a used ceiling fan from 1970. Like others, friends come to you for a deal, so they look to cut corners. I don't have a problem if they run the circuit or cut holes. I know I will be dealing with head aches so why not just eat it. They will have beer on site, They will feed me if I will be there all day. I did a job for my uncle who is disabled and it cost ME $500.00 I didn't tell him that. I just GAVE my sister money for a roof. I will NOT see that that money again. Sometimes you just have to eat the SH$t sandwich. I know they will be there for me when I need them.

All fine and well, although I don't agree with some of the logic, but you have a "real" job. For many of us spending time working for free essentialy means we are taking a pay cut. Hours spent on the freebie are dollars lost from our "paycheck".

 

[jrannis]

Dont let people know what you do for a living!
I just had to put a sign on my truck a couple of months ago or get it impounded and arrested.
I have been pricing and selling work for years and dont mind telling people how much it will cost.
Usually I dont charge friends for repairs. If its connecting a spa, recessed lights or something new I give them a bill with a line item showing "professional discount" somewhere between %10 and %25.
Friends that can pay just get a bill from our office sent to their office.

 

[Brady Electric]

Doing work for your friends

I work for anyone. I have learned to always charge and be fair and give 10% off. I used to work for nothing or little for friends but I found they didn't appreciate it or didn't respect me.
When I learned to charge everything works out fine.
I always give senior citizens,friends, and members of my groups, CREIA,Masons,Shrine, and Scottish Rite discounts.
Once I work for anyone they tend to become my friend and I keep there phone number in my cell and sooner or later they call back.(Had some wait two years before needing anything else) but they like it when they call and there name comes up on my phone and I answer with Hi and there name.

Once I worked for a neighbor which was old and I replaced a breaker and a few other things which the parts totaled $38. When she asked how much I just said don't worry about just glad I could help. Feeling responsible she said honey you can't work for nothing, you had parts and your labor (which was only 30 min) and insisted I take $5.00. I have a soft spot for senior citizens so I said thank you and went on my way.

I always treat everyone like I want to be treated and charge a fair price but always charge except in cases like above. In other words I treat my business like a business and have never had any problems since doing that. I do trade out work at times though. The only thing with that is sometimes it takes a year or two before one of us needs something else.

Sorry for going on and on. Guess I just wanted to share a part of my good life.Electrical work has been good to me for thirty six years.
Semper Fi Buddy

 

[electricguy61]

Family and friends with the means to pay, especially luxury items like can lights, kitchen remodels, etc: show full price on invoice, then give a "discount", usually 15-20%. Free "service calls", if I personally do the call. If I send my guys, see above.

Friends without the means to pay (emergency repairs) we charge a nominal price (like $15-$25) to allow folks their dignity.

 

[All Amped Up]

Its the in-laws you have to beware of.

 

[electricmanscott]

Its the in-laws you have to beware of.

A very wise statement.

 

[boboelectric]

I worked with a guy who said at a party,"I fix wheelchairs." I asked him why he said that being an excellent electrician.He replied "How many people do you know that have a broken wheelchair?"