Offered Something Else Besides Money

I once got asked by a woman in the street if I was a plumber,because she had lost the keys to her filing cabinet. to cut a long story short, I opened the cabinet and she offered me money, but I said no , so she gave me the most amazing curry I've ever tasted. magic :D
 
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the only jobs i do now are for friends and family (out of hours so it is not my income) but i would never charge any of them and would be insulted if they offered me more than the material price, i enjoy doing favours for them, and in recent times things are tough so not charging them takes the pressure off a bit, i am lucky(!) that i work full time and make good money and don't need to charge for work but i would never want to profit from my family, it is a pain sometimes as you only get a call from some of them when their heating/shower isn't working but it isn't the end of the world
 
I got offered a cup of tea once, but it was earl grey so i said no
LMAO - I started a rewire that took 2 weeks and not once did i get offered a cuppa, when i was starting on the kitchen circuits i told her i'd be turning them off and she said oh wait 2 mins i'm just gonna make a cuppa. I stood there and once the kettle was boiled she said ok you can turn them off now. One day i though i'd help myself and looked through her kitchen cupboards and all she had was earl grey so had to resort to water :(
 
At the moment you think that £15 per hour is low wages for plumbing. But did you know that plenty of British Gas corgi qualified fitters are on £10 per hour? and also that many of us when we calculate the hours we do trying to run our own business are on less than minimum wage?

I remember sitting in a classroom listening to the lecturer saying how we (plumbers) are all on £40 an hour. He was saying it with a tongue in cheek mannor but I thought it was a double bluff. But now I realise he wasn't double bluffing he knew back then that what is reported in media and publicly perceived about plumbers wages is contrived.

As I am sick of repeating I earned more as a nurse. Print that in your newspapers and put that on your house makeover shows.

Wake up son, you are about to get a huge reality check.

As for working for family, I don't try to charge but if they offer money I accept it gracefully. In the same way some customers like to tip me, and I always accept it.

Similarly if I can help friends with fittings and stuff I do. A friend and I recently shared a solar project that is we bought in bulk and divied up. He then found he needed all sorts of plumbing bits and pieces I just sent him what he needed. He is out of business having had his ideas stolen by his supplier and not being able to afford to sue them, and nobody to do it for him. So I didn't expect money.

Friendship and family are special cases. You give to friends and family and if they feel led to give back receive it greatfully if they don't be cheerful you have done the right thing, it'll come back to you in some other way.

We also get this with vulnerable poor customers, you end up doing freebies for them. Bigger companies won't do that its one of the shames that sole proprietors are doing this essntial community service and that well known large companies don't. Perhaps they should.

At the end of the day it is how you conduct yourself in life not how much money you have made that you will be remembered by.
 
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I did have a wrongun working for me once who slept with two of my customers. This is very unprofessional. His activities in both cases resulted in 3 people's lives affected his his partners and my customers and perhaps more lives than that.

Whenever there is a hint of that sort of interest I don't want that person for a customer. those compliications I do not want wrecking my family.
 
Of course there was the story of Don. I really liked Don, he had a very bad life history and his self esteem was just so small. He was abused in children's home by a male worker tortured every day of his young life.

Don grew up and when as a man he saw that worker he drove his car right into him and sqaushed him against the wall don said to me "I didn't even think about it I just did it".

Don did serious time for that. This turned Don. Though deep inside he remains deeply insecure he had to adopt a very tough exterior to survive jail.

Don is a very competent allround builder but his inner low self esteem ensures he never gets above a certain level.

But the good news about the story and relevance to the thread is despite his low self esteem he has an adonis body and really nice character. A beautiful female customer where he was working feasted her eyes on him and said to herself "I'm going to get that man."

they are in a happy relationship. She is drop dead gorgious. Don has many issues which interrupt a smooth relationship, but it is an example of where payment in kind was a success.

so yes it is OK to start a relatonship with a client in some circumstances.

It is of course very common.

Oh there is one old lady customer who insists on almost doubling what I ask for. I always take her extra payment because she makes up for the ones I give to. And anyway if I didn't give it probably wouldn't come back.

My rule is never prevent it coming back.
 
Mate of mine did a job for someone he knew..who paid with a dozen blueys..

Quality german stuff too......................................so he said.
 
Me and most of my mates in the building game will do little personal jobs for each other for free e.g i go and hang a door for my plumber mate and he comes and sorts out my boiler when it goes wrong or fits me an outside tap..
 
In a brand new 250k flat I replaced the gas hob with an electric one (it looked better said the customer), and was then asked if I would take the gas hob as payment.
Remember the saying "If you don't ask you won't get told to F*** OFF"
 
In a brand new 250k flat I replaced the gas hob with an electric one (it looked better said the customer), and was then asked if I would take the gas hob as payment.
Remember the saying "If you don't ask you won't get told to F*** OFF"

Ain't it always people with pots of money though?

I'll do work for immediate family, but thats about it. Others may get a bit of a mates rate, I really don't like telling people down the pub etc. what I do for a living, there's a one or two ponces that have been asking for my number/come look at a job for years :LOL:
 
I've been given a few small prezzies as well as payment, which is very nice.

Not been offered sex yet, but was given a lovely massage by a lady client after I'd pulled my back ....... fell asleep it was wonderful.
 
I was offered Free legal advice from a lawyer for a drain cleaning job I said no thanks PAY ME

I was offered free teeth cleaning x rays etc. from a Dentist I said no thanks I have a dentist pay me

I did take a free trip to Jamaica WI for a week everything paid for including food and airfare and stayed at a place called Sandals in Montigo Bay but I did charge the travel agent a reduced rate 25% less then normal

A roofer I know did a slate roof replacement and instead of money he took the car dealers demo a Mercedes 500 series instead of payment for labour and materials

Embassies I work for usually offer any of the following

1- Cases of liquor as they get it from the United Nations here in NYC
TAX FREE and highly reduced rate for example Absolute vodka $8.00 a bottle

2- Ammunition / guns as many have firearms in the embassy and they sometimes have cash flow problems so they are willing to trade
( I am told)

3- Invited to go to their country like the ambassador from Kenya once offered me a a hunting trip and I respectfully declined as I don't hunt

4- Sex of course from divorced /separated women

5- Steaks / side of beef / chickens / veal from a butcher

6- Gold etc from a Jeweler

7- Free mechanical work on my vans /cars from a garage BUT it doesn't pay as there is no tax write off on barter

8- Free shoes / work boots shoe store

9- Two year membership to a country club golf /indoor / outdoor pool boating

10 - Computers for my office and home

11- A builder offed me one home If I agreed to plumb 10 houses for him If I supplied just labor he would supply all materials.

12- exotic pets from a pet shop such as salt water fish and 100 gallon tank

13- Doctors / veterinarians also have great offers if one is inclined to trade services


Just about anything one can imagine you can possibly barter for
 
I would not even think about charging my immediate family. If I get asked to do something I get them to buy the stuff and they are happy to pay for the materials and I'll do the job out of love :LOL:
 
LOL at S.T. :LOL:

I imagine if you found yourself homeless, you would be begging on the street holding up a sign that said...

"will work for ammo"
 
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