Everyone wants car help: What to do? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mbzkid · #1 11-06-2006, 12:55 AM

So I'm mechanically inclined and gaining knowledge at an expensive automotive school. I'm starting to get alot of people asking for free help with their cars. I can understand immediate family and a side job here and there but I can't help everyone...for free.

For those of you who charge a fee, how do you determine your rate? $15-20/hr sounds reasonable at my age.

I started this thread because I have two guys asking for help with their vintage BMW. At first I helped them out on my free time and lent them tools, but now its getting a bit out of hand. I'm at school all week, 1.5 hours away and they are trying to suck up all my free time when I'm home for the weekends. I'd like to help, but I think its time we even things out.

Thanks

#2 11-06-2006, 01:10 AM

I tell them "Sorry, I don't do side jobs." Unless it's a good (Mercedes) friend or something I'd really be interested in doing.

There is also the liability if you accidentally break something or whatever you did didn't fix it.

#3 11-06-2006, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 123c

Tell them that you will advise them time-to-time when they need serious help, but you aren't going to get your hands dirty, and it will cost them lots of beer

People that own a vintage BMW and want to skimp of repairs are the same people that will sue at the drop of a hat if the brakes that you helped them fix "fail" in the next five years. With the advent if the internet, there is a wealth of information out there, and tools can be had from all over.

I learned the hard way when I helped a buddy rebuild the engine in his 1978 Chevy Blazer. I loaned him most of the tools tools and about a week of evenings and a full weekend, a couple of weeks after the engine was finished he almost blew it up one night going thru mud holes. He blamed me, because he said I set the ignition timing too far advanced. It turned out that the harmonic balanced had gone bad, and the timing marks were off. He never apologized, and I never loaned my mind or tools out again.

Jim B. · #4 11-06-2006, 02:08 AM

A Doctor and a Lawyer were chatting at a cocktail party.

The Doctor complained, "Everywhere I go, people ask me for free medical advice, I am getting so tired of it. What should I do?"

The Lawyer replied, "Easy, do what I do. Charge them for it."

The next day the Doctor got a bill from the Lawyer.

POS · #5 11-06-2006, 08:31 AM

This is common to mechanics, so you better get used to giving them a stock answer. You should have two in your arsenal - "No, I don't do side jobs" for people with problems you don't want to deal with, and "I can fix it, you'll have to pay for it, but I can cut you a deal".

From there, I'd make sure I bought the parts for them - if they get cheap-ass parts, they'll expect you to fix it again and again.

MS Fowler · #6 11-06-2006, 09:00 AM

Years ago the husband of a friend of my wife asked if I would help him rebuild/ restore his Opel GT. I always thought they were interesting cars and I agreed to have a look.
The guy was CHEAP. He wanted me to "rebuild" the engine by reusing all the parts in the engine, including rings and gaskets. he had some surplus used parts so i could pick the best available used parts. But he did not see the need to even buy a gasket set.

I beat a hasty retreat.