How Would YOU Handle This?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
How Would YOU Handle This?
I live on a fairly busy corner. I'm always working on my Vette or my Jimmy in the garage or in the driveway. Lots of people see me all the time and know me as "the guy with the yellow Vette".
Here's the rub. People who have NEVER waved, said hi, stopped in to check out what I was doing, asked if I need any help, etc. will stop and start describing a "problem" they are having with their car and ask if I can fix it. Or they will stop and ask if they can "borrow" my engine hoist, compressor, etc.
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
Here's the rub. People who have NEVER waved, said hi, stopped in to check out what I was doing, asked if I need any help, etc. will stop and start describing a "problem" they are having with their car and ask if I can fix it. Or they will stop and ask if they can "borrow" my engine hoist, compressor, etc.
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Well I dunno about being rude or anything, but I see no reason why you should help them.
Simply tell them that you only work on your own cars and that you don't loan out your tools. Just be nice
You dont want to be known as the ******* with the yellow vette do you?
Simply tell them that you only work on your own cars and that you don't loan out your tools. Just be nice
You dont want to be known as the ******* with the yellow vette do you?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso IN
Originally Posted by nastee383
Or they will stop and ask if they can "borrow" my engine hoist, compressor, etc.
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Yeah, I see no need to be rude. But if they wanted to borrow my stuff outta the blue, I'd certainly make it cost prohibitive. Either laugh it off with the "you can't afford my goods/services" joke...
Or agree to let them borrow your stuff.... with a non-refundable cash deposit paid upfront.... that's at least, if not greater than the value of the tool to be loaned.
Or agree to let them borrow your stuff.... with a non-refundable cash deposit paid upfront.... that's at least, if not greater than the value of the tool to be loaned.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 1
From: mesa,az
i used to get that a lot when i was working on my bikes ( I had seven). people thought i was running a shop out of my house. i just tell them i only work on my own stuff and the reason i am always doing it is cause i'm no good. that usually takes care of it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Rochester Kent
Originally Posted by flood
Well I dunno about being rude or anything, but I see no reason why you should help them.
Simply tell them that you only work on your own cars and that you don't loan out your tools. Just be nice
You dont want to be known as the ******* with the yellow vette do you?
Simply tell them that you only work on your own cars and that you don't loan out your tools. Just be nice
You dont want to be known as the ******* with the yellow vette do you?
Politeness costs nothing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
You might consider fixing a few. I do a healthy word-of-mouth side business fixing mostly small things. People are glad to pay $50 to have a set of brake pads put on.
If I put a used engine in I can charge $400+ and keep the old one. Amazing what people will buy from Ebay.
I never loan tools. You have to be firm, but polite.
If I put a used engine in I can charge $400+ and keep the old one. Amazing what people will buy from Ebay.
I never loan tools. You have to be firm, but polite.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 22
From: Marietta Ga.
Good advice above, you could recommend a good and fair mechanic or shop (if you know one) and tell them that you only know your cars well enough to work on with all the computer things, etc that are on 'em. You can also throw out the insurance liability factor by saying your agent has advised you to buy a big policy or don't work on other people's cars.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Originally Posted by nastee383
I'm always working on my Jimmy in the garage or in the driveway.
Anyway, I don't see a problem in refusing. It surprises me when people don't see the wierdness in asking for help from somebody they've avoided until then.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
Likes: 0
From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Originally Posted by panchop
i just tell them i only work on my own stuff and the reason i am always doing it is cause i'm no good. that usually takes care of it.
that works
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
There is nothing to be gained by being rude. I don't think I would loan tools out to someone you do not know. I would take the opportunity to get to know them at least a little. Heck, there may be someone who shares the same interest as you have.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
From: COVINGTON LA
I'm in the industrial refrigeration busness and people in my neighborhood see my gauges hanging in the back of my van and come over (even though I've never spoke to them before) and ask if I can look at their A/C, I allways say sure I'm 0 for 10 on them though I don't work on them for a living I do mostly petrochemical work, Anhydrous Ammonia systems and the like. That allways scares them off. If that doesn't work I'll through in I charge $135.00/hr + parts that stops them in thier tracks.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson (Houston) Texas
Originally Posted by nastee383
I live on a fairly busy corner. I'm always working on my Vette or my Jimmy in the garage or in the driveway. Lots of people see me all the time and know me as "the guy with the yellow Vette".
Here's the rub. People who have NEVER waved, said hi, stopped in to check out what I was doing, asked if I need any help, etc. will stop and start describing a "problem" they are having with their car and ask if I can fix it. Or they will stop and ask if they can "borrow" my engine hoist, compressor, etc.
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
Here's the rub. People who have NEVER waved, said hi, stopped in to check out what I was doing, asked if I need any help, etc. will stop and start describing a "problem" they are having with their car and ask if I can fix it. Or they will stop and ask if they can "borrow" my engine hoist, compressor, etc.
This REALLY pisses me off and I'm not very polite with them. Am I wrong?
But for everyone else, if I only know them by sight, I say they can borrow something as long as they put a value deposit on it. If I have never seen them before, I don't let them borrow anything. I just say, "...I am sorry, I don't loan tools."
www.bigdogvettes.com
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass Oregon
Hastle
To an Orgononian, the word "Borrow" means give, and I learned long a go not to give away my tools. The last time someone ask if I worked on a car for money I just busted up lauphing...couldn't stop, they eventually walked, I'm realy rude, aint I.....ROFLMFAO
Last edited by codestar7; Mar 22, 2005 at 04:06 PM. Reason: spelling
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 29,702
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From: Sometimes I wonder... why is that frisbee getting bigger? Then it hits me.
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
You think that is being rude? You COULD have been more polite and PC about it but hell you don;t know these people from christ and they don't know you, it takes some kind of ballz to be walking up to a stranger and asking them to borrow crap.
