Paying a friend for work
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
I tend to agree. If he is a friend (and you want to keep it that way) have him help you drop the car off and pick it up at a reputable shop. Let the shop deal with the headaches and take the responsibility.
You will keep a friend and you get a warranty on the parts and labor.
You will keep a friend and you get a warranty on the parts and labor.
I have never thought it wise to pay friends for something like this. It can lose a friendship.
I have never paid a friend to do my work either. With some friends, we simply help each other out. Sometimes on my stuff and sometimes on theirs.
Frequently when I help out someone and do work for them I keep it light and say something like buy me a beer and call it even. For a big job it might be a 12 pack. That way they feel like they thanked me and we also get to have a beer.
I guess I value the friendship more than the money and potential for loss of the friendship.
Good luck.
I have never paid a friend to do my work either. With some friends, we simply help each other out. Sometimes on my stuff and sometimes on theirs.
Frequently when I help out someone and do work for them I keep it light and say something like buy me a beer and call it even. For a big job it might be a 12 pack. That way they feel like they thanked me and we also get to have a beer.
I guess I value the friendship more than the money and potential for loss of the friendship.
Good luck.
w/ all of the above --I don't work on friend's cars. i'll lend them a hand, lend them tools, but, i'm not the neighborhood mechanic. too many things to go wrong - then there's bad blood. then, some folks that can never be pleased. to the OP - play devil's advocate here - say your friend replaces your head gaskets, everything's fine, short term, but a few weeks later, BOOM! now you go back to your buddy with a WTF. at this point, since money was involved, who's responsible for any follow up parts and labor?
got bit in the **** once doing work on a friend's corvette, or should I say x-friend. I even hate to sell a car to a friend - had that come back twice on me now.
whatever your decision, good luck....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 961
Likes: 237
From: Diamondhead Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
I have never thought it wise to pay friends for something like this. It can lose a friendship.
I have never paid a friend to do my work either. With some friends, we simply help each other out. Sometimes on my stuff and sometimes on theirs.
Frequently when I help out someone and do work for them I keep it light and say something like buy me a beer and call it even. For a big job it might be a 12 pack. That way they feel like they thanked me and we also get to have a beer.
I guess I value the friendship more than the money and potential for loss of the friendship.
Good luck.
I have never paid a friend to do my work either. With some friends, we simply help each other out. Sometimes on my stuff and sometimes on theirs.
Frequently when I help out someone and do work for them I keep it light and say something like buy me a beer and call it even. For a big job it might be a 12 pack. That way they feel like they thanked me and we also get to have a beer.
I guess I value the friendship more than the money and potential for loss of the friendship.
Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 91
Likes: 16
I never accept money that is offered to me. If I help you out it is a gift. Not to say your friend shouldn't be compensated that's up to you. I don't like using anyone's time for free. I have this relative that always says "you don't have to do that", or "no that's not necessary" while simultaneously pulling the cash from my fingers. I think one of these days when she says her tired phrase I will put the money back in my pocket before she can reach for it. (I'll have to be quick) I bet that would put an end to the charade we always have to play. When I tell you no...you better believe you are taking that money home with you in your pocket because I don't want it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I never accept money that is offered to me. If I help you out it is a gift. Not to say your friend shouldn't be compensated that's up to you. I don't like using anyone's time for free.
I have this relative that always says "you don't have to do that", or "no that's not necessary" while simultaneously pulling the cash from my fingers. I think one of these days when she says her tired phrase I will put the money back in my pocket before she can reach for it. (I'll have to be quick) I bet that would put an end to the charade we always have to play.
When I tell you no...you better believe you are taking that money home with you in your pocket because I don't want it.
I have this relative that always says "you don't have to do that", or "no that's not necessary" while simultaneously pulling the cash from my fingers. I think one of these days when she says her tired phrase I will put the money back in my pocket before she can reach for it. (I'll have to be quick) I bet that would put an end to the charade we always have to play.
When I tell you no...you better believe you are taking that money home with you in your pocket because I don't want it.
Sure. I would do just that. "What do I owe you?" should be your question. When she says "No Thanks", run quickly.
I might tell you to take it to the local humane society.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 961
Likes: 237
From: Diamondhead Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Guess things are different up north. I have never had a friend offer me money for helping them out. That is what true friendship is all about. I even spoke to one of my good friends about this today and he had the same opinion.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
If a friend helps you on a project, repair or upgrade---regardless of time or value---you just share a case of beer and everyone calls it even.
Never yet had a collection problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 314
Likes: 20
From: Wareham, MA
Thank you all for your thoughts. He is a car nut and loves to to work on cars. He works at a salvage yard and has 3 projects going on (a model A rat rod build, a father-son (9 years old) project on a Camaro, and trying to get his old Cuda running). Money is tight with him and I know he will refuse to take it, but I feel guilty taking the time from his family and his projects. The money I know will fund his obsession with cars I just want to be fair.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Thank you all for your thoughts. He is a car nut and loves to to work on cars. He works at a salvage yard and has 3 projects going on (a model A rat rod build, a father-son (9 years old) project on a Camaro, and trying to get his old Cuda running). Money is tight with him and I know he will refuse to take it, but I feel guilty taking the time from his family and his projects. The money I know will fund his obsession with cars I just want to be fair.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 254
From: Downers Grove Illinois
If he refuses to take any money help him out with one of his projects. I had a friend where we worked on each others cars in my garage and always enjoyed it. We never paid each other and did occasionally work on other people's cars for cash. Unfortunately he passed in 2006, but what great times we had working on cars together.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 966
From: Communist Colorado
Lots of things to consider... how good of a friendship is it between you would be first.... Thats what would determine if there should be any expectations at all. Friends that are tight would not part ways if something should go awry. They would figure things out and still get the car fixed.