Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 17
Thread: Was I wrong?
-
31st March 2007, 04:34 PM #1rrich Guest
Was I wrong?
About a year ago, a neighbor asks if I could build some doors for his linen closet.
Sure, no problem, when do you want them.
Well, I'm re-doing the bathroom and when I'm ready I'll let you know.
I look at the linen closet in my home and estimate the materials needed. (One of the advantages of living in a tract home.) Several more conversations over the months, the project is still on.
The neighbor thinks that the vanity is too close for an overlay door.
Hummmmmm... I take a piece of 3/4 ply, put two 35mm overlay hinges on it and have the neighbor test it. Nope, won't work. The doors have to be inset.
OK, let me check on hinges...
A month later, I stop the neighbor's wife as she is driving up the street. I tell her that the hinges are about $15 a pair and that we need 6 pair. "That's only $100. No big deal."
I got the wood (Baltic birch) and the hinges. This week I measured the opening. The doors were made this week and I installed them today.
The neighbor loves the doors, how much??? Well the wood, the hinges, a box of screws and a pack of Blum screw inserts. "Just give SWMBO a check, as she does all the banking." "Cool!"
Now SWMBO I sall bent out of shape. "Nothing for your labor?"
They are neighbors and you can't charge neighbors. Besides, I needed to learn how to install inset doors. Was I wrong?
BTW - The diagram on the hinge package was wrong. The hinges will never clip on if you install the hinges per the instructions. (LOL)
-
31st March 2007 04:34 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
-
31st March 2007, 04:55 PM #2
Deceased
- Join Date
- Sep 2006
- Location
- Avoca Victoria
- Age
- 81
- Posts
- 10,501
G'day Rich,
I reckon that some jobs should be done at cost.....we call them "love jobs", so you should be in the good books with the neighbours......but not at home??
-
31st March 2007, 05:10 PM #3
I'm proof, there is a Dog
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Romsey Victoria
- Age
- 63
- Posts
- 3,854
I figure that doing a good turn for your neighbour is worth the effort. I consider it an investment. There will be many times when you need a hand doing stuff that you need that extra pair of hands.
Photo Gallery
-
31st March 2007, 05:11 PM #4
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- South Australia
- Age
- 81
- Posts
- 131
Its a tough call Rich, I guess the neighbor is happy 1 out of 2 aint bad, buy her a bunch of flowers, should help her to forget the lost dollars, but then maybe you will be in trouble again for wasting money on flowers. Jon
Originally Posted by watson
Jon.
-
31st March 2007, 05:23 PM #5
The typo kign
- Join Date
- Aug 2003
- Location
- Melbourne - Outer East Foothills
- Posts
- 6,786
Where you went wrong is that you didnt sort out the cost or how much you would charge before you started.
But I echo the sentiments of the others about doing a good turn for your neighbour. I cut bits of wood for my neighbour and he keeps giving me bottles of wine
If at first you don't succeed, give something else a go. Life is far too short to waste time trying.
-
31st March 2007, 05:23 PM #6
Dances with splinters
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- Oberon, NSW
- Age
- 63
- Posts
- 13,360
I agree with Grunt. As long as friends, family or immediate neighbours are involved, love jobs are an inescapable fact of life. I do put the foot down at "friends of friends" though.
Instead of trying to make an immediate profit, consider it a long-term investment. For example, you never know when you'll have the need to use the tablesaw in the wee hours of the night... and having a few such investments helps smooth the path.
- Andy Mc
-
31st March 2007, 06:01 PM #7
SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Location
- Townsville Qld
- Age
- 54
- Posts
- 3,132
no mate ...you know for next time, tell the mrs that it cost this parts plus my cut equals such and such, when you give her the docket that parts and time for the amount you asked. it saves getting in the
i think you did a generous thing but if you like me anyway you probably be playing with it anyway so why not get costs back so you can spend more
toni
-
31st March 2007, 06:36 PM #8
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2003
- Location
- Kuranda, paradise, North Qld
- Age
- 62
- Posts
- 5,639
I'll second what the above have said except SWMBO says you're wrong and thus you are
it's an inescapable fact of life.
Mick"If you need a machine today and don't buy it,
tomorrow you will have paid for it and not have it."
- Henry Ford 1938
-
31st March 2007, 07:52 PM #9
SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Location
- Gold Coast
- Age
- 66
- Posts
- 1,083
I have a litany of similar stories where I've done stuff for my neighbour, or given him tools and materials. It's a matter of what sort of relationship you have with them. If they're friends, then the labour's free, and the favour will be returned. I consider my neighbour a friend. I suppose that over time the ledger's in his favour, but I don't care. I can't live in debt to someone, while he's perfectly comfortable with it. It works.
It sounds to me like your SWMBO doesn't have a great relationship with the neighbour. I can understand how she feels if this is the case.
A year ago I was roped into a half day's unpaid work on a precious Sunday by the husband of SWMBO's friend. I was asked to help install an air conditioner in their investment property in Brisbane. I couldn't get out of it because of the complexities of the way I was asked (you know how it works: they did SWMBO a small favour just before they asked) I wasn't happy.
-
31st March 2007, 09:43 PM #10
Super Moderator
Dodgy brother
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Pakenham, outer Melb SE suburb, Vic
- Age
- 54
- Posts
- 4,158
Words for the ages Originally Posted by journeyman Mick
I'll second what the above have said except SWMBO says you're wrong and thus you are it's an inescapable fact of life.
Mick
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
-
1st April 2007, 02:10 PM #11
Sum ergo cogito (Cogito)
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Tallahassee FL USA
- Age
- 82
- Posts
- 4,650
Old philosophy puzzle: If a tree falls in the woods, with no one around to hear, is there any sound?
New philosophy puzzle: If a man says something in the woods, and there's no woman around to hear, is he still wrong?
JoeOf course truth is stranger than fiction.
Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain
-
2nd April 2007, 11:12 AM #12rrich Guest
Thank you, Joe. LOL! Originally Posted by joe greiner
Old philosophy puzzle: If a tree falls in the woods, with no one around to hear, is there any sound?
New philosophy puzzle: If a man says something in the woods, and there's no woman around to hear, is he still wrong?
Joe
-
2nd April 2007, 04:05 PM #13
Dehydrated Hydrographer
- Join Date
- Jun 1999
- Location
- Westleigh, Sydney
- Age
- 77
- Posts
- 9,550
-
2nd April 2007, 09:04 PM #14
Drop Bear Master
- Join Date
- Jul 2000
- Location
- Drop Bear Capital of Gippsland (Lang Lang) Vic Australia
- Age
- 74
- Posts
- 6,518
Grange Hermitage????? Originally Posted by AlexS
Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.
-
2nd April 2007, 10:09 PM #15
Timber Hoarder
- Join Date
- Sep 2002
- Location
- Minbun, FNQ, Australia
- Age
- 66
- Posts
- 12,881
Nuh, he wants to drink it not invest in the stuff. Originally Posted by Iain
Grange Hermitage?????
Cliff.
If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.
Reply With Quote
Similar Threads
-
One of those days when everything goes wrong
By echnidna in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 2Last Post: 23rd May 2006, 10:59 PM -
What went wrong
By greenie512 in forum FINISHINGReplies: 17Last Post: 14th April 2006, 03:30 PM -
Talk about wrong place at the wrong time....
By silentC in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 8Last Post: 25th October 2005, 11:51 PM -
Where They Went Wrong
By DPB in forum WOODIES JOKESReplies: 0Last Post: 9th January 2004, 08:52 AM
Members who have read this thread: 0
There are no members to list at the moment.
