Should I charge my biz partner for auto services.

[fastfredracing]

I could strangle the guy sometimes. I love him like a brother, and He has always been there when I need help, and I am always there for him, but our relationship is very much off balance. Seems like I always loose. ( this is my partner in my side biz , with the rental houses, not my auto shop)
He goes out, and buys an 5.4 gas F350 with 275,000 miles on it. He was so proud of his purchase, and it is in nice shape,, but, I rolled my eyes, because I knew what was coming. 275000 miles on a 5.4 is just about life expectancy for that truck. He has it about three weeks, and it blows a plug out of the head. I repair that, then the water pump lets go two weeks later, I repair that, and now , it has popped a head gasket.
I'm so farkin' busy at work, that I just cannot pull it off during the week, and I would have to charge him full shop rate if I did, so, now , I have to go in this weekend to put a used motor in it . He will be there helping but he is not very garage saavy, and may just end up slowing me down.
What would you guys do? Putting a motor in a newer f 350 will be probably a two day ass bustin' adventure, it is not like I am helping him change his brake pads.

[Rick V]

If he is willing to work on your shop schedule and willing to help then you should treat him right. If he is going to take your shop time or your down time he gets charged.
On the plus side that is not a bad engine swap

[recycled sixtie]

First of all it is very hard long term to have a good relationship with a bus. partner.
You have choices:

1. Take him out for a beer and discuss his recent purchase of the high miles Ford and what it takes to fix it. Ask him who is paying for it? Who is fixing it? Put the ball in his court. Rub his nose in it like a dog with poo.

2. If he admits he has been an idiot there is hope yet. Next time tell him to consult you before major purchases.

3. If he goes into a rage(I doubt it because you love him like a brother), consider buying him out because his kind of thinking and actions can become worse.


They say timing is everything. Communication is huge too in terms of a big decision in a partnership.

[Scott R]

What's he got to trade? The last engine I replaced got me epoxy finished floors in my garage. Is he good at anything?

[look 171]

I say no to charge him, but that's me. I give out freebees only to keep people happy. You do that a few time, if they don't understand and stay bullheaded, then its time to walk and start charging. When its free, there is no way to argue should something go wrong.

[Brian 162]

Aside from you being his personal mechanic it appears you both go a long way back and look out for one another. It's a tough call. He's willing to help so he's really not leeching off of you. I've been in that spot losing a weekend installing an A/C for a friend for material only on a 90 deg. day.
If it was me I would do it.

[Macroni]

What ever you do discuss it before you start. I might phrase along the lines of " this is going to cost x dollars are you willing to spend that to fix this truck?"

[nightheart]

Hopefully you have a lot of weekends left in your life, I'd just do it. If the guy is a true friend and not a mooch, just do it. I'm not a pro, but I try to keep a very non-mechanical friend of mines two beater cars running. Years ago, when my credit was very bad and no bank would even talk to me, he loaned me money at the end of the month to make ends meet. More than a few times. You can't put a price on true friendship. If it bothers you that much you should talk to him about it. Me, I'd just do it, especially if he's willing to help. Even if the help means he gets in the way. Life's too short to be petty. There'll always be another weekend, but maybe not another friend. My 2 cents and all that.....

[Jess]

It's about boundaries; setting them and maintaining them.

You happen to have a set of skills that make it relatively easy for you to replace an engine. I have a set of skills that make it somewhat easy for me to build a house, or any subset of a house.

It's very easy to volunteer our time to our friends who don't have these skills and whom we don't want to see taken advantage of by others who make a living with the skills we take for granted. It's taken me years to realize that my weekends are precious and that my time is sometimes invaluable.

I still continue to screw this up and offer to help too often. Learning to set boundaries is a process and the boundaries are dynamic; a person I helped last weekend my not get my time next weekend. Bottom line is the older I get, the more valuable my free time becomes to me.

Jesse

[Evans, Marv]

I'd take him out for that beer or whatever & have a talk. I'd explain to him buying the truck was his decision & not exactly a good one. you are right you could have saved both of you the problems and tell him that also. Let him know it's a pretty big job and in light of the way things went (including the work you've already done), you feel it's fair to get something for it. Let him know you're not happy about him making a decision costing you both time & money and would normally handle the little things, but this is a big thing that could have been avoided - so you think you need some outside compensation. So since you guys have that outside business, why don't you suggest you both decide on you taking it out of that in money or ?. That way maybe he won't feel it's coming directly from his pocket, but he is still paying for it indirectly. Just my $.02.

[aigel]

I'd just make him wait. Still help him, but not jump on it. That'll give him time to reflect on buying beaters and will make it less attractive in the long run. I am sue you have perfect excuses why your wife needs you at home and that you'll help him later. Your shop is all his, if he wants to tackle it himself.

Seriously, if he doesn't wrench himself, he has no business buying old heaps.

G

[Tobra]

good advice in this thread

I buy used vehicles regularly, never used up ones.

How is the transmission in that truck?

[shinrai]

Tell him the truck is a headache and to consider buying one that is not used up.
If he's a good guy he'll understand.
Most of us have good friends who are just like him.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I could strangle the guy sometimes. I love him like a brother, and He has always been there when I need help, and I am always there for him, but our relationship is very much off balance.... .

Fred, you got some stories that are doozies .

"Balance" is sometimes overrated....Kaddywompus is OK too....
Different perspectives in this thread...Personally, I'd probably be choosing between these two...

Originally Posted by nightheart

Hopefully you have a lot of weekends left in your life, I'd just do it. If the guy is a true friend and not a mooch, just do it. I'm not a pro, but I try to keep a very non-mechanical friend of mines two beater cars running. Years ago, when my credit was very bad and no bank would even talk to me, he loaned me money at the end of the month to make ends meet. More than a few times. You can't put a price on true friendship. If it bothers you that much you should talk to him about it. Me, I'd just do it, especially if he's willing to help. Even if the help means he gets in the way. Life's too short to be petty. There'll always be another weekend, but maybe not another friend. My 2 cents and all that.....

Originally Posted by shinrai

Tell him the truck is a headache and to consider buying one that is not used up.
If he's a good guy he'll understand.
Most of us have good friends who are just like him.

[on2wheels52]

I think he's taking advantage of you. Would he be asking you to work on his truck if you were, let's say, a dentist? Give him a discount perhaps if it makes you feel better.
I wouldn't loan money to friends intrest free, because loaning money is my business. Vehicle repair is yours.
Jim

[cashflyer]

Get him real good and drunk. Take him behind the bar, bend him over and mount him.
When he asks what thef*k you're doing to him, you just tell him, "same thing you're doing to me, brother".

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Get him real good and drunk. Take him behind the bar, bend him over and mount him.
When he asks what thef*k you're doing to him, you just tell him, "same thing you're doing to me, brother".

He may still not get the point and you get arrested. Lose lose situation LOL

[schamp]

Ask him to call another shop and get a price on doing this work. It may open his eyes some. I gather from your comments you are going to do the work. Just needed an outlet. Your a good friend.

[john walker's workshop]

sell it as is. everything else is worn out too.

[john walker's workshop]