In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Handy Man

mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,297 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2019 in General Discussion
Maybe I should just retire and be a handy man, yesterday one of my Doctors called me from his house, needed help with a florescent fixture over his stove, I don't really do side work but agreed to go help him out since he is a co-worker.

When he asked me what he owed me I said nothing, I don't like to charge friends, "nonsense" he said and handed me 80 bucks. I felt a little guilty taking it but he insisted.

Eighty bucks for 15 minutes of work, including drive time was maybe 45 minutes converting a T12 4 bulb fixture to a T8.

No on call, take only the jobs you want, Hmmmm?

:)
Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!

Comments

  • jwb267jwb267 Member Posts: 19,666 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    don't a doctor usually charge $80-$100 per 15 minute visit?
  • goldeneagle76goldeneagle76 Member Posts: 4,359
    edited November -1
    that's funny...I have thought the same thing. I am handy and do 90% of what needs to be done around my house. My wife always says I should have gone into the handyman business. Have also had people insist I take money for something I really didn't think was too hard. Some people just don't want to learn how to do things and will pay whatever it takes.
  • US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,617 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!

    DO NOT DO THIS!

    I am "that guy" people call, when they want something done.

    This morning I was supposed to install a fireplace mantel I built in my shop. I could not because I had to go help a guy (family) get heat in his house since his furnace stopped working. I noticed it was four below zero on my way to his house.

    I just returned from an appointment to meet a mason to do some tuckpointing on a building.

    After dinner, I am supposed to meet a guy at a kitchen to measure drawers for some cabinets. They like the cabinets but don't like the drawers, so I have to build new ones.

    Tomorrow I have a guy helping me map out the circuits on a huge building with four breaker boxes and I don't know how many kabillion circuits.

    Meanwhile -

    My porch is falling off my house.

    My boiler needs some tender loving care.

    My vault needs the tile floor installed.

    My library needs the carpet installed.


    Well, you get the point? It is a classic "The cobblers kids have no shoes."
  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,054 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A real old joke....

    "A wealthy doctor finds that his bathroom sink has sprung a leak. So he looks in the Yellow Pages and calls in a plumber to repair the pipe.

    The plumber arrives and, after about 15 minutes, fixes the problem completely. He hands the doctor a bill for $250 and begins to walk back to his truck. The doctor, upon seeing the fee, exclaims, "What? This amount is ridiculous! It's even more than I charge!"

    The plumber turns around with a grin on his face and says, "I know, I used to be a doctor too."
    [:D][:D]
  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,275 ******
    edited November -1
    I have learned that I like to fix things and also enjoy a few hobbies that keep me pretty busy.

    I also know several folks who took their hobbies that they once enjoyed and turned them into business's. They now do not enjoy what they once did![V]
  • buddybbuddyb Member Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was the HVAC guy people called at 3 am.
  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I always thought a handy guy could go into business helping the elderly.
    Say an old person or couple live no where near any family.

    Charge a $300-400 a year just to be "on call".
    Make an inventory list of light bulbs, furnace filters, faucets, etc.
    Client needs a bulb changed? $15.00-25.00 house call. Anything else while I'm here? Allow say 10-15 minutes. A small charge to take care of minor fixes etc. certainly better than never changing the bulb or falling from a ladder at 85 years old. And way cheaper than an electrician!
    Help arrange gutter cleaning, auto repair, landscaping, home repairs/improvements, etc! All for a small fee.
    Need a new furnace? I'll sort out the proposals and advise the best deal.
    Not to do the "heavier work, just to help find the particular contractor or service provider.
    All to make sure no one gets taken advantage of.
    Kind of like friendship dues........
    I'd be happy to pay the annual fee so my Mother wouldn't get ripped off.
  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,251 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A professional handyman would have charged him a $75 service call fee with $75 an hour labor charge with a one hour minimum,.. so if he wanted to call somebody out, it would have cost him $150.

    I see why he offered you $80 before you ask him for $150... Pretty smart doctor
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 57,892 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by jwb267
    don't a doctor usually charge $80-$100 per 15 minute visit?
    [;)][;)]
  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,105 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    He was paying you because he was sooooo tired of listening to his wife give him hel
    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Needed surgery ... specialist make huge money.
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 20,979 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since you took the money could he sue you if that caused a fire?
  • mjrfd99mjrfd99 Member Posts: 4,556 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by yoshmyster
    Since you took the money could he sue you if that caused a fire?


    Cash is king. No records. No IRS. No BS.
Sign In or Register to comment.