Cheap neighbours

[Wongo]

My next door neighbours always ask me to do their handy work. From installing their son’s car seat, cradle, cot, tri-cycle to simple things like fixing their dripping taps, wobbly chair, bed.. etc.

Then 2 months ago, after seeing my CD rack they asked if I could make them one. So I used some 60yr old recycle timber floor and 2 weekends to build one. It is about 1.5 m tall and holds up to 40 CDs. He agreed to pay me $80 for it. A few days later, he came to tell me that $80 is a bit too much. He asked is $40 OK because they saw one in the shop for less then $50. After feeling deeply insulted I politely replied “OK! no problem”

It is now more than 2 months and I still have not received the $$. I am not bothered by the $$ but just think that sometimes people can be so cheap.
:confused:

[Zed]

Wongo,

I feel for you - I would suggest one or a combo of the following :

1 - say no next time they ask you to do something,
2 - produce receipts (spurious or otherwise) to guilt the bastard into paying you,
3 - COD,
4 - go into his house repossess it and say you've gotten a better offer for it,
5 - go into his house and repossess (and clothe it so it looks like him and burn it in your front yard while he watches),
6 - make him something at 4 in the morning in his front yard.

You pick which ones I really mean!!!!

[clubbyr8]

It's amazing how some people rely on other people's good will. I'd go and repossess the rack and they say he can have it back for $100. I'd also never make anything for them again!!!!

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[silentC]

Zed, I have to say that:

a. I really love your work and
b. I'd hate to be your neighbour

[oges]

Does the neighbour have the cd rack in possession yet?

I guess you can always ask them nicely to return it if they have no plan on paying for it.

They might have been able to find one for under $50 elsewhere but you cant compare a cheap pine cabinet with shoddy workmanship to the one you made and expect to pay the same price .. could you imagine buying a new commodore and telling them you saw an excel and could you pay that price instead.

Bloody ignorant non-woody people, may they get termites in their jocks!

[rodm]

Wongo,
$80 is a cheap lesson in life. This is not about you it is about your neighbours mean nature. Hold your head up high and don't let them spoil you day. No need to get even because you are a mile ahead already.

[Zed]

Silentc, we'd be good neighbours - I'd borrow your tools and my wife would play golf with yours!

perfect solution!

I envy you living in Pambula. We have designs of moving to Milton and setting up a B&B / corporate retreat one day.....

[craigb]

Rod is right. Write it off to experience and don't EVER do anything for them again.
BTW for two weekends work plus material, $80 was WAY too cheap in the first place IMO.
$500 wuld have been nearer the mark.

Craig

[Eastie]

Before offering any immoral, unethical advice I have two questions:
1) Do they own a cat?
2) Does it roam free?

[silentC]

Zed,

Come on down mate, we've got the best 27 hole golf course in Australia (it's true!) and tourists galore! Never enough accomodation down here.

Took a lot of hard work to relocate from Sydney, had to find an employer silly enough to pay me to telecommute! Hi boss, and thanks if you're reading this. Yes I know, back to work.

mumble mutter.....

[Wongo]

No they don't have a cat.

They do have 2 cars. The wife recently got a company car and they rarely use their own cars since. May be it is 100% for personal use.

[DaveInOz]

I would ask if they still want it as you have had another offer and could sell theirs instead of building another one.
If that doesn't spur action then call it a cheap life lesson. continue to help them out - so long as you don't feel obligated to, and so long as it doesn't cost you anything.
You don't want to escalate in to a border dispute where you are unhappy in your own environment due to the bad feelings between neighbours

[Pete J]

Wongo - mate - - -

You know what is going to happen. All the damage is done and them giving you the $50 isn't going to help one iota!

One day they are going to remember and give you the cash which now is almost irrelevant. You are going to be really pleasant and say "Thanks, no problem" or other similarly insincere comments when they garble some pathetic apology for being late with the cash. Look at it this way - they have done you a huge favour by giving both you and them a well understood but unspoken reason for them not to ask you for any further favours but if they do, for you to be too busy for the rest of your life.
Enjoy the sunshine!

[Eastie]

Well I’m lost. It appears you’ll have to summon up some of that easy going nature and move on.

[ozwinner]

Originally posted by Eastie
Before offering any immoral, unethical advice I have two questions:
1) Do they own a cat?
2) Does it roam free?

Eastie.
You sound like a man after my own heart.
Meow, here puss, puss.
Cheers, Allan