I dont think i can

[JAMIE1]

Last night in pub, a guy asks me if i can have a look at his saw. He says its not running right. This morning he drops it off and it is a 025 1998 model in worse shape than some saws ive parted out. P+C are immaculate, Case is burned up due to brake being left on, clutch is on its last legs, rear handle is held together by tape, leaking bar oil and the starter handle is a piece of wood.

 

This guy is a local legend who has no spare money at all, but he knows everybody in a 10 mile radius, i can throw lots of used parts at it and give him it back as a full working saw or i can tell him its absolutely knackered and give him it back in the same shape he gave me. My thinking is to repair it and charge him next to nothing as his word of mouth must be worth more than a full page advert in the local paper.

[Steve Bullman]

My thinking is to repair it and charge him next to nothing as his word of mouth must be worth more than a full page advert in the local paper.

 

That could backfire if the word of mouth goes something like 'I know a guy who will do that for you on the cheap or free'

[GardenKit]

Last night in pub, a guy asks me if i can have a look at his saw. He says its not running right. This morning he drops it off and it is a 025 1998 model in worse shape than some saws ive parted out. P+C are immaculate, Case is burned up due to brake being left on, clutch is on its last legs, rear handle is held together by tape, leaking bar oil and the starter handle is a piece of wood.

 

This guy is a local legend who has no spare money at all, but he knows everybody in a 10 mile radius, i can throw lots of used parts at it and give him it back as a full working saw or i can tell him its absolutely knackered and give him it back in the same shape he gave me. My thinking is to repair it and charge him next to nothing as his word of mouth must be worth more than a full page advert in the local paper.

I agree with Steve, I would much rather have people say ' he's not cheap, but he's good'

 

This way you may be able to make some money at the job, which is what life is all about.

 

With regards to the 025 (or any other job) tell it as it is. One price for repair with new parts, followed up by one with good used parts, but with the labour content at the same rate on both quotes, or maybe just a little more labour on the used parts as there will be some dissmantling and cleaning.

 

Even though 'the legend' has the reputation of knowing everyone, in reality he will know very few of the local population , and talk to even fewer about the job you have done, especially if its a good job, as good news just does not spread fast.

[felixthelogchopper]

Charge the going rate for the job, by which I mean what you reckon you need to charge to earn a living.

[muldonach]

Either sort it properly or hand it back untouched - from the description you have given it has not exactly had a lot of tlc - if you do an economy repair it will eventually give up the ghost - and guess who will get the blame.

 

Do you honestly think your local legend will be sitting in the pub telling his mates how you did the best you could for nothing but he ran it to destruction.

 

You have two options here - you can be a robbing barsteward or a useless barsteward

[geoff]

Give it back to him,untouched,& sell him a roll of gaffer tape whilst spouting vitriolic yet praising comments about his ability to become a legend & yet give his saw to a man to fix when it is beyond reasonable repair,or comprehension how such a man of repute could end up with such a knackered tool in the first place:001_rolleyes:

Oh & tell him to get off,or nudge him off his precarious perch.

[Stephen Blair]

Geoff that was beautiful:)

[geoff]

Geoff that was beautiful:)

 

I cant help it:laugh1:

[pleasant]

I would have thought a loud mouth alcoholic with no money, and who only knows people within walking distance of where he's probably spent most of his sad little life is not the kind of person the majority of self-respecting and financially solvent potential customers would take any notice of anyway.

[GardenKit]

I would have thought a loud mouth alcoholic with no money, and who only knows people within walking distance of where he's probably spent most of his sad little life is not the kind of person the majority of self-respecting and financially solvent potential customers would take any notice of anyway.

just the odd assumption, or two, there then Mr P:001_huh: