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Car > computer
Our friend, "Jake," and my husband have helped each other out for years. Jake repairs our cars; my husband helps him out with his computer needs.
The last time we had trouble with our car, Jake said he'd look at it. He called later and said we needed new brakes, some adjustments, and that some of the fluids needed to be changed. He estimated the cost would be about $200.
When Jake finished the repairs, he brought our car back (instead of our picking it up like we usually do) and left a bill in the car for $400 -- $100 for brakes and fluids, $300 for labor.
We were shocked. Jake never charged for his labor before, and my husband has never charged Jake for working on his computer. We contacted a nearby auto repair shop to compare prices, and they quoted less than Jake charged us. Now we don't know what to say or do. Help!
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300 for labor for replacing brakes and break fluids?
Tell your husband to talk to Jake. It might be that Jake kind of needs the money and didnt have any choice or something of that nature. Not really sure on that one. But 400 for brakes and fluid is absolutely ridiculous, my old body shop (which gave me something of a discount on labor) did that for about 160 including parts. 300 for labor would be something in the neighborhood of 75-100 dollars an hour.
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Talk to Jake. Even better if your husband does, since it seems that it was the two of them that had the arrangement. You don't need to be accusatory and certainly don't mention your price comparison, but you certainly can express your surprise and ask for an explanation of why he has decided to charge for labor now when he never has before.
It could be that he is no longer in the position to be charitable with his labor time or he might have had to have another person assist him and is charging on their behalf. He might simply feel the arrangement you had was not working for him.
His reason doesn’t need to be a good one but whatever it is, at least you will know. If you want to maintain the friendship, just pay the $400, and take your car elsewhere in the future. Perhaps if he has another issue with his computer your husband could suggest another computer repair shop to him.
Mixing bussiness and friendship doesn't always work out.
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Hmmm... I don't think I'd say anything about it. But next time he asks for computer help, I'd say something like, "Oh, sorry, I'm really busy right now so I won't be able to do it this time."
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