The thing that griped me second most (before I sent all my customers a "to hell with it I quit" letter) happened to me three times. That was having somebody call me to his shop (or hangar) to evaluate a job and bid on it if I decided I wanted to tackle it.

So, after I bid on the work and the price is agreed on, he says "Fine. Go ahead and do it".

After the work is finished and has passed inspection, THEN the turkey tries to dicker me down on the price.

I have been known to become very unpleasant in that situation and use language that properly raised young(?) men like me don't ordinarily resort to.

Of course, first on my list of things that made me go and check to see if my hand guns were in proper working order is the dead-beat who didn't pay me at all. Fortunately, those instances were rare. In a posting on this subject several months back I was crying because an outfit owed me nearly $1,800 dollars and wouldn't pay, or return my calls or answer my second notices. Don (Itoldyouso) told me I should get a collection agency on it.

Don, I hope I thanked you for that advice because I found a guy that even I didn't like, and he delivered! His fee was 30%, but twelve hundred is sure a lot better than nothing. Thanks again, Don.

Hang in there, Pat. Since I retired several of my customers have told me that I could have and should have charged more for my services, and I wouldn't have lost any business at all for doing so.

Now is a heck of a time to find that out!


Jim