Friends, and freebie jobs...

[Stangman]

I don't post rants much. But I just have to vent.

I love helping folks work on cars. Its my true passion, I couldn't do it as my daily job because of a bad back/knees but I work on cars as often as I can. I help my friends out as often as I can, I feel good seeing someones project come to completion or make significant progress. I do a lot of work for my friends and hardly ever, mostly never ask for anything in return. Some times maybe some parts in trade, or merely a thank you. I like being able to say "hey, I did this"

I love doing body/paint work. I am by no means a professional, but I've done some good work. Well, when a friend asks if I can help him with his truck, I naturally say yes. Its an '03 duramax my friend bought used. It had a rough life and wasn't too straight but it wasn't bad. Well he put an '06 front end on it. Cheap chinese metal. Very flimsy. The passenger bed side was caved in bad and badly repaired. Rockers had rust. Doors had dings. I didn't expect anything for doing all this work. I've dedicated almost every day of mine after work or on weekends to working on his truck because he doesn't know how to do bodywork. And he's my friend. Known each other since kindergarten. Anyway, when the project was started he said NO RUSH. He was out of work and said we had all the time in the world. Now lately he has started really leaning on me to get the truck done. We've had lots of bad weather hinder us and our progress. He expects this truck to be done this weekend and were not even done with the bodywork!!!!

Told me it has to be done, he can't go without his truck any longer and all this ane that. He's starting a part time job soo and all this, but hr's trying to rush me to rush something that can't be rushed!!! Told me that his parents don't want the parts laying around anymore and that he would have to have his other buddy's dad just paint it. Now that's the part that really pisses me off. Told me I was going to be the one that laid the paint down and all this stuff. He tried to paint it himself and failed miserably. I was really looking forward to doing this. And never asked for a dime. After its all over I still probably wont see a dime or even a thank you. I should have known this would have turned in to a big ordeal and end up getting ugly. So shame on me I guess.

I spent sooo much time rebuilding this bedside on this truck and doing other body/prep work it just pisses me off that he is going to just say "well, sorry guy, you have a life and work 40hrs a week, I have to take it to someone else."

Every time I came over to work on the truck he assured me there was NO rush but the sooner the better, but when I am not there im constantly getting bugged about it and being made to feel guilty that I have my own priorities to attend to in my life from time to time....

Sorry I just had to vent. Might not make any sense but it does to me.

I guess I just need to stop helping people.

[JIMS SVT]

I didn't expect anything for doing all this work. .

Not sure what the rant is about since you said this. Now it seems like you want something from him.

[Stangman]

Well im not even getting so much as a "hey thank you for doing everything up until this point, I understand you are busy so I have to take it elsewhere"

Instead he bitches and complains that its not done and he wants it done, and that he's taking it to someone else if its not COMPLETELY painted and done by this weekend... which, if ya seen the truck... its not even remotely feasable.

Sorry if it wasn't clear. I wouldn't mind getting a little compensation even if it was just for the gas I use to drive to his house. Which, he promised me a certain dollar amount each time I came over too btw. Which doesn't bother me that much honestly.

Its the fact that he can't understand that I have a life, and can't work on it all the time, then pulls it out from under me when I was giving it my all to make sure it was perfect.

[JIMS SVT]

Im guessing he needs his truck. If you can help he get it done then he has to take it somewhere else that can. Its not your fault you need your time also. Id tell him to get it on down the road if he cant wait for you to help him.Thats just more time for you to do what you want.

[Stangman]

I guess. He acts like all this work takes no time at all... when it does. Im sure you know people like that too. His brother punched one of the fenders when they got pissed at each other so I have to fix stupid shit like that, he dropped the other one and it got messed up. He crawled on the hood to tape up the front windshield when he attempted to paint it, so the hood is full of craters. Yeah he needs his truck but when im there he tells me there is no hurry, no rush... then turns around and says the opposite. I told him I am picking up my tools after work today and he can do with it as he pleases. Doesn't matter to me if the truck ever goes back together now.

I only get to work on this truck 3-4 hours a day. Next week for paint completion would have been a more realistic goal.

And you're right Jimmy, More time to fix my projects... I have a Lincoln to get back on the road.

When his truck looks like hell, Im sure he will appologize and wish he would have let me finish it.

[93snake]

Hang in there Jesse!

I understand what you are saying.... you would have liked to have seen some appreciation and acknowlegment for the work you have done AND the time you have put in on his project already. Even if his timetable has changed and it needs to be done quicker or ASAP. Plus I am sure you were taking pride in the body/prep work and were looking forward to finishing/painting it.
Anyhow, try not to let it get to you. This stuff happens sometimes and it is out of your hands. I hate to sound like a cleshay (sp?) , but live and learn. You did what YOU set out to do, help someone else out, and now move on to the next guy who will appreciate you work and help!
Again, hang in there man!

[Stangman]

You're right Eric. That's what it is. I felt that once the truck is done I could tell someone, hey, I did that. My rolling business card, if you will.

He intended to brag to all his truck buddies who paid big time money for something 2 people could do on a budget. The people that dobted we could even finish the truck, let alone make it look good. I worked with Plated and Doug (Capristang) to gain this knowledge I have, and didn't appreciate it when people (his friends/family) doubted me (and him). It was kind of a personal goal/grudge to finish the truck.

But yes, live and learn.

[1992MustangDW]

post up a few pictures of the work man

[Pitbull1052]

Jess........ I think i've heard you mention something similar before about "freebie" jobs... hang in there bud it'll come back around it always does. Don't take it personally when someone else does the work and it looks like Poooooooo you can rub it in for the rest of his life..... lol j/k well maybe not.....

[bestracing]

Sounds like you want to do a good job (can't blame you on that) and he just wants it painted and doesn't understand the REAL work it takes to prep a vehicle to make it look good and not shitty.

I've told people up front, if you want it right it will take some time. If you want it fast take it some where else where you won't know what was done to it.

[INSANEBA]

Been there Jesse, they start out in all good intentions and letting you (the free repair tech) do your thing at your leisure. But in the end it's RUSH RUSH!!! Soon phone calls that used to be bullshitting and chatting turn into "my ride my ride" calls. Not one time is your fuel, time, materials, tools or even labor mentioned. I've been there before, built a couple bikes for friends and got nothing out of them. I only wanted the satisfaction of knowing I did those, and made my friends happy that had never had anything that nice before in their lives. Well one I finished, and it was sold less than a year later (fortunately another buddy bought it) The second one I said "go ahead, have someone else finish it". The shitty part is, you do all the shit work prepping it, and when it gets near the fun part (laying color) they want someone else to do it. It's not that you want something now, you just wanted to finish it so you could see the fruits of all that damn labor! My new philosiphy is, if I aint getting fed by you, or f@cked by you, then I'll pass lol. Well, to a certain extent lmao...

[furiouslyfaster]

Sorry to hear that Jesse for what it's worth I appreciate everything you have helped me out with on my stang. My clutch feels better because of you lol. Scott may just be getting excited seeing it get done Idk but the way I see it if your helping me do something then we do it when you are free and feel like doing it. Thanks for the Intake BTW it is gorgeous lol

[facemelter71]

Shit,I have a white bed on my truck with a black cab. You are more than welcome to paint the bed black if thats what you want to do.lol.

[Stangman]

I wish I would have taken more pics up to the recent body work. But I just haven't. And thanks guys, I do hope "karma" comes around in my favor one day! LOL!!!

I try to do my best on someone elses vehicle. That's my reputation and name on the line. I don't do it to get rich (although that would be swell) I do it for the fun.

Philip, no prob man, my pleasure. And im glad you like the intake. hope you get more use out of it than I did, lol

[sean]

well jesse, I have my hillbilly thats full of rust and needs paint too. (metallic brown) If you want a rolling buisness card I will drop this thing off at your house and you can have at it. Hell you can even autograph the darn tail gate and put your number on it. I even have some prep stuff and bondo here. You can take forever and I promise you will never hear the end of thank you's and complements....

[Stangman]

Lmao! Thanks Sean, but I think im going to take a break on the big jobs that don't involve my cars! Lol!! I gotta get mine rolling, make some driveway space, then maybe do some work. I just don't have a building to work out of. We were working on my friends truck in his garage

[sean]

fine....... you can come over... sheesh, if you wanted to come over all you had to do was ask.

[Stangman]

Lol!!!! You must be in a good mood or something today haha

[sean]

ha ha. Good things are coming.

[mad max]

[ My new philosiphy is, if I aint getting fed by you, or f@cked by you, then I'll pass lol. Well, to a certain extent lmao...[/QUOTE]

:bigthumb

[mad max]

It does suck when people dont realize that you are doing them a favor. Sorry to hear about your situation, ive run into this situation a couple of times myself.

[MrsAPE]

Ummmm I have this really cool car named Matilda who has a major condition and I'd be more than happy to place her in your care!! I'll even say thank you once a day!! =0) Some people just don't get it. Sorry about that. Now...when do you want her?!?!

[chris91]

Ill never understand people who try to rush a job like this. Something as so big as a paint job that entails body work as youre describing shouldnt be rushed. He shouldve make arrangements to get a beater or a ride from friends or family until it was done. I know I wouldve done that, especially for free labor like that!!! Good luck Jesse, youre a good dude for trying to help him out like that for sure!!

[93snake]

You're right Eric. That's what it is. I felt that once the truck is done I could tell someone, hey, I did that. My rolling business card, if you will.

He intended to brag to all his truck buddies who paid big time money for something 2 people could do on a budget. The people that dobted we could even finish the truck, let alone make it look good. I worked with Plated and Doug (Capristang) to gain this knowledge I have, and didn't appreciate it when people (his friends/family) doubted me (and him). It was kind of a personal goal/grudge to finish the truck.

But yes, live and learn.

Jesse, just remember, KARMA , keep doing good things and good things will happen to you! And he will get some bad karma down the road.

BTW dont you have a few projects that can become "rolling business cards" ??? IF not , I am sure I can roll over a stang and we will get together and make you one!!! :D

[Stangman]

Well, I went over there to get my tools, and after I ripped him kinda for about 20 minutes he changed his tune. Im still going to work on the truck, I told him the time frame to expect and he didn't complaign one bit.

We'll see how it goes I guess.

[93snake]

Good news, keep us informed

[bobtsgt]

I would have just gotten my stuff and tell him to kiss my ass. if he wants to be an ungrateful little bitch then let him pay someone. No need to stress over that crap. Next time a "buddy" wants help with that type of job you may want to think about getting some sort of payment or even trade for all the labor work. Usually if there is something hanging over their head as well they don't tend to bitch so much.