My daughter just knocked off the mirror on her jeep.
She drives like shes driving bumper cars it seems.
When I got my buddy to fix the mirror in the pouring rain the other night, my daughter mentioned she doesnt like the way the brakes feel.
Translated-daddy, even though I make more money then you do these days, I still dont have a nickel to my name so could you bring my car to the mechanic and have my brakes checked?
so I did, only because shes my daughter and shes related to me by blood, but when I got there, the owner who knows I woodwork, asked me to build him a bathroom vanity. Not a big job, he just didnt want to buy borg particle board crap.
Im just not sure some people understand, big job or small job, I still have to get the wood they want if I dont have it, mill it, cut it, and then build and finish it. Even a small vanity like that will take me a few days to mill and build, then comes finish.
Thats 25-30 hours worth of time.
Is he going to pay me the same rate they have posted for labor in his shop?
Is he wiling to pay me HALF the rate he has posted in his shop?
Is he willing to pay me ONE Third of the rate he has posted in his shop?
(I know its just a sign, but he wants to be clear when new customers come in I guess)
One sheet of cabinet quality veneered plywood for the sides is 120 dollars.
Hardwoods for the doors and frame is another 30 dollars.
I realized hes not going to pay me 1000 plus dollars for a small cabinet when the borg sells a decent looking one for 175.00
I made all kind of excuses. I just didnt want to deal with his disbelief when I told him what I think my time is worth. Delusional or not, my time to me is not worth 10 dollars or even 20 dollars an hour.
a few nights later, when I was out to dinner with my family for my nieces birthday, my other niece asked me to build her a coffee table for her new apt at college for next year. She said use all scrap wood. Its for a college apt, so dont use any expensive wood. She gets away with it for 2 reasons. First, shes my niece and I love her, second because shes 19 and most 19 y/o's are in their own world anyway.
So I told her ofcourse Id build it for her(shes the one I made the full size bed for, her sister the vanity and the jewelry box)
Besides my kids or my nieces, I just cant deal with people thinking Im off the wall delusional with myself because I want to be paid for my time, even if my work is amateur.
95% of the people in the world dont have a clue what it takes to hand make anything these days. Most are used to going to big chain stores and buying ready made stuff.
The people I assist or help with things, and dont ask for money, they give me big fat gift cards as thankyous, even though I dont expect it.
They see the work I have to put in, even for a few built in shelves.
I dont think I will ever want to build anything for anyone unless they are totally aware of what hand made custom stuff cost. Again, Im not a pro, but I can build a table that is close to flat and even.
(for my niece, I might just joint a bunch of 2x4s and glue them together and finish the table in one afternoon, let her stain and polyurethane it)
The only stuff Id be willing to do is if my cousin takes a booth next summer in some shows(shes into art), she wants me to make her some boards, and some fence toppers, shell paint them. That I might do for her.
ofcourse, after reading my post I realize that I am not a professional and probably shouldnt be making a response here.
like toni states, gotta make it either business or personal.
If its personal, you gotta expect all the nonsense family or friends will dish out and take it and just brush it off and not let it ruin a friendship, and ofcourse, expect little or no profit.
If its business, you gotta expect all the nonsense customers will dish out and take it and just brush it off and not let it ruin the relationship you have with the client, and ofcourse, expect little profit.
maybe ya cant win here.