I do a lot of work on my car, originally due to finance but I genuinely enjoy working mine and my wife’s car.

The problem now is that people at work ask for help with their cars because they know I know things. I’ve changed spark plugs and air filters for a few during lunch but they ask me to do things that’ll take more than 1 Hour such as changing brake pads/discs, suspension and whatnot.

Point is, how do you say, if you want my time pay me… Or just no, your car is a shitbox and I don’t wanna touch this

  • Snappy1964@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Even if brakes are simple , they can be a liability issue …and explain for certain situations you don’t have proper tools required.

  • strikerz13@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    So if you’re willing to do the job, when they ask you say you’ll work them up a quote. Work them up a quote and give it to them. If they go for it, cool. Otherwise they realize the freebies are gone.

    If you don’t want to work on it, say no in a polite manner.

    Edit: As a side note I only give free labor to family and close friends, they still buy or supply parts. Your time is valuable, don’t sell yourself short.

  • MilkFantastic250@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    “I’d love to help but I don’t have time to do that”. Or “hey since you like carpentry how about you come over and help me rebuild my deck next weekend, and I’ll swap your brakes out while you’re hear”

  • mycatsareloud@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I tell people that I’d be more than happy to send them a comprehensive youtube video so they can do it themselves but because I hate working on cars myself I’d have to charge them.

    Keep it respectful with firm boundaries and people usually understand. If it’s an emergency like a no start or something dangerous I’ll usually investigate for free but for stuff like brakes, fluid changes, yeah, you gotta throw me a few bones, that’s time that I could be using for my own projects