? On fair price for tracor work

[CurlyDave]

I would be very careful here.

If you didn't discuss a price, and it is at his private home, he may be assuming that you are doing it as a favor...

And, I bet your wife's job is worth a lot more than $175.

The answer may well be in your second post "I started mowing at the plant where my wife works this spring. I took the job to help pay for the gator..." Doesn't this set your rate? He probably knows exactly what you are paid and expects to pay the same.

The only difference would be if you are supplying your own equipment working for him and using the company's tractor working for them.

You aren't going to pay for your tractor by doing work without getting a fee structure in advance, and getting one will save a lot of hard feelings later.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( (Even so, most people think twice about paying a 19 yr. old 40-50 bucks an hour) )</font>
Not at all. Give yourself more credit for being a man. Just because you are young doesn't mean you have to work for peanuts.

Learning this early will help you in the future. The job is what is important, not your age, and anyone is going to charge good money to do these jobs. In the future though, don't go in without an agreed-upon price.

John

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( (Even so, most people think twice about paying a 19 yr. old 40-50 bucks an hour) )</font>
Not at all. Give yourself more credit for being a man. Just because you are young doesn't mean you have to work for peanuts.

Learning this early will help you in the future. The job is what is important, not your age, and anyone is going to charge good money to do these jobs. In the future though, don't go in without an agreed-upon price.

John

 

[RayH]

When I was operating my part time tractor business a couple years ago, I charged anything from $30-$50/hour. The lower amount was charged to neighbors that I knew and lived close enough to drive the tractor to (saved me on loading/unloading time). All others where $40-$50, generally with a two hour minimum so at least my load and unload and travel time was covered right up front.
That being said, If you werent upfront about the cost before you started the job, its a little late to demand an amount. I would ask him for whatever he thinks is fair. If he is honest, he will ask you what you generally charge or what this type of work goes for. Then you can give him the numbers and go from there.

 

[RayH]

When I was operating my part time tractor business a couple years ago, I charged anything from $30-$50/hour. The lower amount was charged to neighbors that I knew and lived close enough to drive the tractor to (saved me on loading/unloading time). All others where $40-$50, generally with a two hour minimum so at least my load and unload and travel time was covered right up front.
That being said, If you werent upfront about the cost before you started the job, its a little late to demand an amount. I would ask him for whatever he thinks is fair. If he is honest, he will ask you what you generally charge or what this type of work goes for. Then you can give him the numbers and go from there.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would ask him for whatever he thinks is fair. If he is honest, he will ask you what you generally charge or what this type of work goes for. Then you can give him the numbers and go from there. )</font>
A good an rational answer.
John

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would ask him for whatever he thinks is fair. If he is honest, he will ask you what you generally charge or what this type of work goes for. Then you can give him the numbers and go from there. )</font>
A good an rational answer.
John

 

[hockeypuck]

It is amazing what some neighbors think should be for free. I have a neighboor who dropped by while I was digging my hole for an addition with my excavator (30000 lbs). He calmly worked into the conversation that I could drive my machine over to his field and pull rocks for him if I enjoy doing it so much. I kindly told him that I thought one of my final drive motors was giving me problems and it would cost about $7000 bucks to replace it. That put an end to the conversation quickly.

I would try to figure out if you boss wanted a freebee. If so charge for any materials and even fuel and forget about the labor. In the future I would be up front about hourly rates. The moral of the story is, some people have no idea how expensive machinery can be, and think that it is just a bunch of yucks.

Puck

 

[hockeypuck]

It is amazing what some neighbors think should be for free. I have a neighboor who dropped by while I was digging my hole for an addition with my excavator (30000 lbs). He calmly worked into the conversation that I could drive my machine over to his field and pull rocks for him if I enjoy doing it so much. I kindly told him that I thought one of my final drive motors was giving me problems and it would cost about $7000 bucks to replace it. That put an end to the conversation quickly.

I would try to figure out if you boss wanted a freebee. If so charge for any materials and even fuel and forget about the labor. In the future I would be up front about hourly rates. The moral of the story is, some people have no idea how expensive machinery can be, and think that it is just a bunch of yucks.

Puck

 

[citytransplant]

I know little about the politics at your wife’s place of employment or what type of influence your wife’s boss had as it relates to you $ecuring your work at their plant.

With that said and speaking for myself...

$50 x 6.5 hours of my time = $350

A workplace where my wife's boss gives my wife the less rocky rows to hoe and puts her first in line for promotions = priceless