The problems with bartering......

[Jstpssng]

I had an old guy till a garden for me years ago. He was quite a character, so when I stopped off to pay him he started telling stories.
He tilled a garden for someone, and waited patiently to get paid. When no money was forthcoming by July 4, he went and tilled the guy's crops under.
When the garden owner called all irate, asking what he did that for the old gent replied "Since you didn't pay me I thought that you weren't satisfied, so I went back and did it again!"
I'm not sure if it really did happen that way or not, but it sure made a good story.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Horse people not paying their bills? Who would have thought? My Dad warned me about that.

I do it with friends all the time and it works because no one cares if they are up or down, even if in the thousands! Those are good friends. My Dad, if I get him some eggs, I don't even want the money yet he INSISTS on paying every last cent. I don't get it.

 

[TractorGuy]

Last time I bartered I did a clutch job on a Volvo for a guy. I furnished all the parts and labor and did a proper job. In exchange he was going to dig out a small 8 car section in my parking lot and fill it with washout. (will never use washout again) I assumed he had the equipment and everything to do it with. He had a tractor delivered and a date was set and he didn't show. He didn't answer his phone or anything so I called someone that could deliver the fill and did the work myself. Monday a guy showed up and picked up the tractor. I told him I hadn't had time to clean the machine up and he said don't worry about it. Later the guy I had the deal with shows up and said his wife wanted him to go berry picking so he did that instead of meeting his obligation with me. Then he asked if I was going to pay for the hours used on the tractor. I told him he hadn't fulfilled his obligation to me and never mentioned anything about tractor rental. I also told him he owed me for the washout and delivery charge and he said he didn't have the money. I told him never return to my shop and put the word out on him to people I knew. Pretty sure he stiffed the tractor owner as well. I think it was a loan from another acquaintance.

Not funny like the OP's story but it's always good to vent.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have known people like that. They have these partially completed deals all over the place.There was a great MASH episode about that. A string of deals that all fell apart in the end.