Your word is your bond

[Richard]

Something is underway right now, and the post about seller renigging and your word is your bond brought me to ask for opinions.

Scenario: I found an older gentleman (his buddy says he's 90 and it IS possible) He is of that "old school" way of doing things...ie, handshake, your word, take responsiblity...

None the less, he has full fledged woodshop in his basement, he's a widower and he loves to tinker on his wooden projects. He agreed to make me two bases for our columns, both for a price of $180 total, and when I went to pick them up, he said it was only $145 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I told him that he said $180 and that was fine, I was not looking for any favors and wanted him to be fair to himself. He said he was and the price was $145. I wrote the check and left (happily...and also honored that I've had a chance to meet this very nice man).

Get bases home and long story short, they are wrong size. Through no fault of his either. Just an honest measuring mistake by me/us.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Yesterday, I went back with the correct measurements, talked about him making me 2 more.

Although price has yet to be specifically brought up, his demeanor suggested to me that I'm going to get a "good deal" on the second set...as though he felt the error was HIS fault (and it clearly was not).

So, although he MIGHT surprise me and tell me it's $200 when I pick them up, my gut feeling is that they will be as much, or more honestly, much less than the origional set.

I don't want to take advantage of him... he's done nice work. Although he admitted he used "scraps" for the pieces (they're relatively small), that fact is irrelevant to me.

So, if he in fact undercharges me for this next set, what would YOU do & suggest I do to make sure he gets his fair payment?

Pay his asking price & smile & leave, drop an extra 50 on table?


hmmm... is this analogous to the horse rustler theory over at CBN???? (someone knowingly buying an item of value for less than it's understood value)

 

[RobS]

Pay him what he charges. If you feel you owe him more offer to take him out for a nice dinner. Or maybe a gift certificate to his favorite woodworking supply house. It'll somewhat depend on the individual but some nice gesture along with a statement like "I got you this (blank) as I truly appreciated your work on my column bases".

Sounds like a good guy, think you'll need his services again in the future?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Rob has it right. Give him a gift certificate to a woodworking store, or some similar place. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Richard]

I hope I will !

I'll brag on him a bit more... he's been trying to make a "walking sticks" (canes) collection.

His goal was to get 1,000 pieces of wood into one. He came up short (said he got 800 and some odd number) so he made another and got 1,000 pieces in it.

These two specific sticks look like someone has taken wood and woven it together (like a caned chair). Very impressive.

He wanted to make a collection of them for himself, but evidently, when anyone sees one, they want to buy one. (as I now do for my father in law).

Because of that, he cant complete his collection.

The two sticks with 800 & 1,000 pieces, he says ARE for sale, but no one would really want to pay him what they are worth. He's never put a number out.

They are a labor of love for him. He told me yesterday, his new goal for a cane is to make one that has 100 DIFFERENT types of wood contained in it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

He is simply (and very obvious to you upon meeting him) a VERY kind, gentle, polite & considerate person. Although his friend DID tell me he'd steal my wife from me... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Richard]

oops, his higher count stick actually had 1,100 pieces he said

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Don't want to shortchange him

 

[SteveH_CT]

You know - this is a good thread - I've wanted to share this with folks in the "Abuse by Deere" thread - but I figured I might go too far on that one.

When I bought my tractor I went in "with checkbook in hand" ready to make a deal. When we had finalized the details and Matt had completed the paperwork I signed everything and then went to write him a check. He stopped me and said "thats not neccesary, we do everything on the honor system here". I was shocked that these folks who barely knew me took my word as a firm committment and delivered a tractor to my house with no deposit or security from me at all. Things like that win my business beyond the initial sale.

I have wanted to share that so people see the value of honesty and good faith. I admire the fellow you are describing, he sounds like good people. He probably does this for fun, and isn't hurting for $$. I always think a favor returned is good repayment - given the chance I'm sure you'll find a way to compensate him with something else.

Thanks for sharing that with us -it definetely brightened up what is otherwise a gloomy day here in the Northeast. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[CtRick]

My dealer did the same thing for me. I had my tractor for almost 2 months before I signed any papers or even sent him any money. It felt good to be trusted by someone whom I've never even met (my dealer is in Pennsylvania and I'm in Connecticut). It's good to see that there are still good people in this world and occasionally you get lucky and can deal with them.

Rick

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thats great to hear - especially over state lines.

What part of CT are you from?

 

[Junkman]

Fortunately for your dealer, you also are an honest person. Many people have learned difficult and expensive lessons allowing people to take vehicles and use them without paying for them. I loaned my tractor to a friend and it cost me $2500 to get it back and took 2 1/2 years. I let an old girlfriend use my second car and then we broke up. I couldn't get the car back from her even though it was registered and insured by me. I had to take it in the middle of the night with the local police for a escort. Even then, she tried to accuse me of stealing it. You might think that this is trust and good business, but I personally think that the dealer that does this is a fool. What does he do when you disappear with his tractor? This is 2004 when people steal your identity to take your money out of the bank, not 1904 when you could leave your horse tied to the stake in front of the barber shop and it will be there for as long as you are gone. Are you as trusting as that tractor dealer? Do you lock you home when you leave? Do you lock your car when you leave? Would you sell your tractor to some stranger and let them take it without paying for it first? Because someone wants to get paid for a product before it leaves their possession doesn't make them bad people. It makes them good business people.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Oh come on Junkman - I think you're letting this rainy weather kill the Mayberry RFD mood going on here...

In my case the dealer knew me from smaller equipment purchases, and yes, I think it was a leap to bring out a 25k tractor just on a handshake. Across State lines would be another thing, that really is a leap of faith. It's great when your faith in people is rewarded this way though.