Barb re; Plastic Jacks

[Ty Fairchild]

On Mon, 11 Mar 1996 10:08:59 -0700 (MST), you wrote and I quote:

:
:
:On Mon, 11 Mar 1996 JIMRPT@aol.com wrote:
:
:> Barb;
:>   You have received some very good advice, and thoughts, on this subject from
:> all over the country.  It is great that someone can ask for help and get it
:> so quickly. If we still had only the telephone, how long would it have taken
:> to garner the thoughts of this many people on this subject?
:>   My two cents-- Barb just make a conservative estimate of time and materials
:> and jump into it with both feet.  You might make mistakes, but you will get
:> answers too.  This will help you the next time(s) a problem like this faces
:> you. Just consider it an investment in your education.  We all have made the
:> mistake of doing just good enough to get by and have learned from it.  Jump
:> in Barb, and good luck.
:> Jim Bryant (FL)
:
:Just one thing, Jim. I suggest that Barb make a conservative estimate es-
:timate of time and materials, DOUBLE IT, and then jump into it with both
:feet!
:
:Les Smith
:lessmith@buffnet.net
:

I agree with the above advice. As a counterpoint, regarding investment
in one's education, and speaking only for myself, as I personally
consider education and learning growth essentially priceless, I offer
another approach.

Whenever, I was (am) confronted with a repair *and* it is something
that I really want (need) to add to my repertoire of skills, I cost
out the materials, double that, add actual costs for travel and other
miscellaneous expenses, but make no charge for labor.  I consider the
"no-charge for labor" a very inexpensive investment in my own future.
(BTW, this is the only singular situation wherein I will ever give
away my labor.  After all, when you consider it, your labor really
equates to the skilled application of your accumulated technical
knowledge and experience.)

This strategy accomplishes a number of important things for me:

  1.) I am more likely to get the "go ahead" for a job I really want
to do for myself.

  2.) While I benefit from the on-going education of learning the new
skill(s) needed to perform that individual job, the customer benefits
by having the job done at a low price.

  3.) During the job, I keep a log of actual labor, travel, material
and incidental costs which then serves as a fairly accurate guide for
all future similar jobs. From then, on all similar jobs, I know
exactly what my fee should be (including labor) in order to cover
expenses and make a fair profit.

  4.) I also note what difficult problems I encountered and how I
dealt with them, so in future similar jobs those problems can be
planned for, avoided or minimized.

So there you have it. A different view; certainly not for everyone;
certainly not in all situations; just my way. :)
--
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Ty
     "Pain validates life."   Tudor Williams (1941 -   )