dilema

[treeman82]

So I've got about 3 or 4 clients who I quazi barter with on a regular basis.

1 owns a restaurant, and we've been doing this for a few years now, works out well for both of us. I know what has to be done each year, and it gets done, then there are things that come up from time to time which we figure out as it goes... sure feels nice in the winter to be able to go out and get a lobster dinner without having to pay. I don't keep track of the bills with this one, but I know he does, and we both come out ahead.

1 is a supplier, and I send him bills, because my ability to run up a bill at his place far exceeds his ability to run up a bill with me, so at the end of the billing cylce we make it work out.

1 is a parts supplier, and I do 1 minor thing for him each year... we both know the value of the service, so basically once it's done I just call and ask for a bunch of parts... it works for us, and has for the last several years.

The last owns a deli. Now I had been going to this place for a while, and paid each and every time up till the summer. They asked me to go do some tree work at the house (emergency job) got that done, and did some add ons while I was there. I got paid for the work I did, but the add ons (which were small) I just took in a few lunches. Well sure enough they asked me to run a tab... I declined, but they refused to take my money... come on run a tab. Well I finally cracked and started to run a tab. However I said to myself if I'm gonna run a tab, I might as well do it right... hit the deli hard, eat till I can't eat anymore, and bang out a couple jobs over there when it suits me. So I ground some stumps, dropped a small tree into the woods, and today I pruned a white oak by the side of the house in about an hour. Was gonna head over to the adjacent property to prune a few other trees (family compound) figuring that this would end the work year, and take care of my tab until next spring... well now they want to know ahead of time what the bill will be for each item. IMO if I have to bid this stuff out I might as well get paid... and then hand them the money back, however they want me to run the tab... so I'm not sure what to do here.

 

[TrillPhil]

Sounds confusing... If you're going to bid every job, then are they keeping track of every sandwich and drink? Seems like it'd be easier just to pay and give it back. True friends can understand running a business isn't for your health.

 

[mikewhite85]

So I've got about 3 or 4 clients who I quazi barter with on a regular basis.

1 owns a restaurant, and we've been doing this for a few years now, works out well for both of us. I know what has to be done each year, and it gets done, then there are things that come up from time to time which we figure out as it goes... sure feels nice in the winter to be able to go out and get a lobster dinner without having to pay. I don't keep track of the bills with this one, but I know he does, and we both come out ahead.

1 is a supplier, and I send him bills, because my ability to run up a bill at his place far exceeds his ability to run up a bill with me, so at the end of the billing cylce we make it work out.

1 is a parts supplier, and I do 1 minor thing for him each year... we both know the value of the service, so basically once it's done I just call and ask for a bunch of parts... it works for us, and has for the last several years.

The last owns a deli. Now I had been going to this place for a while, and paid each and every time up till the summer. They asked me to go do some tree work at the house (emergency job) got that done, and did some add ons while I was there. I got paid for the work I did, but the add ons (which were small) I just took in a few lunches. Well sure enough they asked me to run a tab... I declined, but they refused to take my money... come on run a tab. Well I finally cracked and started to run a tab. However I said to myself if I'm gonna run a tab, I might as well do it right... hit the deli hard, eat till I can't eat anymore, and bang out a couple jobs over there when it suits me. So I ground some stumps, dropped a small tree into the woods, and today I pruned a white oak by the side of the house in about an hour. Was gonna head over to the adjacent property to prune a few other trees (family compound) figuring that this would end the work year, and take care of my tab until next spring... well now they want to know ahead of time what the bill will be for each item. IMO if I have to bid this stuff out I might as well get paid... and then hand them the money back, however they want me to run the tab... so I'm not sure what to do here.

When I lived in CT by you, I used to work for a contractor in Danbury who would takes us to Franco's in Brookfield on AT LEAST a weekly bases (usually multiple times a week). Franco wouldn't charge him anything for the food and my Boss, Bob (who often did free odds and ends for Franco), would have spent hundreds there every week.

Franco added another restaurant in New Milford and hired Bob to do all the remodeling and plumbing. At the end of the job, Bob handed Franco an invoice for over 30 grand for all the work. In turn Franco gave him a Bill for something like 50 grand for restaurant food! Apparently he had been keeping a tab all along. Sad to say, we never took another trip to Franco's Restaurant!

Bartering with people can be frustrating to say the least. Hope it ends up not being too inconvenient for you, Matt. Hope you are doing well.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Find another deli and pay for your food.
Jeff

 

[treeman82]

I went in there today and told them that if they want to keep track of things and get prices, that I will simply pay them, and they can do the same with me.

If somebody I was washing services and goods with wanted me to do a large job, I'd have a sit down with them and explain things clearly. Honestly, who cares about odds and ends when you've got the time, or an extra lunch when you've got the goods anyway?

 

[sgreanbeans]

NEVER BARTER!
Usually if some one wants to barter, that means they don't want to pay, easier to right off "loss goods".
I have never seen it end well with my friends who have done it, always sore feelings in the end and the risk of loosing a "word of mouth" advertiser.

 

[ronnyb]

Quote high and eat well.

 

[ducaticorse]

Sounds confusing... If you're going to bid every job, then are they keeping track of every sandwich and drink? Seems like it'd be easier just to pay and give it back. True friends can understand running a business isn't for your health.

Well said

 

[Blakesmaster]

I really like to barter personally. I usually end up being the one who eats it a bit but I don't mind. I got several restaurants in my area that we're always welcome to stop in for free food, my "odds and ends" mechanic takes firewood for payment, I've done trades of work with the big truck shop in town. Lotsa stuff. The main thing I try to do is make sure what I'm trading them is a small potatoes job for us. Something Eric and I can do in an hour or two on our way back from another job. Something I might normally charge $500 bucks or less for to an unknown person that doesn't really cost me anything to do. And usually it's just for friends and other business owners that I can trust. They usually try to pay but I tell them not to worry about. If I'm bored, I go play a round of free golf, have a few beers at my buddy's bar, get some eats at a friends restaurant, etc. all for free. It's nice.

 

[pdqdl]

I did a barter once...We did the work, they went out of business. When we went there, if the owner wasn't in, none of the help knew about the system. In the end, I lost all the income, partly because I wasn't ready to party at night to collect.

Most folks that barter are seeking to avoid taxes. If everybody keeps a regular account of the services rendered, then there should be no problem. Reliability is the biggest factor. You should be asked to sign every lunch ticket that you put on your tab, and you should not expect that the other guy would not want to know his expense prior to doing the work...Unless they were so well off that money wasn't important.

****************************************************
I had a "tab" for gasoline purchases at a local station when I was 16. Pay the bill every month, and all was well. 'Course, that was back when gas was 35 cents per gallon, too!

 

[jefflovstrom]

I did a barter once...We did the work, they went out of business. When we went there, if the owner wasn't in, none of the help knew about the system. In the end, I lost all the income, partly because I wasn't ready to party at night to collect.

And you are better for it. Now, let him learn. Can't save everyone.
Jeff