"I have a buddy" 3

[SteelPE]

Am I the only one who can't stand these four words or any other sentence with the word buddy in it. I don't know if other engineering disciplines have the same problem with buddies but it gets really annoying. 99.9% of the projects never go anywhere and if they do the buddy thinks he should be paying minimum wage for engineering services.

 

[ztengguy]

I tell them I am not interested in doing the work, since its not economical for either of us.

 

[SteelPE]

Yeah, and then they get all offended with the fact that they were "trying to help you out".

 

[AELLC]

I get that a lot too. If I do any kind of a small job for a GC who got to me thru one of the residential designers I deal with, it seems to multiply thru out the multitudes of small-scale GC's here.

The usual scenario is a house remodel that involves me only designing one beam and one footing. Since my fee was low for that, then everyone thinks I can do additions, etc for 3 cents a square foot.

The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.

 

[SLTA]

I get a lot of "our kids went to preschool together" or "my friend knows you" with the expectation that I won't charge them to do MY JOB. Um, nope, sorry.

 

[berkshire]

I learned that lesson early on, if you let them your " friends" will kill your business.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[CELinOttawa]

Friends help friends get work and make a profit. Anything else and they aren't your friend....

I've not had many people try the "buddy job" routine, and the few times this happened I've pointed out that if I charge less than what the job costs, my insurance will roast me or not cover the liability for the job.

Anyone who keeps trying after you explain the onerous and incredible level of liability we face in our work has just shown you that they couldn't care less about you. Cut the loss and count yourself lucky for the free information.

 

[IRstuff]

As Doctor Who would say, "Run!"

TTFN
faq731-376

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[miningman]

Well the worst example I have been exposed to was along the lines of " I have a buddy who knows a girl whose brother met someone down in Mexico who was doing a similiar job , and he did it different and cheaper than you are proposing " This related to a rather difficult blasting job I had been asked to undertake and a few people didn't like my approach. Once I explained that I either did it my way or not at all , they took exception at my attitude , ordered the explosives without telling me the details ( had they done that I could at least have warned them about the inherent but obscure risks ) and then when the shot detonated about three minutes sooner than they expectred, they realised it could easily have been a triple fatality. Always use that as an example whenever buddy comes up in blasting discussions.

 

[FreddyNurk]

I'm sure that there's a joke about the lawyer and the doctor at a party that seems to be on the same theme...

A doctor and a lawyer were attending a cocktail party when the doctor was approached by a man who asked advice on how to handle his ulcer.

The doctor mumbled some medical advice, then turned to the lawyer and asked, "How do you handle the situation when you are asked for advice during a social function?" "Just send a bill for such advice" replied the lawyer.

On the next morning the doctor arrived at his surgery and issued the ulcer-stricken man a $50 bill. That afternoon he received a $100 bill from the lawyer.

 

[AELLC]

A $100 bill from a lawyer (you got be kidding, eh?) - make that more realistic, make that joke more believable - $400, at least.



The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.

 

[CELinOttawa]

Hey AELLC:

My turn to GMTO: Just met with my lawyer today in order to edit (ie: Review) our company's new contract, which I wrote, the law firm modified a few clauses, met with me for thirty minutes, upon which I was advised the bill would be "around $500". I expect a $700 bill in the mail shortly. lol...

I really can't complain at all, they've been very good to us over the years. Just a timely comment!

 

[msquared48]

SteelP)E:

So then, do you have your own personal "My Buddy" doll at your desk?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[AELLC]

CEL: I am in a really funky mood this afternoon, I think one of my residential designers did a "buddy" deal with a home-builder, and I got royally cheated.

The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.

 

[CELinOttawa]

I wouldn't be surprised... I just had a contractor ask me to do an "alien" (ie: Cash deal) on a $600 job to remove a load bearing (but not laterally significant) wall.

Really? Cash deal, on $600? Nevermind the value in terms of my license, my business, etc, etc, but ON $600???? *sigh*

 

[FreddyNurk]

AELLC, I think the joke is that old.

 

[SteelPE]

Thanks Mike, now I can't get that stupid song out of my head.

 

[glass99]

I think the difficulty is that we are all in relationship based service businesses, and our brains get short circuited when someone comes in offering lots of relationship but little money. I know I struggle with it.

 

[SLTA]

Wherever I go, HHEEEE goes...

 

[CELinOttawa]

[highlight #FCAF3E]Okay, who called you a boy this time SLTA?[/highlight] Not that I have any objection to your taking exception to it, I just didn't see it this time. I'm also really hoping it isn't me! lol...