Have a Problem with a buddy.

Okay I'm having a little problem. Also I don't know if this goes here or not if it doesn't I'm sorry. Well Yesterday, I got a call from an Electrician of a New TJ Max store going in at a Shopping Center near me. He said We have a ton of steel stud and scraps that need to be removed. Turns out, they have 3 big piles inside the building, then they have a roll off with heavier studs on top of other trash and debri. Well, me and my friend go to it and we start loading it up. We load up my truck full to where if we'd load any more, it'd most likely fly out. Well, I had to call my dad to bring his Carpet van to haul the rest of the studs, because We didn't want to make two trips. So we loaded up the van and headed to the scrap yard. We made the bill in one receipt for the my truck and my dad's van. Well we unload and then we get payed. We got 70 bucks in just Mixed, which was awesome because we just picked it up. Well my friend wants half of the money, but he says, I'll give ya 5 bucks for gas. I thought to myself "Oh Wow 5 dollars..." So we go to the gas station, I put 40 bucks in to the tank and it doesn't even fill up my truck even with 18 cents off each gallon. Well my friend thought he should get half while Our vehicles haul and waste gas to take the metal to the yard. Which I thought was unfair. My dad after wards said, You should of only gave him 20 dollars because of wear and tear and gas on the two vehicles. And a note I drive this kid around everywhere because he doesn't have a license, I just think I got tooken advantage of in this situation and I want to know what you guys think.

Thanks , Seth

If it was your truck and your lead then your cut should be biggest. At a minimum, if it was his lead and your truck, that's when I would agree to fifty fifty, especially if it was only 70 bucks. It's touchy when working with friends. You should always have an understanding with each other before the work begins. Live and learn.

Yeah I know, it was my flyer, and lead, But it was both my vehicle's well my dad's van isn't my vehicle but still its our gas, and wear and tear on the truck. I just feel I got tooken advantage of.

If he was a good friend with common sense, the next time you guys are just hanging out bring it up. All of your points are justified. If he has a hard time, use someone else next time with your terms. If the job was a lot bigger and his cut was worth his efforts then they normally can't complain. If I did a job and got 700 for it and paid my friend 200 tax free they wouldn't complain. More days than not they'd be sitting around the house making zero money.

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Originally Posted by Scrapcrazy

If he was a good friend with common sense, the next time you guys are just hanging out bring it up. All of your points are justified. If he has a hard time, use someone else next time with your terms. If the job was a lot bigger and his cut was worth his efforts then they normally can't complain. If I did a job and got 700 for it and paid my friend 200 tax free they wouldn't complain. More days than not they'd be sitting around the house making zero money.

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Hmm, Good point. I'll talk to him.

This why I pay by the hour and never left em know what the load paid, otherwise they'll think you should donate your fuel and wear and tear. Never go half with anyone, are you hauling scrap to make them money or make you money

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Originally Posted by taterjuice

This why I pay by the hour and never left em know what the load paid, otherwise they'll think you should donate your fuel and wear and tear. Never go half with anyone, are you hauling scrap to make them money or make you money

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Make myself money, oh yeah, I forgot to tell yall, that this kid, I collected scrap all by myself, sometimes I had my dad help me with big appliances, I probably have a ton and a half of metal down in our yard. Well this kid is like, yo lets haul some of your scrap to the yard, and I'm like what's the catch? "50/50" I'm like F@$% that!, He thens says 60 40, I'm like dude, no, then he says "70/30." I'm like dude, I am not giving you a cut of my scrap money. I worked my butt off trying to gather all that, and he wants a cut.

Tater juice what do ya pay by the hour if ya don't mind me asking?

When my partner and I would take a truckload to the yard we would take some out for gas first then split the rest. We both would come up with leads so no advantage there.

Kochy...I hope that pile is not easily accessible to anyone. People get silly ideas when they see money laying around, know what I mean.

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Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Kochy...I hope that pile is not easily accessible to anyone. People get silly ideas when they see money laying around, know what I mean.

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OhI know what you mean, its on the back of our property. They can't see it from the road, if they'd try moving it, We'd know it, I'm also gonna put up No Trespass signs all around it because it does border patch of woods. So I'm gunna post up signs. But I don't have my big ticket items down there, I mostly keep my good stuff locked under key.

Usually pay 12-15, depending on the Job and their work ethic, so they'd paid plenty and still leaves you with more of the profit.

I gotta start doing that.

so how long the job take ? I pay one way for drive time, less got to go pick em up, then it starts when we get to jobsite and ends before the trip home.

Maybe a hour a little over not long.

Well even at 12 an hour, 18,say 1.5 hours, is way better paying than anything else that your friend would make. Leaves your profit where it belongs too, in your pocket. Next time, I'd go this route. Mcdonalds didn't make billions by splitting the profit of a happy meal with the cook. Some call me greedy, can't help the fact was born a shrewd mammal

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Originally Posted by taterjuice

Well even at 12 an hour, 18,say 1.5 hours, is way better paying than anything else that your friend would make. Leaves your profit where it belongs too, in your pocket. Next time, I'd go this route. Mcdonalds didn't make billions by splitting the profit of a happy meal with the cook. Some call me greedy, can't help the fact was born a shrewd mammal

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I'm going this route, because, I only call him when I need his help, and we were going originally to pick up a weight bench and we got the message about the scrap. Afterwards we picked up the weight bench.

I've known "friends" like what you describe. Total moochers and you allow it. Does he pay you anything when you haul his lazy butt around?

He sounds lazy, entitled, wants a free ride in life, etc.

If I were in your shoes, I'd pay a flat rate per hour, and I wouldn't allow the worker to know what the proceeds came to.

Sounds like a candidate for the Red Forman treatment.

Kochy, 2 things, 1st work by yourself. In the past 5 years I only used a helper once and that was because i was in a hurry to get the job done and I told the guy if he would help me I would give him a truck load of shred. I had already taken about 6 loads off this job so 1 load to get the job done was no big deal to me.#2 Thank you for telling us were your scrap stach is, Lets see one pile out back and the good stuff in the garage. Don't worry it's not worth it for me to go to PA from FL. You never know who's reading these threads so be carefull what you say.

That is why right now, I just hire people when i need them. i tell them straight up, i will pay you $50, $120, $60, etc and make sure they are cool with it.

I tell them, if we make say $600 in a day, and i hand them $100, that does not mean i am keeping $500. I tell them, that it goes for gas, upkeep on truck and tools, and my pay which is all true. So far, havent had any issues, as they realize as owner/president of the company, I stand to make more anyways.

You just got to be careful and let them know. When your working, your boss, not a friend.

I always make arrangements with people before hand. I tell them a percentage of the net (which is the leftover after i take gas and wear off the top) and i assure them a minimum dollar amount. That way they'll help, and be happier than the minimum if the load comes out nice. If its their lead and they help, its 50% net, if its their lead and i go alone, its 25% net. It works. Keeps the money coming in and i think its fair for me and them.

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is why right now, I just hire people when i need them. i tell them straight up, i will pay you $50, $120, $60, etc and make sure they are cool with it.

I tell them, if we make say $600 in a day, and i hand them $100, that does not mean i am keeping $500. I tell them, that it goes for gas, upkeep on truck and tools, and my pay which is all true. So far, havent had any issues, as they realize as owner/president of the company, I stand to make more anyways.

You just got to be careful and let them know. When your working, your boss, not a friend.

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Well Said.

I'm gunna confront him about it, and tell him straight up. You're getting payed Flat Rate, Im not splitting 50 50 with ya. And you know something I just realized he is lazy, He only ever wants to hang out and go fishing or scrapping, and he barely wants to give me gas money. So therefore he's getting Flat rate, because that'll pay for all the gas I wasted on em.

HE'S giving YOU gas money? Who's in charge?

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Originally Posted by Mick

HE'S giving YOU gas money? Who's in charge?

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Most part me, My truck, My ads and leads, This last time we filled up, I put all my half in to the tank and it still didn't fill it up all the way. He only gave me 5 bucks, I only filled it up to three quarters.

My standard agreement when I go shares (or percentage) is this: Whatever I figure gas will be comes off the top, then percentages are figured. So, let's say there'll be 50 miles in travel to the job, the yard and back and my truck averages 10 miles per gallon between loaded and empty. It'll take 5 gallons. Times $4.00 per gallon; it'll take $20 worth of gas. Before I even start, I say "$20 is coming off the top of ever load" Now if the agreement is an even 50-50 split and the ticket is $100, I get $20 for gas and we each get $40.

First order of business is: Know your costs of doing business. They're is likely more expense than just gas.

How much are you hauling at a time? Ferrous and non?

i always lowball my friends if i need their help with work and if the pay comes out better than expected or theyve been totally cool about it, then i tip them

always discuss cost ahead of time cuase they usually expect half of the payment regardless of overhead

I'd only go 50/50 if my friend was my peer in terms of his capability. e.g. if he had a truck and wasn't dependent on me. I mean I don't mind driving my friends around if they are dependent on me but along with that means that I am the boss, and I am in charge, and I make the rules.

Also, I would explain to him that even he's going through a rough time right now, and as much as you don't mind helping him out, he has to show his appreciation towards you and reciprocate the favors every time he has an opportunity. Explain to him that in this particular case, this was an opportunity for him to show his appreciation. If the situation was reversed, you would have said to your friend, "Hey, I know that I haven't given you any money in a while, however, I got a pile of scrap that you can have. You can keep all of the money and I'll help you load it."

In giving him the benefit of the doubt, I don't think that he was willingly taking advantage of you as much as he simply didn't know any better or as a worst case, he truly thought he was equally entitled to half because he shared in the work that had to be done while being completely oblivious to how much it costs to keep the truck on the road.

Anyone who does not drive certainly does not know that $20 is the new "5" when it comes to putting gas in the tank.

yeah friends is tough...family worse. I would never work with either. Money can $%#@ up relationships too **** fast. not worth it. Have employees, agree on rate of pay, and if they are good...throw them a bit extra every once in a while. it will pay dividends if worker feels appreciated. my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is why right now, I just hire people when i need them. i tell them straight up, i will pay you $50, $120, $60, etc and make sure they are cool with it.

I tell them, if we make say $600 in a day, and i hand them $100, that does not mean i am keeping $500. I tell them, that it goes for gas, upkeep on truck and tools, and my pay which is all true. So far, havent had any issues, as they realize as owner/president of the company, I stand to make more anyways.

You just got to be careful and let them know. When your working, your boss, not a friend.

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Just curious why you tell them at all what it is you make?