How much do I give

axer

Hi,

A friend of the family mechanic is doing some work on my car - he owns the garage (a family business). He won't want to charge me when I pick it up later (he will make all sorts of excuses) but I want to pay him as I would rather be able to use his services in future as I can trust him but can't if he won't take proper payment.

This is the work he is doing:
Replacing front break pads
Replacing the left front CV joint
Replacing the driver's door handle
Replacing the windscreen wipers
Replacing a brake light bulb

I have given him all the parts above.

When I make him take money later I don't want to give him too little as I have no idea what a fair price is for this work. How much should I be making him take?

Thanks for any help/advice.

_Conrad_

If he's a friend of the family and he's just doing it free to be nice/help you out, then you probably wont be able to pay him even if you want to without insulting the guy. Maybe give him something nice like if you can find out he likes a particlar drink for example get him some of that to say thanks, or something along those lines and you could make a deal with him that you'll pay him in future

Nozebleed

in fairness thats about €200 in parts..i assume you're paying for the bits.
but there's a fair amountof work in replacing pads and cv joint..so you really should give him something..at least €50. i would anyway. ask him if he;ll take 50 and have a few pints.

axer

_Conrad_ wrote: »

If he's a friend of the family and he's just doing it free to be nice/help you out, then you probably wont be able to pay him even if you want to without insulting the guy. Maybe give him something nice like if you can find out he likes a particlar drink for example get him some of that to say thanks, or something along those:rolleyes: lines and you could make a deal with him that you'll pay him in future

Thanks for the reply.

I made him take 70 euro for a service of the car (parts supplied by me) 2 weeks ago (he didn't want anything) so I think I can get him to take the money without offending him but I am wondering how much as I have no idea.

Dublinstiofán

If he seemed happy with €70 before, give him €70 again.

If not then throw him €80 or €90. You supplied the parts so i think thats fair.

corktina

A solution would be to do something for him or hius family if you can . I always found it easier to accept a gift for my Kids than cash....

Owen

+1 on Corktina's suggestion!