Are any members here "self-employed" like I am????? I'm a farrier, and love it most of the time, but this is my busy time of year, and at times I get frazzled because people/customers start calling me like I'm 8 different people. Some of the work is genuine, but some of it is due to shear stupidity/ignorance. I'm considering charging a stupidity fee......for the work that I have to do because someone/horse owner/trainer was stupid. I take pride in my work, but sometime my customers won't let me do the best work I can because of their horse management/stupidity!!!!! Rant off!!!! :smart :smart :confused:

I'm also self employeed... :thumbsup * Cloud 10 Computers* Mopar1973Man - Auto MechanicsI'm also getting hit with stupidity calls too... But what I do is hide the stupidity charge inside other things. Like Travel charges, shipping and frieght charges, etc. Like my common problem is people not keeping a good anti-virus program or just know better to stay out of the porn sites. Well these people usually got a easy fix for me so... I tell the owner that the computer is infected. Ok... Now I got a simple solution I'll pull the hard drive and return home to scan it. Now I return home and scan it with mine and list the infection in the bill. I charge for the time at the job site, time at the shop, and travel to and from the site x2! Make it very profitable. But now for a good customer I would pack up my computer and head to the site and scan there computer and the bill is really cheap. (Site time, and travel).Now there is bonuses to this method too. The fact a annoying customer will not follow me back to my shop to watch me scan it so my time at the shop can be adjust accordingly if I have to. Also I'm not being bothered my customer to finish quickly or peering over my shoulder. This works for both automotive or computer work. I know I can do most jobs on site but if it really a annoying customer have them drop it at the shop and I'm free! There you go... :thumbsup

Reminds me of all the driveshafts the machine shop I worked at got in the winter when people would get stuck on ice, floor it, suddenly hit pavement, and twist the driveshaft right off LOL . Not to mention the people who came in for steel that showed you how long they wanted it by showing you the piece of grass they cut to length LOL LOL LOL

Had another one "of those days" where this "charge" would've made it seem a bit more worth while!!!! Am I getting smarter, or is everyone else getting dumber???? What's it like in Idaho, Mike????? :confused

I do pretty much like mike. And yes there is a little more - time based - people try to turn the screw driver to save money.As a percentage of billing they are way up because sales tax collections are off by about 75%.keydl

Had another one "of those days" where this "charge" would've made it seem a bit more worth while!!!! Am I getting smarter, or is everyone else getting dumber???? What's it like in Idaho, Mike????? :confused

I would say the general public is just holding there own... But we are getting smarter than them. :smart It seem like I run rings around most people out here. I just had a vehicle that was broke down yesterday in New Meadows, ID I pulled up and walk over. Just looking at the amount of engine oil pouring out on the ground from the radiator cap my first reaction was "Your head gasket is blown!" :wow The owners reaction was "How much do that cost and can I drive it to Boise, ID to get it fix?" LOL Like I told them the farthest that vehicle will go is from the median to the next side street about 100 feet...