Situation: My marina gives me plenty of work cleaning boats each Spring, for which I am ever grateful. Tuesday the owner told me there was a 23'er in the shed to be done - very nice since I can work regardless of the weather. So I go to the shed, there is a 23'Trophy WA up against the back wall. I glance at 4 of the go-fast boats stored there and go about doing this hull. Clean boat so I am done in short order, so I figure I will clean up the cuddy top. As I am doing it the owner's son comes in and says why are you doing that boat? Duh, isn't this the 23'er to be waxed? No, it's the SeaRay over there! So I look and see another 23'er between the go-fasts - damn! I actually hadn't seen it before. So I finish up and go do the SeaRay. Spent maybe hour & half on the WA, but its a mistake so the guy gets a free waxing. My question, after I saw the guy today when he picked it up, would you give someone a small tip or a 6-pack if your boat got waxed by mistake? All he said was thanks, it really looks good. The marina is a nice place to hang out and it was my fault, but have we lost all sense of courtesy. I put this here since you guys are about taking care of your boats rather than in ATC....thanks....G
What would you have done?
- Thread starter mannmade
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I would have been upset that someone messed with my boat. It is unlikely that I would have given you anything. Note: I never waxed the boat and had no intentions of doing so. You would not have been doing me a favor at all. But I am generally polite; I would have thanked you.
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It was an honest mistake. I wouldn't have considered you messing with my boat (you can't polish a turd) and probably would have flipped you a few bucks and a cold brewski with plenty of thanks.
jtsmlarson
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He probably didn't even know it was waxed until you mentioned it. He certainly didn't bring a six pack knowing that it happened when he arrived. He may not have had any money with him? It sounds like he may have been financially strapped since it was looking bad? Who knows. At least he did say Thanks! I would have been mad because the stuff you used may not have been compatible with what I use or plan to use. It could have meant stripping it all off! I would have insisted you do that and I would have been mad! OK, not really, but some people can be real jerks!!
If you happen mistake my boat in Stony Point for another one on the back wall, I would gladly throw you a few bucks and a 6-Pack!
Seriously though some peaple are pretty funny about things. You would assume the owner would be happy and give you something, but then again some peaple are just downright cheap.
MJK
Seriously though some peaple are pretty funny about things. You would assume the owner would be happy and give you something, but then again some peaple are just downright cheap.
MJK
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I'm pretty anal about my boats, like 'em done a certain way so I don't think I would have been happy about it. That said, I would have kept it to myself and thanked you and possibly given you a few bucks.
parkrode360
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I'm with King. Personally, I'd have understood the mistake, appreciated that you didn't leave the job half-done (you finished the job) and would've at least donated some bucks and beer. But some people are funny, and some have had bad ecperiences where they've been taken advantage of on repairs and such. Hopefully over the life of your business, it'll either average out or swing to the "appreciative" side.
If you waxed my boat by mistake, I would have paid you. I wash and wax my own because I have the time, but I hate it. But I do it.
But I wouldn't want anybody doing it again and again thinking I would fall for it again.
Honest mistakes happen. Hard work should be rewarded. Screw a tip, waxing a boat is hard work, you deserve to get paid.
But I wouldn't want anybody doing it again and again thinking I would fall for it again.
Honest mistakes happen. Hard work should be rewarded. Screw a tip, waxing a boat is hard work, you deserve to get paid.
B
blouderback
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I woulda flipped you a 20 spot. Heck, $20 is nothing. Barely buys 2 hours of gas in Annabo!
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Funny!
Thanks for the comments and support. I hadn't thought about it from the viewpoint of messing with someone's boat and their being upset, but it certainly could be a concern relative to how individual's feel about their stuff. Maybe I was fortunate it looked better when he picked it up than when he dropped it off!
Bob, if a $20 is nothing, why is it so exorbitant when it is the purchase price of an anchor here? Thanks though for your post, nothing better than a good laugh [:-bigmouth]
Bob, if a $20 is nothing, why is it so exorbitant when it is the purchase price of an anchor here? Thanks though for your post, nothing better than a good laugh [:-bigmouth]
I won't let anyone touch my boat.
That being said, I would have noticed. I would have paid you your hourly rate for the work. And then I would have had a talk with the marina about there lack of detail.
In my opinion the marina too must have some responsibility on this as well.
Who knows, maybe you'll get a new custumer out of this.
That being said, I would have noticed. I would have paid you your hourly rate for the work. And then I would have had a talk with the marina about there lack of detail.
In my opinion the marina too must have some responsibility on this as well.
Who knows, maybe you'll get a new custumer out of this.
why is Bob's anchor status always up for discussion?
I too have selected not to have access to NBR, my choose.
It's Bob choose as well. We don't tell you what beer to drink.
There are many diverse opinions here, all should be welcomed.
I too have selected not to have access to NBR, my choose.
It's Bob choose as well. We don't tell you what beer to drink.
There are many diverse opinions here, all should be welcomed.
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Here is the way I see it ( Fake names etc )
Fishy, the boat owner, tells Salty, the marina owner he wants his boat waxed. Waxy, the detailer is called in, and given the wrong instructions by Salty. Waxy ends up detailing Piggy's ( my ) boat in error.
Piggy misses "that lived in look"; now it looks like he gave in to the Admiral's wishes. He could have demanded that the wax be stripped... In any event, he feels that his vessel has been violated due to an error by Salty.
Waxy is stuck in the middle. He acted upon the request of Salty and got stuck. Waxy should collect a detail fee from Salty ( for Piggy's boat ) and apologize to Piggy ( who should, at minimum, be polite to Waxy, as it was not Waxy's fault). Piggy should strip the paint off of Salty's back for failure to protect his boat.
And Waxy needs to detail Fishy's boat...
Of course, Piggy could also have insisted that Salty cough up a nice cold, case of brew, to be split between Piggy and Waxy to relieve their distress.
Fishy, the boat owner, tells Salty, the marina owner he wants his boat waxed. Waxy, the detailer is called in, and given the wrong instructions by Salty. Waxy ends up detailing Piggy's ( my ) boat in error.
Piggy misses "that lived in look"; now it looks like he gave in to the Admiral's wishes. He could have demanded that the wax be stripped... In any event, he feels that his vessel has been violated due to an error by Salty.
Waxy is stuck in the middle. He acted upon the request of Salty and got stuck. Waxy should collect a detail fee from Salty ( for Piggy's boat ) and apologize to Piggy ( who should, at minimum, be polite to Waxy, as it was not Waxy's fault). Piggy should strip the paint off of Salty's back for failure to protect his boat.
And Waxy needs to detail Fishy's boat...
Of course, Piggy could also have insisted that Salty cough up a nice cold, case of brew, to be split between Piggy and Waxy to relieve their distress.
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... and a good reason for the confusion. I, too, should have been out on the water!
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That sucks. General courtesy would have been to thank you and state "I'm a cheap bastard... but the boat looks great; is there anything I can give you for your hard work?" That gives you an opportunity to decline and everyone saves face.
Anchor status is not about access to NBR. It is about supporting this excellent site with dollars so that it continues to be. Without the dollar support from people like myself and others this site would have died along time ago.
That said, no one here is forced to join and Bob has, at times, made a mockery of those that choose to support the site so he gets a dose of ribbing from time to time.
BTW - just because I have made the choice to support Boatered with dollars gives me no special rights here but like everyone that posts on Boatered I'm entitled to speak my mind.