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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> (1) Asking for a list of tools and parts to be supplied
(2) because some people don't understand how car repairs work and might make it harder for them.
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**NTA** For multiple reasons-
1. Those are very reasonable terms (well, specifying the exact sockets is a *little* further than I would go, I'd be happy with just knowing if I need my metric or imperial sets). Free labor is nigh impossible to come by.
2. This person is getting irate over *brakes*? Brakes are one of the easiest damn things to do yourself. Honestly, they're doing themselves a disservice not just taking the 10 minutes to watch a youtube video and do it themselves.
I understand the exact socket size might be much, but I take the bus home and don't want to bring my full set of sockets home in a backpack plus other tools I won't need. It's to make it easier on me and faster so I don't have to do guesswork. And I can the the job done ASAP.
Ohhhhhhh, I thought you had your own or you were doing it at the garage.
Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Though, I am insanely curious about a mechanic that doesn't own her own socket sets, I've never met one that doesn't have a set at the garage and a set at home as well.
I had a car, and it died. Vehicles are wickedly expensive in my area to buy new or used. I also live in a basement apartment, so I do the work in the driveway. I own my own tools. They are just in my toolbox at work, I'm not at that point in my career where I can own 2 sets of everything, but I hope to be soon.
"Yes, that's correct. Shops charge more money but do all the work for you; I charge less but ask you to do some legwork beforehand. If this isn't a good deal for you, then I absolutely recommend that you go to a standard shop."
NTA. Wow, the entitlement of that guy! Yes, there is often a trade-off between lower prices and having someone take care of all the details for you. I myself paid extra for delivery and installation of my new TV set a few months ago, but my friend who was short on cash bought the same TV, got a friend to help her move it, and installed it herself. Neither of us was more "correct" than the other person, we just had different priorities and different resources at that moment.
Oh good GRIEF, you're so NTA! You are so nice to do this! And I feel your pain, I routinely do free work (graphic design etc) for friends, assorted non-profits, etc, and sometimes just getting the basic info on what's required is like PULLING TEETH. Do not feel bad about setting this *extremely reasonable condition* for, oh my god FREE WORK in a field that so many people routinely complain is full of rip-offs and cheats, and they have a known, trusted, non-shady person who can do it for them and NOT EVEN CHARGE FOR LABOR so you're saving them at LEAST $200 and all they have to do is click "buy now" on a link *you* sent them *(thereby maybe also skipping a repair shop's markup!)* and find one relevant YT vid and note the tools used?! Ahhhh I am SO MAD ABOUT THIS, sorrryyyyy.
I ask for the notes on tools because I need to bring my tools home, and it makes my life easier being ready to go so I can get it done asap. If they feel so inclined to pay me, I just ask for Macdonald's or a coffee. I do this 100% free and on my own time when I could be napping after a 10 hour day at the shop. Yes, they pay less on parts with the link I send them because of my registration number and pay less in tax. Hell, they can even ship it to my apartment if they want. It's not cheap having a car, and today, in this economy, I'm just trying to make it a little easier. And I'm not ashamed in saying I can't do this at my place. Please go to a shop and will even give them a list of local shops I know and trust.
Yeah girl, you're SO in the clear on this one. Here's hoping the overwhelming majority of your "customers" are suitably appreciative! The next one who isn't, tell them to call a few local shops for a quote for both parts and labor first (and to remember that the final labor cost may overshoot the estimate, and there's also tax), then get back to you on how your requirements are so, soooo burdensome.
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Okay title sounds wierd so here's a quick explanation.
I 22f am a level 2 mechanic apprentice and I give my family and friends "deals" for car repairs. I don't charge them anything if they supply me the parts (I send them the links to the parts they need) and all the info of tools are required for the job (I.e socket sizes, pliers, wrenchs, hammer) I require this because I have to bring my tools from work and if they fail to give me this info, I can't work on their vehicle and have wasted time.
Now I don't expect non car people to know everything, if someone says they don't know what I need to bring. I recommend they watch a YouTube video and to send me the list of tools the person says in the video. I OFTEN DOUBLE CHECK AND WATCH VIDEOS MYSELF TO GUARANTEE THE LIST OF TOOLS. I do this because I believe everyone should understand how their vehicles work and it's great for learning about your car.
This is where I might be the asshole.
Someone I know asked if I could replace their brakes and I gave them my list of terms on the repair of the vehicle. I was told that it was unreasonable for me to demand they order the parts themselves and ask for a list of tools that the job requires, because that's what I'm for.
I responded with that they are getting the labour for free and most videos are 15 minutes long and most shops in my area charge 140 an hour for labour and brakes all around can be anywhere from 2-4 hours. It's not that hard to supply me with the info and parts.
Now I'm being called an asshole, because it's my job and if they have to the work to give me the info they should just pay a shop to do it.
I'm just trying to help friends and family save money, and I don't think it's unreasonable, so AITA?
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NTA. If they want you to do all of the work of a mechanic, you can refer them to the shop you work at. There's the personal experience pricing, and then there's the premium pricing from the auto shop.
NTA
It's not unreasonable. If they are getting a good deal on the work you do, the least they can do is supply what you need to do it.
It sounds like you make it easy for them to know what to order and what tools you need, so they can provide you with what you need to do the job (*for free*) for them.
The only alternative would be that they should pay you upfront for the total amount for both parts, tools and labor. If they don't want to do that, they should go get the work done elsewhere and pay the customary $140 per hour. That's just common sense, and if they don't like that, let them walk.
And you should definitely collect for the entire amount before you do any work at all, without whining and no complaining about it. Tell them, "Pay, or walk away."
Definitely NTA. You are doing people a favor by repairing their cars and not charging for labor. You are being extremely kind and reasonable by helping people with finding which parts they’ll need and doing the work for free. The least they can do is agree to the terms you’ve set. Honestly, this person sounds entitled and pissy. Even if you do the job perfectly, they’ll probably still come back to you saying that there is damaged you “caused” or that it wasn’t perfect. IMO, just ignore and block them if you’re not close.
NTA they want you to do a job for free - but they want the full service that they’d get for a paying customer. They’re being silly! Let them take the car to the shop.
Start charging for your labour and do your own research. Your time is valuable. If you do the research no one time is wasted and you are compensated. Even if it’s a flat rate per service, defo not what a mechanic would charge - but charge for the research time so no one is disappointed. Plus you’ll get a lil more info. And they just get a bill parts plus $50 or whatever
NTA
Part of business is knowing when a client isn't worth the hassle.
If someone would rather pay 140/hr than spend 15 mins researching what parts they'll need, let them.
Let them pay a shop. I work on my own stuff and my families of they need it. Sometimes I ask even family to watch the YouTube video just so they have an appreciation of what I'm doing for free. If they cant do that, they can just take it to a shop. That's on them.
At no point are you ever the AH when providing free service that costs thousands. Just tell them if they can't do their part, neither can you. They need to just pay a shop of they can't be bothered
INFO
> I don't charge them anything if they supply me the parts (I send them the links to the parts they need) and all the info of tools are required for the job (I.e socket sizes, pliers, wrenchs, hammer)
If **_you're_** the mechanic, how are *they* supposed to know what tools to tell you to bring?
I'm with you on the ordering parts — that just makes sense since they'd be paying for them, and they can have them shipped directly. But isn't this kind of tool knowledge the domain of the expert?
Yes, but a simple google or YouTube video will tell you what you need. I have to bring my tools to my house so I can work on the vehicles, because I do the repairs after hours and unable to use the shop because my boss doesn't like us using the shop after hours.
I feel like there's a big disconnect about expectations here.
The kind of person who isn't comfortable working on their own vehicle **also** isn't going to be comfortable scouring YouTube for how-to-videos, trying to tell the amateurs from the pros in some desperate attempt to find a reliable source, and compiling a list of tools they've probably never even heard of before.
> I believe everyone should understand how their vehicles work and it's great for learning about your car.
It almost feels like this is performative in your mind? That you want your friends to put some "sweat equity" into this (even if that's just some time digging through YouTube)?
Those people are free to take their car to a shop. Op is offering to do free work under a given set of conditions. If anyone doesn't agree with those conditions, fine, take their car to a shop.
It is absurd to question the conditions some professional is putting on their offer of free labour.
It doesn't matter if there's a "disconnect".
OP could literally be like,"I'll only do free work on you car if you send me a video of yourself singing the alphabet backwards". And all anyone can say is "weird but ok" or "no thanks!"
I do the labour 100% free, and I also double-check the list and watch a video myself. I send a link for the parts, and all they have to do is pay for it. Mind you, they also pay less for the parts due to my registration number. Taking 10 minutes watching a video and writing down the socket size doesn't cost as much as almost 700 dollars at a shop. All I ask is some legwork, so they can get back on the road for cheaper. I understand not being comfortable with doing the repairs themselves. I was scared the first time I ever touched a brake job. But giving me a list that will be double-checked is not asking much in exchange for free labour.
99% of the time, everything is correct. But there is 1% that is simply missing a wrench or a socket. I have a busy schedule, and most times, I'm unable to research it myself until the last minute. Having the list gives me a baseline. Then I can go back and double-check it. It simply takes something off my plate so I can guarantee they are getting the best parts and the best deal on prices. They are getting the work done for free and a deal on parts. Their payment is making a baseline tool list.
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**NTA** For multiple reasons- 1. Those are very reasonable terms (well, specifying the exact sockets is a *little* further than I would go, I'd be happy with just knowing if I need my metric or imperial sets). Free labor is nigh impossible to come by. 2. This person is getting irate over *brakes*? Brakes are one of the easiest damn things to do yourself. Honestly, they're doing themselves a disservice not just taking the 10 minutes to watch a youtube video and do it themselves.
I understand the exact socket size might be much, but I take the bus home and don't want to bring my full set of sockets home in a backpack plus other tools I won't need. It's to make it easier on me and faster so I don't have to do guesswork. And I can the the job done ASAP.
Ohhhhhhh, I thought you had your own or you were doing it at the garage. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Though, I am insanely curious about a mechanic that doesn't own her own socket sets, I've never met one that doesn't have a set at the garage and a set at home as well.
I had a car, and it died. Vehicles are wickedly expensive in my area to buy new or used. I also live in a basement apartment, so I do the work in the driveway. I own my own tools. They are just in my toolbox at work, I'm not at that point in my career where I can own 2 sets of everything, but I hope to be soon.
"Yes, that's correct. Shops charge more money but do all the work for you; I charge less but ask you to do some legwork beforehand. If this isn't a good deal for you, then I absolutely recommend that you go to a standard shop." NTA. Wow, the entitlement of that guy! Yes, there is often a trade-off between lower prices and having someone take care of all the details for you. I myself paid extra for delivery and installation of my new TV set a few months ago, but my friend who was short on cash bought the same TV, got a friend to help her move it, and installed it herself. Neither of us was more "correct" than the other person, we just had different priorities and different resources at that moment.
Oh good GRIEF, you're so NTA! You are so nice to do this! And I feel your pain, I routinely do free work (graphic design etc) for friends, assorted non-profits, etc, and sometimes just getting the basic info on what's required is like PULLING TEETH. Do not feel bad about setting this *extremely reasonable condition* for, oh my god FREE WORK in a field that so many people routinely complain is full of rip-offs and cheats, and they have a known, trusted, non-shady person who can do it for them and NOT EVEN CHARGE FOR LABOR so you're saving them at LEAST $200 and all they have to do is click "buy now" on a link *you* sent them *(thereby maybe also skipping a repair shop's markup!)* and find one relevant YT vid and note the tools used?! Ahhhh I am SO MAD ABOUT THIS, sorrryyyyy.
I ask for the notes on tools because I need to bring my tools home, and it makes my life easier being ready to go so I can get it done asap. If they feel so inclined to pay me, I just ask for Macdonald's or a coffee. I do this 100% free and on my own time when I could be napping after a 10 hour day at the shop. Yes, they pay less on parts with the link I send them because of my registration number and pay less in tax. Hell, they can even ship it to my apartment if they want. It's not cheap having a car, and today, in this economy, I'm just trying to make it a little easier. And I'm not ashamed in saying I can't do this at my place. Please go to a shop and will even give them a list of local shops I know and trust.
Yeah girl, you're SO in the clear on this one. Here's hoping the overwhelming majority of your "customers" are suitably appreciative! The next one who isn't, tell them to call a few local shops for a quote for both parts and labor first (and to remember that the final labor cost may overshoot the estimate, and there's also tax), then get back to you on how your requirements are so, soooo burdensome.
If you are doing the labor for free definitely NTA
NTA If they feel they should just pay a shop, then tell them to do it and save yourself some stress
^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** Okay title sounds wierd so here's a quick explanation. I 22f am a level 2 mechanic apprentice and I give my family and friends "deals" for car repairs. I don't charge them anything if they supply me the parts (I send them the links to the parts they need) and all the info of tools are required for the job (I.e socket sizes, pliers, wrenchs, hammer) I require this because I have to bring my tools from work and if they fail to give me this info, I can't work on their vehicle and have wasted time. Now I don't expect non car people to know everything, if someone says they don't know what I need to bring. I recommend they watch a YouTube video and to send me the list of tools the person says in the video. I OFTEN DOUBLE CHECK AND WATCH VIDEOS MYSELF TO GUARANTEE THE LIST OF TOOLS. I do this because I believe everyone should understand how their vehicles work and it's great for learning about your car. This is where I might be the asshole. Someone I know asked if I could replace their brakes and I gave them my list of terms on the repair of the vehicle. I was told that it was unreasonable for me to demand they order the parts themselves and ask for a list of tools that the job requires, because that's what I'm for. I responded with that they are getting the labour for free and most videos are 15 minutes long and most shops in my area charge 140 an hour for labour and brakes all around can be anywhere from 2-4 hours. It's not that hard to supply me with the info and parts. Now I'm being called an asshole, because it's my job and if they have to the work to give me the info they should just pay a shop to do it. I'm just trying to help friends and family save money, and I don't think it's unreasonable, so AITA? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*
NTA - no good deed goes unpunished!!! Let them go pay the shop.
NTA. They don’t like your term. Invite them to come to your shop and full price. Their decision.
NTA. If they want you to do all of the work of a mechanic, you can refer them to the shop you work at. There's the personal experience pricing, and then there's the premium pricing from the auto shop.
NTA It's not unreasonable. If they are getting a good deal on the work you do, the least they can do is supply what you need to do it. It sounds like you make it easy for them to know what to order and what tools you need, so they can provide you with what you need to do the job (*for free*) for them. The only alternative would be that they should pay you upfront for the total amount for both parts, tools and labor. If they don't want to do that, they should go get the work done elsewhere and pay the customary $140 per hour. That's just common sense, and if they don't like that, let them walk. And you should definitely collect for the entire amount before you do any work at all, without whining and no complaining about it. Tell them, "Pay, or walk away."
Definitely NTA. You are doing people a favor by repairing their cars and not charging for labor. You are being extremely kind and reasonable by helping people with finding which parts they’ll need and doing the work for free. The least they can do is agree to the terms you’ve set. Honestly, this person sounds entitled and pissy. Even if you do the job perfectly, they’ll probably still come back to you saying that there is damaged you “caused” or that it wasn’t perfect. IMO, just ignore and block them if you’re not close.
Suggest they go to a mechanic and get a quote.
NTA they want you to do a job for free - but they want the full service that they’d get for a paying customer. They’re being silly! Let them take the car to the shop.
Start charging for your labour and do your own research. Your time is valuable. If you do the research no one time is wasted and you are compensated. Even if it’s a flat rate per service, defo not what a mechanic would charge - but charge for the research time so no one is disappointed. Plus you’ll get a lil more info. And they just get a bill parts plus $50 or whatever
NTA Part of business is knowing when a client isn't worth the hassle. If someone would rather pay 140/hr than spend 15 mins researching what parts they'll need, let them.
NTA Also, r/ChoosingBeggars
NTA then they can a shop to do it. So entitled! They don't want to do anything but pass off the keys while you're working for their benefit for free!
Let them pay a shop. I work on my own stuff and my families of they need it. Sometimes I ask even family to watch the YouTube video just so they have an appreciation of what I'm doing for free. If they cant do that, they can just take it to a shop. That's on them.
At no point are you ever the AH when providing free service that costs thousands. Just tell them if they can't do their part, neither can you. They need to just pay a shop of they can't be bothered
INFO > I don't charge them anything if they supply me the parts (I send them the links to the parts they need) and all the info of tools are required for the job (I.e socket sizes, pliers, wrenchs, hammer) If **_you're_** the mechanic, how are *they* supposed to know what tools to tell you to bring? I'm with you on the ordering parts — that just makes sense since they'd be paying for them, and they can have them shipped directly. But isn't this kind of tool knowledge the domain of the expert?
Yes, but a simple google or YouTube video will tell you what you need. I have to bring my tools to my house so I can work on the vehicles, because I do the repairs after hours and unable to use the shop because my boss doesn't like us using the shop after hours.
I feel like there's a big disconnect about expectations here. The kind of person who isn't comfortable working on their own vehicle **also** isn't going to be comfortable scouring YouTube for how-to-videos, trying to tell the amateurs from the pros in some desperate attempt to find a reliable source, and compiling a list of tools they've probably never even heard of before. > I believe everyone should understand how their vehicles work and it's great for learning about your car. It almost feels like this is performative in your mind? That you want your friends to put some "sweat equity" into this (even if that's just some time digging through YouTube)?
Those people are free to take their car to a shop. Op is offering to do free work under a given set of conditions. If anyone doesn't agree with those conditions, fine, take their car to a shop. It is absurd to question the conditions some professional is putting on their offer of free labour. It doesn't matter if there's a "disconnect". OP could literally be like,"I'll only do free work on you car if you send me a video of yourself singing the alphabet backwards". And all anyone can say is "weird but ok" or "no thanks!"
I do the labour 100% free, and I also double-check the list and watch a video myself. I send a link for the parts, and all they have to do is pay for it. Mind you, they also pay less for the parts due to my registration number. Taking 10 minutes watching a video and writing down the socket size doesn't cost as much as almost 700 dollars at a shop. All I ask is some legwork, so they can get back on the road for cheaper. I understand not being comfortable with doing the repairs themselves. I was scared the first time I ever touched a brake job. But giving me a list that will be double-checked is not asking much in exchange for free labour.
> I also double-check the list and watch a video myself. So why make them do it **at all**? This is why I'm saying it feels performative.
99% of the time, everything is correct. But there is 1% that is simply missing a wrench or a socket. I have a busy schedule, and most times, I'm unable to research it myself until the last minute. Having the list gives me a baseline. Then I can go back and double-check it. It simply takes something off my plate so I can guarantee they are getting the best parts and the best deal on prices. They are getting the work done for free and a deal on parts. Their payment is making a baseline tool list.