I'm done with fixing other people's bikes

[All uphill]

Which would be equivalent for the time spent. Maybe these things really ought to be returned to proper barter.

Can you fix my PC?
Sure, can you dig the foundations for the shed I want in my garden?

Can you fix my puncture?
Sure, can you do my ironing?

I like that idea a lot.

The thought that my ironing is being done while I change a bottom bracket is very appealing.

 

[ColinJ]

Friend of mine used to wear a T-Shirt saying "No I will not fix your computer".

I won't either, not worth the hassle!

I should have worn one of them. My ex used to get me to fix her computer a couple of times a year. She would stand behind me every time telling me that I didn't need to update any drivers, to leave her cache alone (she had read that it speeds up computers so those 3.8 GB couldn't possibly be causing the slow down), she hadn't put all those system files on the computer so they obviously didn't need to be there, and so on...

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Same for me with computers. I was a programmer, a computer was simply a tool for me. Sure, I got to know a bit about them, and maybe more than many/most folk but that didn't qualify me as any kind of expert - and I was getting hardware & software questions, windows, peripherals.... I'd help IF I could but eventually denied all knowledge. It was easier that way.

Truth is, I should have been more confident in the first place and simply said 'no'. You want to help but sometimes just end up making life hard for yourself.

I used to get that too. “Ask GC, he likes playing with computers.” WTF? It was my job.

I never heard anyone saying, ‘Ask Joe, he likes playing with electricity” when someone wanted their oven fixed.

IT seems to be the one field where people expect work for naff all.

 

[dicko]

An old boy beside the road with his Honda 70 not starting I stopped and had a look. Picked the Honda up put it in my trailer and took it home. One week later rode it around to his home told him it was a bent valve I charged him £5. He then gave me two Honda 50s which I did up and sold quite easily. It pays to help others.

 

[Punkawallah]

I used to get that too. “Ask GC, he likes playing with computers.” WTF? It was my job.

I never heard anyone saying, ‘Ask Joe, he likes playing with electricity” when someone wanted their oven fixed.

IT seems to be the one field where people expect work for naff all.

Well, it’s not as if you actually -do- any work, is it? ;-) You just push buttons, or tell people to ‘turn it off, then turn it back on again!
(Ducks)

 

[Dogtrousers]

That reminds me I promised to fix up my sister's bike. Must be a year ago now. I'd forgotten all about it.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

That reminds me I promised to fix up my sister's bike. Must be a year ago now. I'd forgotten all about it.

I bet she forgot before you. If it’s been this long, then no point offering again to fix. She isn’t that bothered about riding it.

 

[mustang1]

Shame, really. But remember if someone takes advantage of your generosity, it’s on them, not you.
When I worked I’d fix the bikes for people at work for whatever the parts cost me. When I finished, I said I’d still do it, but I’d add £10 ‘for me’. They have no problem with it, and usually make it £20.

I think my English is no good and I've heard this expression before "on them". What does it mean by "it's on them" - what is on them?

 

[Paulus]

I think my English is no good and I've heard this expression before "on them". What does it mean by "it's on them" - what is on them?

Their responsibility.

 

[C R]

I think my English is no good and I've heard this expression before "on them". What does it mean by "it's on them" - what is on them?

On this case it means that the taking advantage will be on their conscience.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Try being a driving instructor. Friends, relatives and friends of friends expect you to teach them to drive for nothing or next to nothing. I once had a neighbour I barely knew knock on my door and ask me how much lessons were. When I told him he asked me how much I charged on my day off. I asked him where he worked and when it turned out to be Fords in Dagenham I asked how much he charged them when he worked his days off.

He still didn't get it.

 

[BigSid]

... asked me how much I charged on my day off.

Double time's the standard answer.

 

[BigSid]

I used to help others but like many of you have found it can get to be a pain. Nowadays IF I feel like it I'll quite happily show or tell them how to fix whatever the problem is then hopefully they never need to ask me to solve it again.

 

[Drago]

Nice thing about being a copper was no one was besting a path to my door asking me to arrest them for free on my day off.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Nice thing about being a copper was no one was besting a path to my door asking me to arrest them for free on my day off.

Yep. One of the few jobs where you weren’t asked to do a homer. 😅