Double take - Down the Drain

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amother

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 10:31 pm

(I think that's what it was called. )

story is about a plumber who was helped by a friend who was a contractor. The contractor sent him tons of clients and helped him build his business up. In recognition, the plumber gave his friend large discounts whenever he hired him. But after a while, plumber grew resentful because he was taking a big loss with thise jobs. He confronted his friend telling him that he has to start charging him what he charges all of his other clients.

My take: I think the contractor was totally blameless. All he did was help his friend. The plumber seems very extreme going from charging his friend 1/4 of the price he normally charged to full price. He said that he doubled and tripled his prices from when he started, but he gave his friend a steep discount. Why couldn't he charge his friend full price but take off 10 percent, or whatever. Meaning, he could have given him some discount without feeling like he was taking such a huge loss.

Ihatepotatoes ↓

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 10:37 pm

amother OP wrote:

I agree.

It's a perfect example of what happens when a person bottles up resentment instead of communicating about it. He let it grow from job to job instead of bringing it up and being open about it, and like you said, start giving him a slightly smaller discount etc.

amother

Aquamarine ↓

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 11:01 pm

I disagree the contractor had a very conceited attitude sort of like he owns the plumber is indebted to him his entire life because he helped him get his business running and recommended him to a few friends
He says his success is because he recommended him to others while that is true he also became popular because he's a great plumber!

singleagain

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 11:01 pm

https://mishpacha.com/down-the-drain/

Link for those that need.

And I've seen ppl advise to not have a family and friends discount, especially if it's a small business or more of a hobby type of gig. Bc they will take advantage and you will get resentful

↑ Ihatepotatoes

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 11:03 pm

amother Aquamarine wrote:

Oh, that's true. But the plumber could've softened the blow by being open and communicative.

amother

↑ Aquamarine

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 11:05 pm

Ihatepotatoes wrote:

Oh, that's true. But the plumber could've softened the blow by being open and communicative.

The answer to all double takes COMMUNICATION

amother

Jasmine

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 11:11 pm

It wasn't just discounts, it was priority service.

I don't think the contractor is entitled to steep discounts and priority over other clients indefinitely.

amother

Lemon

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 3:07 am

I think the plumber was technically correct but he never communicated and that was frustrating. It sounded like if he'd told the contractor five years ago, listen, prices are going up, I'll still give you a discount but I'm raising prices on you too, the contractor would have accepted that. And he could have revisited that conversation every year. Instead he just said nothing, stewed about it for years, then dumped a massive jump on the guy, that's really not a good way to go about things.

JasmineDragon

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 4:17 am

amother Lemon wrote:

Yeah, he had every right to raise his prices but it was a shock to the contractor that way. I don't think the contractor has any right to demand a continued discount, and the plumber has more than paid him back, but it's not great to quadruple your prices on someone.

amother

Puce

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 4:29 am

Yes the plumber should have communicated better, but that’s not why the contractor wa upset . He seemed to think he should get priority and a huge discount forever, bc he helped someone start out. That’s ridiculous

Bnei Berak 10

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 5:02 am

To outright say "He succeeded because of me" is arrogant and definitely not the Torah way.

amother

Broom

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 5:19 am

amother OP wrote:

I disagree. I think the contractor actually behaved in an entitled manner. He expected priority treatment, and heavily discounted prices no less. On top of that, he seems to think this arrangement needs to last a lifetime. In other words, he was taking advantage of the person whom he had helped out a couple of years ago.

If you help someone out, does that person now owe you for the rest of his life? True, the plumber could have handled this much better, communicated appropriately and gradually raised prices. But expecting a lifetime of favors, just because you helped someone out is very wrong.

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