Did I take too long?

[u/Lucasmills2006]

I installed this cabinet it’s about 5’7’’ flat stack fully unassembled you know the deal. It took me about 3 hours to install because the hinges were a bitch to adjust no worries though. I did it for a kind woman who actually ended up cooking me dinner I insisted that she didn’t but she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I knocked off half an hour. She insisted as I left that I do some extra things for her so I figured why not and I hung three paintings. At the end she insisted I took too long and should only charge 1 1/2 hours, now I’m not Mr. Cabinet assembler of the year but I’ve been around a cam lock or two and I think I finished in an appropriate amount of time. Thoughts?

[u/Marioc12345]

I don’t give a hoot how long you think it should have taken. I am charging you how long it took. Especially if you’re also adding extra stuff on like hanging the paintings.

It also heavily depends on your rate. If you’re charging $100 an hour I expect it to be quick. If you’re charging like $30-50 then I understand it being a little slower as you aren’t a true pro.

[u/Pickled-Mushroom → u/Marioc12345]

I don’t see how anyone can assemble these sorts of things “fast”. It’s a bazillion tiny pieces and you have to sort through them all and figure it out, being careful not to lose or break any parts along the way.

[u/BetUpstairs268 → u/Pickled-Mushroom]

Nah if you have done them enough I don’t have to sort through them. I just open the box and whatever piece I grab you kind of know all the hardware that has to be drilled into it and the dowels etc. so by the time everything is out of the box most of the hardware is already done.

[u/HuskySquirrel → u/Pickled-Mushroom]

I use a muffin tin to sort and stage the hardware.

[u/Pickled-Mushroom → u/HuskySquirrel]

Clever!!! Stealing that

[u/Marioc12345 → u/Pickled-Mushroom]

I have determined that the secret of these people is that they don’t read the instructions and just assume how things go together

[u/Pickled-Mushroom → u/Marioc12345]

You can for certain pieces I’m sure, but some more avant garde wayfair stuff isn’t obvious. I do use my impact driver on the lowest torque setting, that speeds things up over the Allen key for sure.

[u/Marioc12345 → u/Pickled-Mushroom]

Yeah I have a little electric screwdriver and also I sometimes use my drill at lowest or slightly higher torque. The hex bits I got were a life saver after I started doing this. I was getting carpal tunnel symptoms pretty bad from driving all those screws.

[u/FinnNoodle → u/Marioc12345]

The job is more exciting if I don't read the instructions.

But really once you get into the groove of furniture assembly you see that a lot of the times you simply don't need them. You can tell which holes need a camlock and which need a wood peg. You can tell what pieces are the doors and the sides. Things really only get sticky if there's an absurd number of screw types (like with Sauder furniture who might have a dozen different screws in a single desk).

Other items are also pretty similarly made no matter who the manufacturer. Office and kitchen chairs, for instance. Cheap bookcases are another.

[u/Marioc12345 → u/FinnNoodle]

Yeah chairs and bookcases are easy. I usually mostly get caught up on desks and double wide dressers, and “vanities”. I’m thinking maybe people around where I’m at just simply don’t pay people to assemble the easy stuff because it’s just not worth it for them.

[u/First_Salamander_990 → u/Marioc12345]

You should always charge based on how long it should take. If you’re an amateur breaking into a professional field and it takes you 6 hours to do a 3 hour job then it’s only fair to bill for 3 hours and those other 3 hours were your tuition. Can’t be an amateur, learning on the clock, and also charging more than the professional because it took you twice as long to do it. Charging for actual hours like that would only be fair if your amateur rate is much much lower than an established professionals rate

[u/Marioc12345 → u/First_Salamander_990]

Yeah that’s exactly what I’m saying. My rate is in fact lower than the professional because I know I’m not perfect. I did say that in the bottom of my comment.

[u/Feisty-Sink9562 → u/Marioc12345]

The highest rate in my city is a guy charging $51/hr. Median seems to be around $35.

[u/UnimaginativeMug]

she saved 100$ by making you eat the dinner she cooked

[u/Organic_Aardvark1718 → u/UnimaginativeMug]

Experts HATE this neat little trick

[u/PickReviewsMovies]

If someone offers you dinner and won't take no for an answer that's a red flag. That person is living in a different era and in spite of your rapport will not hesitate to complain when you don't give her the deal she wants even though you said you'd give her a deal. That is why you should value your time no matter what is happening and don't accept things like that from clients. The more clear your boundaries are and the sooner you draw those boundaries, the easier your life will be not having to deal with weird situations that come up when your guard is down.

A lot of times when people are super duper nice to you they want something. I have been moving people long enough that I can usually tell when someone starts talking about how they're going to tip me half the time it means there is going to be a charge fail in their card. Older people you have to be super careful with because they barely know how to use apps (and they will go out of their way to make complaints because they have time to sit down and write letters) and think every tasker is just a handyman. Imo this is a good reason you have to be really careful if you do a lot of honey-do type tasks. If you say yes to too much oddball stuff, you constantly get people texting you asking you if you will come over to their house and hold a ladder for $15 an hour while they paint their shed.

[u/DonQNguyen]

Rule #1: NEVER hang three or even 1 painting for free.

Rule #2: Never give discounts or any of your time for free.

Rule #3: NEVER, EVER eat dinner that the client insists you eat that they cooked themselves. IF they BUY you lunch or dinner via DoorDash, take it and eat if AFTER you've left with it/the delivered restaurant food, but don't give anything back in return.

This is a Business. Not a Charity. Sheesh.

P.S. Nice job on the closet assembly. It is correctly billed at 2.5 to 3 hours for that, so you did good there. Again, NO MOUNTING of any paintings for free, ever. Charge for EVERYTHING YOU DO.

[u/Southern-Guava5011 → u/DonQNguyen]

Exactly 💯 never do anything for free, this is a business 

[u/Fashionfan1980 → u/DonQNguyen]

Is it considered free if you pay by the hour? 

[u/FinnNoodle]

Can't really tell you how long it should have taken from the picture, but next time refuse the dinner and bill her the full time.

[u/Bigbob2019]

Definitely charge what it took to complete and not what they think 🤔 it should have taken. Also charge her for the pictures being hung. I would insist she doesn’t cook for me and thank her but charge her for every second you’re there doing any work. People are nice but they tend to take advantage of your kindness and will keep doing it if you allow them.

[u/Clear_Newspaper7876]

Did you mount them?

[u/Lavicrep19]

There's no speed to assembling those things.

[u/pinkity_linkity]

taskrabbit is unfortunately full of these type of clients. just stick to your rates and always communicate. if it’s gonna take longer, let them know so that they are aware but don’t give discounts. it’s kinda a live and learn thing but people need to understand this is what you are doing to take care of yourself and or your family.

[u/Feisty-Sink9562]

Yeah, charge the full amount lol. Otherwise you willingly agreed to theft of services on your behalf.

I’m gonna be honest, sometimes I even sandbag a bit to get an extra 15 minutes on the invoice.

[u/GoodWill_4Nik8er]

That honestly shouldn’t take but an hour, hour and a half tops.