What do you do when you run a business, turn up to do a job and discover it only takes you two minutes?

I charge $65.00 + GST for the first half hour, which is pretty much standard for retic blokes, but it always seems a bit much if its a two minute job and ‘on the way home’.

I don’t mind charging that if people get me to drive a reasonable distance or make a special trip, but last week I had two very small jobs back to back where I’m sure I could have hit the person for the full amount, but I knew that wasn’t fair or reasonable.

Job 1 was a small job for an older couple who call me every year without fail. I had estimated $80.00 over the phone. I wasn’t sure if it really was a ‘small job’, as I’ve heard that before and sometimes it isn’t a small job at all… However she ended up calling half an hour before I was to come to let me know she had lost the cash she was going to pay me. I told her I’d swing by on my way home and fix it for free as she was a regular. I ended up taking 3 minutes to replace a dripper. What would you charge for that anyway?…

Then the next job involved removing a riser and screwing one back in. Five minutes tops.

The process I take with these jobs is to tell people what I usually charge, but then invite them to choose a figure they think its fair. I reckon its a winner because no one ever feels ripped off when they get to choose the amount – and it also appeals to people’s better nature.

She chose $50.00 and we were all happy.

So I reckon that’s the answer. Put the ball back in their court and let them choose a figure they think is fair. So far everyone has been fair to generous in how they have responded. One person even paid me more than was due…