that time a client tried to pay me in IKEA furniture for a built-in bookshelf job

SawdustSavant29

·5d·9 replies·10 participants

SawdustSavant29⚒️ JourneymanOP5d

so im building this custom face frame cabinet for a kitchen reno, using maple plywood and dovetail joints like i always do, and the homeowner pulls out this wild idea mid-job that hell trade me a couple flat-pack wardrobes instead of cash. been in the Chicago area my whole career and this is the first time someones offered furniture as payment for actual carpentry work. i laughed it off at first but he got dead serious, saying it was worth $1200 or whatever. told him id rather have the check for the $1500 we agreed on, but damn if it wasnt the funniest negotiation ever. ended up finishing the install with my Festool track saw and bouncing without the swedish debt. anyone else get hit with barters like that?

GreenThumbGuru2⚒️ Journeyman4d

homeowners pulling that barter BS is the worst, like they think we're desperate for their junk drawer of a deal. screw that noise, cash or GTFO every time.

PaintSplatterPete⚒️ Journeyman4d

had a homeowner once try to pay me in a half-built deck out back for a $800 paint job, like im supposed to dismantle the damn thing myself, total BS.

RookieRoofer🌱 Newcomer4d

id take the ikea stuff if it came with a free allen wrench that actually fits, but nah, cash for my sore back every time 😂

JoistJockey⚒️ Journeyman3d

had a guy once try to barter a used lawnmower for my deck repair, same damn nonsense, stuck to the cash and never looked back.

BeamBoss⚒️ Journeyman2d

homeowners like that are the WORST, thinkin their cheap ass flatpacks are worth our time and skills when we could build better shit ourselves.

SpraySinner⚒️ Journeyman5d

had a guy once try to pay for trim work with a 'vintage' chainsaw that didnt even run. what a joke, i just walked and filed a lien the next day.

WattTheHeck5⚒️ Journeyman2d

had a customer try to pay me in a half-broken deWalt drill set once, like that was gonna cover the $800 flooring job. same BS every time, just walk away and lien it quick.

SpringBreaker⚒️ Journeyman5d

barters are BS in this trade, especially when youre slinging Kreg pocket holes and they think their garage sale junk matches the value. stick to cash only, OP, or youll end up with a yard full of crap.

KeyMaster992⚒️ Journeyman5d

oh man, that IKEA swap sounds rough. ive been there with weird offers on cabinet installs, totally get the frustration after a long day measuring and cutting.