No, but it sounds like she’s priced the unskilled (probably illegal immigrant) day laborers who hang out in the Home Depot parking lot.
I think that’s it.
I never disguised this in any way as a party. I provided the food and drinks because that’s what decent people do when people are over doing you a favor. You try to make it as easy as possible for them. No one came over intending to party, they came over to help a friend that has helped them in the past and will again in the future. Many of them have specifically said to us “let us know how we can help.” I guess we live in a friendly area, lucky us. We even had a neighbor come over and help when he saw what we were doing, we didn’t even have to ask! But I guess he must have been there because he was tricked.
But obviously this is a different situation than you have with your own friends and family so there’s no use trying to explain it any further than I already have. If people didn’t want to help or just had other things to do that day we had no problems with it, and we never try to trick our friends into coming over :rolleyes:.
ok. That’s one assumption. Here’s the deal - Home Depot does roofing. It would have cost more than $10 an hour to hire roofers. I never said it wouldn’t. As I have mentioned, my husband does skilled labor work and many of our friends work in construction. We know how much things cost and how much skilled labor is worth, probably better than most people. Here are the issues:
- This guy is not a roofer.
- We did not hire him.
Wow, sometimes some threads just make you sit back and marvel at how differently people view the world.
Between myself and my friends favors are traded quite frequently. No roofing favors so far, but plenty of moving and painting requests. I’m never offended to help out friends. Pizza and beer are always gratis with such endeavors, and no one has ever asked for any other compensation. We all just devote however much time we can spare. I fear for the state of good will and charity if a similar percentage of people outside this board feel the same way about helping friends for crying out loud, let alone strangers.
Don’t know how your husband will act around the guy now, Velma, but asking for money after the fact just seems rude. This would squarely put all of my interactions with the guy in the “professional” category, and would take some effort for me to treat him in any other regard. But hey, that’s just me, right?
Edit: Oh, and to actually answer your questions, since your husband already agreed to pay I’d say go ahead and do so. Just don’t ask for this guy’s help anymore unless compensation is definitively settled on beforehand (which seems like too much of a hassle really…).
I can’t even remember how many times I’ve helped someone for beer and snacks, certainly more than I asked in return. I usually enjoyed it, especially if it was some specialty I was knowledgable in. To ask for cash afterward is just crass. This guy is either a scammer or totally lacking in social skills. To pay him now would be an insult to the other volunteers and I would tell him that. I don’t even like people who try to keep close track of the relative value of of favors, that usually destroys the spirit of the friendships involved.
Try to be very tactful, but do not give this guy cash!
I have done tons of these favors (and been on the receiving end of close to that many)
I think that Jodi and OneCentStamp got it right.
Explain to the crew from work that there had been a mis-understanding and offer them all the $100. If they take it fine, if they don’t fine.
However, when the guy that takes the $100 needs a favor, tell him upfront that it is going to cost him.
Need your car tuned up? Sure, no problem, tune ups are $100. Need to remodel a bathroom? I’d be happy to for $100/day. Need… You get the picture.
Yeah I mean its obviously a really good situation you have just made me think about my friend who DOES try to trick us. I personally think you should tell this guy to kiss your delicious ass. There is a reason you don’t price your service after the fact because you can just come up with some arbitrary amount the person hiring you might not agree to. oh yeah…and you didn’t hire him! He knew what he was giving into and 100 dollars is a lot of money. Think about how many beers that could buy! Don’t give it to him. There are times to throw money at the problem but this is not one of them.
I’ve helped many friends with various jobs. As long as the pizza was plentiful and the beer flowed freely, everyone was always happy. I’d give the dude his Benjamin, but that would be the last I would ever communicate with him. Furthermore, I would share the story, creating a pariah. That way, people would understand why he was paid and they were not. I can be nasty, I guess, but this guy deserves it.
Well it’s good to see that most people seem to know what I am talking about in terms of favors with friends…I was starting to think we lived in some sort of pseudo-Amish barn raising community or something 
After reading all the responses, I think I agree with those who are saying to either politely tell him there was a misunderstanding and we didn’t agree to cash, or else offer all 3 co-workers money so they realize what happened. My main concern is that the other co-workers not be slighted. However, my husband now seems to be set on paying him since he already said he would (although under pressure.) He doesn’t want to tell the other co-workers. I will go along with it since it is his work, but I hope this doesn’t backfire on him.
Thanks for the responses, all - this has been interesting to see how others view favors from both sides.
Offer the other two cow-orkers $200 each. They’ll turn it down, but make sure it gets back to Greedy smurf.
If he confronts your husband about it, have him refer the guy to the parable of the vineyard workers. Substitute “case of beer” for “denarius” as needed. 
I’d invite the guy over for dinner and then give him a bill.
WHAT?! ARE YOU KIDDING?! VELMA!! Under no circumstances are you to feed this man. Unless its a KNUCKLE SANDWICH. Seriously though, Do not pay him!
Edit: Okay I prematurely flipped my shit when I read “give him a bill” i thought you meant “give him a 100 dollar bill” what you really meant is a good idea. Or you could go to HIS house then send him a bill for an “appearance fee”
How did I wind up in there 
:dubious: