O/T What would you do

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2008

I have opportunity to bid on a fire break job. My friend does the same kind of work, and is bidding on the same job. I know I can probably get the job, because he is always high. Now my friend is three months behind on his house payment, which is a rental He has no family. and lives in a run down house as a caretaker of the property. Should I say this is not my problem, and bid on the job. I can walk away with 4,000 in a few days. Stan

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2008

I would bid on the job like I don't know anything about the other guys problems. If he can't bid reasonable then he won't get it whether you bid or not. OR, could you and him do the job together and split the dough?godspeed

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2008

You wont be freinds after if you do.How much does his freindship mean to you?I would at least discuss it with him first.If he does the same kind of work and is competing with you I sure dont have the answer.How about bid it high and see what happens.Any discussion between you and him about the actual bid is illegal.

Bill in NorthCentral PA · Sep 16, 2008

What about subcontracting the work from him (assuming he can get the job) for your bid amount. It gives him some cashflow for doing nothing, AND lets him go do other work to make some more money.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2008

If your friend is a businessman he should understand that, not all work will come his way if he bids the job. You win some and you lose some. You must ask yourself if the shoe were on the other foot would your friend consider your situation.I have been self-employed for 22 years, I have bid jobs against friends and they have bid against me. It just business, if you can help him out by sending work his way then do that.

2x4 · Sep 16, 2008

what makes you think he would use the money to pay the rent or any of his bills? He may be just as irresponsible with the money as without it. If he does get the money he may make more trouble for himself than if he didn't get and you'd be doing him a favor. Take the money.

bradk · Sep 16, 2008

Bid it out.Business is business.Friendship has nothing to do with it.

Fawteen · Sep 16, 2008

Which is why I'll never be rich. Can't bring myself to screw anybody, much less a friend, just for some money.

bradk · Sep 16, 2008

No "screwing"going on.

The friend could learn something here.Make a reasonable bid and get more work! I always enjoy a little competition!

MarkB_MI · Sep 16, 2008

A friend like that isn't much of an asset, and you're no doubt better off without him. However, if it were me and I knew a friend (even a sorry one) was bidding on a job, I'd have a hard time bidding against him.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2008

I guess I'd be tempted to make a bid on it. If you don't, then that means that your business suffers. Your friend has gotten himself into a real bind, and sounds like forclosure is pretty much unavoidable for him at this point. Business is business like someone else has already said. The world of business isn't to make friends and no money. I think the future is going to be far tougher as the U.S settles into the second depression.

Jim H. SW-PA · Sep 16, 2008

Friends don;'t get mad at friends, so if he is a real business man, he will understand what the bidding process is about.

Sounds like he only bids on jobs most people don't want, to make the big bucks and less working time And that put him where he is financially.

I'd tell him you are going to bid on the job too,unless you know how much he bid. This is the only way he could be upset.

WantACaseLASomeday · Sep 16, 2008

Always look a a way for everyone to win. Join up for that one job. You can do it together in half the time, for half the money. Everyone wins.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 17, 2008

How badly do you need the work? If you aren't really suffering and are just trying to make a quick buck, you could lose a friendship. Dave

Anonymous-0 · Sep 17, 2008

Maybe your buddy needs a wakeup call. Friendship should run both ways or it's not really a friendship. In your place, I'd tell him straight out that you plan on bidding a fair price for the job. You could beat him out or someone else could knock you both out. If it's a true friend, he should know that you wouldn't cut his throat (and vice/versa). Like the saying: If you loan a friend 20 bucks and never see him again, it was a good investment.

Good Luck.

Dave

Hills of TN · Sep 17, 2008

If I was also hurting for the money, I would make him an offer to share the job/bid. If not hurting for the money, I would walk away. (I understand that business is business, but I suspect that is what Judas said on his last business deal).

I generally don"t like to buy friendships or sell them, but I have found that both of those shortcomings have contributed to my lack of wealth!

jose bagge · Sep 17, 2008

If he's high, he won't get the job anyway...and you won't either if you don't bid.
You could always win the job and hire him on.

how's he behind on rent if he's living in a house on a caretaker deal? sounds shakey...

RodinNS · Sep 17, 2008

I'd probably leave it alone unless I needed it badly.
It's easy for some to say business is business and he should grow up, etc....... but in reality that's not how it shakes out most times.
You probably know better than us whether he's the kind of guy to get upset about it or not.
I know guys who I can bid with, out bid, BE outbid and at the end of the day nothing will change. I also know some who would get a snot in their nose about the slightest little thing, with no apperant reason or logic to it... and I'm pretty good firends with both. Those types of deals are worth more to stay clear of, unless you don't feel you're losing anything by losing the 'friend'.

Rod

Spook · Sep 17, 2008

I would put int your normal bid, if you win, hire him to do the work. If the numbers work out, you could make a little bit on the job, give him most for labor. You both win. But he might have a bunch of drama in his life?

RossIL · Sep 17, 2008

It sounds to me like your friends' always bid high strategy isn't working out that well for him. If you're worried about what to do tell him you're going to bid the job at "X" if he wants to put that bid in fine he can have the job, you won't undercut him. If he says that's too low and won't do it then fine you take the job. My opinion, it sounds like he bids himself out of work.

ELD · Sep 17, 2008

Business is business. Is it your fault hes in the situation hes in? No. Then you shouldnt worry about out-bidding him.

O/T What would you do

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