to charge or not to charge?

89comp · Posted: Jun 12, 2003 6:54 pm Post subject: to charge or not to charge?

Here's a question for ya: When you take friends out, do you ask them to chip in for gas? I usually ask for $5 a head (all the runs you want), but rarely get it. I'm always looking for a third so I don't want to burn any bridges, but if they don't pay then they are freeloading. Do you all ask for mula or not?

Du'Syth · Posted: Jun 12, 2003 7:09 pm Post subject:

To quote a T-Shirt we sell at the shop,

My boat runs on Gas, not Thanks...

I only ask, when they dont pay, regardless, im a poor mofo, i need the money, unless your a chick, then you pay less, or if your a hot chick, then you pay nothing Mr. Green

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

The moment you start asking for money you open yourself up for a lawsuit. If someone gets hurt and sues your insurance won't protect you because you are running a business or charter. However your friends should know gas is expensive and that they should help out. I've never asked for money but my friends always offer. Of course they see the cost because I load everyone into the truck and make it a point to stop and gas up the boat on the way home. Then they usually split the gas cost.

Butta Seeka · Posted: Jun 12, 2003 7:35 pm Post subject:

thats a good idea nor*cal, i do ask for money but they sometimes dont pay so i just dont invit them back out

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

I never ask for money, & I rarely take it when it's offered. I enjoy my time in my boat & don't want to get wrapped up in that issue. With that said, people that don't respect my boat or the people in it don't get asked out again & if it's really bad they get dumped off early. We usually need a third & it's worth it to us for good company. (Then again, we're rarely out with a whole load of people, it's usually just 2 extras - not that much more in gas money over what we use.)

gryffin · Criminal Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 89 City: SoCal

Money is always a touchy issue. So I always fill up at the gas station like norcal and they usually just chip in there. It works well, and you don't have to ask.

89comp · Posted: Jun 13, 2003 4:25 am Post subject:

I tried the filling up thing and people just run inside and buy chips that just end up on the floor of the boat. Mad

graphik · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 727 City: miller lake

W O W, I love that T-shirt slogan, " my boat run's on gas..." I may make one of those up.

We had an old boat last year and it really sucked the gas. Most people bought gas before we went out. This year I now have an inboard, and believe it or not, it's a lot better on gas than the old boat. I usually never ask for gas, but I always mention that I had to fill it up or something and people pay. We use gas cans to fill it at the dock as the pump is too far away, so most people usually buy a can full of gas. So it works out fin for me.

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

I'm lwit gusthecat,
Prefer not to get into that issue. If they want to chip in fine, if not fine. It's usually tough to get a third at 6 AM around here so anyone that makes it out of bed that early deserves a free ride, IMO. And, an extra 20 bucks won't bankrupt me anyway. One thing, they must respect the boat and help with docking, etc. I'm not the tour operator.

Dees · Posted: Jun 13, 2003 5:24 am Post subject:

89comp, if you ask and they dont pay then they shouldn't get another invite on the boat. There are plenty of people out there that are willing to pay for gas.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

Yeah RanMan, it can be very difficult to get a third at that time of morning & it should be rewarded. Asking for gas money just isn't my thing.

With that said I think that if you do ask for money, like Parker Lewis said, they should absolutely pay. It's your boat & you're doing them the favor of providing entertainment at a very measurable cost to you. In fact the gas money might be the least expensive part of operating the boat. It's well within a person's right to ask for some help with the gas money. (Okay, I'm finished playing devil's advocate for now.)

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 13, 2003 8:51 am Post subject:

Two things make my boat run Gas or grass, you don't have either you might as well stay home cuz their ain't no room for freeloaders. Most of my homies have boats so we all switch up but since I got the Team it has been mainly behind my rig. My buddy that manages the shop gave me a FREE Parks Carbon handle in trade for all the pulls he gets...now that's a deal...

bluefish86 · Posted: Jun 13, 2003 9:45 am Post subject:

Wake upPp · Soul Rider Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 338 City: NOR-CAL

5 bucks for "all the runs you want"... where do i sign up? i'll be more than happy to sign a release too.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

My buddy Chris is my constant 2nd. He makes it a point to throw the cash down at the gas station. This usually gets the funds flowing from the others. I've never had to ask. The only people I don't take money from are girls and people who have never been out with us. Got to hook them like it's a drug.

byerly2003 · Criminal Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 82 City: Nashville

I usually just tell people upfront before they come out with us, anyone that boards has to chip in on gas. If thier just along for the ride and swimming I could care less, but boarding is what eats up all the fuel. You have to pay to play.

dane · Posted: Jun 16, 2003 3:32 pm Post subject:

I had a sticker on the back of my boat, where the people boarded into it that said "Even yo' momma didn't ride for FREE" People usually chipped in.

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jun 17, 2003 11:20 am Post subject:

It all depends on the situation and who it is. When there's first timers and people along for the boat ride I don't expect people to pay. Hot chicks don't have to pay, but this girl I'm dating always throws down cash or takes me out to eat in exchange (She rides w/me 2-4 days/week). She was brought up around boats and knows what's up.

We also rotate boats a bit and now we just don't charge each other, I think we had the same $10 bill going around for a while and decided it was stupid. What comes around goes around w/that crew.

Then there's my regular crew who rides on a regular basis, they help out w/gas, cleaning supplies and other odds n ends stuff. Usually when I ride w/that crew I end up paying nothing because I've been riding w/them long enough for them to realize how much $$ and work I've put into the Dixie.

In general I'll take what people offer in most cases, but I will call out the freeloaders. I'll let it slide once or twice then let them know what's up. The other day I was riding w/one of bros, he just had a kid and is really strapped for cash and loves to ride. He tried to give me $$. I wouldn't accept it cause he needs it more than I do and I hook my bros up.