by flit .
Member since:
August 11, 2006

Well it SEEMED like a good idea ...

November 08, 2007 04:55 PM EST
views: 98 | rating: 10/10 (27 votes) | comments: 53

A kid - looked to be about 14 or thereabouts - rang my doorbell and offered to rake my lawn for $15 today. We're not into raking, so ....

Less than an hour later he rang the doorbell wanting to be paid. Excuse me? I suggested that it did not look like it had been properly raked.

"Well, I don't have a proper rake"

So - you can use mine - I think it's in the garage.

"It is right here"

Sure enough it was sitting right in front of the house - he chose to use his POS rake and do a lousy job rather than do it right. Didn't even TOUCH the part on either side of our walk to the front door - he said because he didn't want to go near the solar lights.

Oy!  What, he thought they might bite him?

I ended up giving him $10 ... gotta go to work; don't have time to point out all of the places he DIDN'T DO and wait while he does them - and sure didnt trust that I could pay him and leave.

I didn't expect perfect - but why bother if you're not going to at least make an effort? Definitely won't get any repeat business from me!

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Comments: 53

Sarah (is happy to be near a T.V.) G. Nov 8, 2007, 4:58pm EST
Teenagers suck sometimes. My brother used to figure out exactly the point where it was just enough so my mom would stop hassling him. Especially when it came to what few chores he did have or cleaning his room. I swear if he spent as much time cleaning as he did thinking about ways to get out of cleaning it would have been done right the first time@!
Debbie G. Nov 8, 2007, 5:00pm EST
That kid has a lot to learn.
Donna Besso Nov 8, 2007, 5:10pm EST
One time it took my son 4 days to mow the lawn. The yard was the size of a postage stamp.
wiaka's just ... curious Nov 8, 2007, 5:11pm EST
Sorry Flit; but I wouldn't have paid him. If he worked for any company he wouldn't have lasted long, he would have been told "Don't bother to show up again."
Kids to day want something for nothing. I would have asked him for his parents phone number and talked to them; before paying him anything.

Now what did he learn?


Blessings
Paula Love Nov 8, 2007, 5:12pm EST
thats why I do everything myself, lol
Paula Love Nov 8, 2007, 5:15pm EST
I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to yard work and housework... not that i do it so much, but when I do it... I want it done right! So, I do it myself. I get aggrevated at myself watching the kids try to do something half a**ed to get some money and I let them get by with it... so I just quit letting them try to earn money when they really aren't concerned about the job they're doing.. just the money. Whatever happened to taking pride in something they do?
Wilma M. Nov 8, 2007, 5:17pm EST
Every so often during the summer, some little kid shows up and offers to mow my lawn. I always turn them down, even though I could use the help. I'm always afraid it would turn out like your raking job. I don't think I would have given him $10, maybe $5
Lacey K. Nov 8, 2007, 5:20pm EST
Kids are so lazy sometimes. I'm sorry you didn't get what you expected.
Jodi V. Nov 8, 2007, 5:41pm EST
Geez. And my mother says I'm too hard on my kids when I make them re-do something until it is perfect (or nearly so). Duh -- do it right the first time!
My beloved son thinks I'm horrible when i suggesst he do something right the first time so he and I do not need to have a discussion when he ~completes~ the task.
Boo C. Nov 8, 2007, 6:21pm EST
I like to watch the leaves when the go by the window.... why do humans need to put them into piles?
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:27pm EST
so the neighbours quit their whining and complaining, Boo ... not that it works... they just find something else to complain about.
Boo C. Nov 8, 2007, 6:31pm EST
As a feline of distinction, I would ignore the humans and do what I please! Meow.... do you have any snacks?
Boo C. Nov 8, 2007, 6:34pm EST
Grems said you were sick... are you better?
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:42pm EST
some... but not completely

couldn't cancel class though; they have a test - so I'm here anyway :(
Boo C. Nov 8, 2007, 6:43pm EST
meow~ do you have any snacks? grems is hiding my snacks....
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:45pm EST
got shrimp... it's curry though
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:45pm EST
don't know what I was thinking.... 2 days of not eating and then I order thai
Boo C. Nov 8, 2007, 6:47pm EST
seafood... hmmm grems doesn't let me eat that.... I make more furballs

not good for hhumans who do not feel well either..
Dan (Cowboy Up) V. Nov 8, 2007, 6:48pm EST
You were pretty generous! I'd have gve him hal for the half-ass job he did & told him if he wants the other half he can come back & finish it. Sorry, Boo..no snacks here either. C):-)
boo has gone to investigate the kitchen......

so flit... what were you thinking? Thai with curry?
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:50pm EST
guess you could have the carrots then...good for you

Scrooge likes them

time to go play teacher...soon I start, sooner I get to go home
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:51pm EST
don't like bland food ...and it was right beside the store I had to go to get stuff for class
the feline of distinction does not eat carrots, she plays hockey with them... go get this over with and go home.
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:52pm EST
I had a few shrimp and some of the vermicilli (plain) ... will leave the rest for when I feel better

have a good night
well how about stuff that is not as spicy?
goo Idea
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:52pm EST
headache is so bad I can't see straight... good night for a bit o' group work I thought

and then the test and then go away
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:54pm EST
they never do go away when I try to let them out early though

well except for one LOL he starts asking if he can leave about 10 minutes in
sounds like a plan, are you close to home or is it a long night tonight
send them away, turn green they will run like the dickens to get away...
flit . Nov 8, 2007, 6:55pm EST
45 minutes... cuz it's snowing/raining

really going now
nighters to flitters

becareful driving!
Bonnie S. Nov 8, 2007, 7:05pm EST
That's why I do it myself also. Sorry you got a bad deal.
Sheila Deeth Nov 8, 2007, 8:57pm EST
Glad you didn't let him keep you from where you were going.

Yeah, I'd probably have paid him some, just like you, and hoped for the best. We can always hope :)
Larry H. Nov 8, 2007, 9:29pm EST
my kids always found ways of not doing chores.
Kimberly Ripley Nov 8, 2007, 9:34pm EST
I hate to stereotype, but so many kids today look for the easy way out.
Sue * Nov 8, 2007, 10:08pm EST
I just think that few kids today have a decent work ethic...no explanation for it, but it makes me wonder how they will ever run this country!
elizabeth e. Nov 9, 2007, 6:50am EST
How are children/teenagers to learn a good work ethic if it is not modeled for them. I know in your busy work schedule flit, that was impossible. But for me, when I hire a young person, I work along side of them. By my industry, they see what is desired. Some come back looking for more work...others, pass me by!
Janet "Jax" B. Nov 9, 2007, 7:10am EST
Hmm...I'll send you Pher...he'll charge you more, but it will get done correctly.
flit . Nov 9, 2007, 9:22am EST
If I could rake, I'd do it myself.... but it is one of the activities that reminds me that I'm lucky to be here and as functional as I am - a head on collision at 80km/hour damn near took me out.

Can't rake, can't peel potatoes, can't use crutches, and washing small stuff like silverware gets to me in a hurry - but all things considered, I am very, very lucky!
Denise B. Nov 9, 2007, 9:23am EST
I agree with Dan,pay half for half a$$ job
Digital Diva S. Nov 9, 2007, 10:19am EST
Such is life - Some kids are too spoiled and busy today to complete a job - sorry you lost 10 bucks! If you only knew his mother...
Edward Nudelman Nov 9, 2007, 10:43am EST
oh man, frustrating, but, you know what, I at least like that he's going around looking for work. Perhaps he'll improve with oversight.
Andrea C. Nov 9, 2007, 11:12am EST
Sounds like every teenager i know, mine wouldn't even bother to rake, but he is horrible. He has to rake the back yard this weekend to make money to take the girlfriend to the movies. His money tree has dried up, he is not happy.
Robin"Buffy's Stunt Double" D. Nov 9, 2007, 11:48am EST
I think you were very generous, but then put in the spot after he did some work, it's hard not to pay something. That's a good rate. I usually offer my kids a good deal for raking our yard-I feed, clothe, and transport them around :) Actually, sometimes I toss in a $5 per kid if they seem motivated :)
Cyndie G. Nov 9, 2007, 11:57am EST
I'm a hairdresser and teenagers are notorious for not tipping!!! Usually, parents give them the money ($20.00 bill) for the cut and the tip, but the kids just keep the change for themselves. It really sucks, especially when the money was intended for that purpose.
flit . Nov 9, 2007, 12:15pm EST
oh oh...sounds like someone's in trouble again
Andrea "slackermom" R. Nov 9, 2007, 4:02pm EST
My husband won't let me hire kids to do yard work. He's afraid of liability if they get hurt on our property.

At least I get off the hook easily and get to blame someone that isn't home when they come knocking.
Carol Roach Nov 9, 2007, 11:42pm EST
yes I agree, don't give him work the next time, he has got to learn if he wants to get paid he has to do the job right.
Rebecca Winters Feb 20, 2008, 8:32am EST
That's unfortunate. I used to have some kids work for me and they always did a great job. But I was good friends with their mom and they probably knew she would give them hell if they didn't work hard enough for me.
Qpon Lady Nov 21, 2008, 8:37am EST
My teenagers have the same lazy "itis".

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