Since the cost of everyday services is rising all around, I have decided that my New Year’s resolution is to improve my skills in bargaining. I want to negotiate prices and ensure they stay fair in my community.
Today is December 31st. I took the back wheel off my motorcycle and placed it in my car boot. I was heading to the lathe shop to get it fixed. When I arrived, the machinist there asked me to take the tire off the rim. So, that’s what I did next.
I went to a nearest tire shop where they wanted to charge me 150 for a job I was almost done with myself. That price felt too high, so I negotiated it down to 100. I was really glad to settle on a fair price. But since they couldn’t promise not to scratch my rim, I decided to try another shop.
I visited another store, but they were too busy to assist me with simple tasks and sent me to a tire repair shop close by. When I got there, the shop was open, but no one was around. I glanced around and saw the tire repair man sleeping behind the air compressor after his lunch break, looking very down, while everyone else in town was hard at work.
I had the thought, “It’s New Year’s Eve, and this guy could use a little boost.” So, I woke him up and said, “I’ll give you 150 to remove the tire from the rim.” He smiled, clearly pleased to earn some cash on this quiet day.
Suddenly, I saw that I had already failed my financial goal for the New Year. But it seemed like the right choice – I think.
I hadn’t really considered the opportunity cost of my vehicle maintenance activity until you brought it up just now.
These are things I enjoy doing, and for the things that really mean a lot to me, I prefer to handle them myself.
When you rely on someone else for tasks that are significant to you, it’s easy to forget that the other person are just there to trade their time for your money, not because they genuinely care about the outcome.
I get what you’re saying, and I’ve discussed that idea with many people in my life too. However, there are times when getting good results is more important than thinking about what you might miss out on.
I found a fascinating example that I think is worth sharing. It shows just how important small details can be in our lives today. Getting things right really matters. When it comes to tasks that require precision, it’s best to handle them yourself.
People often make quick judgments about the overall quality of what is to follow, based on little things like this.
Instead of blocking your time replying to others’ posts that supposedly add no value to you, have you considered utilizing this time for your betterment?
