What would you do ...

Last night I updated a client about an estimate on a TV repair. He's in China (satellite delay, and totally drunk.)

I quote him $410 for repair and installation labor on TV repair. He starts by thanking me for my excellent service. Then he says, "wait, are you ready...." $600.00 because we have more questions for you ... Then he says wait ... are you ready? ... You've been good to us ... $700.00.

Obviously, dude is wasted. He continues to ... "wait are you ready? $800."

I know he's wasted (in a different time-zone.) I told him I would follow up with an email confirming his folly. Question to you's ...

Anybody been here before? Should I just ignore the drunken B.S. and avoid his shame? (yes, he's married. Yes she's smart enough to know this is a drunken stooper)

When i was a kid i worked at a hot dog stand. Drunks would come in with fists full of hundred dollar bills all the time. Drunk out of their minds and flashing cash. My boss would take their hundred dollar bills and give them change for dollar bills.

I questioned his morals.

He tells me "whats the difference between you and me taking this guys money and the drug dealers and hookers outside taking his money". I respond with "i guess its the same". He stops me and says "NO! its not the same. This way you and me go home with extra money!".

He was right. Without fail every time a drunk came in with a handful of money...a few hours later he was broke with a story about being robbed.

My advice... take the guys money before he gives it to someone else.

Send the invoice, accept the payment. Maybe send it by email around 9:47pm on a Friday night.

May be he was thinking paying you with Chinese currency 😜

Having client here, he lives in Mexico City. About twice or three times a year, his wife is flying in for shopping. Every time, he'd email to check things at the condo a few days before his wife arrives. Not even have a chances to invoice him, checks arrive with surprise amount on them.

Yeah, I thought he is wasted eveytime he opens the check book.

I believe that people make mistakes. I believe there is more good than bad in the world. I'd hope that others would be as tolerant of my mistakes, as I am of theirs. I'd bill him for the agreed upon price, and if he decides to then pay you more, consider it a tip that you earned.

I've had several opportunities for such quick & easy paydays. I've taken the most honest path, and know my ethics are not for sale. I've always been happy making that decision.

That +1000

Bottom Line is - NONE of those amounts are a drop in the ocean of what he probably spends in the normal course of his day.

I say bill him what you normally would consider fair and that way you retain his business......Overcharging him just ONCE could sever the client forever.

As Spike Lee has said "Do the Right Thing". lol

Just forget it ever happened and move on.

Good karma last a lot longer than that little money.

Well said.

Re: "NO! its not the same. This way you and me go home with extra money! are the ones who rob them".

Fixed it for you. Taking advantage of someone who's sober, drunk or drugged is bullshit.

Bill for the work performed. If he sends more, take it, but don't base the billed amount on that phone call.

Just bill at your normal rate. My guess is there will be extra in the payment. If not you did the right thing.


I had something similar happen. Custom calls me shitfaced drunk from China. Makes about 60k in upgrades. The next day I send him an email with the requested changes. He says I don't remember calling you. But if I was drunk and cakes you about it. I really must have wanted it.

We did may houses for this guy. All 200k plus projects for just theaters ....

I can't even count how much funny money and perks this guy gave me and my guys.

Take his money, invest in a few cases of booze and ship it back over to him. You will soon have a windfall :)

What bcf said. EXACTLY.


This is a deep moral issue.

No matter where you go, there you are. You do the wrong thing, you live with it and it lives with you.

You take this guy's money when he's obviously not rational, you're going to pay for it. You will either feel guilty, as you should, or you won't feel guilty, meaning your sense of right and wrong is somehow lacking. This will make you unhappy or will make it harder to be happy.

You bill and accept the reasonable price that was agreed upon; everybody is happy and you can look yourself in the mirror. Or, you get a few extra bucks by taking a drunk's money -- is this how you achieve happiness?

I agree with posts 5-14 (except for 13); nothing else needs to be said on my part.