Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - too proud to pay a mean guy $5 for his "trash"

so i'm standing in the alley, helping a friend move stuff into his place, when suddenly a dumpster garbage truck backs up to us from the street. what do i behold atop the most recently collected trash in the truck's bin but a schwinn letour frame and fork (and most else except wheels) in visibly good condition. it was like fate itself was commanding me to fixie up this bike.

until the garbage guy came round back from the driver's cabin.

concerned that he might freak out if i just reach in, i ask "hey, can i take this bike?" to which he responds "if you pay me." i give him a suprised smile, to which he keeps his deadpan expression and sour attitude and responds "i'm serious." still smiling, i ask "well, how much do you want?" and he responds, still deadpan, "five bucks." so i consider it for a second. i tell him "it's yours" and casually get back to my business.

now, most bike folks acting rationally would easily hand over the five bucks and grab the frame with a smile. but i just didn't want to make a mean guy five dollars better off for helping him unload some of his "trash", even if the trash was my treasure. it was an emotional decision, i know, in that we would both lose out economically but i'd at least keep my pride in not helping out this guy i didn't respect. but, of course, i still waver between regret and pride.

did i do the right thing? is there a garbage truck etiquette that i'm not aware of, which holds that even the "trash" the garbage workers think is trash can be for sale to those who value it? or should the guy have just been cool about the frame and told me "yeah, take it--it's trash."

Technically the trash becomes the property of the trash collection company. Until that point it's the property of the homeowner. But whatever.

Sure, he should have given you the frame for nothing. It was obviously no skin off his back. On the other hand, you're disrupting his routine and he figures it's a good way to make a couple of bucks. I mean while he's selling you something he doesn't own, you're asking him to give you something for nothing.

Who's in the wrong? If I wanted it, I would have given the $5. I mean it's just $5.

$5 for a LeTour? Ooh, I woulda done it...

Yeah, those guys will get like 50 cents for it when they sell it to the scrap metal place.

The junkers take LOADS of bikes to the scrap yard every day here in Chicago. Well, at least the one by my house.

Dude. If I have those junkers sell 'em to me. Then I sell 'em on CL.

Maybe.

The dude was within his rights to ask for $5, HOWEVER, that does not absolve him for being a dick about it.

I wouldn't have paid him either. What's to keep him from just taking stuff, and holding it for ransom in the back of his stanky truck? Best nip this problem in the bud, after all, if the United States of America does not negotiate with terrorists, why should you?

maybe I missed something but what exactly did the guy do to disrespect you?　　I’m sure the guy was loaded and was asking for $5 to be a dick. Seriously, if this is the worst thing that happened in your life today, consider yourself fortunate.

The guy was a lame wanger. The bike wasn't his to sell. Some people just get off by taking a piss in someone else's Cheerios....

I would have given him the five, and another five to have him reach in and get the bike for ya...

a perfect time to haggle. I would have said how about a buck.

Man, pride and ego are overrated. I've been busting my ass trying to find ANY decent frame around here to fix up, and it's been a huge pain. If it was a decent frame, I would have GLADLY handed him 20$ for it.

You have your "pride" and now a bike that could have ridden the streets again is going into the trash heap, and you're out a frame.

But, then again, I'm definitely not you, and as illogical as the decision might have been, it was a strongheaded one, and there's nothing wrong with being a little strongheaded... :)

It may have been worth the $5 bucks. Sucks that it was only trash to him until someone else expressed interest in the item.

I also find your username somewhat ironic in this case.

To put things in perspective, can you still get a cup of coffee for under $5 in Chicago?

I bid 25$!

a perfect time to haggle. I would have said how about a buck.




I'd like to tweak the interpretation on this just a little.

Sorry to maybe try and overanalyze you for a sec, sw/os, but maybe it wasn't just your pride working here. Maybe it was a certain conviction on your part that you shouldn't validate such blindly crappish behavior.

Personally, given my big mouth and somewhat sour disposition, I would have taken this as an opportunity to give him a small lecture and at the same time, try and soften him up a bit: "REALLY? Are you kidding? It's merely trash, I'm offering to unburden you a bit, maybe even make your job a little easier, and you're actually trying to make money off of it? Man, I can't believe I actually thought you might be cool! Guess I was wrong. That's so uncool." Sounds ridiculous, but guilt is a weapon employed my moms the world over and throughout history to great effect.

Then, if he were to respond with some further dickishness, I'd proceed with Twiz's strategy. But the best position to get yourself into is him walking away from you and not vice versa. Basically, then, you're looking at a guy who is not only rejecting an opportunity to be nice for a sec, but who's also too dumb to make anything off of a piece of trash that he's going to have to deal with later anyway.

In that case, he's a lost cause no matter how you look at it.

:eek:

Should've bargained.

Or dove into the back of the truck and made a mad dash for the hills with the stinky frame

[color=darkgreen]Personally, given my big mouth and somewhat sour disposition, I would have taken this as an opportunity to give him a small lecture and at the same time, try and soften him up a bit: "REALLY? Are you kidding? It's merely trash, I'm offering to unburden you a bit, maybe even make your job a little easier, and you're actually trying to make money off of it? Man, I can't believe I actually thought you might be cool! Guess I was wrong. That's so uncool." Sounds ridiculous, but guilt is a weapon employed my moms the world over and throughout history to great effect.

If I were the trashman in this case, had you said it to me, I would have hit the compress button. Well, no, I would have the bike in the CAB of the truck. But, in reality, I'd do what it takes to piss you off completely.

The reality being, he wanted 5 bucks. It's reasonable. You expect something for free, at any moment, from a complete stranger, you, are unreasonable.

Given that the original poster was mad because the driver wasn't nice, let me ask you something.

Did you want customer service from a guy who picks up **** all day long? Are you that ****ing ********?

so i'm standing in the alley, ....

i love stories that start off like this.

If I were the trashman in this case, had you said it to me, I would have hit the compress button. Well, no, I would have the bike in the CAB of the truck. But, in reality, I'd do what it takes to piss you off completely.

The reality being, he wanted 5 bucks. It's reasonable. You expect something for free, at any moment, from a complete stranger, you, are unreasonable.

Given that the original poster was mad because the driver wasn't nice, let me ask you something.

Did you want customer service from a guy who picks up **** all day long? Are you that ****ing ********?


Chill out, Willy. The above is uncalled for.

Chill out, Willy. The above is uncalled for.

OK Lala, you're next. First, it's slick Willy. Or *******. But not Willy. OK?

And, while I think it was called for, I'll revamp what I said.


To the poster:
Did you consider it your right to receive customer service from a guy who picks up other people's refuse all day long? Are you mentally challenged, or do you honestly feel you have that right?

the OP didn't talk about "rights" :rolleyes:, he just said he didn't respect the guys candor. he asked a simple question, the guy didn't budge, he was taken back, and then went about his business. i wouldn't have paid him either.

the OP didn't talk about "rights" :rolleyes:, he just said he didn't respect the guys candor. he asked a simple question, the guy didn't budge, he was taken back, and then went about his business. i wouldn't have paid him either.
You're right, he didn't. But the question remains, what did he expect from a guy who gets paid very a very average wage to do something that is A) Dangerous, B) Crappy C)At times laden with corruption?

Sometimes, the approach is everything. It is my assumption, and I could be wrong, that the approach was not done with the manner which is portrayed here. Certainly his demeanor toward the guy could be seen as not to friendly. Perhaps, we can look at it from the Trash collector's point of view.



So there I am, in the alley, doing my rounds. The radio has been blaring all day and my back is killing me. The same person had a 40 pound can full of used cat litter and when you dump that @#$# you get @#$y dust all over yourself. Man, if I had only finished college. Anyway day is half done, I’m behind because every jerk in a SUV has cut me off only to double park. I’ll have to finish and possible not get over time. Add to that, I just got done arguing with some jerk who was mad because I won’t take 10 gallons of motor oil.. “no one will find out”. Sure sure.. I get fined for that ****. Some guy comes up to me yelling out loud, like I can’t here “Hey can I have that bike in the back of your truck”. Now, I can get fired for this, people climbing on my truck. He’s clean as whistle and I’m just about to go. But, hey, the guy want’s a bike, it’ll go to good use, maybe for his kid or something. So I tell him “sure, if you pay me..”. I’m late, and he looks at me like I’m some sort of freak. The guy looks like he’s got cash, and I didn’t bring lunch money today, and when jerk in the SUV swerved in front of me, my lunch got chucked on the floor so I’m starving. He looks at me like I’m some sort of used car salesmen trying to sell him a warranty. So I tell him I’m serious. He ask how much and I figure 5 bucks is fair. I’ve seen the bikes going for 25 – 50 in the stores, and it’s one of them old Schwinns like I used to want when I was a kid, not them cheasey new ones. He gives me that look like I should just let him rummage through the back. I’d get fired for letting people do that and I’m late. People.. don’t know about them sometimes. Figure that since I’m trash guy I should be happy they talk to me.

ha ha

today is the best day EVER for the forums in a long time - mayo and WK in full effect. and that boston craigslist post.
thanks guys!

I would have at least offered to Roshambo for it.

Enjoy

You're right, he didn't. But the question remains, what did he expect from a guy who gets paid very a very average wage to do something that is A) Dangerous, B) Crappy C)At times laden with corruption?


Actually, considering the hours they work, trash collectors receive quite a good wage. If they work for local municipalities, they're also unionized and that gives them lots of benefits and time off. If they work for a private contractor, chances are that they're paid well and have decent hours, and probably not there as a permanent worker. I'd rather do trash collection than janitorial work anytime. I've had friends who worked in trash collection, and while they wouldn't describe it as a dream job, they also found it fairly lucrative.

I think you're kind of selling the garbage man short here. Just because a person deals in trash, one should not assume that they're going to be sour or resentful. I'd say postal workers are probably worse.



Sometimes, the approach is everything. It is my assumption, and I could be wrong, that the approach was not done with the manner which is portrayed here. Certainly his demeanor toward the guy could be seen as not to friendly. Perhaps, we can look at it from the Trash collector's point of view.

Actually, it kind of just sounded like the guy was copping attitude, and maybe even trying to f#!k with the OP's head. As I stated above, the OP probably could have worked him a little more, played the friendly, chatty neighborhood dude. Why do you think being direct about asking for a little kindness would immediately engender a nasty reaction? In my experience, people, no matter who they are, don't like feeling mean when a stranger's just being friendly and direct.

A simple greeting in advance of the OP's request probably wouldn't have hurt, and could have paid a nice dividend. But it didn't sound like he was playing the 'spoiled brat,' either. You're jumping to a lot of conclusions and reading a lot into this scenario that wasn't really related, WK. The above tirade sure seems disproportional to the OP. You're doing the equivalent of online bellowing.

Did you want customer service from a guy who picks up **** all day long? Are you that ****ing ********?
Nothing wrong with picking up trash. It's honest work.

I would have at least offered to Roshambo for it.

Enjoy


AND powers2b is back!!

this calls for a pieku!!!

Actually, considering the hours they work, trash collectors receive quite a good wage. If they work for local municipalities, they're also unionized and that gives them lots of benefits and time off. If they work for a private contractor, chances are that they're paid well and have decent hours, and probably not there as a permanent worker. I'd rather do trash collection than janitorial work anytime. I've had friends who worked in trash collection, and while they wouldn't describe it as a dream job, they also found it fairly lucrative. .

In San Diego, Postal workers get paid more than garbage collectors.



I think you're kind of selling the garbage man short here. Just because a person deals in trash, one should not assume that they're going to be sour or resentful..

No, but everyone has thier days, right? And ask anyone who drives a big truck about what they face with cars and SUV's and you'll be suprised, they have almost as much to say as bike riders.






Actually, it kind of just sounded like the guy was copping attitude, and maybe even trying to f#!k with the OP's head.

(snip)

You're jumping to a lot of conclusions and reading a lot into this scenario that wasn't really related, WK. The above tirade sure seems disproportional to the OP. You're doing the equivalent of online bellowing.

You're jumping to the conclusion that the OP wasn't being a pure dickhead and is just telling his side really sweet to find some online sympathy.

You're doing the equivelant of online ass kissing.

Nothing wrong with picking up trash. It's honest work.

Exactly. I think people @#$T on them a bit to much.

Man some of you are just vaginized little pc clowns. $5 bucks for a frame and you pass on it because the trash guy was APPARENTLY a dick?? This "loss" was all yours.
If it were me, the trash guy could have been swearing at me all day long and I would still have paid him $5 for the frame because:
1) I could care less what his attitude was because he isnt a customer service guy
2) You werent buying from a company
3) His opinion wouldnt mean crap to me and
4) $5 bucks for a frame is a pretty good deal if its in good shape

Pride? This has nothing to do with pride. Its not like he asked you to do something wierd or worse. He asked for $5. Big deal. Time grow a thicker skin.

Nothing wrong with picking up trash. It's honest work.

those guys do work hard, but i don't know about the honesty thing. unless, of course, you're talking about the non-mafia run trash collectors. ;)

follow him to a stop light and just take the ******* thing.

good points and good laughs (including those at my expense :) ).

it probably is more accurate to say that my pride was in not validating another's rude attempt to profit from trash, despite the fact that we could have both economically gained otherwise.

i'm not an abrasive sort of person, and i'm pretty sure that (although i did not give an initial greeting to someone who i assumed would be busy--perhaps not best) i did ask for the frame in a polite and laid-back manner. the guy had to walk ten feet to grab a dumpster before taking it to the back of the truck and the frame was placed a couple feet into the bin in such a way that (imho which is pretty uninformed on garbage truck bin safety) i could have easily and safely pulled the bike out myself by the time he had returned with his first dumpster. so i don't think i would have disrupted his routine, but i can't tell you for sure whether he thought that. i just know that he did indeed seem sour from the start, and still didn't look happy five minutes later when the last dumpster was mechanically dumped in the back.

still, i am interesting in learning more about the psychology of the sanitation engineer. how much does it mull through their minds that all the "fantastic" stuff around them is just one day going to be their burden? it's possible he just thought that one day, maybe next monday or maybe a monday ten years from now, he was just going to have to toss that same frame in the back of the truck for a second time. maybe he just wanted five bucks as payment for that second toss he imagined, or maybe he figured that if i valued the object enough to pay a couple bucks for it then the day he'd have to toss it in the truck again might be years and years away.

personally, i think it was mostly that he was a somewhat rude guy (or, at least, i caught him on a bad day) who wanted some money for something that cost him nothing but a toss. most times in life, we can't see the profit margin. we have an idea that the landlord made a couple hundred bucks off our rent or the corner-store owner made a few cents off our candy bar purchase, but we don't have the accounting sheet in front of us to find out just how much was made in profit. and the fact that we're buying non-stigmatized goods (i.e., often new and nicely packaged) and the positive emotional return we're supposed to get from happy happy customer service makes getting milked more palatable. the situation i faced was out of the mainstream economy. this guys was going to make exactly five bucks in profit for an object not technically owned by him and stigmatized by many including himself as unwanted trash, and he wasn't going to be nice about the transaction. had he at least given me good "customer service" (i.e., with a decent attitude have given me two lines on how he had worked to toss that frame in and one day he would have to just do the same again) my emotional response may have been otherwise and we might both be better off.

The only wrong thing you did in your situation was ask the driver.

so i'm standing in the alley, helping a friend move stuff into his place, when suddenly a dumpster garbage truck backs up to us from the street. what do i behold atop the most recently collected trash in the truck's bin but a schwinn letour frame and fork (and most else except wheels) in visibly good condition. it was like fate itself was commanding me to fixie up this bike.

until the garbage guy came round back from the driver's cabin.

concerned that he might freak out if i just reach in, i ask "hey, can i take this bike?" to which he responds "if you pay me." i give him a suprised smile, to which he keeps his deadpan expression and sour attitude and responds "i'm serious." still smiling, i ask "well, how much do you want?" and he responds, still deadpan, "five bucks." so i consider it for a second. i tell him "it's yours" and casually get back to my business.

now, most bike folks acting rationally would easily hand over the five bucks and grab the frame with a smile. but i just didn't want to make a mean guy five dollars better off for helping him unload some of his "trash", even if the trash was my treasure. it was an emotional decision, i know, in that we would both lose out economically but i'd at least keep my pride in not helping out this guy i didn't respect. but, of course, i still waver between regret and pride.

did i do the right thing? is there a garbage truck etiquette that i'm not aware of, which holds that even the "trash" the garbage workers think is trash can be for sale to those who value it? or should the guy have just been cool about the frame and told me "yeah, take it--it's trash."

Yeah, the garbage truck etiquette I know in such situations is to punch the guy in the stomach and throw him into the compactor while you ride away on your cool LeTour bike. That sux man. Sometimes I hate the world.

1) I could care less what his attitude was…
You could? I couldn't.

Sanford, I think you did the right thing. Frame value aside, I firmly believe in NOT rewarding bad behaviour.

AND powers2b is back!!

this calls for a pieku!!!

Please don't encourage him.

I would be like ok Clown its junk ...I need the parts. Its no value to me or you. I would have said really nothing and just waited till he left. But I really dont need a bike do I.

You're jumping to the conclusion that the OP wasn't being a pure dickhead and is just telling his side really sweet to find some online sympathy.

You're doing the equivelant of online ass kissing.

Wow, someone woke up with a bad case of dick today.

(Sorry, I don't feel like kissing your ass.)

Please don't encourage him.


why not?! :mad:
you hateful little monkey!

You could? I couldn't.

Sanford, I think you did the right thing. Frame value aside, I firmly believe in NOT rewarding bad behaviour.

Yes I could. If you worry and give a crap what strangers think (of you) youre wasting energy. The way I figure it is, for me anyway, is that I am here (on this planet) to do what I should do, and worrying about if I am impressing people is not one of them, nor worrying about what they think of me.

Yes I could. If you worry and give a crap what strangers think (of you) youre wasting energy. The way I figure it is, for me anyway, is that I am here (on this planet) to do what I should do, and worrying about if I am impressing people is not one of them, nor worrying about what they think of me.
I think you're missing my point, Tln. When you say that you COULD care less, you're saying that you do care. When I say I COULDN'T care less, that means it would not be possible to care less than I already do. See? Don't worry. 90% of people say this incorrectly. It always seems to be the same ones who say "irregardless."

keep in mind unless he was the driver, he's a temp...they make MINIMUM WAGE, or very close to. He probablty saw it as a way to put a free pound of lunchmeat on the table.

...yes there was a time in my life I had to resort to doing such crappy jobs...they don't pay jack....you make more working in a gas station.

I think you're missing my point, Tln. When you say that you COULD care less, you're saying that you do care. When I say I COULDN'T care less, that means it would not be possible to care less than I already do. See? Don't worry. 90% of people say this incorrectly. It always seems to be the same ones who say "irregardless."

No, I did not miss your point.
Being that there is no such word as “irregardless” and knowing that, I never use it.
Second, when I say I could care less with sarcasm being in the forefront of my thoughts, I meant exactly that. But 90% of the people don’t know the difference between “I couldn’t care less” and “I could care less” OR that they can mean the SAME thing when being used in a sarcastic remark. Being a student of the English language and a writer, I say (write) what I mean and mean what I say, and also know the English language quite well. You might want to toss your snide comments at someone else.

You might want to toss your snide comments at someone else.
Oh, but this was so much fun.

You might want to toss your snide comments at someone else.

Tln, I do apologize. That WAS pretty snide. If you are a writer, then you are probably irked as I am about those kinds of expressions. "Could care less" is a pet peeve—as is "irregardless—and I reacted inappropriately. Just my luck I would find the ONE person who correctly knows how to use it incorrectly. No offense taken, I hope.

Tln, I do apologize. That WAS pretty snide. If you are a writer, then you are probably irked as I am about those kinds of expressions. "Could care less" is a pet peeve—as is "irregardless—and I reacted inappropriately. Just my luck I would find the ONE person who correctly knows how to use it incorrectly. No offense taken, I hope.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I have a very thick skin and do not offend easily. I take as well as I give. IRREGARDLESS…lol…no hard feeling on my side. I too cannot stand that word. I have a hard time holding my cringes back when people butcher the English language… let alone using ebonics, dreadful $hit, especially when “axing” a question. More like axing the language. I don’t like to use a grammatical ruler to measure a person’s intelligence but sometimes its hard not to. I slip here and there is one thing but a butcher job is another. Maybe that is why I dont like GWB.
Anyway, I still believe that $5 is still a deal for a frame regardless if the trash-guy was a pisshead.

ir·re·gard·less

Definition: Regardless.

[Probably blend of irrespective, and regardless.]

Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

Though, it is in the dictionary...

Well this may sound elitist as hell, and probably better off for a different thread, but I don’t put too much stock into the dictionary in recent years. Have you seen some of the new entries these "people" put in? They all sound like, and I hate to beat a dead horse, Bush and his isms. "Teensploitation"... give me a break.
Do you know how easy it is getting a new word added into the MW dictionary? Come up with a word that sounds cute, produce the usage and you’ve got a new word. Adding new words is fine but at least follow the rules for proper grammar.
I apologize for this elitist ranting.

Haha. That's funny. It is in the described in that dictionary though, as "Nonstandard" English, so it seems they are considering it a mistake of sorts.