<VV> Pay someone - Flat Rate

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

We've about beaten this to death, but I want to relay this story of one 
of my dad's experiences --

Folks had a 1960 Jag 3.8 Mark II sedan (four doors) -- something, I 
don't know what, went haywire somewhere between LA and Oregon, maybe 
something with the heater, so they stopped at the Jag dealer in San 
Francisco -- the service manager told them that they had a choice -- 
John was a perfectly well-qualified factory trained mechanic and he 
could do the job needed, but it would take about two days to get it done 
and would cost about yea much -- OR, knowing the folks were from out of 
town and on their way home, he explained could have Fritz work on the 
car -- now Fritz was one of those super mechanics that had learned a few 
tricks over the years, and he could have the car out in a couple hours, 
but since Fritz's services were in high demand, he'd have to charge the 
same amount as if John did the job.  When you factor in the cost of two 
days stay in SF, it was easy to see that having Fritz do the work was 
quite cost effective, even if it did seem excessively expensive for the 
time Fritz would spend.

They had Fritz fix it, and were on their way that afternoon after a 
leisurely lunch.  The hourly rate they had paid was quite excessive -- 
Dad never said how much -- but they were pleased to be back on the road 
on their way home.

Bill Strickland