home improvement buffs

[Rod Cramwell]

ha...you've never picked up a Mexican. They know what their day is worth....and will haggle with you until you're ready to shove their ass out the truck. I used to get by with $60-$70/day....which is a steal when you think about it.

If you do pick up day laborers keep all the doors locked until you have as many as you need. Otherwise they will all jump in at once...its an artform

[Burger Slut]

bwahahah you guys can't be serious.

How does one go about picking up a mexican anyway?

[zerojunkie]

One of these.

http://www.floor-equipment-rentals.c...d-scraper.html

[Cock Puncher]

there was a bunch hanging out in front of Sam's on park and greenville last saturday morning

[DataBass]

Originally Posted by Burger Slut

bwahahah you guys can't be serious.

How does one go about picking up a mexican anyway?

Drive a pickup truck down to the Mexican district.

[Rod Cramwell]

It's very easy. If you are a girl I would take someone with you.

Find a day labor spot

pull up....they will surround your vehicle like skinny's on a bag of rice.

roll the window down and tell them how many you need.

Let that number in the back of your car. negotiate the daily rate.

put them to work...pay them at THE END of the day.

buy'em lunch

drop them off around the pick up point.


They usually speak enough engrish to get by and are generally nice folks.



I did this for many summers in high school

[Barbara Butch]

There are a bunch of day laborers off Dennis Rd. and Royal. Looks for the shrine of Mary on the side of the road.

[zymote]

Originally Posted by Rod Cramwell

It's very easy. If you are a girl I would take someone with you.

Find a day labor spot

pull up....they will surround your vehicle like skinny's on a bag of rice.

roll the window down and tell them how many you need.

Let that number in the back of your car. negotiate the daily rate.

put them to work...pay them at THE END of the day.

buy'em lunch

drop them off around the pick up point.


They usually speak enough engrish to get by and are generally nice folks.



I did this for many summers in high school

I used to manage a landscaping company and hired tons of Messicans - I'd say my experiences on the job became about 99% positive once the owner fired all the gringos except for me.

You'd be better to pay by the job or hour than a daily rate (only pay by the job if you're decent with estimation and bidding, otherwise you'll get fleeced). It's easier to keep track of, and they'll bitch less if there ends up being a half day in there. Be sure to write it down too, and make sure that there are no misunderstandings.

Also, be sure that at least one of them speaks English fairly well, and is preferably older than the rest of 'em. Pay that guy a little more, and make him responsible for riding the other guy's asses. If you really want to get it done quick, offer him a small bonus ($50 or so) for completion within a specified timeframe - you'll be astounded at how quickly it gets done.

Don't be afraid to fire guys on the spot if they're giving you lip or being lazy - remember that there are two types of day laborers. There are the guys that are hard workers and are up here looking for a better life for their family, and then there are the guys that want to drink tequila and bang fat hookers while their wife stays back in Mexico with the kids. I'd estimate that only about 10% of them fall into the latter category, but you need to be prepared for them. One bad apple can wreck morale on the site, and end up costing you a fortune in labor.

BTW, I've found that Home Depot, etc. isn't the best place to get guys. What I'll do is go cruise by a construction site, flag a guy down, and ask him if he's got any buddies that need work. You'll generally get a lower quotient of morons this way, especially if you're doing stuff that's a little more complex, like plumbing, fine carpentry, or masonry.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by Burger Slut

bwahahah you guys can't be serious.

How does one go about picking up a mexican anyway?

Every town has a corner some more organized than others. In Denton they have a pavilion just for day workers right off a major 6 lane road. Here they have unionized so there is no negotiations so its $15/hr per worker or $60 full day per worker.

Last time I used them I needed a fence put up, so I just rolled up (with doors locked so they dont just hop in) and asked ENGLISH until someone that spoke good English spoke up. Told him to find three guys who could do a fence and get in. Took them to my yard pointed at the pile of lumber, pointed at the big ass section of fence that was missing and went inside for some xbox420 time. 2 hours and $120 of labor later I had a brand new fence and saved myself at least two days worth of Texas heat, smashed fingers, and hard work.

[Rod Cramwell]

We had one terrible experience with day laborers.

The 'big' boss needed everyone to stay late to finish a job that had to be done that day. Well, a big fat Mexican tried to fight him over it, so the boss went to the back of his truck pulled out his 12 ga and fired it in the air and told him to get his fat ass back to work or he's not getting paid and will be left out there in BFE. It was awesome!

Needless to say - the job got done

[zymote]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Every town has a corner some more organized than others. In Denton they have a pavilion just for day workers right off a major 6 lane road. Here they have unionized so there is no negotiations so its $15/hr per worker or $60 full day per worker.

Wow, that's awesome they've organized. $60/day is freaking cheap too - $7.50/hr.

Personally, I usually pay $10/hr for labor, and $12 for a foreman. If somebody's got special skills like carpentry or plumbing I'll do $15. When I hired a lot of masons, I'd pay $25 for the good ones, and be happy to do it. That was for some extreme specialty work, though - the kind of stuff that got us two spreads in Met Home.

I've found that a few extra bucks up front means that the job gets done on time and under budget, as opposed to stiffing folks on labor and having them take twice as long.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by zymote

Wow, that's awesome they've organized. $60/day is freaking cheap too - $7.50/hr.

Its a group enforced policy to protect them from bidding wars. Since the housing market dried up they had some bidding wars for what little work was left and they were working for nothing. So they made a group decision on rates and they will beat anyone down that offers to work for less. Its really helped to smooth out the whole process for both sides knowing what the rate is ahead of time.

[Rod Cramwell]

funny how rogue day labors can make a union work. Maybe Carroll Dr. should be renamed Chavez Dr.

[GLopez]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Its a group enforced policy to protect them from bidding wars. Since the housing market dried up they had some bidding wars for what little work was left and they were working for nothing. So they made a group decision on rates and they will beat anyone down that offers to work for less. Its really helped to smooth out the whole process for both sides knowing what the rate is ahead of time.

DJs should take note.

[zymote]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Its a group enforced policy to protect them from bidding wars. Since the housing market dried up they had some bidding wars for what little work was left and they were working for nothing. So they made a group decision on rates and they will beat anyone down that offers to work for less. Its really helped to smooth out the whole process for both sides knowing what the rate is ahead of time.

So it's less a case of collective bargaining, and more a case of price fixing then?