I find it a little crazy that I'm actually thinking: I should have posted our payment arrangements when we made them so that there could be no questions after-the fact. In all honesty, I'm glad I didn't, and don't. But right now, I kinda wish I did.
Total cost of the build: Over $60k? Of course it is over that. And I'm not surprised one bit. When you consider that after buying parts for the build, the axles chanced three times, lockers/gears three times, tires twice, and added more things than most people realize, I'd say we've kept the bill quite reasonable.
As for the pre-payment. You paid an estimate amount that was partly paying what had already been done plus what we thought we needed to get things going. As you recall, you wanted a 100% complete cost, I told you that was impossible to do because NOTHING on your rig was 'bolt-on' and I couldn't possibly know what little things would add up to. I mentioned that the 'clean up' bill on Project Canuck was over $4k in misc parts and was QUITE hesitant to promise anything. We agreed that there would be a 'clean up bill'.
So, you wanted to see it running, and promised to send money when I posted pictures. We did better than that, and had it running when you came out in early 2011 when it was over at Jims (this was when I was outta town, I believe in June). Further, and most recently, we got it DRIVING and I posted pictures. Yet still, you have not even attempted to pay for back work.
We've talked multiple times over the phone since that time about your outstanding bill's amount being more than expected and my inability to pay for building your rig with personal funds. Again, you promised payment when it ran. I'm not sure when I realized that you will not pay me back, but instead of being a jerk about it, I decided just to send it home and hope for the best. I realize that my biggest bargaining chip for getting paid was just given away ~ and now, you have no reason to pay.
Steve, this is stupid. I'm outta the game. I attempted to do everything I could to finish your build. Virtually every cent of profit that has come into the business from all my cage kit sales has funded your Scout. 1/2 of my family CC debt is directly related to your Scout. I told you that I simply didn't have the funds to pay for YOUR build any further. How long was I supposed to fund this build? How much was I supposed to spend out of my pocket? What is fair? Honestly, I don't expect you to pay, but thought I would ask.
Steve, I'm going to give you the last word on this thread, then lock it. I have no intention to drag this out or I would still have your Scout. Nor do I have anything further to say on the matter. We obviously disagree on some points, for that I'm sorry, but there's really nothing I can do on that font.