Life is seldom black and white- I see both sides of this. While I can appreciate anyone who is willing to do a friend a favor, which I have done my whole life, I also believe FIRMLY that it was very inappropriate to expect your friend to give you a break- he makes his living doing this, he pays for business licenses, taxes, overhead, power, etc.- it costs just as much to work for free as it does to charge a customer, and you are taking money out of his pocket when you expect a favor. Favors should be given, not expected. They also tell the character of a person.
Once, a co-worker asked me to come to his house and install carpet. He was a salesman, I was an installer, my father was the company owner. I chose not to give him a price- I told him to pay me what it was worth to him.
I drove 40+ miles, one way, after work, spent all evening (about 6 hours) installing the carpet, while he watched, then drove back home. I got home way after midnight, and had to be at work the next morning. He paid me $50.
Plain and simple- when given the option to pay me what he chose, he grossly took advantage of me. That was a real slam, but it really clued me in to his character.
I never expect favors from friends who are in business- I go willing to pay the regular price, and sometimes they give me a break. The break shows respect to me, paying regular price shows respect to them. That's how I feel about it.
