Ring Ring......Black Friday Special

Caller: So and so gave me your number as a guy that does surveys, is that true? (When I don't recognize the name of the person who referred them to me it
rarely turns out to be profitable conversation.)

Me: Yes I'm a surveyor, how can I help you. (I can already tell where this is headed)

Caller: Well I bought this piece of property two years ago and I had a survey, but now I'm going to build a concrete pad and I want to be sure to stay on
my property. So, I'll just need you to mark one line.

Me: I can mark just one line, but it will likely involve surveying your lot and a portion of the neighboring lot to be certain of the line in question. The absolute
lowest cost would be $XXX but that estimate will likely increase once I research the details of your property. (Knowing that even the low number will be
several times what he has in mind.......it is Black Friday after all)

Caller: That seems a bit steep.....I just need one line. I don't even need it to be official. I just need to be sure that I stay on my property.

Me: Sir, there's no such thing as an unofficial survey. To do what you ask would involve cutting corners and performing substandard work to lower the price to
the range you have in mind. That simply increases the odds of something going awry and when I'm called to defend myself, my liability won't be
determined by the price you paid.

Caller: But I just need one line marked.

Me: You mentioned a prior survey from two years ago; I suggest that you contact that surveyor and see if he can mark the one line based on his prior work.
He might be able to save you some money, since he should already have the boundary resolved and won't have to start from scratch.

Caller: Well, the neighboring property was increased in size by 700 square feet and I just need the new line marked. (here we go, I knew there was more to
this story)

Me: Sir, I understand what you want, but I can't provide the service you want to the required standard within the budget constraints that you have provided.
Once again, I suggest that you contact the prior surveyor.

He doesn't seem interested in contacting the prior surveyor and I didn't even bite on the bit about the neighboring property increasing in size. I smell a mess and I don't have time to chase it down rabbit holes for minimum wage or less.