For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 04, 2025

Gordon here is becoming a second son to Dr Patterson.

Why in the world would Gordon give some person a new radiator and let them have their car back without paying the bill for the new radiator? I have been getting cars repaired since the 1970s and I have never seen a repair place finish the repair and give the car back to you without paying.

Incredible how much John and Gordon look alike, even to identical eyeglasses! Hmm—kinda makes one wonder who Gordon’s father REALLY is!! ;-)

When isn’t it tough times?

You have to collect, you’re the newspaper boy now

Apparently in Canada dentristy doen’t pay that well. Dr. P here seems the necessity to be moonlighting as a chartered accountant in order for the Pattersons to pay the bills to eat.

I’ve always liked Gordon. And in that one strip, he shows that this is Canadian. How many times have people said “I need $20” and we lend them it, trusting they will return it. Even if it put us at tight corners.

Gordon better do some collections or he’ll be eating at the customers homes.

Actually, I’ve known a few guys that will do favors and take forever to collect on it. This is where the wife comes in. She’ll see to it the debt is collected. Especially if they have kid(s) / mouths to feed.

Customers who don’t pay, you don’t need.

Didn’t they have this same coversation some time ago?

There’s trust, and then there’s being a sucker, Gordon. You’re too kind.

“Friends and family they may be, but when it comes to business, they are paying customers!”

More people have gone out of business extending credit to their relatives and best friends. “In God We Trust – All Others Pay Cash!”

He should start adding tariffs

Nothing like serious advice from a fellow small business owner.

“Back in the day” many businesses ran on credit. Some money was not collected and that had to be figured in the cost of business.

As a wise business man once said, " In God We Trust, everyone else pays cash."

I worked for a construction supply company. The owner was generous with credit, but if he gave you 30 days it better not be 31. Someone bought culvert for a new driveway. After chasing payment for 3 months the owner went out with a backhoe and ripped it out from the new driveway.

Since John runs his own practice he’s experienced in business practices and bookkeeping, too. It’s good for him to share some of his wisdom with Gordy.

It’s tough for a kind hearted person to run a business when others find your business essential to survive. Without your car, you can’t get to work. Without being able to get to work, you have no income. When you do work, you hardly earn enough to keep the heat on and feed the kids. There is no emergency fund to luxury expenses like car repairs. Gordon recognizes this. I can only hope he earns enough money so that he can absorb this type of expense….this is how society pays for its poor.

Gordon should not be doing this for money. Gordon needs to think about the “big picture” and the “greater good”.

This is Canada. Car care is a human right.

And I bet that new radiator is Dr. P’s…

Gordo is a real hero and has a good heart. He just needs someone like John to push a fiscal discipline.

My HVAC guy put a furnace in for a couple. When he asked for payment, the credit cards from the husband were declined. He was ready to take the furnace back out, when the wife ran back in the house and came out with a new credit card. It worked, and from the way the husband looked at her, my HVAC guy knew it was time to leave, before the fight began.

So John and Gordon are NOT sitting on their butts waiting for government handouts?

SPOILER THAT FOOLS NO ONE—-Every time you drive by Gordon’s place,it’s looking bigger and bigger….

Does Gordon really insist on pumping all the gas himself, as howtheduck said yesterday? Because if so then adding more pumps isn’t going to grow the business at all.

Now it is time for Gordon, John, Elly, Michael, Elizabeth and April to go boo the national anthem.

Wow, this is true to life folks, the reality of small business, no politics, just meat and potatoes , quite literally table issues , I like Gordo, he has a heart, I wanna be more like him ! ;-)

Don’t let Trump see this. It will be part of next Canada 51th State ad.

Gordon looks more like his son than Michael

All magats know what Gordon should do. Trusting anyone is not on the list.

Looks like Gordon is now “Poor-don!”

Don’t worry Gordy. When the Great Gretzky becomes P.M. your troubles will disappear.