Wheelbuilding / Wheel Building / Wheel build help

Is it a dick move

I hope not, I did it many times before I started doing my own finishing. If they don't want the job, they can always turn it down or quote you a price which makes you change course.

I work in a shop and won't have a problem with that. Saves half of the work, so it's fair you pay less.

Grease your spoke threads and nipple holes though, will make things easier for whoever is finishing it off.

The only problem is many spoke preps go off making building hard. I insist on two different spoke preps depending on the nipple material both of which need finishing fairly quickly or the wheel becomes problematic at tension.

Dry builds are equally problematic in terms of time taken to finish. In fact customer lacing can mean the build takes more time and therefore a higher price than of the wheel builder just laced it themselves.

If a customer brought in a laced wheel but is not fully tensioned, dry spokes or improperly lubricated, not that round or straight dished.... then there is alot of work.
Lacing taking what 15 minutes or less so hardly any money can be saved. Also when i am lacing a wheel i make sure all the spoke nipples start it the same therfore the wheel stays pretty round.

An experienced wheel builder will do the job quicker and right without customer lacing the wheel. and in less time than if the customer laces themselves. I would not accept such a job.

What if the customer pick the wrong length spokes, or laces it with mistakes. This is a mine field. If you want a shop to build the wheel let them and let them calculate the spoke lengths and build it. If you want to lace it your self, build it all your self. The middle way is were disputes can happen.