Beth n Rod

Brent are you stripping an oil or an acrylic? We like powders...HD-80. TheProSealerStore Beth

Higher oil prices mean lost profits Higher oil prices mean lost profits Rising cost of gas could force area business owners to raise prices, lose customers By J.C. O'Connell The Aurora Sentinel AURORA | Increasing oil prices mean a loss of profit for some local business owners who say they could be forced to raise prices and lose customers if the trend continues. With oil prices earlier this month touching $100 per barrel, analysts are forecasting higher oil bills in future months. Keri Stivers and her husband own Dry Cleaning Valets, and spend their working hours driving throughout the metro area to pick up and drop off dry cleaning orders. Stivers said she recently reviewed last year's budget, and the price of gas took a heavy toll on the business' profit margin. "Even though we had an increase (in business) this year ... with gas prices it has affected our income greatly. It's been a hardship," Stivers said. Charging for pick up and delivery service could make the business less competitive, so Stivers said she is more likely to cut back on advertising, which would prevent her business from growing, but not anger her current customers. "We kind of feel like all of our customers are in the same boat as we are with everything on the rise," Stivers said. The average price of gasoline in the metro area Jan. 14 was $2.814 and expected to rise, according to the price tracking web site GasBuddy.com - Find Low Gas Prices in the USA and Canada. Kraig Baade, manager of Chem-Dry of Aurora, a company that specializes in cleaning carpets and floors, said he's tried to pass the cost of higher fuel prices onto his customers. Chem-Dry spends between $5,000 and $6,000 a month on fuel, and as prices began to climb 18 months ago, the company added a $7 per trip charge to help offset the price hike, Baade said. But he thinks the sluggish economy is more to blame for slow business than gas prices, because customers with less disposable aren't likely to have their floors professionally cleaned. "It's kind of a gloomy sentiment out about the economy," Baade said. Diane Cemer, vice president of Balco Landscaping Incorporated in east Aurora, said the company had to start charging customers an additional three percent on each project to try and make up for the additional expense of gas. "People don't want to pay for the increase. We've tried to (increase prices) but it's a very competitive market," Cemer said. Striking the right balance is especially difficult for companies like Balco, that not only drive to the locations where work is performed but also pay more for petroleum-based materials such as plastic landscaping materials, she added. Even with the three percent price increase, the cost of gas is still cutting into the company's profit margin. "We're losing money. As gas goes up its hard to compete ... It's very competitive and its going to push the small businesses out," Cemer said. In addition to the fear that gas prices could rise, Cemer said she's concerned that taxes on a gallon of gasoline could be increased by 13 cents in Colorado. Last year, Gov. Bill Ritter formed the Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel to examine how the state should meet its growing transportation needs. In November, the panel came back with funding recommendations to raise $1.5 billion to help repair and expand the state's roadways and transportation networks. The recommendations included adding a 13-cent per gallon motor fuel tax that could raise $351 million a year. Ernest Rakotovao puts $900 a month into the gas tanks of his fleet of three vehicles. "It's very hard because we do transportation. We have shuttles and taxis and limousines, so it's very hard to make a profit. What I want to do is raise the wage we charge our clients," said Rakotovao, president of ER Express Incorporated, a valet service based near Iliff Avenue and Troy Street. But Rakotovao worries about keeping his business competitive. When he tried raising rates last year to cover the higher cost of gas, his customers complained. "We're just trying not to lose the clients," he said. But if gas prices rise again, Rakotovao said he'll be forced to pass the cost onto those clients. "Hopefully not going to go up more than it is now. If it is going to go up then we have to go up a little bit,"he said. Large fleet companies have also been affected by the rising price of gas. David Patterson, division general manager for Rural Metro, the ambulance company that serves Aurora, said the company's fleet drove more than 1 million miles in the metro area last year while watching its fuel costs rise 17 percent. "It does make a difference because we certainly try to absorb the cost of (the increase)," Patterson said. And this isn't the first year the company has had to increase its fuel budget. "It's been challenging," Patterson said. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Gas Price Historical Price Charts - GasBuddy.com http://www.randomuseless.info/gasprice/gasprice.html

Current Gas Prices and Price History

My responses in Blue: I tend to keep a percarb wet on thick areas of algae and not so much on mildew alone. 15 minutes of activity is sufficient for most applications and just because it isn't fizzing or foaming on the surface does not mean the process is complete. Do a scratch test to see if you get to bare wood. If not, apply more and allow to dwell another 5-10 minutes. Another thing to think about is that if you are asking out of the need to save on chems, remember that they are the work force and the pressure washer is for rinsing, not the primary cleaner. Don't be frugal on the chems. Use what is necessary to complete the reaction so that you are not going back and reapplying after rinsing. Rod!~

As usual, Greg you do some SWEET work! Beth:lgbow:

All I am going to say, is be careful (this is to no one person but to all posting here) to avoid racial slurs please. This is a hot topic, keep it cool guys. So far so good... Beth

Cruise lines imposed one last fall, and are now in court over it. Two of the major lines have stepped up and are refunding passengers for the surcharges, which were added after their bookings. Beth

Thanks for the clarification :) Beth

Greg, thank you so much. Can you elaborate further on this particular point? Beth

As we approach $4.00 per gallon, are there other thoughts? Is anyone limiting or changing the "free estimates" or limiting or re-focusing their service area? Are you finding that rising fuel costs are affecting your bottom line? Is the phone ringing less? Any increase in hesitancy in consumers to purchase services? Beth

Agreed. He may be willing to pay for materials, depends on how he feels and what he believes about how the past has played into this. I would be prepared to do the side. Beth

Hmmmm.... my gut says when something sounds too good to be true, it generally is....but I could be wrong. Beth

My best advice is this: | EaCo Chem Inc. | Stripsol | It will help to release it without much grain raising but you will have to do some sanding afterwards. Price it accordingly. In regard to something to give it a nice finish, I have to ask what the sun exposure potential is. This is important because you would not want to apply anything that will get baked off, peel, crack and fail to quickly. I recommend Helmsman Valspar Urethane w/UV protection for use in low sun exposure conditions. For more direct sun conditions, I would Suggest Sikkens Cetol Log and Siding finish. It is softer and can take more UV exposure without the pitfalls. It would require annual maintenance to keep up with but I don't think you would mind the repeat business. Use the Clear Version to keep it from darkening on subsequent applications. Rod!~

I clicked :) Looks like many others have too. You have a nice lead in the #1 spot right now. It's helping everyone! Beth

Just a reminder to all to be respectful that others may not agree with your political position. Thanks, Beth

Here's the kick in the rump....I'm glad it was dark brown not white. You are going to have some residual pigment left in that wood. We're talking about newly applied vertical surface here. They need to know that before choosing the next product they want installed. You may need to sand the door afterwards. You might want to consider a paint stripper for this job, the kind that clings, is like a foam or gel and stays on overnight. Beth

Girl 'Pressure Washed' To Calm Temper Tantrum, Mother Says - First News Story - WKMG Orlando

Shade Cloth is wonderful. We did a deck last year that was Ipe and it had a pergola with cloth draped over it. Very elegant while looking over the pool and rolling landscape in the expansive yard! Beth

I hope the mother goes to prison. If that is not unfit, I don't know what is! That little girl deserves so much better than that!!!!! Beth

Ewwwwwww!!!!! You said the C word! Beth

Ipe pergolas ROCK. I agree with Rick. If you can afford that lumber, I would do it. Beth

Adrian, Everyone here is responsible for marshaling their behavior. I have a business to run too. I'm not a babysitter. I'm not a den mother. I'm not in a position to read every post in every thread every day. I am in a position however to remind all of you to remain professional and to follow the forum rules for your own benefit and the benefit of others online. Anyone may report a post by clicking the Report Post icon. This ensures it gets read. No one should assume that any TGS Staff member will see a post you may find offensive. Also you need to remember that unless specific names are called, it may not be seen as bashing. All foul language gets automatically removed and has **** stars that will replace it. Names made of other more benign words will not. In general, if you feel hot headed WALK AWAY. This thread was a professional thread, started by a very professional member. To me it is a shame to see it degrade like this. SEVERAL moderators and now and Admin have asked everyone to remain professional. It's not those who are professional that are creating problems. It's those who can't rise above it. Get back on topic, have a nice day. I have work to do. :) Beth :seeya:

Happy Spring! Welcome Newbies! :) Beth

We accept Visa and MasterCard also. Do quite a bit of business that way. Beth