John Doherty

I'm still here and I'll post what I did overthere too. Adrian, I had one yesterday, roof job, just the front 1/2, bid $375. Client says '$375 you're crazy, xyz did it last year for $175'. I said 'if you'd called me last year it wouldn't need to be done again this year, good luck with xyz' click. I just hung up on him. IT JUST GETS SO FRUSTRATING SOME TIMES!

Kevin all the 'call in' or 'via PC' are generally considered non-qualified, to throw in more confusion there is also a blended rate. The blended rate is between the 2 rates and comes into play if it's a non-qualified transaction but you can provide additional info like the 3 digits on back of the card. The difference in the rates is because of fraud risk, there is less in person card fraud then there is via phone order or internet. The monthly fees will always be there, for example the QB offer has a $17.95 monthly fee. There is also a $20.00 monthly minimum for the collection of the rate they charge. So if the rate is 2.44 (the current rate) and you do $1000 in transactions they take $24.40 and don't ****** the minimum. If you do $100 in transactions they take $2.44, and at the end of the month take another $17.56, because they didn't get their $20.00 minimum. As far as the rates go, QB's current is 1.72 for qualified (card swiped) and 2.44 for non-qualified (via pc or phone).

I take them for the reasons Ken stated, I have the v/mc logos on all my stuff. I have yet to have a customer ask me to take one. Did I mention that in another life I was a card products manager at a brokerage firm? Some things to look for: 1. Termination fees, they try to lock you in for 2 years or so, want to change to get a better rate, or God forbid you go out of biz, etc. You have to pay it just like with cell phone plans, it's usually around $275. 2. Equipment, for the amount of transactions our type of biz generates you don't need any equipment, don't buy or lease any, do it via your PC. 3. Have the rate explained to you, 'qualified' is the lowest, it's also called 'card in hand', it means just that, you have the customers card and swipe it through a machine for authorization. If you do the math the # of transactions you do at this lower rate will probably not equal the cost of equipment to swipe the card with (see#2). Non-qualified rate is a transaction done via PC, phone, etc. it's slightly higher but it's the one you'll end up paying, make sure you're clear on which rate is which. 4. Application fees, if you have bad credit don't even bother, your just throwing the fee away, they won't approve you. 5. Personal Gaurantee, you personally gaurantee all transactions, so lets say that $2500 deck that your customer isn't happy about and decides to dispute through their Card issuer. The processor takes it out of your account and you gaurantee you'll pay it. 6. In addition to your rate you will also have a monthly fee. 7. Discover and Amex, don't accept them, they have different rates that are higher than v/mc. You won't lose any business by not acepting them. Shop around, I went with the plan offered via Quickbooks, no application fee, no termination fee.

Reapply to the trouble spots and rinse. Those lighter color roofs seem to be the toughest to clean in one shot.

Wow, gotta love the search feature! Ken, thanks for the specifics, used a gal of 12.5, 3 gals h2o and a cup of SC. My helper used a truck brush, easy and it came out great. I don't know if I went a bit over board on the 12.5, but it didn't hurt anything. Thanks everyone!

I'm thinking my regular sc housewash mix, anyone want to share their experiences with asbestos shingles that's dirty like this? Thanks, JD

Bleach seems to only lighten organic matter, cotton in clothes, grass etc.

Looks great Jeff. I'll stay out of the GM, Ford, Dodge debate, why don't you add a sign to the ramp?

Had a guy refuse to hire me today because I would not give him a discount for cash (take cash and not charge the sales tax). This was a $500 job, so the tax would have been $35. Why do some people feel they have to 'get over' on somebody in order to do things?

John O exactly right, but since I won't he won't hire me. Hey Rick do you have a HIC#?

David, That's a tile roof, I would imagine most in your area are asphalt shingle. That would be a big no on asphalt shingle.

If you really miss the Sopranos you can just move down here, half the guys here think they're in an episode. Loved the show, can't stand the guys who think they're in it!

$540, for 12 gallons? For that price I better be able to do about 50 houses per gallon. Either that or I pull up to the house and the stuff jumps off my truck and cleans the house for me.

Wow I'm not gonna make it to 50.

Just signed up w/one of those shopper type mags that come in the mail w/all local contractors in it, 3 zones about 35k homes per zone, for 3 months. Met w/the guy Wed says he'll have ad proof to me that night, I don't get it by Thurs night, I call him he says I'll have it by Fri. AM. I get it at 1:00 pm Fri (it is crap, he took an existing ad Keith made and streched it to fit)I make changes and respond to him by 5:00, call him at 6:00 to ask about my changes. He tells me it already went to print, no changes. Here's what I proposed, I keep my ad in one zone for the 3 months and also pay for the bum ad, and he cancels the remaining ads and refunds my money for the other 2 zones. Response, 'I don't give refunds'. Other than being a sucker for paying up front, should I be mad?

I'm really giving this some thought, this guys total lack of assuming any responsibility has me really ticked off. My sister is an attorney in another state but, she gave me the scoop on NJ law. This would be a 'Special Civil Part' action not small claims 'cause it's over $3000. Contract is very basic and has no fine print, the emails show he gave me no time to review the proof, he admits it etc. Slam dunk for me, but being an LLC I can't bring action w/out an attorney. I just am having a hard time deciding if it's worth the hassle.

Paid it all up front by check, he deposited it the day he got it!

Can you be a little more specific, do you mean scale build up in the heater coil? Not sure where the tank and shurflo would come into play?

Call them tomorrow morning, I've never used them but from what I've heard of them they'll straighten it out.

The same thing I give my customers, 'I won't make my problem, your problem'.

I read 'em but usually I don't have too much to add to them. Thanks Ken, they are appreciated.

I think I got this tip from Celeste, call around to the local pawn shops. I needed a 5000w to run my vac once, got it at a pawn shop, new in the box never used, for something like $250. Make a few calls see what you come up with.

I'm gonna go with Ken, I'd lose that font.

Where do I even start on this one; oxidation, aluminum, and blue, I may just over price it just so I don't have to deal with it. Opinions on cleaning method?

Politely declined this one, but told her what I thought needed to be done, which was 2 stepping. Explained to her what that meant, etc. She tells me the 'other guy' said it would come off with just pressure, UGH! Thanks for the info everyone!