Scott Stone
-
Content count
1,760 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
6
Posts posted by Scott Stone
-
-
Roger is...
-
What is this snow you speak of? I am probably going to work outside, in shirt sleeves. I get hot when I am wearing a sweatshirt in the middle of the night this time of year. :D
-
Excellent question. About 16 or 17 years ago after having been in business 3 or 4 years, I was tired of pressure washing, too. I was doing it, and delivering milk, as a full time job. I did not have the option of just pressure washing full time, I had, at the time, a stay at home wife, a house payment, and two kids. I also has absolutely no family to fall back on in lean times. I contemplated selling my business, and rig, to just do the milk thing. Instead, I diversified, realized I had a good, and relatively successful thing, going, and kept at it. In another couple of years, I had quit the milk thing, since 100 hour weeks on salary did not suit me, and got another job, that allowed me the freedom to work the pressure washing. Within a year, I had it full time, and there is no residential pressure washing to speak of in metro Phoenix. It was all fleet, and eventually, I used the knowledge I gained there to move to what I am doing now. I cannot say the boards helped me to get there, because, honestly, I wasn't on the boards at that time, and the only one that was really in existence was the old Delco board.
I did it, but, I think that you need to pick what you love. You are probably actually a little burned out from having two jobs, and always end up tired doing one, or the other.
-
Oh man, Beth pulled a Ron...
-
Well, I don't vet my customers sexual preferences. Also, when I have a job dropped in my lap, take it. I would be stupid, or an internet guru to do that. I do treat EVERYONE with respect, until they do something that proves to me that they do not warrant my respect.
I like to have my employees look clean and presentable. That particular guy never has contact with a customer, always shows up, is clean and presentable with a good attitude. He also makes me a lot of money, consistently, every month. It works out well.
I do think it takes a certain brand of chutzpa to come in, make an attack on someone, without having the testicular fortitude to show your name, your company name, or without knowing who you are. Makes me wonder if you use that screen name just to be a jerk. I did look and see that you have a valid phone number though. So I guess that almost gives you credibility.
-
This thread cracks me up. Everyone saying "my way is the best way".
From my experience, everyone has their own personal style, and markets and sells themselves in a way that best suits them. I am very low key, to the point of being quiet. I am not an aggressive marketer, but in my target market, I don't have to be. I wash mobile homes on occasion, and charge $75. If I go in planning to do one, I usually get three, and have them done in a couple of hours. They love me. I talk to them, am nice to them, and they appreciate it. They even like my big, fancy, pretty truck. Of course, I typically only wash in one trailer park. And it is full of one type of person. Retired lesbians with money...
Scary part is, that is not a joke.
By the way, if your roll out cost is $150 before you make a profit, you need to reevaluate your business, at least, I would.
-
Sorry William, I am going to disagree with you on two things. The Hondas are a better engine than a Briggs by far. The Briggs break cams, and pistons on a routine basis. The Hondas have electrical gremlins with their charging system. I do like Kohlers better, but it is hard to find one on something other than an Espec machine. Since I can't look at one up close and personal, I am not going to buy one of them. You are welcome to, if that is the way you roll.
The General pumps are generally the back bone of the commercial pressure washing industry. I have never opened the back end of a general, but I have only been in business 20 years. I also freely admit, I am VERY abusive of my equipment. Others are meticulous about their maintenance, I try to be. Usually the equipment is working, and we just don't have time. We have just started a new program for equipment maintenance, but still, it is probably not near enough. The other advantage to general is that the packing kits are readily available. I don't know that they are as available for the UDOR's. Of course, this is just my opinion.
-
-
That would be Allan. He sure does look like a derelict, and he looked good that day. His false teeth hurt, and so, he wears them only when he is going to see someone. He always has them in when he starts the night, and takes them out, and stores them in a bank bag under the truck seat.
He had to work christmas night, and got pulled over. The cop wanted to search the truck, and he let him. He was standing at the back of the truck, and saw the cop stiffen through the window, and told the cops partner that he found his teeth. Sure enough, the cop found his teeth, and instead of searching the rest of the truck, he just let him go...
-
Now for a straight answer...
Powder coating is lighter. Lines should last longer. Once it linexed, though you will never be able to go back to powder coat. If you want to maintain your bright,cheery color, you can always armor all it. It will let it stay clean longer, too.
-
Didn't you hear? We are pulling out.
The problem is, the military tribunals are designed for a type of war that is unlike any that our military has had to engage in before. People hiding in religious sanctuaries, then decrying the ruthless nature of our military when they go in to get them, after they have been shot at. The enemy not only does not wear uniforms, but could be the man that fed you dinner the night before and told you how much he loves America for taking out Sadaam. We have worldwide military intelligence saying what the strength rating of a country is, including that countries leaders, to only go in and find out that everyone was wrong, because the enemy countries citizens were so scared of the ruthless nature of their dictator, that they told him exactly what he wanted to hear.
The world is upside down.
-
I had have had to write off a total of about $8000 since I have been in business. It really hurts when you put your time and effort into the job, and then have to lose the money.
I had a company that I share a yard with. They own the yard. About 8 years ago, I did a bunch of work for them, totalling about $6000. My biggest ever default. So, I stopped paying them rent, to make up the deficit. 8 years later, I am still not paying rent. Meanwhile, I have a couple of dumpsters, 5 trailers, and 3 trucks parked in my corner of the yard. There is also some miscellaneous debris that is in the yard, as well. All in all, I think I came out well on this one. They are happy, because my guys provide a little security to the yard, since they are in and out all night long. It is a corner that would not be used, anyway. And, Ilet them borrow one of my open trailers when they need it.
-
I have to say, this is one of the funniest posts I have ever seen on this forum, well, besides mine...;)
-
:D Reported for blatant self promotion...;)
-
This is juat my opinion. I have seen it multiple times, in different areas of the power washing Industry. Some guys see to be a lightening rod for controversy. They typically have a few traits, and it does not matter what type of forum you are on, they are consistent.
1. They refuse to think that anyone can do something as well as them. That means that as soon as someone disagrees with them, they are in full combat mode. It will start by them trying to prove their point, even though there is no solid support for what theu are trying to prove, neither by science, or the experience of the vast majority of the industry.
2. They often times degenerate into unprovoked or sometimes, mildly agitated, personal attacks. Sometimes through words, sometimes through smiles used in a mocking way.
3. Sometimes they gp on diatribes about the hate that a particular forum might propagate. When someone goes bacl with an unjaundiced eye, it see.s that tje very person decrying the hate is also the one that started to foment hate.
It happens time and time again. My feelings are, if you think you have a firm grasp on what you are doing, and it works for you, bully for you. If you dp not want to submit to peer review, for any reason, don't post your methods. It is nearly impossible to fully explain anything you do on a forum like this.
If you cpme on these forums solely to shre what you know, due to whatever vast experience you might have, you can fully expect it tp be critiqued by others that have experience in that field. It is just the nature of the BBS world.
-
Let me see, I am pretty republican. I have never seen the republicans say they want to get rid of unemployment. In fact, that comment defies common sense.
I have employees, I pay the FUTA on their salary. In all reality it is part of their compensation package. The state just "invests" that money until it is needed by the employee. Since the employee is paying for it, through the employer, I would think that anyone that did not take advantage of it would be foolish. The same with Social Security. That is a huge scheme by the government to get an interest free loan, banking that a person will die before they retire. I pay a total of about 15% up to the limit every year to FICA. I darn well better get my money out, if it is still there. If you choose not to, that is fine, but you are just losing money that you were forced to pay for your retirement, unless you are on a state retirement system, then it is a totally different deal.
Larry,
Sorry you lost your wife lost her job. I hope she is able to find another quickly.
-
I haul mine full, but then, a lot of times, I am washing things where there is absolutely no access to a hose bib.
-
Chris cheated. He had duplicates.
-
Matt Norman, Kory Finley, Chris Chappell, one of my lovely dinner partners, Celeste...Chris Tharpe, Tony Szabo, Jay Burr, (Okay, I cheated on that one.) Pete Marentay, Brenda, Of Course, The Ronimator...Florida Scott, Mike Bynum and his wife,
Looked for Tony, and did not see him, and I cannot imagine how I could have missed him.
-
Here is my recovery trailer. 16 foot, two hot water washers, a filtration system, 225 gallons of water and a steel eagle vacuum that will run two surface cleaners at 200 feet. It might go further, I just have not tried it. I might need to rebuild it on an 18 foot trailer in the near future. I have something that I want to put on the front...
-
On second thought, the northbound side is not appealing to me either.
-
Scarab Sweepers - Municipal Street and Road Sweeper Manufacturer
You pick up the trash first, by hand. It is an english thing. I would not use it for bus stops, access to the hopper is too hard.
-
Romper stomper boo, I need to look at this when I have time. I know I don't like looking at the southside of a north bound Ron.
-
There are people on here that are happy to spend hours on the phone with you. They will usually answer any questions that you have, and any questions that you should have. There is also the search button that is always useful, so that you can get ideas on different types of pressure washing, what you think sounds appealing to you, and what you think is within you abilities. Keep in mind that it is really much harder work than people on the outside think, which is part of the reason that the failure rate is so high in this field. Another thing might be that someone comes into the industry so ill prepared, because they have not done their research, and have no business plan.
Makes You Think ??
in The Club House
Posted · Report reply
I think something more interesting is what people will be saying about us in another fifty years. The talking points could be something like "I wonder if there will ever be flying cars?" "If we are not careful there will be no social security." And on, and on and on....
"