Ethics question

[Larry L.]

I myself think you read inbetween the lines wrong yourself.This guy your talking to should come here and ask Q'tions himself if you cann't help him.If we told you how and you told him what we said,how do we know if you didn't read between the lines wrong and give him bad advice.And if you do Vents,car lots,surface cleaning and farm eqt. and still cann't help him how do you expect us to.As for acting like a asso and idiots is only to help a smart ass newbee like you,go back and read your own post.You didn't see us calling you names now did you,only answered your Q'tions as to the way they where applied.

If you think some of us are idiots and asso's and do not know what we're talking about there is a button on this bbs that you can block us out.No need to read something thats going to make you look like a idiot or asso yourself.

What answer where you looking for or should I say what would you like for us to tell this guy you cann't help.

And to me your biggest competitor isn't your biggest competitor at all,how can he be,he doesn't do the same cleaning as you.If he's been in business for 21 years people around him knows not to call him if he doesn't do the type cleaning you do.You really do not make sinces to me or atleast it looks wishy washy to me.It may be the reason you only got answers from idiots and asso's,recken...I think its funny hehehehehehe,atleast I want haveta waste my time in trying to help you in your way of thinking

 

[Max_rob]

see once again you are mistaken Big. The kind of answer I was looking for is like the one from Clean county. My whole intent in this thing, was to find out different ways this guy could make some money with his power washer. and look what i got. I don't believe in ignoring people on this BB. Believe it or not once in a while you have very good input Big. As do the rest of you. But it's in situations like this that you seem to jump to conclusions. If you have a question about something then just ask rather than make insinuations in the form of a question. As for the guy I talked to that belongs to this board, I hope that you do find some good information on here that will help you out.

 

[Larry L.]

Ok I'll ask a few but first go back and read your first post and read my reply plus I didn't say he was your friend I said tell him like a friend would tell him.

Now read your next two post and my reply,would you please point out where I was a idiot and a asso.

Now go back and read your other 3 post and my reply.

Read your last post,why didn't you take clean countys advice,he said he'd stay out of it.

Now read my last reply to you,You got what you ask for that was my intent,to the best of my knowledge which I assume isn't as good as yours.

Now my Q'tions to you,if this guy is on this bbs why isn't he asking for himself,if your not him or a friend why would he ask you when he has alot more smarter people here ,he can get answer to what ever he ask,depending on how he ask.And finally what give you the right to down grade someone trying to help you,what makes you so almighty to call someone a idiot or do all newbee's go around with their heads up their asso's thinking they're acting like the rest of us or me I mean.

 

[melsmobile]

Max_rob,

Tell the guy there is , no no , ok tell him, no , what , hum!

less see well , I know there is fifty ways to leave your lover so there must be about 1,000,000 things to clean.

And one thing that comes to mine is , well i meet a guy about 10 years ago and he cleaned A/C units at Notel Motels and hoilday Inns Etc.

The Maintenance (S/p) people would bring the a/c uints down to his wash trailer and he would spray a way, well i say he but i mean his crews, i thank he had 2 or 3 crews.

they stayed for free at the motels , and could do 100 uints EZ and a do daw day at $10.00 usd not paso! that kind of moola will buy some tacos.

You of all people should know what to tell this buddy of yours?




Mel

 

[Jon]

Quote by Max_Rob:
And by the way, this guy I talked to happens to be a member of this BB, so I am just keeping his identity safe.

I am confused Max_Rob, is this guy you spoke to the best friend or the guy who is on this board? Now you say he has been in business 21 years, Dave Olson has been around that long, but then Dave offers his wealth of knowledge pretty freely so that leaves him out.

Oh well it is really not important who it is, what is important is your ways around things yet asking for professional advice, see when your upfront and honest then the information comes freely too but most of us sort of feel something sneaky about your post so we are sort of guarded on replies.

Now seeing you do all that work and seeing that I have never claimed to know it all nor would I ever say I do know it all in the pressure washing subject so that should solve that little problem, in fact I do not believe anyone will ever "know it all", know a lot yes but things change and if we as you want to stay on top of things we have learn and adjust to those changes.

As for us being negative, hardly, guarded yes, distrustful, not really but see those of us that have been on this and other boards for a few years tend to see the same questions over and over and get pretty good are weeding out true newbies from competitors asking questions.

I remember when I first started, in fact in my area nothing has changed, competitors just don't talk to each other, very distrustful here except for a very few that I talk.

Come out of the closet Max_Rob.

We stand ready and willing to help once we know exactly what it is you need help with.

Clean County has a great outlook on things, in fact the guy probably knows a ton more then he lets on to, sort of like he has to hold back some information or his competitors will eat him alive!

Don't take us wrong and think we are attacking you as that is not the case nor should it be, different people have different ways of saying things here, I am blunt and don't hold back, been told off more then once about that attitude also yet I am still here, not worried about being kicked off, kicked in the butt by a few here yeah, but heck I can always turn a deaf ear towards them.

 

[Max_rob]

Jon, He is on the BB. I have only talked to him the one time. This is normally something I wouldn't get into. As for me, I am in a scheduling nightmare. Several of my once every 3 month vent customers want to go to every month. So I am trying to balance everything out. As you all know there are only so many hours in a day. I wish that I had someone around here that had even a little experience to help out. I am in real need of a good crew chief.

 

[Dan S]

wow>>>>>>>>

the secret life of ....bb land ..............<<>>

 

[Scott Stone]

I have a few opinions. I am in a large market. The metro area I live in is the sixth largest in the U.S and is growing rapidly. There are a couple of thoughts that I have.
1. Unless you are in a small market, there are very few of us that are actually successful that specialize in more than one or two areas. I specialize in two, and one of them happens to be fleetwashing. That being the case, and if you acquaintance is dead set on being in the business, I would do teh stuff he is not doing. If he is doing fleets, I would do flatwork, and get as good as possible on it.
2. Unless he has a successful business going, I would think that any customer is fair game. There are some of my competitors that we have a gentlemans agreement to not go after each others customers. There is a very good reason for that. IF we were to start on each others customers, it would be a virtual bloodbath, because in the business arena we are both extremely competitive. Whaty is ineteresting is that the public persona that we give off is exactly opposite of each other. So I handle my corner of the world, and refer to him, and he takes care of his corner and refers to me. I am also careful, as he is, to not reveal a lot of our customers to each other.
3. If he got into the business without a business plan, he is foolish. That would give him a guideline to run his business by, and what he anticipates is needed to be successful. This would also mentally prepare him to do battle with his best friend.
4. Lastly, Why did he go into the same business as his best friend in a small market. There must be some kind of envy going on there. He either needs to deal with it, and climb into bed and get his friend to give him some unprofitable or lower profit accounts and sub contract to him.
Just my opinion.

Scott Stone

 

[Jon]

Well said Mr. Stone and a good way to not start a competiton war.


Max_Rob,

Now we can relate very well, I pretty much have the same problem, that and some that had me doing what I specilize in want more and more things done that I can do but I don't go after for a couple reasons and the first is as you say time and the second is called word of mouth between managers of this company.

One hears I did this or that and they want it done, next thing I know I spend hours longer at one job location and end up needing more hours.

Crew leader, sure but be sure he is almost as fast and good as you are, just remember you will never find an employee to be able to match your speed.

Finding a good employee is not easy, find any employee is, the trick in my book is just walking as I talk with them as part of the hiring process, if they lag behind and are not fast walkers more then likely they are not fast workers.

Once you find and are ready to hire him/her be sure they know that you will put them on probation for 3 to 6 month, yes it is legal if they sign agreeing to those terms, tell them they will be on a graduated pay raise scale of so much every 3 month for say a year, then a yearly review before the next raise.

Oh before you hire anyone better check out all the added cost first, Workers' Comp. ins. auto if you allow them to drive your vehicle, medical if you provide it etc.

Max_Rob feel free to send me an Email.

Jon
opclean@earthlink.net

 

[Max_rob]

Oh my, you are both right. I can't agree more Jon. But here is a tid bit for you all, if you have the time. I just made $800 clearing snow off of driveways and sidewalks. We just had a snow storm and I was cleaning my drive way the easy way, when my neighbors started comming home and asked if I would do thiers. I did, and word has been spreading like wild fire. I am going to go do gas stations that need it tonight. I would never have thought about it. I just have been doing mine like that. And there isn't any freeze. If your interested in this, I do it for $25 for single drive and sidewalk, $30 for double. And by the way, it's much faster than a snowblower. I haven't spent more than 20 min on any of them I have done.

 

[Max_rob]

And Jon, I don't really hire them, I 1099 them, basically sub them out. They pay the insurance and pay thier own taxes. The risk I run is they go out on their own, but then again every business has risks with it. But I do make money that way.

 

[Larry L.]

*LOL* *LOL* WOoo

 

[Jon]

SNOW in Southern California, well there is up in the mountains above me but not down here.

And there are to many snow hacks as it is up there.

Even the guys and gals who charge to install tire chains have to be licenesed by the California Highway Patrol.

Good idea though.

How about your true name please, is it Max or Rob or is the Rob short for your wife name of say Robbi, Robin, Rachael, Renee' or ??

Now you see we can be nice and offer good advice too!

 

[Scott Stone]

The risk is not that they go out on their own. THe risk is that the IRS may decide that they are employees. then you will have to be pay all of the back taxes, SS taxes, FUTA etc, plus any fines that they add on. You can only legally 1099 them if they are using their own equipment, and have control over their own schedule, and get their own chemcials, and such.

Scott

 

[Max_rob]

ok, two part reply. Scott, I lease them the truck and equipment, so they do work with "thier own" equipment. Joh, my name is Rob Maxwell. The wife is Tonya. But anyway Scott, I have my bases covered with my crew. I just have a 1 year no competition clause in the contract, so if they do decide they want to break off on thier own, they would have to go to another area or wait.

 

[Scott Stone]

That is one way around the problem. It would be interesting to see how it held up in IRS court. The reasont aht I pointed it out is that there are a lot of contractors that would think that they could have the guy use their company equipment and vehicle and then 1099 them to avoid all of the hassles of employees.
Just something that eats at me.

Scott

 

[Chuck Richard]

Max rob, about you getting upset at the guys for their responses on your ethics ?'s. I think that if you don't want these kinds of responses don't post stupid ?'s. Nothing against you that was just a stupid ?.

Just my 2 cents, but what do i know. I'm from the SOUTH!

 

[Max_rob]

Well Scott, it has worked with no problems so far. And according to my attorney, he's the one that came up with the idea, it's all legit. It's the same thing as general contractors using subcontractors. Or at least that is the way I understand it. My crews are sub contrators to me, I just lease them the equipment and help them with personel, etc.

 

[Dan S]

Rob ..... er ......max <<>> whatever

hey I got family up your way one is my wifes second cousin ... we got him into p/washing about 1.5 years ago .......... maybe he is the dude you refer to.. he is a go-getter and very busy !!!

let us know where you are at I'll have him meet ya for a cup of coffee <> sometime.You guys can exchange buisness plans.

 

[Larry L.]

eeerrrr the way its been going more likely he'll tell you he doesn't drink coffee or has enough plans .