George is right, I agree. "Sometimes there is nothing a person can do except sit back and wait for the inevitable collapse of the ignorant"
To what end, the cycle repeats itself. One goes down, 1.5 come back. They do the work to develop a customer base x% below cost......They go down, 1.5 come back. It's like a bad SciFi movie (but it ain't over 2 hours later). Only the names change, the problem doesn't. Definition of insanity - repeat events and somehow expect a different result. I'd invite you guys to take a look north when feeling blue about the economy. Our downward spiral started long before the rest of the country. I suspect ya'll get better first. Here's an interesting question, who's hours are off more Detroit or the Twin Cities? I'll give you a hint it ain't Detroit. You know it's bad when you wish you were Detroit. No offense to our Detroit friends. It's not like I compared you to Gary, IN. Now that would be fightin' words! Chris Cahill, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Sentry Fire Protection, Inc. 763-658-4483 763-658-4921 fax Email: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box 69 Waverly, MN 55390 Location: 4439 Hwy 12 SW Waverly, MN 55390 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rod DiBona Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 9:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Sprinkler Contractors in the United States Bingo George. This is the reality. One would naturally think that with the economy the numbers would shrink but the reality is what you have explained. Now more than ever sales is more important than estimating. Those that don't make the distinction will be sitting back complaining about all the low ballers that don't know what they are doing. Sometimes there is nothing a person can do except sit back and wait for the inevitable collapse of the ignorant but the money is in the other times when you are not the low bid but you are the best VALUE. Rod DiBona Rapid Fire -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of George Church Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 3:20 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Sprinkler Contractors in the United States Au contraire- Old rule of thumb was that for every outfit going out, at least one, and up to 3 new outfits would spring up as the designer, salesman, and superintendent found minimal financing and found how ez it is to sell work until you discover the true costs of running a business. Had a spkr company described to me as follows: Investor backed a sharp sales guy who gathered up the top level of an established local "battleship" spkr corp at rates enough to entice them to jump ship; sold a ton of work at 20% below market; hired best fitters at a buck or two over scale and put em all in new trucks...might get you off the ground, but not a sustainable business model. Certainly explained why they were on their 2nd or 3rd investor. glc -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of IPA Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:32 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Sprinkler Contractors in the United States Hmm... with economy it's ever diminishing... :-( On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 9:40 AM, Nick Melosi <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks George. > > On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 11:32 AM, George Church <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Nick- > > I'd ask again in Sprinkler CHAT, not really a tech question for the > > Forum..... > > > > glc > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] > > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nick > Melosi > > Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 12:09 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Sprinkler Contractors in the United States > > > > Hello Everyone, > > Does anyone have an idea how many sprinkler contractors there are in the > > United States? > > > > Thanks Everyone, > > > > Nick > > > > -- > > _______________________________________________ > > Sprinklerforum mailing list > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: > [email protected] > > > > To Unsubscribe, send an email > to:[email protected]<to%3ASprinklerforum-request@ fire sprinkler.org> > <to%[email protected]<to%253ASprinklerforum-req uest @firesprinkler.org> > > > > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sprinklerforum mailing list > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: > [email protected] > > > > To Unsubscribe, send an email > to:[email protected]<to%3ASprinklerforum-request@ fire sprinkler.org> > <to%[email protected]<to%253ASprinklerforum-req uest @firesprinkler.org> > > > > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > > > > > > -- > Nick Melosi > dm design > www.mydmdesign.com > > Tampa Office: > P.O. Box 4477 > Tampa, FL 33677 > 813.944.2008 > > Highland Office: > P.O. Box 504 > Highland, IL 62249 > 618.203.3663 > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected]<to%3ASprinklerforum-request@ fire sprinkler.org> > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
