Time to go!!!!!

[NuVueGlass]

I have a lot of respect and admiration for everyone that comes to this forum to share their opinions and gain knowledge about the glass repair business. I too came here for the same reasons. I have learned a lot from everyone here on what to do and what not to do, or try.
I wanted to make sure that I gave props to everyone before I start with the BASHING!!!!
I had VERY high hopes about being able to make a very good living doing this but my hopes were dashed very quickly after a disasterous summer. I'm not going to go into much detail but I will say that this is not a good business for all areas. Price undercutting(DEEP UNDERCUTTING), cheap glass prices and bias city officials adds up to this not being a good market area.
I will be posting my new equipment for sale, I have sold my used equipment to one of the undercutting clowns. If anyone is interested, please check the for sale forum in the next day or two, I'll have it posted there soon.

Again, thank you to everyone in here and continue to have prosperous careers.

[GlasWeldTech]

Nothing like helping out the clown that put you out of business. Why didn't he also buy your new equipment?

[NuVueGlass]

Well, as far as helping out the clown goes, I've learned over the years that just because others may do what he is doing that doesn't mean I should do the same. I've made my decision to leave the business so I no longer care what he does. It didn't matter who bought my equipment as long as I got the price I wanted for it. I'm not mad at him, I'm mad at the situation. He alone did not cause me to make my decision. Remember, he is doing what he feels is best for him. I'm not praising him either but this has opened another door for me that I may not have considered if I continued with the business. In fact, I am in a much better market now.
Quick story.
I used to sell t-shirts, when I decided to move on to another project I went to the places that were retailing them in the neighborhoods( printing shops, party stores, gas stations and even local hardware stores have them), I was offering them a price lower than they were paying for them but they wouldn't buy them from me. The businesses were owned by people of middle eastern decent. At first I thought it was just a racial thing. Well, it is and it isn't. I was very upset until a nephew of one of the store owners explained it to me. He said that the reason that they wouldn't buy from me was that they only buy from their own people. I'm sure you'll agree that that doesn't seem right but you really can't blame someone for wanting to see their own people prosper, even if it means paying a little more for the product. I put them on the internet and got more for them.

So, I've learned that since you can control your own destiny, don't dwell on others and how they conduct business just do what you think is right for you. I've voiced my opinion about it but I'm not letting it stop me from living.
I'm doing very well in real estate now so it was a blessing in disguise.
As far as the new equipment, I guess he just didn't want to pay the price.

Again, I hope you all stay prosperous.

[screenman]

You must live in a very small town where there is only enough work for one person. There is never a reason to pack up in this business, there is so much work to go around. I suggest you may have been chasing the same market, big mistake as you will find in any business. I have been the most expensive and busiest repairer in my area for over 18 years. Still I wish you every success in your new venture.

[scratchy]

I feel for your situation and hope you the best in your future ventures. The death of any industry is when idiots start whoring themselves out for the lowest dollar possible. They eventually dry up and die while the survivors are left explaining to the uneducated public why they have to charge more than the bygones!
Everytime someone tells us they can get a chip fixed for $15 the next city over we tell them, GO RIGHT AHEAD! Then... For some reason we end up fixing their window after we let them know WE are not price whores. Go figure.

[GlassStarz]

Diversity is the key to survival and the abitlity to change with the market is a must. The days where a guy can sit on the corner with a pop up and charge $35-$50 per repair are over in most metro areas. People have come to know that its a quick and easy process and have bought a kit its a lot like the computor industry with more competition the prices have gone down. Lets face it a huge segment of our society earn less than 25k per year and thats less than $500 per week so our industry is atractive lets face it its a heck of alot easier than working in some lame assembly line. 7 $15 repairs a day and they are over the hump its not like we are rocket scientists this job is easy. You either change and reinvent yourself or slowley fail its been this way in all business forever small stores die because they refused to compete with the box stores and the cycle continues. Adapt and succeed stagnate and fail I added to my offering put a huge increase in the wallet but I am not sitting still I am always looking for the next thing to add or change lest the hordes catch up to me and pass me by. Fleet customers provide a steady living with a good mix of retail to polish the apple

[GlasWeldTech]

I am with Scratchty all the way on this one!!!!!! I have a GOOD understanding with my dealers here and I service about 25-30 weekly. I am the highest in my area and have been for about 7 years. I have a new dealer now that every week gripes about my prices and he was getting his done for a little of nothing. He still writes my check weekly.

[toab]

I hate to read stories like this one.I've got one shot at this self employed dream of mine and I don't think my familly will have the patience to wait for me to try another venture if this one fails.It will be back to working for the man again.It's just to financially draining to try to set up a business noly to have it fail never mind all the people around this small town who will stand by and watch my ship go down without throwing out even a life raft.If you saw all the empty storefronts around me you wuold know what i mean.There doesn't seem to be alot of municipal help like property tax relief etc for budding businesses in my area.Seems like everybody wants thier piece of the money pie before I even get mine.

[Coitster]

For those that read Robert Kirosaki the author of the Rich Dad book series. He tells people when they are getting into business themselves they must be willing to fail at least 9 times for 1 to work.
David
Coitster

[rockaway]

thats great to know coister now i dont feel bad for all my buisness ideas that I tryed out before this worked for me.