How'd your day go?

[jayjacque]

Ok just venting here. Had one of those days. Funny thing, it was still profitable but I think due to the fact that I do other work besides W/R.

Anyway here's how it went. Got up, drive 100 mi. to a city I go to about every other week. Stopped at one lot, got 3 vehicles. 2 with single hits, 1 with about 4. Almost everything at that lot was hard. None of my suction cups wanted to stick. I think they coated with Rain-X or something. It was just a little too coincidental. And maybe that's why I had problems filling. I didn't realize the situation until the bridges slid off several times on 2 vehicles, so I lost resin. Re-attached, same problem, finally pulled out the lube (which I hardly ever need) Then there were stubborn ones to fill, had to slide bridges over, drill and pop a few times. Had to use heat more than I like. 2 and half hrs. later, all but one came out to my satisfaction. This dealer only uses me occasionally, so I really wanted things smoother. Oh well. Side note: Spent most of the morning frustrated, forgot to put on sunscreen adding to the burn on my back legs!

Next lot a little better. (I was hoping a lot better!) Again 3 vehicles, 2 with 2 hits, one with 1. The 2 hit vehicles came out nice, even though one of them still needed to drill for batwings. I popped to make sure. The one that gave me fits maybe was my fault, the truck with only 1 hit. It was re-doing someone else's work, so I knew that going in. I had to drill four holes, try to pop and heat each time from the inside. Time consuming though. I sure didn't plan on drilling that many holes, nor using so much heat. Risky, but it worked. At least it improved about 75-80%. And that was the lot I picked up some graphic jobs, so a happy ending. Didn't get to the other lots, but maybe will go there again before 2 weeks, so that's all good too. Vent over.

[harrellbenjamin]

200 mile round trip......2 hours each way and how much gas was spent??? It might have been more profitable to stay home???

[screenman]

When redoing old repairs I find heat from the outside a lot better. As for the mileage how man potential customers did you drive past. Mind you we have all done it. Even a day like that is better than a 8 till 5 job.

[harrellbenjamin]

Screenman your so right !!! A 200 mile trip on a nice sunny day is better than any day on a job LOL..How quickly we forget !

[GlassStarz]

Did 5 sets of headlights at a lot went down the street did 4 chips and 2 touch-ups by 11 it was hot (102) so I went to the dollar store

[Guelster]

I had all my repairs come to the shop today. I fixed 8 cars all with Rock Chips, only one car had 2 shots in its glass. All came out to my liking and the customers loving :eusa_danc
Tomorrow is my 1/2 day. I have a plate glass repair first thing in the morning and then maybe even call it quits after that....we'll see.

[jayjacque]

When redoing old repairs I find heat from the outside a lot better. As for the mileage how man potential customers did you drive past. Mind you we have all done it. Even a day like that is better than a 8 till 5 job.

Heat from the outside works? Interesting. How so? Would the moisture evaporator be a way to do that or need to be something else? And do you do it on the vacuum cycle in the same way you would from the inside?

About the driving, there are about 7 populated cities on this island I service. I've got about half the car lots used to me coming now. The closest city I service twice a week. The others get serviced the other days, some weekly, some every other week. It's a lot of driving, and I know fleets and such could eventually be opened up closer. But for now it's the route that works. I definitely don't want to drive this much the rest of my life, but I have some pretty good accounts in a few far off cities, so I like going to them.

P.S. Aside from the driving, most of my days aren't that rough :redface:

[rowdy13]

Hey, at least no one sliced themselves open with a razor blade! To me, a day without drawing blood, is a good day! you guys are so lucky to be doing something you love, without a boss and no time schedule (somewhat). That is my goal.

[sunshine wr]

If I wake-up on the top side of the grass, it's a good day.

[SGT]

Sunshine WR,

You beat me to it! Now thats keeping things in perspective.