Ever heard of M.A.R.S.???

[screenman]

I have to disagree with Splitpit I know of many guys that have spent the last few years building a very succesful retail business from tents. Do not forget that this is just about doing the repair at the time, I get calls every week from customers that pickup a card at one of my tent sites and I have not done that for over a year and then on only a few occasions. Why did I not do more? not because it did not work it is due to the fact I did not personaly enjoy it. This is not to say others would not. Luckily enough my financial position allows me to choose how I run my business and to me it is about enjoying it. Eric is being modest in not telling you about some of the guys who bought his franchises and then earnt fantastic money way and above what they could have ever expected.
Try a tent one day you might like it, oh and buy the way do not get taken in by the 2 for 1 offers at the supermarket.

[splitpit]

Success can only be measured by the individual running the business.
For some, they may feel successful, only doing half as much business as others do. For some, earning enough to make ends meet is success.
It all depends on what you strive for.

But I firmly believe that there is more money to be made in wsr by going after it, than there is in waiting for it to come to you. It also has to do with the image your business projects to others.

Tent in parking lot - free sign - ridiculously low price = cheap image!
Some people like cheap and don't care. Others don't and do care.

For every job you hook with a cheap gimmick, there is one or more who won't because they don't trust the cheap image. Those are my customers and they trust me, regardless of the price.

[screenman]

As we say over here there is more than one way to skin a cat. When we put a tent up we were still the most expensive around. The insurers over here pay

[splitpit]

Thanks screenman, but I'll have to pass on trying the tent thing! No time in my schedule for parking with a tent. If I ever get desperate for business, I'll pop up a tent with FREE plastered on the side and lower my prices! lol

[maxryde]

I gotta chime in here, I do the tent thing with the free signs and today as usual I did lets see...$446.58 in 3 hours. Just an average day mind you. I have been away from the location for 3 mos due to family obligations and many folks who dropped in said they had been looking for me, we are in the local yellow pages, member's of the local chamber, etc. etc... SOME folks just like the convenience of this kind of opporation. Most of the time I do cold calling and fleets, but the tent arragement is a way to sell too, and when I do the math I cannot see any difference on the bottom line $ wise.
Bottom line many tent guys are totally legit, we have the best reputation in the area. It all comes back to the quality of your work!!

[splitpit]

More power to ya, Max. That's a good 3 hours pay so I doubt you're doing $30 repairs. Sounds like you have developed a better reputation than most tent gypsys.

But if they've been looking for ya for 3 months, why didn't they just give you a call? my customers seem to like the comvenience of me going to them.

[wsrusa]

I guess its in some peoples nature to moan and groan and bad mouth others its easier to blame others for your failure than accept responsibility and change. As far as the franchise thing I have personal knowledge with one friend who bought the mars and failed that said some people are not cut out to own thier own buisness and will always fail and yes my friend is one of those guys should the company screen people buying to see if they have what it takes? of course not they are in the buisness to make money

Well most of the people that are enganged in litigation with MARS were /are very successful. They are fighting for what other franchisees commonly get Protected Territories! All other recon franchises offer protected territories to protect that franchises future value (IE you have something tangible to sell as part of an exit strategy) Without that 1.) all you have is a trailer full of tools that can be sold for pennies on the dollar 2) you potential growth can be limited! How you ask ask the 5 or 6 guys in Birmingham, Alabama. Yes six MARS franchises in one small area. By offering protected territories like Colors on Parade, Fabrion, Autoqual, MARS lmiits their ability to sell franchises in that area! A true franchisor like McDonalds (Which MARS compares itself to) prospers off of royalties not franchise sales.

[GlassStarz]

Giving someone a protected territory looks good on paper but we all know if the guy doesnt work it everyone loses I personally prefer the Snap-On protected customer idea lets face it if you are doing everything from WR to spraying bumpers like Mars reps then you only need 5 or 6 good customers to keep you working full time and in a town of any size with a couple hundred dealers in it why wouldnt they sell several systems?

[screenman]

We seem to be going away from the topic of free screen repair or not and have gone on to knocking franchising. Lets get back on course. I have just got to agree with GlassStarz agian. At any time 80% of your business will come from 20% of your area if you are a franchise.

[chips1144]

Ive never seen a subject get so much attention.
Personally Im not a fan of Glasweld, Ive bought their equipment and training, I wasnt a satisfied customer, I wont go into the long boring details, I just wished Id known about Delta at the time.

Im not a fan of Mars, but saying that I have a friend who is a Mars operater, A Salt to the Earth Kinda Guy.

I also have Respect for Eric Howe and his accomplishments, But still I think $30 is way too cheap, $30 is walmart pricing, we all know that's a bad thing,
I cant imagine Mars operators wanting to fix glass chips for $30 when they have so many other more profitable services that that can offer, I understand the $30 chip gets their foot in the door.

The British pound should have no bearing on the price of repair prices in this country, we get paid in dollars and spend dollars.

The US Dollar has sunk to a terrible point and is still sinking, most Americans dont have a clue or understand the problem and how it affects the people of this country long term, What a mess.