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Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 19th, 2007, 7:20 pm
by splitpit
Local lowballing $30 repair tent gypsie's business really took off this week as high winds sent his tent flying to a new location! Landed in a mangled heap about 100' away! LOL

Any other tent guys ever take flight?

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 20th, 2007, 7:51 pm
by johnnyone
I have seen this happen, the wind was so strong it blew it up into the air about 50 ft and down it came into traffic and cause a accident.

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 21st, 2007, 5:09 pm
by glassfixerCO
Even with 25lb weights on the legs these tents can become airborn and/or slide around a parking lot. Somebody told me once that 50 lb weights per leg is what it takes to prevent such a dangerous spectacle.

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 22nd, 2007, 8:03 am
by Clarity Glass
splitpit, laugh at the person for being stupid enough for setting up on an excessively windy day, but don't judge a persons quality because they use a tent location. In the end what really matters is that we all provide a high quality repair so our industry can flourish.

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 22nd, 2007, 8:18 am
by splitpit
I laugh because he got what he deserves. I laugh because he's out there lowballing everyone else and doing poor quality repairs. I laugh because his type give this industry a bad name. It's aint about the tent, it's about the guy working it. Yep, stupidity led to his tent flying away and that gave me a good laugh too!

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 22nd, 2007, 10:00 am
by screenman
When is lowballing considered such? if someone charges a few dollars less than me would that be low balling. Would the guys charging less now than what they did 20 years ago be low balling in that case almost everyone would be lowballers.

I for one admire anyone trying to better them selves and if it means undercutting my price then so be it.I will find another USP to work on.

I would like to think I can find better things to laugh at than other peoples misfortunes. I for one wish the tent guys all the luck in the world, that way they will stay in the tents and not in my fleets. Do they affect my business I do not think so.

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 22nd, 2007, 1:57 pm
by splitpit
When the going rate among all other area WSR shops is $50.00 and this guy is doing $25.00 - $30.00 repairs, I consider that lowballing.

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 22nd, 2007, 2:27 pm
by screenman
$50 is the same as Novus were charging 20 years ago I suppose if you have not had any inflation in that time It would stay the same. If not would that be lowballing I wonder who started it? Is lowballing wrong? if you are offered 2 things the same at different prices which would you buy, we have to consider most customers would not know there was a difference in quality until they had purchased said item.
I would like to point out that the most expensive repairs in the UK are carried out by a major replacement company

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 24th, 2007, 4:06 pm
by OmNi
I had my tent tip on me the other day. I'm over six foot and couldn't keep her on the ground even with 35-50 lbs on each leg. Fortunately two other previous customers saw me and my equipment all over the ground and came to my rescue. I

Re: Business really takes off for tent guy!

Posted: October 24th, 2007, 5:19 pm
by StarQuest
Omni,

I understand you trying to help out some people by offering $40 cash repairs but as far as additionals I don't agree with you doing them for free! If you can't get $10 for extra's at least try to get $5. Do you believe for one minute any of these customers would ever help you out when business slows down and your having a hard time paying your winter heating bills? Underselling yourself and your services is not a good habit to get into.

I run into these people every day with older cars that would make you believe they have very little but come to find out they're doing much better than you or myself. My advice is don't give any extra's free! Can't make a profit doing that.