Shares in a picus...

[benedmonds]

I have nothing to do with the sale on here, but wondered if there might be a way a group could purchase a picus?  

£21,500 + is a lot of money for a machine that you do not use often but I assume has little moving parts, is unlikely to wear out..

I could not justify the purchase and have only specified it a couple of times over the years..  But if I had access to one I might sell the service...

If a group were to own the machine they could all use it or hire it out to each other?  

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by benedmonds

[Steve Bullman]

Thats a lot of money and a specialised piece of equipment, and having used one its not something I would want to share around personally.  I expect anyone else who owns one will tell you the same thing.

[benedmonds]

The point is that yes, if I owned it all I would not share it around, but if 10 people owned a share as a co-op, that's only around 2K invested and all those with a share would still look after it as if it were their own.. I know I would.

 

We are supposed to be entering a new sharing economy. We won't own cars in 10 years surely we could share a picus..?

  

[eggsarascal]

This thread should gauge if there is enough interest.

 

How would any repairs be covered? If it genuinely breaks down when shareholder number 2 is using it does he pay for the repair or do all shareholders contribute to the repair? Or would insurance be taken out on said item?

 

Just thinking out loud.

[Steve Bullman]

9 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

This thread should gauge if there is enough interest.

 

How would any repairs be covered? If it genuinely breaks down when shareholder number 2 is using it does he pay for the repair or do all shareholders contribute to the repair? Or would insurance be taken out on said item?

 

Just thinking out loud.

exactly, it would end in tears

[benedmonds]

I would envisage a fee paid by the coop member each time they use it which goes to cover insurance and maintenance.   

[daltontrees]

I like the idea of a picus co-op, but I can't think of many people that I would trust to use it. A good way to do this would be to get a group together, one person buys the kit, they all get together for a day's joint playing with it, then the owner rents it out to trusted trained group members and that way he can record condition and function before he sends it out and paperwork can make borrower responsible for return in same condition or for cost of repairs. I'd sign up for such a scheme, but I wouldn't want to take the initial capital outlay hit on it in case no-one else borrowed it off me. Like you, if I had one or I was the main guy in a co-op I'd really be pushing it as a service. The perception that it's a very expensive service is correct in reality, but if using it all the time you might get slck enough to half the price of the service. On a supply/demand basis this might improve uptake and turnover.

[Khriss]

Bloody good idea- must definately be a way of organising it , book in a weeks work for it -say ,  then hand over to next guy  . K

[tree-fancier123]

and for when the readings indicate impending failure -shares in a big tracked grinder

[treeseer]

On 4/9/2018 at 12:09, tree-fancier123 said:

and for when the readings indicate impending failure -shares in a big tracked grinder

The machine just measures run times.  It's not a crystal ball!

 

Re shared ownership, mmmm...I've rented 3 different models and no owner expressed a lot of concern about them breaking down somehow.  Gross negligence or violent intent would be required for that to happen.

 

But renting is quite straightforward, while co-ownership would be anything but.