The awsome feeling

[Scott Walker]

It's the same here, new outfits popping up, with no idea how to price a job undercutting us, makes me worry a little about the future, but the work keeps coming in thankfully, and the pop up firms rarely last but they still take work while they do.

[Ian C]

Don't get wrong Ian life is still pretty good, I keep my family on just what I earn, but things were really good back then.

 

The stupid thing about prices is that often the customer is happy with my price, then some numpty comes along and quote half my price

 

Am glad your still doing ok, yeah I get that a fair bit, I quote say 400 quid the customer accepts then some spanner comes along and days 200! There are loads working for crumbs.

[Big J]

I'm just the same. When times are tight, my mood deteriorates dreadfully. Times are good at the moment, but I need to restrain myself on spending on equipment. The difficulty is that there is literally no limit to the variety of useful kit you can have in a sawmill.

 

Outstanding new truck Ty

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I'm just the same. When times are tight, my mood deteriorates dreadfully. Times are good at the moment, but I need to restrain myself on spending on equipment. The difficulty is that there is literally no limit to the variety of useful kit you can have in a sawmill.

 

Outstanding new truck Ty

 

Someone said to me recently in a text: "I think it best to batten down the hatches and spend no money..." Totally spot on. Hard, no fun, but has to be done. No good having assets instead of cash when you can't sell the asset: as a lot of timber contractors are finding at the moment.

[Firestorm]

Or, spend now if you've got it, on upgrading/modernising etc. So when the situation changes for the better and work picks up, you're ahead of the game.

Or skint!

[Ty Korrigan]

Any-one remember starting out and generally being clueless about pricing?

I know I was.

Seb and I are not A1 climbers.

Our strengths lie in being able to find the work and assemble all the right elements to make a 'successfull' business.

I'm not sure if successfull is the right word but when I look back to 2009 when I re-started in Rennes with a CS100, Kangoo and trailer, I do feel good about myself.

Seeing our new truck and chipper together.

Recieving an answerphone message from a happy client.

Watching people in awe of my former apprentice climbing.

All these contribute to a feeling that is, yes, perhaps awesome.

Ty

[Stefan Palokangas]

In the beginning I was clueless about pricing, but now when i got a better understanding about cost, and charging a price reflecting on reality.

 

Stump Grinding is a profession i wish i started 10 years ago.

[Will Heal]

I've just started out on my own, priced and did a few jobs before Xmas, made good money, bit of subbing in between, but now on a job I have badly underpriced, going to take 5 days instead of three, with extra labour on top. I could kick myself. Should have known how long it would take, maybe I've been spoilt working for a big firm with lots of kit and bodies to help out. Forgotten how long things take with only 3 of us, a saw that's not big enough and having to handball everything.

Feel like going back to work for someone else. But I won't get far with that attitude.

[Taupotreeman]

I've just started out on my own, priced and did a few jobs before Xmas, made good money, bit of subbing in between, but now on a job I have badly underpriced, going to take 5 days instead of three, with extra labour on top. I could kick myself. Should have known how long it would take, maybe I've been spoilt working for a big firm with lots of kit and bodies to help out. Forgotten how long things take with only 3 of us, a saw that's not big enough and having to handball everything.

Feel like going back to work for someone else. But I won't get far with that attitude.

 

 

Don't dwell on it, I'm pretty sure we've all done it and I know I have on several occasions. It's part of the learning process.

[Billy]

I've just started out on my own, priced and did a few jobs before Xmas, made good money, bit of subbing in between, but now on a job I have badly underpriced, going to take 5 days instead of three, with extra labour on top. I could kick myself. Should have known how long it would take, maybe I've been spoilt working for a big firm with lots of kit and bodies to help out. Forgotten how long things take with only 3 of us, a saw that's not big enough and having to handball everything.

Feel like going back to work for someone else. But I won't get far with that attitude.

 

 

Learn from it, always give a realistic price for your own set up. I've never got it too wrong but had a few where I've just broken even and it's very frustrating! Best to lose a job being a bit dear than be out working for nothing.