Ty Korrigan

Hello, Sorry for your loss. On behalf of a colleague who is considering one of these, what is your opinion of this model? We saw one at a show and the only worry was the large distance between the rollers and knives. A place where lumps may get trapped as with Bandit xp65 machines. Although it is very much easier to access this area. Regards Ty

Well, We demoed the JD950 today. Test was at the travellers site we look after. The same 26hp Yanmar as in the 1026 tractor but much quieter. Price was attractive too. We had a choice of new or the demo machine with 70hrs on the clock. So we signed a deal for 15'800 euros ht Dealer took it away to give it a service and we'll be cutting grass just for kicks this weekend. Job done. Ty

Ty

I have a groundscare contract with razor wire on 2 sides. No strimming around that, just an annual Roundup. Thanks for the guidance, I appreciate it. Ty

O.K Rare I ask but I've a quote for tree work that must include 3km of barbed wire fence. 5 strand. Material price I have. Labour...I'm all at sea with. No experience with Ag fencing. Questionis this, (possibly leading to a job offer) How many meters per day possible? How many men? Regards Ty

Where? Ty

Ah, I see now. I've watched a few videos on Youtube for this machine. http://info.amazone.de/DisplayInfo.aspx?id=26615 Out of my price range (list over 32keuros plus vat) but certainly a very capable mower. Finish isn't up to garden standard but if I was just doing council work then I'd consider it. Thanks for the suggestion. Ty

Hah, It will be me with my failing body that rides the mower:biggrin: This is part of my step back from tree work plan. Besides, 'The Apprentice' cut grass all last summer for his local council whilst waiting for his course to start using a gzd21 and so isn't phased by these things. Drives his own car like a granny too! Today, I visited the Gypsy site to check on the grass height for Tuesday. Oh my! Rubbish everywhere. Just kids though playing hide the turd specially for me to pick up... Ty

Oh, I don't know, they did try with the 'eco' tax by camera for HGVs. This almost caused a civil war with many gantries being burned or pulled down and any number of speed cameras violated....hhh! Ty

Oh, these! Jacoby | Machines professionnelles Yes, we've seen them but the Grillo is sold by our regular dealer whose aftersales back is important to us. No real advantage over the Grillo either although the 2 machines are virtually identical. Besides, they are red and I have my corporate image to think about:biggrin: Ty

It really is quite a shock here for Brits when they start up a wee business and find that they are to pay nigh on 50% to the state of EVERY centime THEN pay a local business tax THEN... if they earn enough income tax on top! And to add insult to injury, when you are injured unless you have private medical insurance (ours is around 800euros per year for 3) you will foot a fair part of the bill yourself. However, alot of medication is free when you present your Carte Vitale (National Insurance card with chip and photo) plus you get the doctor refunded. There are 'shorter' waiting lists here as there are far more of every kind of medical specialist. France globally maybe the highest taxed nation in Europe, possible on earth....bleh! Ty

Collection, it's got to collect. About 99.99% of French want it collected and taken away. They view grass in compost heaps as a vile noxious sludge and they cannot stand grass cuttings, fouls the pool you know... Also, there is an 'image' to promote on our web page and flyers that we are equipped for contract cutting and not just filling in a gap in the tree work. The Grillo is at the very top end of our budget but I've seen it cut knee high thick grass and suck it in without blocking all day. What is this Amazon machine? Still, we've another couple of weeks yet to chew it over... Ty

47% of your income BEFORE income tax as a self employed person. Although with our business model I pay this rate only on my 'drawings' as I am 'non-salaried' Basically the company 'lends' me the money to live on. I keep the 'drawings' low and the company pays the 47% national insurance for me. Then should there be profit I take a dividend at the end of the year which is taxed very much lower starting at zero to enable you to recuperate the amount of your original investment then 15%-30% rates apply. Since 2003 I've not paid any income tax to date in France. Ty

The Grillo... Loads of power, manouverable, 4x4, high dump, cuts knee high wet grass and sucks up wet leaves thanks to a central turbine. I've been asking commercial users about their experience with this machine and so far it's all good. 25k euro plus vat I could buy it cash tomorrow but the finance is only 2%... The John Deere 950 is also on my list at 17'500 euro plus vat with zero % credit. Time yet... Ty

PULL THE OTHER ONE! Ty

During last weeks visit to Bandit Laval, I was informed of a European requirement for chippers infeeds higher than 60cm to have a stop bar. I hope I understood that right. Ty

A couple of general questions for any-one. How many hours life do people expect to get from a larger grinder? I don't mean just the engine but the machine as a whole. This week en route for a job near Paris I visited Bandit in Laval to pick up some teeth. Now each time I visit there are several grinders in the yard traded in for new. This time 3 Carlton 4012 2 diesel one petrol all with 1200-1550 hours on the clock. All looked pretty beat up but nothing a respray wouldn't cure externally. Then there is the electrics to consider. So has any-one though in depth about the running costs per hour of a grinder? If you bought a diesel grinder new for 25'000 after a thousand hours, just what value might you be able to get? I speculate a 60%-75% drop in value which represents 15 to 18.75 per hour over the life of the machine. Add your average teeth use cost per hour Fuel per hour Sharpening teeth time. General servicing, oils, filters, grease... A large margin for belts, bearings and unseen issues. Plus machine transport costs to the job. All other fixed business costs pro-rata to the estimated hours worked per year. THEN add your wage etc and profit margin... I calculate that our grinder costs as much to operate as my mates 120k JCB! Ty

Hello, An outfit local to us is looking for a climber. Not fussy about age just a competant hardworking motivated person. You'll need to speak a fairly decent level of French as no English speakers work there. All the usual tickets required which will need translating. If your serious then p.m me for the contact details. Ty

Hot flushes? Short temper? Sagging breasts? ( belly in your case) Menopause Mr Cropper... Ty

Oh, I hope I've not offended you as well Dave. Ty

Very honourable indeed but your stumps alone won't pay a mans wages. Likewise, with our machines even with our turnover of stumps so doing a bit of commercial prospecting to other small tree outfits with a flyer in French could do no harm. Cold calling the Service Techniques of various small communes might go a long way too but using your name vat number on the flyer as larger organisations don't tend to use non-tva reg micro businesses. Ty

Ah, there lies the key to selling the service. Obviously most of the stumps we do are our own which is why we have such a high takeup rate. Perhaps offering other businesses a commission or the idea that they can make a margin on your service might encourage things...? Ty

I'd offer you a placement on the municipal gypsy site we do the groundscare for but I have no doubt the jolly travelling folk would have your wheels by dawn... Ty

Hah! Me too recently. But as I had a driven an hour and had a signed quote from them I unscrewed the gates whilst the crew got on with the job before driving the truck in. Turned out the occupant was the son who was/is a useless feckless unemployable shoite who told his parents he didn't hear us arrive... Ty

I am informed by Bandit France that a hydro head consumes 10% of the available power but is more reliable than belts and extra bearings they require never mind the grease they consume. TBH, somedays our 33hp 4012 feels underpowered on really soft fibrous grey pops, large fir, spruce and pine. I've changed the 8 outermost teeth to ones with a longer stem which has dramatically improved performance. I'm finding almost every French client accepts the stump option on my quotes. Ty