Ty Korrigan
-
Posts
4,924 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
8
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Classifieds
Tip Site Directory
Blogs
Articles
News
Arborist Reviews
Arbtalk Knot Guide
Gallery
Store
Calendar
Freelancers directory
Everything posted by Ty Korrigan
-
Hello Mark,
Yes, my machine is due to go to Bandit Laval for a refit.
I'm also increasing our area covered in the Page Jaune.
Each listing is 150euros so I have chosen towns near Rennes that have money.
Ideally I want each ad to generate 3000euros so its cost is only 5% of turnover.
I record the responses from each ad. Just changed the pockets on the Bandit as some had cracks! Its out again Monday, 20 stumps. Auld Rab did the quote so I hope I can get them all done in a day. At least they are just going to be just below soil level not a full grind out. 20 conifers felled, chipped, burned and ground out for 950euros.
Its a bit lean but still profitable enough.
-
Pete,
Pick your brains if I may.
We've just had a Bandit 65 on site for a day of chipping.
Its owned by Tomtrees of this parish and we picked his brains on the machines pros/cons.
Its 35hp and weighs 1300kg.
I'm keen on a quad chip, its weight is an attractive point.
What are the pros/cons over each?
Is the quad as capable, reliable, long lasting etc...
Regards
Stuart Lee
-
I tell you something... I pay 283euros for a flat yet recieve 248euros in housing benefit. Thats true friend. The price of wine? No interest to me. Yet here in France I have never earned so much in my life. The potential here is enormous for an entreprise with an Anglo orientated philosophy. Despite the 60%social charges life is better here than in the U.K. I still buy all my equipment in the U.K and French customer service is still almost non existant. When my 261 wears out it will not be replaced by one from a French supplier but from Honey Bros. Discount or deal has no equivelant in French har har... Ty
-
I calculate including postage that Mark has paid 600euros (depending on exchange rate) I make it a tight rule NEVER to buy anything for the business other than my daily requirements here in France like fuel...Yup, fuel and oil, thats about it. Thats wee Greenmech CS100 is sold here for 7400euros compared to the £4500 in the U.K. Ifor Williams trailers are a third more with NO discounts available. I've just received a tonneau cover and insert for the pick up which ordered from the U.K saved 25% As French customer service is generally rather poor and repairs often exorbitant it is cheaper for me to simply buy spare saws and send the ones for repair back to the U.K. Just why are we here then eh? Ty
-
Ho Ho HO! So the Pirates have tested the Renault KanTgo and found that on re-test (each one a mere 60euros) that the first test was not correct (60euros remember) Now they want to run further tests (For a problem they created) at a further 60euros per test. They are waving figures around the G.N.P of a small African nation. In fact, it would be cheaper to ship the van to the U.K to have it fixed there than let this garage fix (if they can) the problem. At least its not because I am British (for a change) Ty (2 whiskeys as beer don't touch this problem)
-
Have you been 'aving a go my friend? If so, I hope you put saw dust on the pools of blood and fed the bodies to pigs. I love to drive our pickup mounted with a WW2 Bren gun into a nest of caravan dwelling thieves... Have a dry day! Ty
-
Ha, probably dry-ish in Brittany but I'll still have the water-proof at the ready. Hedge cutting over a dirty ditch filled with grey water from a house... Ty
-
Hell I sell it like this, I tell them I have a minimum forfait of 1h (min charge 1h) If the job doesn't justify 75euros then I nudge nudge wink wink the price down in exchange for sexual favours or cash, with which I buy sexual favours... Ty (You'll never know just how serious I am...)
-
There is a French proverb: "Achete un Renault, toujour en velo" Nuts... Ty
-
Hello again, Just as well, perhaps all VTS has are buttons with which to pay:001_tt2: So, yesterday I told the garage that they are responsible for the cost of repairing the injector issue. I have an ex-pat mobile mechanic all lined up who will do the work for half the price and with no serious markup on parts. I'm not going to tell this Renault pirate that though... Ty
-
I'm a Lemon, proper Lemon but I won't that Frenchy garagiste pull my pants down further than my buttocks I'll tell ye. I've been in your old banger when you drove home on 3 tyres after lunch in Domagne:001_tt2: Ty
-
I can't sleep... Garage extracted and replaced the glow plug only to damage an injector doing so. Now they want...wait for it. 1500euros for replacing the injector, cam belt, water pump and I imagine any other stuff they can make up as they go along. Tomorrow, I go back to the garage and in my best French try to negotiate on this. For those who don't already live here in Frenchy land a word of warning. The French have a very poor reputation for customer service. This will be my second run in with a French garage and the first was very unpleasant indeed. My usual ex-pat mechanic is telling me that there may be a real chance of debris left in the cylinder which is causing the engine to run badly. Now I'm going to try to get some sleep. Night...er Morning! Ty
-
Just done a 3 day job with a team of 3. Other than knocking the head off a lamp post it went very well indeed. The client (French of course I being in Frenchy-ville) thrust a cheque into my associates hand he turned off the blower. French Connection U.K ME! Thats rare! Normally they ask you to send the bill. When do I get time for typing up bills? Thank you Monsewer Tomas Ty
-
Maybe the one who turns up in a modest sign written van, clean shaven, and dressed...well perhaps in company embroidered clothing. Some-one who comes across well, professional, who sells the service on offer. This isn't just tree surgery, this is Waitrose Arboriculture... I aim high and win 70% of my quotes. There is an element of the population who shop at Lidl and Aldi and those who believe that M+S give value. I try to come across as a not to posh yet quality service that has a brand and a following reputation. 70%, not to high, not too low... Flirt with your client, offer bags of advice and be their friend. Ty 300euros tops by the way x
-
If its one tree you don't price the same for 3 in the same property surely? Well, I don't and I'm in profit! I don't scratch around lowering rates. My prefer to work less for more not more for less. Any-one can be a busy fool. Going rate to slightly cheeky is my price band. I kick saw dust in the face of the ten euro daves of this world ha ha ha! Ty
-
Hello, Just done a very similar Birch for 240 euros or 190 squids and with the stump I got 300euros in all. The wood I gave to the poor and the chips to a gardener. I'm loved for my generosity x Ty
-
Conversations are limited X number of words on here.
It is an excellent add on sale and really contributes to the turnover.
Most I've done on one job was 80 Picea abies which took 24 hours of grinding
(in total not continuous...Bandits not got lights!) I just charged my time and the machine costs as it was an add on sale to the felling etc.
We charge each man out at 300euros or if a 3 man team 800euros. Its Rennes, it rich and its the going rate. Further West into Brittany there are guys working from 150-200.
The key for us is the location, Rennes. Cities have earners and the Brit ex-pats are not earners in general, they've already earned and are tight with the spending of it.
I am looking at a bigger machine but until I really pissed of with ragging the Bandit around a new Bandit can wait. Oh, nearly got the Navarra well stuck in our field trying to tip a FULL tipper trailer of wet Lawson chips...
-
Now then... I look at the job and simply quote a price based on stump species, size, situation, travel blah blah. I try to get a day rate of 480euros for a days grinding with a forfait minimum of 120euros (2 hours)
I know the Bandit uses 4.2 litres per hour and the teeth can sometimes be used up in a day. I find a day is in fact 6 hours of use with rest being digging and raking time.
We used to rent a Laski push along from Kiloutou, a **** of a machine with blunt teeth.
Along with the wear of the pockets the Bandit costs around 16euros per grinding hour.
-
Yup, thats me. Happy to change chipper blades, change oil, air filters blah blah but for bigger stuff I use a mechanic. Except today when I thought that changing the glow plugs on my kangoo would be a breeze... The last one, the one by the fuel pump snapped off! Now, the van starts but if I am to get this fixed it will cost a minimum of 200euros+vat and possibly a great deal more... I'm betting a great deal more. So now I am resolved to let garages do what they are best because today I lost money due to not letting a pro' do it for me. I lost the mornings work, must rent a van, pay for a repair, stress and time wasted all because of something so small. Still, its a chance to catch up on maintenance of saws and paperwork so not all bad eh? Ty
-
Ha! Just done one that I verbally quoted for after dark and yup, it was very much wider in places than I had thought with access issues due to the client not moving firewood stacks and garden waste. Also the client and family were to clear up as part of the deal. As the day wore on they sloped off and left it to us to do which was a time and therefore a COST IMPLICATION! This is typical of your ex-pat to want to lower your quote by offering to clear up and then finding excuses not to. The client had also left stacks of firewood and building+garden waste unmoved which slowed us further. I challenged them at the end of the day and they are refusing to budge on paying extra which I shall take on the chin with professional good grace and learn not to let clients in on a job to save cash. They have even moaned about the finish of the hedge which we did with a chainsaw even though we explained that hedge cutters don't do wood. I may have them yet though. After I had quoted for the hedge I also quoted for clearing the phone lines of a few Macro carpa branches, this I shall do. I do however know that the official letter, in French from the council, which they showed me AFTER I had quoted talks not of lines at all but of clearing the route for high vehicles H.G.Vs and loaded tractors. I shall clear the lines and if they want any more branches removed then they will have to pay for. Yes, these hedges are good earners but are often larger than they look access issues and brambles too. Still, another reason for a bigger chipper! Ty
-
Hello, What is it about Macrocarpa trees in N.Z? They are HUGE! When I was traveling around I saw many with giant circumferences yet they are only less than 150 years old or less. Ideal growing conditions perhaps...? Ty
-
Australia is it really worth it??
Ty Korrigan replied to brothergrim's topic in International Arborist Forum
Hello, I have family in Melbourne who I use as a base for my cycling trips. I've never worked there but spent many months now intimately in touch with the place as only cycling can bring you so close to a place as a tourist whilst covering amazing distances. The thing that strikes me is that Oz life is either one of a highly suburban life, malls and air-con or bush living, 4x4s, air-con, dust and flies. I loved the cities, they are really alive, multi-cultural and very clean. The bush, well its an adventure all right. Alice is a dirty dusty dangerous hole full of drunken natives, white and black. Yet after being offered a job (not in arb work) with the family firm I declined. Oz lacks the intimacy and compactness of Europe. I'm no beach bum, I like to ride a bike through hills and dales, cool leafy lanes and enjoy country pubs, tea rooms, country walks and a European climate. I could have done a short stint, a year or two but to live there...? I'll keep Oz for the holidays. Now N.Z...thats a different bush kettle of tea! I say go for it though whilst you can:thumbup1: Ty -
Har Har Har... I say. Do a Landy one! That should hit a few raw nerves on here! Ty
-
You could re-re-invent a trolley for carrying brash and logs just to start a fight on arbtalk, would pass the time... Ty
-
Andy, Are you not a wiz at web sites? Many Arbs out there would appreciate a real Arb creating their site for them. Also, what about grinding? You could use a young spotty for any grunty stuff. I also never knew rectal haemorrhoids could be so debilitating:001_tt2: Get weller sooner! Ty
