Ty Korrigan
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Everything posted by Ty Korrigan
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Hello, Weird that, we were recently threatend with a civil action from a client who weeks ago asked us to remove the arisings from a laurel felling job. She wanted the wood back and only the very same wood would do! We offered her alternative wood but NO. So we dug around and found Madam is a malicious litigant whose pleasure it is to employ tradesmen then fight them to avoid paying the bill. She has however already paid us though so this must be an after thought on her behalf. Ty
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I once cycle camped the entire length of the Stuart Highway. Today I was first back beating the next group by 1h30m in the Cholet 600km endurance cycle event. I'm proud today.
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Hello, currently 30c here in Haut Bretagne AND its a national holiday!
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To all you bosses - How much would you pay a day for a groundie?
Ty Korrigan replied to button1803's topic in General chat
I know the value of a man. I am one...after a fashion. My associates are just as hard working and valueable as I. I pay myself after business expenses the same as my 2 associates. I work with excellent men. I may generate business but my associates 'realise' it, or in plain English make it happen. Can't be doing with boss v worker issues.. So I don't employ. I 'associate' 3 individuals with their own tax liabilities. I calculate what each job is worth after expenses and each associate recieves a 'credit' This credit is paid by clients paying each in turn...get it? So each of use may be worth €150-250 per day depending on the job. Ty -
To all you bosses - How much would you pay a day for a groundie?
Ty Korrigan replied to button1803's topic in General chat
I can't be bothered to read all the posts sorry. I pay my part-timer €150-€200 gross He is 61 with a life times experience and swings my 441 as though it was a feather. I pay him for the experience he brings to our outfit. He ain't no numpty, worth his weight is oak. Ty -
Back again. Sorted. G.M put their exellent customer service into action and reinforced a reputation as a market leader. Say, Pete, do I have to read this out? Seriously, no messing, parts in post, mystery solved, rare occurance. Back to being the brilliant machine I invested in. I find G.M a genuinely decent company to deal with. A very happy customer. Next purchase, a 13-23 arborist with 15" alloys and a built in cafetiere... well I am in France after all! Ty
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One of the guys in my cycle club just told me about a live ordenance found in side of a large conifer near Plelauf val Andre on the North Coast. The arb was being dismantled on the former site of a WW2 munitions store. The team who delt with it thought it likely that it had been hung or hidden in the tree on purpose. Every time I visit our local sawmill Monsewer Launay has another find to show me as he always passes a metal detector over the trunks before milling. I buy declassified trunks for firewood which are often those rejected by mills due to the presence of shrapnel and the like. The worst being wood from the Bretagne-Normandy breakout zones. Ty
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Yes, its always a **** when something needs replacing. Personally, I never use anyone elses fuel mix in my saws and always mix the fuel myself for using exactly measured amounts, no guessing or adding a drop of oil for luck. To help myself pay for the expected and unexpected, I have several accounts for my business. Into one goes the clients cheque, then I transfer my salary into my cheque account, leaving the tax and social charges then transfer an amount for business costs into yet another. This way I never spend the money needed to run the business and always have enough to pay the social charges. I imagine trade must be lean in Central Brittany at the moment... Ty
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What am I to believe..? Many reviews slag of the Ford. Based on 2 Ford ownerships I will run with the comments. Toyota come out well overall. Nissan Navarra reviews are acidic to the extreme! I'm in France so Isuzu or Ho Xhi Min 4x4 are not an option. So this week I test drove the Amarok from V.W Its a V.W. Small engine but 2litres developing 163hp. I only tow a 750kg chipper or an occasional trailer weight to 2.8t Very good m.p.g figures. Too soon to tell if it will be a mechanical disaster though I think not. Any experiences out there? Ty
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Yes indeed... A poor translation of the 'cockchafer' into modern english is... Cock rubbing hard or a hard cock rubbing... To chafe is to rub agressively... And all this on a family forum! Ty
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Hello via the back door...
Back to my original question though, would you have any opinions on my calculated running costs?
It is a bone of contention with my French associate who believes that I want too much for the machine.
It is an arse as I am a micro bic and really should change to a regime where I can offset my business costs against unsocial charges.
Still, I do get subsidised housing and good health care I suppose.
But its more than just a job to us.
We already have too much work potential between us.
We want to be seen working for the commune as it will raise our profile within the community.
I have done several whole days of grinding for expats. I charged €350 cash against €480 cheque.
There I had no competition from bigger outfits.
At the mo we have barely 1 job a week booked.
Its all hedges, oversized with a saw and chipper or just trimming on the lottisments.
Its all awnings, gates and fencing frenchy style.
Sheds and concrete pads.
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Hello Mike, I only know I am winning small but profitable jobs and losing the big ones. I calculate that I need to charge my machine out at no less than €26 per hour plus my variable wage. I am going to charge us both out at €120 each as we really want to get in with our commune. Stupidly low pricing but at least we may get a foot in the door. I have a mate, another expat trading as arboculture who charges out himself and machine at €350 with his ouvrier at €150. I believe it worthwhile to work as a team on this as one can clearing the stumps with a pick and take turns grinding. I have counted up the possible hours required for the 200 stumps in all. 173 are a Thuyia hedge which I estimate as 12hrs or 4min per stump. All the others are street stumps or in local parks. Some are really very large but quite soft...I hope. Ty
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Hello, Our local council have asked us to quote to grind out all the local stumps. That, I estimate is 4 days, 2 men, one to drive the machine and one to prepare site and sweep up etc. I'm looking at how to cost the machine in. It is a 27hp Bandit sidewinder. I estimate 4litres per hour. The teeth may last a day, may last 2...I know this cost. However, How much should I allow for the machine per hour? Do I divide its purchase cost by the number of likely life hours? Say £7000/1000hours =£7 per hour... Thanks in advance Ty
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You still alive then?
I'm wearing out fast and not just with tree work!
Cycling commitments, installing sheds,awnings and gates for Castorama plus all the **** Squire throws my way.
I found a really interesting chap to be a third man. Rob Ingall, a tree expert from Monfort. 61years old but grafts like a nigger and gives us an older steady influence.
Cycling 400 km each weekend which is hard so glad the tree work is slack.
You O.K then ?
Stay intouch
Stuart
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Calling all bandit sidewinder owners and operators
Ty Korrigan replied to treefrog's topic in Large equipment
Yes it does represent 'some' of my experiences but I am really getting used to it. I've not had it jump back though. I am now in the habit of stopping to level the ground before advancing. I do find the pivot action really easy as I am a right lightweight at 62kg. Ty -
Update. First, I'm back chip,chip,chipping thanks to excellent customer service from Green Mech. New cassette sent out within days to France. Second, the fault may be either a cold weld or stress fracture OR as a local agricultural engineer believes, overgreased bearings causing hydrualic stress/wear. Blimey,could this be true? There is a light trace of grease on the exteriour of the cassette bearings but they run silky smooth. Main thing is. Problem fixed. I'm happy and still in love with my CS100 Thanks G.M and Pete for his efforts to contact me. Ty
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Mornin' No current tree work booked only hedges. Taking bookings for September onwards from the French. Busy every day being fully booked installing gates, awnings and erecting sheds. We got ourselves listed as an approved installer with a big d.i.y chain. Brits still selling up in droves. My advertising results show almost no expat enquiries and although I have had almost no contact from other expat arbs I assume they are either suffering or have found other lines of work. Ty
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Here in Frenchy-land... I pay approx 60% of profit in tax and social charges. I do compensate with cash jobs but it still smarts. In return, I put myself on the social housing register and within 9 months got offered a new build eco flat in town. Guess it is all swings and roundabouts... Ty
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Bon sewer!
Parlez vous franglais?
I'm up near Rennes.
My mobile is 0786536726 if you wish to get in touch and talk arb or business or moan about frenchistness generally.
Not much arb on but full agenda grace de castorama installing awnings and
gates.
Get in touch!
Stuart Lee
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Dear Pete,
The eagle has landed...
Fitted new cassette and went off to play catch up with the piles of brash I have been leaving around.
It is noticeable there is more power now the blades are correctly set.
I wish to thank yourself and Green mech for excellent customer service.
I am looking forward and saving hard for our future arborist 13-23.
I knew when I had a tour of the factory when I picked up my CS100 that Green mech was a solid bet.
Thanks again
Stuart Lee (Ty Korrigan)
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I'll say it again so those at the back can hear me...
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Ah... Blue rope, a Screwfix electric saw and a wobbly multi-position ladder that also doubles as a stretcher! Well...I had to start somewhere eh?
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Ah... Blue rope, a Screwfix electric saw and a wobbly multi-position ladder that also doubles as a stretcher! Well...I had to start somewhere eh?
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Eve'nin. Just lost a job. Me €2800 6 days for 2 men and a wee chipper. Winners, €2100 2 days for 3-4 men and a crane fed bandit. Guess I was punching above my weight on this one...hey ho. I am wondering if there us a better markup on smaller jobs than bigger ones... Lost the stumpgrinding too by oooodles if euros because I quoted by the cm rathers than look at the job on a global scale. Still,it's all good experience win or lose. Ty
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Now then... I only got my tickets on a 10 week course in 2008 but.... My Frenchy business partner and I have full diaries. I am training him to climb on trees where the risks are low. I enjoy being a groundy and a climber. Today, Seb would'nt come down! "My turn" I was yelling at him! We split the take. Today, no chipping only stacking brush and crosscutting the oaks we dismantled for €480 Thats approx £200 each... cash. Ty
