GREEN WITH ENVY!!!

[Joatmon]

I went by the local Exmark dealer the other day to window shop. There was a fellow there that was replacing a Craftsman mower he burnt up last year doing PT commercial work. We got to talking, he stated that he wanted to leave his job & go full time LC... long story short, we walked around the corner where I saw the owner loading the guy's 2 new Exmarks (23 HP 52" I believe)on his brand new trailer behind his brand new truck...man, what dreams are made of!!!

[Esby]

Too much overhead for my blood. I mean starting out??!?!

[Randy Scott]

The skies the limit I guess!

[Runner]

long story short, we walked around the corner where I saw the owner loading the guy's 2 new Exmarks (23 HP 52" I believe)on his brand new trailer behind his brand new truck...man, what dreams are made of!!! [/B][/QUOTE]


Long story short, With his brand new $1000 a month payments out of his brand new payment book. The actual dream is to be able to do it successfully. That means affording everything AND being able to live. I hope this guy comes up with alot of work to make up the difference of mowing with a Craftsman to mowing with 2 mowers of this caliber. The first temptation he'll have is to take on a whole bunch of work at ridiculously low prices, thinking "it's o.k., I can knock it right out." Well, indeed you can, but the expenses are still there. Exmarks run faster, but not cheaper in operation. Keep your chin up, Joatman. I once envyed this guy when he was wheeling a Gravely Promaster 300 out of the store wishing there was a way, and knowing it was so far off. Now, I've surpassed that (still have the Gravely) and have other mowers FAR superior to that. Hold on, and you'll get your day if you want it bad enough. :)

[Edited by Runner on 02-15-2001 at 02:47 AM]

[MOW ED]

Do you know where he lives?

Not to steal them but to put an offer to him around early September before the bank repo's the stuff. Its nice to be ambitious, either hes independently wealthy or misguided.

Either way, he probably doesn't know about LAWNSITE!!

[steveair]

Hello,

I hate these people too. One thing, I know people like this, and sometimes (maybe not this case) they have a load of money saved up and whether or not they make any for the next 5 years doesn't matter because they can afford to lose or 'break even'.

Now a few 'landscape boomers' who start/ started off this way. Have a load of money, and go out and buy everything new.

One thing, with the way the market still is, he may have a chance. These days, if you have the equipment, you can find the work. Also, like I said before, he may have enough saved up (ie. already paid off all the equipment and truck....no payments) so, even if he just breaks even, he could be in business for the next 5 years undercutting everyone elses prices and still living comfortably.

steveair

[npalomba]

There is a lot of people out there that do this to just lose money and write off their business costs and equipement; If you are good at what you do, don't worry customers are smart enough to know good price -vs- good service and quality work.

[awm]

A pool and his money are soon farted
or sompin like that

[dmk395]

Drive by this guys house in August, you may see his equiptment for sale. I just think its nuts to start up with a huge overhead.

[Scape Sculptor]

Man...., how come it is always the ones that put the least effort in to it that always shine like a rose or always on top??? I have always put more into what I do and have always worked harder than most and still am not where I want to be or feel like I am struggling. I guess I need to learn to do with less pride and have more patience.

[Eric ELM]

2 years ago in the spring I went to my dealer to get some filters, belts, ect. my supply for the summer and I saw 6 72" 40HP Choppers sitting outside all lined up. I said, you must of just gotten a shipment of Choppers in. He said, no they are all preped and waiting for XXXXX Lawncare to come pick them up, he bought them all. Talk about big time operator. :) It made me feel like a beginner. ;)

[Esby]

Eric~
That guy must a TON of large commercial accounts...because how reasonable is it to always be mowing with 72" decks on all yards?? Not in this region anyways. Perhaps he has another 6-10 other dixies with 60" decks? If he's in your area, do you know how big he is? What kind of accounts does he have?

[MIDSOUTH]

Oh well, I wish him luck, do any of you guys know him? you can't judge a book by the cover, why down somebody you don't even know!!!!!! If you want a new mower go buy one,this sounds like a bunch of jealous kids. Don't down him because he is new, he could come to this forum and see this thread and call you a bunch of assholes with junk on your trailer, then you are gonna be angry at him when you are the ones that provoked it. Man, some people are good at telling people what to do and how to live life when they should be worrying about their own!!!!!!!! Joatmon-give it time you will be able to do that if you put your mind to it, don't sit around and be jealous of this guy, work harder for yourself and reap the benefits of your work. I started with a john deere lx277 in febuary, by july of the same year I bought a 61" scag and paid it off in two months, so whats up with that. must mean I needed it if it paid for itself, this guy may have contracts already and have this paid off in a couple of months as well, I don't know I guess we could call him and ask for his finacial records. I do have expenses like a truck note but I ain't driving no junk around-f-250 all the way - it even gets poor fuel mileage but I don't care because I pay for it. I guess some will say liabilty insurance is a waste too, but i know one thing if I hurt somebody or break something I am covered with no deductible. Not to ruffle your feathers, but this was my .02 cents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lawman]

It all looks good untill you have to right that big big big check every month for years and years and years.

[awm]

Kinda sounds like that Tony Weston.
Didnt he say he traded most every year.
He had a pretty big lineup.

[Grassman]

I agree with Midsouth. Forget about how the others look and concentrate on your business (improving it, and not just with shiny new equip.) I'm 31, been in busn. since I was 19, and just bought my second house. My house was $105k and I put $40k down on it. For the first 3yrs I had 1 36" ransomes wb that was used but dependable. I kept my truck, trailer, and mower clean and maintained and concentrated on growing my busn. not what others thought of me. My operation is still small, 1 full time and my part time stepson and equip. is up to 4 wb's, 2 36" and 2 61" and a new ZT200 BobcAT 61". Best regards, Russ

[Joatmon]

I don't think the guy was overloading himself...maybe I relayed the image wrong. His new truck was a Silverado, pulling a (NICE) 16' open tandem, & he just got the 2 ExMark's. He stated he & his partner we in together & he wanted to go full time. He is presently a manager somewhere. I didn't mean to bring flak down on this guy...just damn envious I wasn't loading one of those Z's up.

He was (along with the dealer) very nice & told me to hop on one & try it out, or if I wanted to wait to call him at home & I could come try it out in his yard. Very gracious of him but I can't get on one & have the hook set in that DEEP!!! ;-)

"...too much rain...too little sun..."

Joatmon

[Randy Scott]

Yah, I'll back you Joatmon. You didn't really say anything good or bad about the guy with the two new eXmarks. You just stated what you saw! Every person goes into this with what they're comfortable with, whether it's $500 invested or $50,000, or whatever!

[MIDSOUTH]

Randy Scott-I wasn't talking about Joatmon, He never said anything negative about the guy, It was some other posters on this thread. Read it again and you will figure them out.