another use for lawnsite.com ~ Your input is needed !!

[gusbuster]

I don't know if this is the appropriate place to suggest or ask this question, but why not make a registrations service for equipment? What I mean is for example: I just bought a new BCS 720 tiller. I would like to register the serial number of this machine and other equipment I own. If I ever wanted to purchase or give a heads up on stolen equipment, I could check this database.

Our shop mechanic records serial numbers to keep track of who owns what equipment that is brought in for repairs. I know our local P.D.'s call him to verify ownership sometimes.

I don't know what would be involved, but I think and at least myself, would be willing to pay a small fee for this registration service. Could help defray the cost of running this site.
John

[1MajorTom]

John,

Nice idea.

I moved it over here to the announcement forum where I thought it would be easier seen by the big guys over here. :)

[CSRA Landscaping]

I like the idea, simply because it's a nice, inexpensive sort of insurance against theft. Someone steals your stuff and tries to hock it, it's checked here and you got 'em!

[Administrator]

Hrm... good input!

What kind of fee do you think is fair? Per piece.. per account?

What kind of features do you want to see?

Chuck

[CSRA Landscaping]

I would think that a fee per account would be good. I have no idea what something like that goes for, sorry. You'd probably want to provide space for the serial #, where it was purchased, what it is, the specs on it, etc. Also allow for it to be removed or transferred when it is sold/traded. My .02

[gusbuster]

The serial number has come in handy for me a couple of years ago. I had one of my machines stolen. Lucky for me, the machine was broken. The person who stole the machine had taken it to the same shop where I buy and service my machines. Didn't see the repair tag on it, but checked the serial number. Gave me a call asking me what was wrong with my machine.

There are some drawbacks that I can see, but do see this as a great way to service all who participate on this site. You have to start somewhere right? Why didn't manufactures start this service?

As to potential fee's, maybe a yearly fee per person. The things that would need to be listed: contact info (email or landline number) type of machine, brand, and serial number. I think a fee of a low end of $10 to $20 per year. Just another thought, but something that may get Check into trouble, the amount paid for the piece of equipment.

John

[Administrator]

OK, this is something I will do.

Give me more input...

So far we have:

Your own account that you control. You can update it with equipment and change ownership when equipment is sold.

Do you want your account to be able to keep track of service to equipment?

How many pieces of equipment do you want your account to hold? Im pretty sure Pierre is going to need a number on this.

Do you think this needs to be at a seperate site? Remember, I want it to be useable by everyone with powerequipment.. not just homeowners. A site kind of like carfax.com? Maybe OPEfax.com, OPEfacts.com ? Remember, this will have to be advertised nationally to dealers, police stations, pawn shops, etc.

What kind of yerly fee per account? $10, $15, $20 ??


GIVE ME YOUR INPUT and Pierre will get started on this next week.

Also, let me know if this is something you would gladly use and pay a small fee.

Chuck Keough

[fdew]

I see one small problem. This could be a place for a thief to go shopping. Let's see, who has a nice -------- near me??

Perhaps SR# and make model should be lister but not the owner. The owner would be contacted directely by email or???

Just a thought, what do I know?

Frank

[TheMom]

You could make that part of the site password-controlled. Didn't we all have to provide a username/password on registration?

Barbara

[CSRA Landscaping]

I think that Mom's got a good idea but I don't think it can be that simple. Something has to be done to make it so that equipment with a questionable origin can be cross-referenced.

I like John's idea of the $15 or so annual fee, that sounds about right.

[Administrator]

This project is in the works. It should not take that long at all for Pierre to complete it.

Chuck

[Lanelle]

If the fee is only $15.00, you might want to place a limit on the number of items that can be listed. Then have a higher fee for companies with a large inventory. For example, the company where I have worked has at least 50 WB's, and enough blowers and weed-eaters for 10 crews plus several ZTRs and a bunch of snow plows. The serial numbers for all of that would use up a lot of space.

[Mike Nelson]

I think it is a great idea.

Do we stop at just mowing equipment or can we list all of our equipment(loaders,plows,trucks,etc.)? For us larger companies I feel the fee is minimal for the security that we get.

Just my .02 cents

Mike Nelson

[stslawncare]

great idea! what im thinking is maybe price per equipment, like a certain amount per item,so lets say $3 per piece, that way people like me with like 6 piece dont pay as much as the big guys with 50 pieces of equip.

[Guido]

Sounds like a great service to LCO's everywhere. It would definetly get the Lawnsite.com name even farther out ther (if thats possible ;) )

Good Luck Chuck, and Great Idea Gusbuster!

[CSRA Landscaping]

I like what Lanelle said about there being a limit on the amount of items for, say, a $15 fee. Perhaps a better way to narrow that down is to list one crew's equipment inventory for $15 or so. Of course, that may dissuade some of the larger companies as the cost could get up there for all of their equipment.

[TheMom]

The fee for the new site listing equipment would be tax deductible as a business expense anyhow.

Barbara

[CSRA Landscaping]

:rolleyes: Why do I even bother? :D

[TheMom]

Hmm, could be I should just keep still and do landscape designs...:eek:

Barbara

[Fine Lines Lawn]

I like the idea and would participate.

[CSRA Landscaping]

I was just teasin', Mom ... :cool:

[TheMom]

Oh yeh, I forgot... Mother's Day was LAST month.

[gusbuster]

Originally posted by Lanelle
If the fee is only $15.00, you might want to place a limit on the number of items that can be listed.

The serial numbers for all of that would use up a lot of space.

Lanelle and others,

You make a valid point. There should be a limit on how many pieces of equipment should be listed. 10 pieces listed, I think this number would be sufficient for 90% of our current members. I also think, that anything above 10 pieces, maybe a low fee of $1 thru $3 per item should be charged. Also, so a lot of dead space isn't and don't know if this would be possible, maybe a bi-monthly e-mail asking the registrants to update info.

John

[Administrator]

Looks like its gonna be $15 per year up to 10 pieces of equipment, then $25 per year for unlimited use.

Can any of you help me find statistics on how much power equipment is stolen nation wide yearly ???

I need facts for a sales pitch. :)

Chuck

[gusbuster]

That's a hard one. Except for big-ticket items such as tractors, bigger mowers, ECT... I doubt a lot of little items are ever reported stolen. (Weed whackers, blowers ect..) Too hard to trace and recover as there are so many machines.

I would think that an insurance company that covers this kind of loss could give you a number. I think a better sell would to point out that most of us would have some type of equipment stolen in our careers. Just about everybody I know that is in this trade has had blower, lawnmower ECT stolen. I've myself been hit 2 times myself, though I do take the responsibility for it. It was my own dumb mistake. (I left the machine at the client’s house on the sidewalk)
John

[Administrator]

This will also be marketed to homeowners.. im sure homeowner equip gets stolen as well.

My hardest job will be getting this in the hands of all police stations, dealers, and pawn shops.

Chuck Keough

[gusbuster]

I wouldn't expect you to do this on your own, but at least here in Califonia, most cities have their own website. Meaning, once it's up and going, email them with the info. At least at the state level, let it trikle down to local agencies.


Let's face facts though, on the police level, I doubt stolen lawnmowers are going to be one of their top priorties.
John

[Administrator]

Well, it might become more of a concern if they can actually start solving these thefts and giving the hardware back to the owner... right now it prolly seems like a lost cause.

Chuck

[gusbuster]

Let's hope so.
John

[Holloway Lawns]

This is a great idea I think a fee per item would be fair for everyone from one person to large company's with many crews. Somthing like $2 for trimmers, blowers, 21' and $4 for the larger things like ZTR, trailers, W/B, truck's and all also a time frame for the listing like 6 month's or one year then renew it when it's up.

[HOMER]

The police might not put it high on the priority list but I bet the insurance companies would like it. My ex-brother in law handles my insurance, I could ask him to dig up some stats and see what the numbers look like.