More questions or thoughts on what happened to my work

[Gravel Rat]

Okay I was browsing the net for junk removal and rubbish removal companies I seen a add on craigslist employee wanted.

Anyhow I went and looked at the company. No I'am not moving to Vancouver to work for 12 dollars per hour. The company is a young guy younger than I'am started with a 1 ton truck 3 years ago and now he has 4 trucks (brandnew) this in Vancouver. Then I read another one guy started out with a VW Van 10 years ago now has rolloff trucks.

Now my wonder is how in the h*ll do these guys do it ?

I have been doing this for 14 years its been not a big money maker definatly not like what these guys are doing. I have many other services that these guys don't provide.

Is it because there is more customers they are dealing with a city that has 3/4s of a million people I'am dealing in a area with 40,000 people.

What they charge I couldn't make it the travel time and fuel costs would kill me. I couldn't pick up for anything less than 100 dollars.

Now these junk removal companys don't haul the half of what I haul away.

They don't haul dangerous goods I do.
They don't haul oversized loads I do.
I haul freight they don't
I go into tough places they don't.
They have many limitations I don't.

There is money in hauling garbage but I never had it as easy as these guys in Vancouver. I don't know how they do it but they are.

There is only two rubbish removal guys it is me and another guy the other guy does it full time and I don't I can't afford too.

We had a 3rd guy but he didn't last too long couldn't make a go of it he lasted about 6 months he couldn't make a profit. He was trying to be like the guys you see in Vancouver it didn't work.

The landscapers and gardeners do a bit of junk removal but they can't remove the volume like me and my competition can. There is only so much you can get into a pick up truck or a utility trailer.

I'am still trying to figure out why or what happened to the work I had.

My competition isn't up in my area and I'am not in his so that is ruled out. The landscapers can't haul that much to take away the work I had so that is pretty much ruled out.

I do know there is almost double maybe tripple of the utility trailers in the area now every homeowner has a P/U truck or a SUV with a trailer. Has it become DYI now to save money.

The debris from new construction sites I don't know what homeowners are doing with that now. Have builders gotten now where they have very little waste wood. Used to get loads of old end cuts and scrap plywood I don't even see any of that in the landfill wood pile. Maybe builders have become more conscious about using the most of out a sheet of plywood and using the most out of the lumber.

Regular house hold junk stuff you collect in your garage or basement what has happened with that. People hoarding it and not throwing it out. Used to get places where they had boxes and boxes of old junk collecting dust.

Landscaping debris like old brush and tree removal and fall clean up I know homeowners are using their utility trailers to haul that away. You see that often a SUV with a trailer with a 1/16 th of a load I can haul.

Questions running through my head what happened to the stuff that I used to haul say 5-6 years ago It has gone like a fart in the wind. I haven't done anything wrong I know there are alot more people in the landscaping than there used to be.

My local customer base is 2700 people spread over 10 square miles. Move out of the area and more people are spread apart. You have acres between houses alot of places you can't see from the road. Now your getting half a mile off road. I could have two jobs in one day 20 miles apart.

Ya I'am at a loss to what happened. Even my realestate leads haven't got me any estate sale clean ups like I used to have.

I want to be self-employeed again or atleast partially self-employeed.

[bobcat_ron]

They got successful because they don't live where you live, the business you are trying to get your foot in the door of is like setting up an eye glass repair shop in a land of blind people.
Want to make the big bucks?

Move.

You already have a damn fine set up, you just got to get somewhere else.

[Junior M]

They got successful because they don't live where you live, the business you are trying to get your foot in the door of is like setting up an eye glass repair shop in a land of blind people.
Want to make the big bucks?

Move.

You already have a damn fine set up, you just got to get somewhere else.
Exactly and you cant be so dam picky! Work is work, it all pays the bills..

[wellbuilt]

Hay GR I think the difference between them and you is they are willing to make it happen .
Do you have signs on your truck ?
I rent dump trailers and get calls all the time from people seeing me around . $425 7x12x 4' high dropped off and picked up .
I'm every ones best friend shaking hands passing out cards etc .
To get work you must be approachable .
I'm a scary looking dude 6'1 and very large. I have to look clean and be extra friendly to get leads and sell work . I could drive any truck i want but picked a ford LCF because it is very different all my equipment has my name on it . I have a soccer team wearing my shirts . All the hot mommies get a jacket. Azz sells allways . I'm a builder we build mostly additions but i haul trash dig footing sell fire wood, bath rooms, kitchens . I started doing paver walks and walls this year. cutting trees , clearing land . We have a lot of guys out of work here , but I'm not going to be one of them . I mite start selling hot dogs out of my tool trailer . Its time to break a move . John

[ksss]

Hay GR I think the difference between them and you is they are willing to make it happen .
Do you have signs on your truck ?
I rent dump trailers and get calls all the time from people seeing me around . $425 7x12x 4' high dropped off and picked up .
I'm every ones best friend shaking hands passing out cards etc .
To get work you must be approachable .
I'm a scary looking dude 6'1 and very large. I have to look clean and be extra friendly to get leads and sell work . I could drive any truck i want but picked a ford LCF because it is very different all my equipment has my name on it . I have a soccer team wearing my shirts . All the hot mommies get a jacket. Azz sells allways . I'm a builder we build mostly additions but i haul trash dig footing sell fire wood, bath rooms, kitchens . I started doing paver walks and walls this year. cutting trees , clearing land . We have a lot of guys out of work here , but I'm not going to be one of them . I mite start selling hot dogs out of my tool trailer . Its time to break a move . John


@uckin A...................but I think it is "bust a move".:cool2:

[YellowDogSVC]

persistence. You can eat an elephant a bite at a time. You become successful when you do what you say you will do, do it on time, on budget, and have fun doing it..

You can make money in any area. I bet there are realtors making money in Detroit right now!

It doesn't matter where you live, as long as there is a market, you can make it in America...oops, I forgot. :) You should move south. As an illegal alien you can do the work I don't want to do! :) Seriously, if you like junk removal, model someone successful in a non competing area. Find out what they know that you don't! You might be surprised at how simple the answer to success is.

[Gravel Rat]

Had a monopoly for years the only person in the area that hauled garbage and scrap etc.

I like doing it your your own boss and 90% of it is cash money. I like being my own boss and I like working on my own. I don't like answering to anybody.

I can work all day myself I don't need help I have gotten stuff onto my truck that boggles some people you did that yourself.

Moving isn't a option right now because B.C.s economy is still unstable. It is never greener on the otherside of the fence. Then I don't want to live in a area where you live like **** roach in some basement suite.

Vancouver is a chithole you want to live in the place where nobody knows their neighbours and you don't want to know your neighbours. The traffic is horrible I don't know the streets in Vancouver so I get lost. I do have lots of relatives to stay with if I did move to Vancouver.

I have to find out where the work I had went. My advertising that I post on bulletin boards in the area disapear somebody doesn't want the competition. Somebody slagging me behind my back that I don't know about. The landfill gives people my name.

My sawmill buddies are pretty slow they are nut selling the volume of wood they used to. No more 3-4 grand worth loads of cedar lumber to haul. It wasn't uncommon for me to haul a expensive loads of lumber. You get 3 tons of cedar siding it is very pricey it was a easy 4 grand. Some wood beams were over a grand a piece.

All I want is part time for now keep in mind I have gauranteed 40 grand a year. My plan is to make another 10-20 grand part time then I can get a house.

[Danny Boy]

I will admit I drive about 40 clicks a day in Vancouver and in the last year or two I have never seen so many new bin companies and trash hauling companies.
And I am currently looking for a piece of the pie myself and intend to get a bin truck and I feel I can keep three to five bins busy full time.
Eighteen years in the city and I have been in construction the whole time so I have lots of contacts.
I do hear you on the neighbours though, thats a fuking joke in some parts of the city, I have lived on my street for 8 years and only know one neighbour that is in any way friendly, plus a really nice 90 something ear old Chinese man that speaks NO English except "hello". But he brings produce from his garden regularly... The rest of thew street won't even look at us whiteys:confused:
There is a ton of money to be made in the city though and that is why I work here

[zak406]

some people in this country would love to have a 40 g job a year, they would probably even like the over time imagine that, as you said in your previous threads, you ***** about how your head and feet hurt from the over time and the shitty work you have. I bet millions of cancer and aids patients would pray that there feet hurting or there head hurting was there only illness. I'm sure the thousands of people fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for our country would love to have your easy job. I may not post much but i am sick of reading your bitching and complaining, i am currently unemployed and near broke trying to chase my dream (sports) why am i unemployed because i cant find a job not even at sears or subway and believe me im qualified for them both. So how about you do us a favor and be ******* glad your sitting in a machine not dieing of a terminally ill disease or fighting in some hot smelly shitty place. And if you cant be happy with what you have im sure somebody else would be. O and BTW we have answered your question 4 x over grow a set of balls move out and make something of yourself it may not be ideal at first but right now beggars cant be choosers and guess what your the beggar........:hammerhead:

btw well built im expecting some pictures your hot moms jackets lol

[catnip]

I will admit I drive about 40 clicks a day in Vancouver and in the last year or two I have never seen so many new bin companies and trash hauling companies.
And I am currently looking for a piece of the pie myself and intend to get a bin truck and I feel I can keep three to five bins busy full time.
Eighteen years in the city and I have been in construction the whole time so I have lots of contacts.
I do hear you on the neighbours though, thats a fuking joke in some parts of the city, I have lived on my street for 8 years and only know one neighbour that is in any way friendly, plus a really nice 90 something ear old Chinese man that speaks NO English except "hello". But he brings produce from his garden regularly... The rest of thew street won't even look at us whiteys:confused:
There is a ton of money to be made in the city though and that is why I work here

I think I am in the minority then, I know a lot of my neighbours and have only lived here 4 years. Most of my family/friends are in the same boat in that they hardly know any of their neighbours, sad.

I agree with the mini bins. They are everywhere nowadays.

[jefftb]

40G's in the US is certainly not 40g's in Vancouver.....To see the difference, compare the cost of living in a US city and then compare with Seattle. I'd have to make 54,000 in Seattle to live the same on 40,000 in most Southern Cities. Vancouver costs more than Seattle. Vancouver in 2008 was the 64th most expensive place to live in the world.

NYC was higher but so was Toronto (higher than NYC) the rest of the most expensive places to live were all Euro locales. The average home price in Vancouver is 11 times as expensive as most US locations.

I've spent two vacations in the Western Province and I like to compare things when I'm there through analysis of real estate circulars, general grocery comparisons, etc.

Not that I'm cutting GR slack on the habitual whining, just be aware that it not so merely simple a solution as moving, esp. to Vancouver.

[RockSet N' Grade]

attitude = altitude

GrovelRot.......how about a page or two explaining that......

[Gravel Rat]

If I move to Vancouver you won't be making 40 grand a year.

I gross 40 grand a year my take home pay is 31 grand year after you pay for your benefits like dental etc. If I wanted full benefits I would be looking at less take home pay. All said and done 31 grand a year isn't much money.

If I paid rent that would be 16 grand a year and the 17 grand left you live on.

Vancouver is even worse your paying very high rent.

[catnip]

If I move to Vancouver you won't be making 40 grand a year.

I gross 40 grand a year my take home pay is 31 grand year after you pay for your benefits like dental etc. If I wanted full benefits I would be looking at less take home pay. All said and done 31 grand a year isn't much money.

If I paid rent that would be 16 grand a year and the 17 grand left you live on.

Vancouver is even worse your paying very high rent.

16 grand a year for rent, seems high. I rent my totally renovated basement suite which is just under 1000 sq ft for 875 a month including all utilities. The location is very central in Coquitlam.

I don't think you need to spend that much on rent if you are by yourself.

[bobcatuser]

GR, take a look at some of these stories. How many are from BC, something to think about...

http://www.rbauction.com/50stories/index.jsp

Or this story.

http://exposureroom.com/members/AudioButcher.aspx/assets/bd613e3bb1bf4504800de3eed4cbabb6/

[Scag48]

40G's in the US is certainly not 40g's in Vancouver.....To see the difference, compare the cost of living in a US city and then compare with Seattle. I'd have to make 54,000 in Seattle to live the same on 40,000 in most Southern Cities. Vancouver costs more than Seattle. Vancouver in 2008 was the 64th most expensive place to live in the world.




You said it, Seattle area is rough. I'm 15 miles north of Seattle, 3 bedroom house in my neighborhood that isn't nearly what it is closer to Seattle $1,200-1,500 month to rent and a 2 bedroom, 1 bath single story starter home that needs work is $250K. Average home price is somewhere areound $350-400K. I understand Vancouver is worse than down here, but most of us blue collar folk live where it's cheap(er) and commute like crazy to work. I drive 100 miles round trip every day, follow the work if you want to survive.

[jefftb]

Scag,

No doubt. Except it now sucks....literally, you're burning through that pricey Seattle area "petrol". Although I seem to remember you made amends by getting a higher MPG vehicle for that transport.

Some of our projects are a 80-200 mile RT everyday for me but then I'm the boss so I'm not always on site. I make sacrifices in my home life when we've got one that far away-I end up staying closer through connections to lower the o'night costs and not burn through the profits hauling it up and down the road.

J.

[Scag48]

Scag,

No doubt. Except it now sucks....literally, you're burning through that pricey Seattle area "petrol". Although I seem to remember you made amends by getting a higher MPG vehicle for that transport.

Some of our projects are a 80-200 mile RT everyday for me but then I'm the boss so I'm not always on site. I make sacrifices in my home life when we've got one that far away-I end up staying closer through connections to lower the o'night costs and not burn through the profits hauling it up and down the road.

J.

I drive a Civic. Yep, it's a coupe, total girl car, don't care. 36 MPG is tough to beat when you're driving 2,500 miles per month to work alone. It's convenient I don't need a truck for work at this point, I'll keep rocking my 4 banger like it's going out of style. Since I started with this outfit in June, I've put 18K miles on my car. Good times.

[jefftb]

I drive a Civic. Yep, it's a coupe, total girl car, don't care. 36 MPG is tough to beat when you're driving 2,500 miles per month to work alone. It's convenient I don't need a truck for work at this point, I'll keep rocking my 4 banger like it's going out of style. Since I started with this outfit in June, I've put 18K miles on my car. Good times.

Keep managing the money like that and later you'll have the girl and two cars. :drinkup:

[Gravel Rat]

GR, take a look at some of these stories. How many are from BC, something to think about...

http://www.rbauction.com/50stories/index.jsp

Or this story.

http://exposureroom.com/members/AudioButcher.aspx/assets/bd613e3bb1bf4504800de3eed4cbabb6/

The Ritchie Bros story 47, Frank is getting old its gotta be 10 years since I seen him.

[Steiner]

GR:

I am not trying to belittle you here GR but I have been reading these forums nightly for 4-5 years. In those 4-5 years I have come to know you as a down and out pessimist of extreme proportion. I know you do have a good head, and a good general knowledge of the "heavy industry." I know the other guys give you trouble on here, but I think they just have a hard time dealing with the attitude you bring.

Now I have never met you, never saw one of your trucks, or the quality of work you do, and I can say I already have some reservations about using you for any work, simply because of your attitude. How can I possibly feel that way about someone thousands of miles away? Your negativities come out in all you do. I think customers and people pick up on this almost instantly. Its what makes us human. Maybe this is why your sales have slumped, people read right to your core.

In my business I have realized that people have developed pretty good senses on feeling me out. If I come off as pessimistic about their project, they sense it and move on. If I give off the vibe that I can and will win any situation, fix any problem, people have no problem following me all the way to the bank.

Please GR we love you to death, but you have got to get to a happier place in your life and your business will follow. If you believe you can't you won't. Please prove us and yourself otherwise.

[YellowDogSVC]

GR:

Please GR we love you to death, but you have got to get to a happier place in your life and your business will follow. If you believe you can't you won't. Please prove us and yourself otherwise.

I have found that some customers confuse pessimism with reality and honesty. Some people want to hear that a job is all rosy. There are too many contractors willing to paint that picture but I'm not one of them and I have been accused of being pessimistic. It is important to keep an open mind, a positive outlook, and a happy place as Steiner points out. If not, an honest assessment may sound like Eeyore is bidding the job. Who wants to work with Eeyore?