How Tech. Savvy is Your Company (Part II)

[STL Ponds and Waterfalls]

Where is the bed and kitchenette? The downfall of having a standard cab is no extra room.

[JimLewis]

Yah, I agree. That's why we never buy standard cabs for any of us in Mgmt. anymore. Actually, I'm buying mostly ext. cab trucks across the board now - even for crews. It's just nice to have that extra storage / seating behind the seats.

You can do it in a standard cab too. Just very tight quarters. They make some that will allow you to do it all from your passenger's seat - like this one;

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[GreenI.A.]

Originally Posted by JimLewis

Yah, I agree. That's why we never buy standard cabs for any of us in Mgmt. anymore. Actually, I'm buying mostly ext. cab trucks across the board now - even for crews. It's just nice to have that extra storage / seating behind the seats.

You can do it in a standard cab too. Just very tight quarters. They make some that will allow you to do it all from your passenger's seat - like this one;

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I have an organizer simular to this one but I don't use a bettery operated printer, I have an inverter that I use to power the printer and charge the laptop. The only problem that I have is I'm a lefty so these tables don't help me much when writing anything up the old fashin way with pen and paper like when I'm drawing up irrigation plans. I usually have to switch over to the passenger side so that the console is on my writing side. I need a right side drive truck

But like Jim said, being able to print up the estimate right on site is a huge advantage, it gives you a chance to get hard numbers in the customers hand before they start to consider a cometitor. When the customer says it's a go, you can give them a printed contract right then and their when they are still excited about your pitch. You can be the best sales guy and offer the best services, but alot of that can fly out the window as soon as you drive away, then it is just the customer stareing at the quotes and trying to decide which is the best bang for their buck. Giving them an option to sign right then and their only adds to your success rate.

[vtscaper]

great thread. i have thought for a couple of years now about using my laptop with a printer right in the truck for the smaller jobs. aside from it being a good sales tool for firming things up on the spot, i can see it being a huge time saver.

jim- thanks for the printer reviews..

[MDLawn]

This is why I love this part of the forums (Hardscaping). Real information people can use and not just the back and forth bickering about useless information. Great info and that would be easier than having to run back and forth to have forms signed, etc... I'll have to look into one of those printers/laptop stands. I have a website that I have done myself with a limited program so it is limited a bit and many of yours are much better, but at least there is one for now. I also use Facebook with a business page. Probably wont work as well in a web search like a website will but its a good way to spread information. I had a few people that did not know I have a business and asked for some work. The more your name is out there the better, as long as its good info people are sharing.

[GreenI.A.]

Originally Posted by MDLawn

This is why I love this part of the forums (Hardscaping). Real information people can use and not just the back and forth bickering about useless information. Great info and that would be easier than having to run back and forth to have forms signed, etc... I'll have to look into one of those printers/laptop stands. I have a website that I have done myself with a limited program so it is limited a bit and many of yours are much better, but at least there is one for now. I also use Facebook with a business page. Probably wont work as well in a web search like a website will but its a good way to spread information. I had a few people that did not know I have a business and asked for some work. The more your name is out there the better, as long as its good info people are sharing.

these are deffinetly the best threads. I don't use a battery operated printer, I just bought the smallest color one available from staples. I think I paid about $130 for it. The biggest investments were the power inverter, be sure to get a good one because you will find a million uses for it. Mine is large enough to run a hammer drill, recipicating saw. Or when we tailgate I can run a blender off of it. The stand was under $200

[SVA_Concrete]

Originally Posted by GreenIndustryAssociates

I have an organizer simular to this one but I don't use a bettery operated printer, I have an inverter that I use to power the printer and charge the laptop. The only problem that I have is I'm a lefty so these tables don't help me much when writing anything up the old fashin way with pen and paper like when I'm drawing up irrigation plans. I usually have to switch over to the passenger side so that the console is on my writing side. I need a right side drive truck

But like Jim said, being able to print up the estimate right on site is a huge advantage, it gives you a chance to get hard numbers in the customers hand before they start to consider a cometitor. When the customer says it's a go, you can give them a printed contract right then and their when they are still excited about your pitch. You can be the best sales guy and offer the best services, but alot of that can fly out the window as soon as you drive away, then it is just the customer stareing at the quotes and trying to decide which is the best bang for their buck. Giving them an option to sign right then and their only adds to your success rate.

i like the look of that organizer, any ideas on model/ online retailer? etc.

[JimLewis]

That organizer is here on Amazon. One link below is for the organizer, the second link is for the attachment for the printer.

http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Office-...8420602&sr=8-3

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http://www.amazon.com/AutoExec-Print...8420602&sr=8-4



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[GreenI.A.]

I'm looking at it, and I think mine is the same exact one, I was able to order mine, the base and printer stand as one peice. They came in seperate boxes but was one part number. I ordered it from Stylinconcepts.com. I just looked they still sell it but without the printer stand. You can go to their site and go to "interior" then "mobile office/computer stands"

[matt spinniken]

Any recommendations on a good power inverter? Ive never used an inverter for a laptop, it makes me nervous??