General Category > Quadrajet Carb Talk and Tips

Carburetor Rebuilding

(1/2) > >>

Cliff Ruggles:
As of this time I am not taking in any more carburetors for rebuilding or restoration. 

Since I'm down to one employee (me) there is just too much work to do daily and my backlog is out close to a year.

I'm going to finish up what is here now them start taking in a few jobs here and there.  If you carb is already here I'll get to it.  Probably going to be longer than we first told you since all my hired help has moved on. 

If you get in a jam and need your carb call or send an email.  If I just can't fit it in I'll ship it back to you or on to someone else if you find a source to get it done sooner.......Cliff

qjetsrule:
Cliff, is it too expensive for a small business to hire employees these days or is there just a lack of people wanting to do this type of work? I'm kinda interested if this is a trend. I talked to an older CNC operator recently and he said younger workers don't want to do this type of work especially on older machines. I'm not slamming anyone, just wondering if trade jobs are fading.

Cliff Ruggles:
This "new" generation isn't motivated to work hard and reap the benefits.  Being self employed removes the limitations of your income, but it requires dedication, commitment and you've got to get work done to make money.

This means that if you have to glance at your cell phone every 45 seconds or so, and take multiple breaks throughout the day to find out who had a fart sideways on Facebook or Twitter, or respond to all the text messages from your friends and family, then you aren't going to make it being self-employed.

Cell phones and social media have really changed the game.  The other problem is how the Govt has structured taxes and other cost associated with a small business when it comes to having employees.

It takes a LOT of time to do payroll, so time spent there isn't making you any money.  Costs are ridiculously high for payroll hours and folks expect to make a pretty high hourly rate even though they lack the skills required to turn out enough work to pay themselves and the company they work for. 

Having employees also brings with it a host of headaches for the business owner, from them making mistakes that cost you money, having personal or family issues to deal with digging into company time, etc.

I'm too old and too grumpy to deal with all of that so going to be a one-man-show from here on out.  I have also noticed that even though I'm turning out less work, my bottom line numbers are as good as or better than when I had a bunch of help.   So less headaches and making just as much money to keep the wife happy!.......Cliff

Cliff Ruggles:
I'll also add here that social media adds another dimension to being self employed and running a business.  Probably not surprising to most but a lot of folks these days "manage" their lives thru the cell phones.

Case in point.  In the last couple of years calls to the shop from customers with carburetors here for rebuilding/restoration is off the scale.  I also get ten to fifteen times as many emails from folks checking status on things.  So if you have 150 carbs sitting here, for example, plan on spending several hours a week dealing will all that. 

Another recent problem related to that deal is when a shipping service drops off a package I barely get it set down on the shipping table and the shop phone will ring.  The caller will ask me if the package made it....well....yes you know it's here because you tracked it's progress on your cell phone.  Then they will ask how it looks, and when you plan on getting to it.

OK, that's not a big deal but IF I provide an estimated turn around time, like 3 months, count on a phone call on the 91st day checking status on it, then getting a reminder that "you said it would be done in 3 months".  Now things are already going to chit with that job because you didn't make a deadline.

A new and more recent issue is parts sales from the website.  Our website isn't set up to automatically send you an email confirmation with a tracking number for the package.  We're still "old school" and make up our own labels after weighing the shipment, type up a sales receipt, etc.  Well I'm starting to catch some flack about that deal.  I guess folks are so used to Amazon and other large vendors sending them tracking numbers when they make a purchase that they expect it from everyone.  At least twice now in the last month I've had my phone and email light up from customers complaining about not knowing if they package had shipped out yet, but they only placed the order a few hours earlier.  So another problem to sort out to keep everyone happy.

So I'm done with all the drama of having a full time shop with hired help, and will be glad when the last carb rolls out of here.  Then it will be no employees, no commitments for turn-around times, and going to pick and choose what I want to do. 

I doubt if I'll sell the business as I can't imagine there is anyone out there that wants to work this hard, even though they will as much or more money in one day as them make in an entire week at their current job, because you will have to get up early every day and hit the ground running, and stay right on it for at least 8-10 hours or you woln't get anything done or take in any money.

Anyhow, enough bellyaching, I'm actually very happy about all of it and looking forward to retirement in the next few years.......Cliff

qjetsrule:
Cliff, thanks for the insight into what goes on for a small business owner. I too feel out of touch with the cellphone generation. Just wasn't brought up that way. I see a decline in all small craftsman businesses on the horizon.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page