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Ebony
03-06-2004, 01:15 PM
Welcome To The Weather Thread

These weather reports are Updated automatically three times a day.

<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt">&nbsp; ADELAIDE</span><a href="http://www.liveweatherfeed.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt"><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Adelaide.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></span></a></font></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">&nbsp;</span></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt">&nbsp;MELBOURNE</font><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Melbourne.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b></a></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">&nbsp; </span></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt">SYDNEY</span></font><a href="http://www.liveweatherfeed.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Sydney.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></a></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b></a>&nbsp;<span style="text-transform: uppercase"><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt"></font></span></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><span style="text-transform: uppercase"><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt">Brisbane</font></span><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Brisbane.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></b></p>

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Ebony
03-06-2004, 01:26 PM
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt">&nbsp; PERTH</span><a href="http://www.liveweatherfeed.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt"><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Perth.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></span></a></font></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">&nbsp;</span></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt">&nbsp;</font></b><span style="text-transform: uppercase"><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">HOBART</font></span><b><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Hobart.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b></a></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">&nbsp; </span></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 9.5pt; font-weight: 700">&nbsp;Canberra</span></font><b><a href="http://www.liveweatherfeed.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-Canberra.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></a></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b></a>&nbsp;<span style="text-transform: uppercase"><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 9.5pt"></font></span></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 700">&nbsp;Alice Springs</span></font><b><img src="http://www.bsuserver.com/weather/forecastforfree/BSUweather-AliceSprings.gif" width="210" height="50" alt="Today's Forecast" border="0" align="left"></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>

Ebony
03-06-2004, 01:33 PM
And here's a pic from the Indmowing Weather cam hehe

Thursday 3rd June 2004

Tonyr
03-06-2004, 03:26 PM
Well I don't know much, :p But one thing I know after looking at the different temps is..no wander I love and live in QUEENSLAND!!
Where the mighty Toro roams.....he,he.
The state where road rules mean something...until a southerner comes and messes the system! LOL! :D

Cool weather thingy's Indy chick, very cooooool.

Tonyr
03-06-2004, 03:28 PM
Did you climb that T.V antenna to get that pic?

Typical Melbourner! :eek:

Ebony
03-06-2004, 08:30 PM
lol, not quite that crazy Tony.

Here's a pic taken from indmowing cam hehe, this one was taken around 7pm. Unfortunately my digi cam is limited in it's talents, does not do the light show much justice

Ebony

Easycareacres
03-06-2004, 08:42 PM
nice smog down there. lol

odin
04-06-2004, 06:35 AM
well here's c hicago's forecast ...you all probably could care as much about a boot full of piss on the hottest desert in the world about chicago's forecast ....but non the less here it is :D




onight: Mostly clear. Low 46F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High 69F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow Night: Clear skies. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.

Saturday: A few clouds. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Sunday: Occasional showers. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in









Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

Wednesday: More sun than clouds. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

Thursday: Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 50s.

Friday: Showers possible. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Tonyr
04-06-2004, 07:42 AM
G'Day old fella!

Do you know how your temps convert to our language of degrees celcius?

Just curious...

Thanks for posting too, it's interesting to know how the other side of the world is.

Charles
04-06-2004, 07:48 AM
G'Day old fella!

Do you know how your temps convert to our language of degrees celcius?

.

No we's just dumb ol Americunis

Could you convert Ebony's celcius to feh please? HAHAHAHA

90 deg feh sunny and humid here in sc

Ebony
04-06-2004, 10:32 AM
<iframe name="I1" width="504" height="171" border="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginwidth="1" marginheight="1" src="http://www.indmowing.com.au/celcius.htm">
Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.
</iframe>

Tonyr
04-06-2004, 11:01 AM
Hey very neat Ebony!

So it looks like temps are similar, we are at about 77F in Qld (25dg)

Nice...

Ebony
04-06-2004, 01:22 PM
Been a miserable morning here in Melbourne, raining... but it had cleared some and the sun is trying so shine

Todays indmowing weather cam

Ebony
08-06-2004, 06:00 PM
Lovely Day here today

Red sky at night... The View's a delight :)

indmowing cam

Ebony
08-06-2004, 06:14 PM
And Because I like playing with photoshop, here is one of the above pics slightly edited ;)

Shame that these digital cameras fo not show up the sights as well as we see them here.

Hope everyone is well

Ebony

mick
21-07-2004, 06:33 PM
Nice pics the Eb, so it does get nice down there? :Rain: hehe

Rod
21-07-2004, 06:37 PM
Mickhippy,

How did you get the ride on animation in to your signature?

mick
21-07-2004, 06:40 PM
Mickhippy,

How did you get the ride on animation in to your signature?

I asked the lovely Ebony to do it for me! She's a bit of a wizz at this stuff!

Ebony
21-07-2004, 08:20 PM
Sorry, I didn't hear that properly mick, could you say that again

lol

hehehe :ebony:

Tonyr
22-07-2004, 07:44 AM
It's actually raining in Hervey Bay this morning!

Amazing...might get enough to settle the dust even! LOL!

Would be right, no work so far this week, all acreage stuff end of the week, too wet...another day on Property Care Forum!

Ooops, just stopped, sun it out...oh no...what a tease!!!

mick
22-07-2004, 06:00 PM
Ahhhh, it was good to smell the deisel and the 2 stroke today. If only for 2 hrs or so! Didnt like the dust all that much though but it made the Bourbon and cola go down good!
Had a sprinkle here this morning. Not enough it settle the dust though!

pbm
22-07-2004, 11:14 PM
How do you blokes survive winter in Queensland? If I was as quiet as you I would go broke. Must be hard for you. :i dunno:

Tonyr
23-07-2004, 07:38 AM
well lets say, if my wife didn't have a job I couldn't make a living here, just not enough rain for our sandy conditions for good grass growth, last summer had too much downtime due to too much rain, but when it dried it stayed dry and no followup growth, now into a mild but very dry winter, it is brown, less than 2 full days work a week recently, probably even less than 1 full day per week on average.

I could not use mowing as our families sole income, I make good money in spurts, then it goes quiet, unlike push mowing services that have a larger client base that can keep some bucks coming in, ride on stuff is very limited.

knowing what I know now, would I do it all again...probably not.

great money, just not enough of it.

I'd buy a tip truck biz next time, nearly bought a semi but they are going under fast, can be good money in congrete trucks, a crane truck would take some consideration.

Easycareacres
23-07-2004, 07:44 PM
Tony I admire you honesty here as many of you guys would be finding times tough, so dry. Myself just very lucky with other projects. To hear Tony say so quiet and days well mate hey ive been there last 25 years ha but as you speak out brings back myself. Onya Tony and hope it rains for all off us soon. For one to make time payments as we all do and relie on weather is ahrd to make a dime. Weather we toro, or push mowers or jims mowing . Ive been very lucky over years with wife supporting me to climb a bit more. Hey bet ya buggers got enough for a carton heee. I think this site so neat to meat the real joe bloggs.

mick
24-07-2004, 12:21 AM
I think this site so neat to meat the real joe bloggs.

My name is..... Mick! ......... hehe very drunk right now, cookin up some ribs 'n' beans (really). Whats the time? :i dunno: ! hmmmmm :russ:

on edit... just eating the beans and the onions almost raw! hehe sauce is good though and it almost covers the onions! :sad: :laughing: Its all good!

Tonyr
24-07-2004, 08:28 PM
Thanks Russ!

I'm feeling it...so are most others as ya know, difference is only we with these expensive ride ones, and franchise fees have lease payments and a limited niche in the market (ride ons), bit different to buying a pushy and having less overheads, but I know we are all feeling it not just us ride on guys.

Franchises would be hurting too as lease payments and royalties.

I'm in the country, to get the good stuff you need to know someone, getting govn work is impossible unless you have a leg in, simply put I've recently grown to realise I'm stuck with a very small residential market flooded by yobos.

There is simply not the work for a dedicated ride on mowing business.

Thinking of going back driving, like to buy my own truck but the mowing has taught me small business is great but very unstable, so most likely just get back with crane trucks or drive a tipper, and just maintain my regular mow jobs on weekends until I figure out how to get enough work in this area for the Toro.

Yeah, yeah I realise it is meant to be slow in winter LOL!

Just I can't earn enough to survive on a 6 month income for 12 months when the industry here is so tight, between retirees, "others", yobos, who work for beer, and with a dry climate and couch it is a battle I can't win, the demand for ride on work is low but this season is severly overserviced.

Mick....ya a worry LOL!

Tonyr
24-07-2004, 09:52 PM
Guys, just want to appologise for my above thread, just re read it and it sounds screwey, I wasn't saying guys with lower overheads have it easy, the cold and lack of grass is effecting us all.
My point was only that lawn businesses with debts attached struggle when needing to find regular work opposed to guys with small/non debts, but we all need the work, I did a poor job of making this comment before, sorry.

Funny thing is this is far from being a cold winter, yet since may work has slowed to a almost stop, 2 more months before warmpth, but how long till rain?

pbm
24-07-2004, 11:24 PM
No need to apologise to anyone, what you said makes perfect sense. If you have lease payments the quiet times hurt you more than if you are driving an older vehicle that is paid for and a push mower that does not have lease payments.

snippy
25-07-2004, 03:28 AM
I can sure see the dilemma faced by some regarding lack of work, I'm lucky that my wife works and I don't have any overheads otherwise I'd really be sweating, only worked two days this week, wondering wether to go out pamphletting the neighbourhood in my spare time but not sure wether I should wait till spring to have more of an impact, I think if I do it now I'll probably have to repeat the exercise in another month or two when it warms up anyway :i dunno:

mick
26-07-2004, 06:48 PM
Sobbered up now and over the onions! :frightene hehe.

You have every right to be worried Tony. I am fortunate ot own my stuff but still have bills to pay etc. I have absolutely got nothing on in the foreseeable future which is hurting but it really is the nature of the business. We had a really good last season considering the drought but this winter hit very suddenly for me. This is one of the reasons I'm in 2 minds about upgrading to a Z'd but I will wait and see how this Summer goes.
Maybe you could "get in on the act" and lower your prices/do some push mowing and brush cutting, just to see you through the winter! Even if you can get enough for your weekly payment, would help!
I've even considered going on the Dole for a while although it would be last resort with all the hassles involved. Could be something for you to think about too, in the short term anyway!

Snippy, I dont know what your weathers like but if its dry and your not getting much, dont advertise now. Save your bickies and wait till Spring. IMO, if its slow. Knowone needs a mow! hehe Dont waste your money. Save it to get you through Winter. Thats my opinion anyway!

Tonyr
26-07-2004, 08:33 PM
I don't think price is the thang, it is that our Qld winters are sooo dry for sooo long, simply put the phone just doesn't ring, no offers for brush cutting, spraying etc, just so dry no work for anyone except those with maintenance contracts.

My pricing against production since buying this new Toro has me very affordable, high conversion rate because this machine can cut a lot of square metres fast, the jims guys here I am often told are dearer than me, and I'm not interested in competing with the el cheapos, flogging my gear for beer money isn't sound business to me, I find it easy to get 1.50 a minute on this ZTR, no worries.

Sometimes double that, lowest account is 1 buck per minute, and I came in cheap against others at that, because of the productivity.

Problem is not hourly rate, it is that there is simply not enough work in country areas, mainly because of the dry, not cold.

I still have work, just not every day and just getting stir crazy I guess, no probs with payments, just have never figured out how to survive on summer earnings through winter in this game.

I think the part time guys are actually the smart ones, it is a shame we can't get into fert apps, more specialised services in winter, but mentality in this country generally is bugger doing anything that will make the damn grass grow!

LOL push mowing...I do actually carry a pushy with me every day, I do push mow where the Z can't go...reminds me how unfit I am, LOL!

My plan which I have been messing with this last year is to have a 2 or 3 man crew doing town work with pushies, and I do the acreage still. I've tried using guys by subbying but the wackas here see this as an opportunity to steal the client, happened quite a bit, so dumped that idea. no morals with small minded morons.

When I figure a way to stop subbies going around me I will set something up, don't want employees though, industry here is too unstable.


Ride on work here would be so good if a bloke could get into the Govn. but very hard, this town is still very much a who you know town, need contacts....frustrating.

in closing, before anyone jumps on me about those per minute rates, of course anything less than a 60'' ZTR can't achieve this, what a Z can do in a hour is not comparable to a standard type of rider, my per job rate is average for here, I just finish faster which gives me a high per min. rate, but leaves me looking for more jobs...

snippy
26-07-2004, 09:11 PM
I don't know how you're going to raise your revenue there tonyr, seems pretty tough, maybe when your out cutting you could secretly spread some fert over the place and get that grass going out of control :i dunno:
The competitions a sight to see sometimes aint it? I saw a couple of blokes doing a "budget" lawn job at the neighbours today and my first reaction upon seeing them was holy crap it looks like a coupla escaped convicts on the neighbours front I better call the cops!
Then on closer inspection I figured out that they're some sort of lawn service ( I hope ).
Maybe the neighbours an ex con too and he met them in the joint :i dunno:

Tonyr
26-07-2004, 10:08 PM
Yeah not wrong mate, ya see some wild and wooley ones for shure!

mick
27-07-2004, 12:51 PM
I really do hear ya Tony. Like I said, I've got bugger all on myself. I was just writing what I was thinking is all! I remember my first season, winter never seemed to come with the grass actually growing pretty much through winter. I think it was just before Elnino. A year or 2 ago, we had summer thunderstorms in the middle of winter and this year winter hit what seemed early and with a vengeance on the lawns! Point is, unfortunately we cant change the weather or persuade most people to fert, water etc. To them its dead money going out and they dont care. I dont think there is any real easy answer, just do what you can to get you through the bad seasons and go off int the good! I think what some do here is build up there numbers of accounts over summer so they can get buy over winter. Then sell the not so good customers the following summer and collect a couple of grande to pay off winter credit card debts etc. I'm only quessing this of course but if you can build up enouch to sell, sweet!

Its the same here with the council stuff. I seems a select few get these jobs and they do it so cheap I wouldn't be in the ball park with price. Besides, the job is too big for a 1 man show.

With the subbing out..... I might have a chance to quote a huge job of perhaps 160acres or more total minus houses, bush ares, lakes etc some time this year.(a new subdivision) This is obviously too big for me on my own so I was going to look into subbing out some of it like the brush cutting, slashing and a little mowing. I too was worried about the companys I'd have to hire. There the ones doing the council stuff and charge bugger all (I dont know how they do it actually) and would easily be able to under cut me. A rock and a hard place! There is the option of hiring my own people but then theres all the drama involved in that, not that I know exactly how to hire anyone. Would be a great job though with wide open playing fields, road sides, around houses etc etc and very close to home. A huge job! I'd have to get a couple of Z'ds for sure! Probably yellow or orange in colour. They have to look commercial at least! :wave-hi:
Also have about 4 other new subdivisions going in close to home, all acrage so some of the blocks would be good to pick up. 1 of them has a golf course, hotel, small acrage blocks, open space etc. Things are looking up here in the near future. Most of these havent even been started yet but they will eventually!
After reading all that back, sounds like I'm skiting, but I'm not. I hate that theres so much developement going on with the amount of people it will bring in, ugly houses where native bush was etc but I do like the fact I could get alot of work out of it. Wont be for a while but its looking good!

Hows the development side of things going up there? If theres not much, how will there ever be enough work for all you guys with the back yarders/ part timers.

Tonyr
27-07-2004, 02:32 PM
Hey G'Day Young Fella!

All sounds good there mate, I hope it works out for you.

Development here...actually the bay is in a boom, residential boom, most new blocks are about 800 square metres, no new acreage stuff. It is the dryer area and sand that is the killer, sand dries out so fast, and we have couch.

So basically those with jims franchises will grow like crazy, these guys are still busy and new jims trailers are about, but jims here gets the first call. jims are big and popular here.

Push mowing is the future to catering for the boom, maybe a Walker.

But I found when I was doing in town stuff that I had to compete with too many yobos, needed a lot of small jobs, lots of stops and starts, lots of chasing money etc, just flogging the system to bits, so I went into bigger, outgrew the Walker to the last Toro, outgrew it and got this one, everything was fine, even survived the cheap yobo factor by being very reliable and being very productive, but we have lots of crap ride on guys here taking everything, my phone doesn't even ring so it isn't like I'm overpriced, it means this town is very tightly stiched, gotta know the right people here still.

I went into 1/2 minimum to acreage because I was the only one dedicated to this service, and being a small market was ok, but not enough room for guys with bugs, walkers, timecutters, cox, mtd, etc, etc. I serviced a market that was mostly unserviced last year and before, this year the contractor numbers has multiplied scareingly.
Now every man and his mut is doing this or trying to, plus they do town work.

Because they push mowers, have cheap/er ride ons they can give cheap work, no worries, good on em, But I really can't see the sense at this point having this big Toro sitting in the trailer while I go push a mower, a bit irish, why have the rider sit and not earn when it is the core of my business structure...

Guys with a rider and pushies like yourself are set up to do most of the market well, you have the bases covered, that's the idea, but me, I am not wanting to jump into a crowded market, I want to get into stuff that you guys are not as well set up for, know what I mean?

I don't want to cover the whole market or be a lawn service, I want to do stuff that can be rewarding where you guys mostly finish, is where I start because I believed acreage mowing is away from the droves of mower guys, and because to get the great finish you need a pretty big, good mower, which guys here don't buy...

It is like comparing a slashing contractor to me...most slashing jobs done by a tractor here I could do with this mower, but not competively or as quick, this is where I comparing my acreage mowing only to guys who have a smaller rider and pushies to cover the market 1 acre and under, sure they can do more but aren't 'really' set up for it, I really cover the ground and being set up for the bigger stuff enables me to profit more per on the job minute.

But while this all sounds ok, that little niche is very small thanks to bored retirees and yobos, every angle is flooded this year, town is growing, more lawnies appear too.

The future for me is commercial, mostly govn.t though, sweating on the council but I'm not mates with a councilor, commercial stuff is ultra tough to get, very sown up. So, future is continuing with my acreage stuff, and council, and keep trying other govn. tenders, but the main guys here who have most of the big gov, stuff I've heard happily admit they get in ultra cheap, make a little on each but win lots of tenders....they won the prison.

All of the forestly work I went for I just lost, they said my price was great, mid range, the machine they preffered, but it was that there was a heap of cheap tenders, they didn't want them, mid range, and top price, well I was mid range, but there was a guy in mid range who was a fraction cheaper, just lost....

My pricing was cheaper by almost 30% so I would get it, and remembering I have the most productive mower around here, shows these clowns forget this is a business, they work for wages, and forget about biz costs. these idiots come and go I know but in the mean time guys with solid investments in their business sit by and shake our heads, back to being cheap and back to knowing someone, and that is how govn tenders go in the country, fact.

Future comes back now to residential acreage which is now flooded, and acreage is not growing...and couch on sand is the fastest growing plant in the world.

Smart money says....use next year to build, and incorporate push mowing which defeats my ideas but might appeal to someone else, and sell.

If I can't make a business work here ride on mowing, I'm out, too many health problems to go pushing mowers.

Found the perfect biz here the other day, a cool room back van and a fridge truck, forklift etc. 130K off memory, delivered water, juice etc all around this district, but I can't see any more than 25K in machinery, say 25K biz, 50K plus stock ain't 130K....shame though, this would be the perfect biz for me. oh well....

Alex Callaghan
28-07-2004, 09:18 PM
''''My pricing was cheaper by almost 30% so I would get it, and remembering I have the most productive mower around here, shows these clowns forget this is a business, they work for wages, and forget about biz costs. these idiots come and go I know but in the mean time guys with solid investments in their business sit by and shake our heads, back to being cheap and back to knowing someone, and that is how govn tenders go in the country, fact.""""




I can tell you now coming from me that has had a good run in spearheading a lot of municipal work thats around this country area i'm in that you will have difficulty getting ya foot in the door with council from just sitting back and waiting for tenders to tender for. In my experiance you need to be proactive when seeking municipal works if that is what you want. ie. I took an arfternoon off to take myself a buisness portfolio, certificate of cunrency for public liability and accidental injury, OH&S green card etc and a Ute and trailer full of gear (all the relevent stuff). Down to council works depot and asked to speak to the works provider. I intruduced my self and my buisness and informed him that I was operating localy and asked if there where any mowing works in the shire that they might need help with. He asked what sort of equipment I ran, I took him out side and showed him the kit and we had a ciggy and a good yarn. I gave him ther buisness portfolio and told him he was welcome to keep it and review it. I got a phone call the next week from him say that he was impressed with my approach and buisnees and he would like to put me on the council payrole for a cemetry in Clunes and a distributer in Byron Bay. I was put on the "Payrole" for a trial period thus skipping the tender process. Since then I have tendered for 4 other jobs (public tenders) and have landed 2 of them, I would say cause they knew me, knew my work, knew I was an honest good bloke.
Now I go and have a coldie with Gery when I see him at the local and all the council guys give me the wave when driving past etc.



Now mate.......don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is the be all and end all to landing municipal work as this is just what happened to me.....a person that lives in a different town and was dealing with diffewrent people, I'm just telling you of my succsess in baging some council works cause I got up and was proactive and presented my self in a way that had me come across as a straight shooter, profesional and keen for work with them and they appreciated that.

Basicaly my point of all this is, theres no use in just sitting around bagging the competition because of what in your case seems to be a significant dimise in your work load! You have to think outside the square as far as landing work goes and be PROACTIVE.


Really hope you don't take it the wrong way mate. This is just my opinion and I felt as though I should voice it to you for all it's worth. :russ: :russ: :russ: :russ:

Tonyr
28-07-2004, 10:27 PM
Basicaly my point of all this is, theres no use in just sitting around bagging the competition because of what in your case seems to be a significant dimise in your work load! You have to think outside the square as far as landing work goes and be PROACTIVE.




Really hope you don't take it the wrong way mate. This is just my opinion and I felt as though I should voice it to you for all it's worth.

=========


Hi Alex, I appreciate your post mate.

Sitting around?

Last year alone I had 2 meetings with the compliance officer, and I was approached by the new one only a couple of months ago who was in a pannick as they had work but needed this season's updated appl. form, I submitted it straight away, my safety card was photocopied as usual with my certificate etc, but the girl who processed these tenders said the photocopy wasn't clear enough but forgot to call me, even though it is currently on their file, so I was not eccepted because a useless govn. employee was too lazy.

Proactive...? You should see what the guys do running mtd's and cub cadets, timecutters etc, hopeless. BUT cheap.

Council has no probs with my fees, I am one of the few with 10 mil insurance, I would of got in, like I said, the girl wanted a better copy of my safety card...

I recently missed out on applying for the water dept here, they send out apps, I applied, expected a form within the usual 2 weeks...so I call in 3 weeks and they said the tender is closed...I said but my form hasn't arrived yet, they looked into that and the reason was, the girl who took my info FORGOT to send it!

Chances are the job was tagged, like the council work.



Why you are saying this I dunno?

"theres no use in just sitting around bagging the competition because of what in your case seems to be a significant dimise in your work load!"


Bagging the comp?
Of course the comp is a demise in my work load.

Unlike Brisbane, Gold Coast, NSW, Vic, Adelaide, Perth with higher population areas, things are very different in a town like this, a retirement/tourist town, i.e lawn services aren't as demanded because people here aren't generally in the earning sector of their life, this is very country, very little commercial, sure you guys can say about the volumns of work yas have....you wouldn't if yas lived here.

Mate, of course el cheapo, beer money guys take work from me, people in towns like this are tight as.


Obviously I have given you the indication I sit around all day whining my fat ass off and not canvassing for work....you reckon I haven't exhausted avenues? We have sand and couch, not exactly jungle conditions even in summer, outa town....rhodes, green panick, winter grass, wire grass, don't get too many farm jobs around here.


I'm really glad you guys are doing great, but just because where you are has opportunities to get doesn't mean I'm some whining goose cause my area isn't as developed yet because I talk about it here. Sure I'm in a downer, but I do know winter is meant to be quiet, but gov. work here is stiched, small town, everyone knows everyone, reckon favourtism doesn't exist in these towns eh?

Sorry, I don't think I allowed you to get an accurate assesment of my exact situation, I have been sitting around whining my fat unproactive ass off here venting through boredom, if only you knew....I do ok with the opportunities I can get into, like I keep saying, lawn work is a very limited market here and lots doing it, ride on work is a very small market, becomming flooded, this has nothing to do with my abilities to find work, it is to do with a dry area with a population of limited income and limited demand for mowing. And yes, I market myself and business very well, My fees are mid range per job nowadays, dunno.


Again, I appreciate your comments Alex, and I'm glad you guys down there are going great.


I'm not interested in continuing this conversation, just because I can't get the type/quantity/ quality of work you guys get doesn't mean I'm not proactive, and it doesn't mean I can't talk about competion, it means I live in a very different area, a very tight town.

WA Idependent Mowing
28-07-2004, 11:54 PM
Come on ewe home services persons! up and at them i'm flat out winter and summer and i'm from central Qld now in Wait Awhile 5 yrs and you have 2 choices of soil here rock or sand HE HE I wish i'd known about this business when i was 20 in stead of shearing meadow maggots for all those yrs when i bought my round i was making 25 an hr average 130 a day and i can still remember scighting to the wife when i topped 150 now i'm almost embarrassed to say! DIVERSAFIY and believe in yourself and the service ewe provide! It will come to you Look at what Dean has done he started with a cyth! HE HE **** the rain comes only from June till end of Sept Then work on ya melanoma

mick
30-07-2004, 02:36 AM
Tony, Knowones calling you lazy or anything else! We are just trying to help with some ideas is all. Like I've said previously, I've done 2 mow jobs in the last 6 or 7 weeks because nothings growing. Like you, the council stuff here is pretty much stiched up by a few guys and its very hard to get into but after reading what Alex said, when things start growing again, I might go to the council and see what happens! Its a good idea, I hadnt thought of it!

Sure there are a few big subdivisions going in but a couple of them wont be up and running for another 12 mths or more. I'm not holding my breath but living in hope that I can get some of it.

Easycareacres
30-07-2004, 01:07 PM
Most council tenders require on tendering, all workers names how long they been at it, all your equip, how old etc. So you see is hard to jump in as outlay alot of dough. Council have so many applicates for tenders and make a short list by making all provide equip etc. No they arnet intrested that one will purchase if get it, they want to see what one has now etc. Its so dam many wanting to grab tenders so guide lines there for protection I guess. I told them I have a victa mower pushy and my missues has hairy back of hands. Now i dont rem what thread im in oweeeee get another can.