question Would anybody use a repair service North of the Thames??

[ArtistsRifles]

Here's a question to bounce around a bit...

If a company were to offer a repair/restoration service North of the Thames around Essex would there be much call for it's service??

 

The work scenario is not improving so I was thinking of the alternative and becoming self-employed doing something I enjoy with one or two others also interested. Basic proposal is to offer a repair restoration service to MV owners perhaps with a sepcialization in Alvis products and PW generally but with a "we'll take on anything" attitude where appropriate. The concept is to provide a service "run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts" (some elses words) as the major contenders in the field seem to have less than rave reviews for serice & quality of work.

 

So - given the hourly rates were reasonable, the standard of work being if the owner isn't absolutely happy it gets redone till he/she is and an accesible location could be found how many would use such a service???

 

I'm trying to get a feel for whether or not such a venture is a viable proposition before doing the donkey work of costings etc.

 

Any other comments would be appreciated with regards to such an idea.

 

Thanks all.

[Marmite!!]

with a sepcialization in Alvis products

 

Any other comments would be appreciated with regards to such an idea.

 

 

 

Not being funny Neil but you can't seen to get your own Alvis problems sorted so how you going to get other peoples done? If you know people capable of this sort of work why are they not working on yours:confused:

[sirhc]

Neil,

Most people in this hobby do it because they like doing the work themselves. Those who can afford to pay someone usually already have a mechanic or dealer for repairs and servicing. Most of these people are based in the south east too. I don't think there is much of a market.

 

Chris

[ArtistsRifles]

Not being funny Neil but you can't seen to get your own Alvis problems sorted so how you going to get other peoples done? If you know people capable of this sort of work why are they not working on yours:confused:

 

Thanks for nothing!!! :argh: The question was serious, if hypothetical, as a way of trying to get ack to work. The main reasons I'm having trouble with the Stalwart are lack of money due to lack of work and not being able to work alone down at the Fort (wifes and Fort restriction)

 

Neil,

Most people in this hobby do it because they like doing the work themselves. Those who can afford to pay someone usually already have a mechanic or dealer for repairs and servicing. Most of these people are based in the south east too. I don't think there is much of a market.

 

Chris

 

Thanks Chris - it was worth a punt to see if there was any interest. From this I guess not so I'm back to the fortnightly insult session at the Job Center. :-(

[sirhc]

Neil,

 

I think you may have underestimated the skills and equipment required to do these jobs. The only reason people might look at having someone else do a particular job is if it's too difficult to do themselves or they don't have the equipment. You will need overhead cranes, a fully equipped workshop and you'd need to be able to fit yourself in the most awkward of places. Even something simple like changing the master cylinder on a Ferret means cramming yourself into a tight space and banging your head on the steering wheel. If you wanted to work on FV430 vehicles you would need a pack lifting frame. Changing track or wheels requires jacking struts, track clamps, the correct adaptors etc. All of this before you consider how able you are to do the jobs, you'd at least need all of the manuals and since you haven't worked on many of these vehicles before every job would be a steep learning curve. It also sounds like you're not really in the best of shape health wise?

 

I know there aren't many jobs around, but I think it'd be better sticking to something you know rather than trying to attempt this.

 

Chris

[Marmite!!]

Thanks for nothing!!! :argh: The question was serious

 

 

& I gave you a serious answer... you asked for any comments, didn't know you only wanted to hear the positive ones..:confused:

 

The main reasons I'm having trouble with the Stalwart are lack of money

 

 

I can appriciate that but everytime you have a problem on the Stolly your first port of call is here & the Stalwart Forum to find out what the problem is... nothing wrong in that, as that what the forums are for, but if you are thinking of going into this line of work you should be answering the questions & not asking them...

 

Chris' post sums up the rest what I was going to say...

[morris c8 fat]

PM sent

[Stormin]

It's a good thought Neil,

 

I'm sure there's plenty of us here would like to do the same.

 

But if you're looking at tackling the big stuff you need a very large well equipped workshop, with a lot of expensive tools. That's going to be a large overhead and your work rates are going to have to cover it. Initially you'll be paying for an empty workshop some of the time until you get established.

 

May be easier to specialise in the smaller stuff, Land Rover, Jeeps, Champs at first.

 

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[rambo1969]

Once you start working on MV's for a living, the love for them can go out of the window..........

The problem with running a garage, and my dad and I did it, is you need plenty of equipment, and even if you have no work you still have to pay rent on your premisies.

 

Its a hard one to call.

[ArtistsRifles]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It looks like this is a non-starter then.

 

A shame as I'm getting sick of sitting indoors staring at the same 4 walls apart from the odd trip down the Fort - and the fortnightly nightmare that's the Job Centre experience. :-( :-(

 

But such is life....... I shall have to continue the hunt for a firm that employs Oracle DBA's n the UK, and is not exporting all the work out to Indian call centres.....

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

I would be the last person in the world to dampen anyones spirit.but its hard out here right now even for those who know what there doing.Even with a small premiss you are gonna need a couple of hundred quid a day to pay your bills,and thats hard to find when the phones not ringing.I havnt had wages this year.The market is covered i would think.Victor Kyam the man who bought the company because he liked the razor used to run business w/shops, he said the best time to start a business is in a recession.but he was allready wealthy so could afford to fail.No doubt if you came across a gap in the market brought about by the recession it could work.

You have to ask and answer honestly some questions about yourself and take it from there.Dress scruffy get a dog and go and sit outside a cash machine,change change got any change.They do better than i do everday.I have been where you are now ,i had £80 and worked in the gutter to start.whats the worst that can happen ,end up back there.I think its nearly to late for people coming into the trade as independents

as legislation ,the banning of pattern parts and the end of people legaly working on there own vehicles is all on its way.Its funny i trained as a Plumber and a Bricklayer

and apart from the big site work the jobbing ones are doing really well.The training now is only six weeks there must be other things you could maybe train for.If i had my time again i wouldnt work with my hands.Wish you best of luck anyway.I thought of being a profesional nuisence so people pay you to go away.:rofl:

[Chrisg]

Running my own business I would have to agree with CW's comments.One of the biggest things apart from being an employer , especialy with the motor trade, is keeping up with current legislaion for waste disposal let alone complying with it.

[ArtistsRifles]

I would be the last person in the world to dampen anyones spirit.but its hard out here right now even for those who know what there doing.Even with a small premiss you are gonna need a couple of hundred quid a day to pay your bills,and thats hard to find when the phones not ringing.I havnt had wages this year.The market is covered i would think.Victor Kyam the man who bought the company because he liked the razor used to run business w/shops, he said the best time to start a business is in a recession.but he was allready wealthy so could afford to fail.No doubt if you came across a gap in the market brought about by the recession it could work.

You have to ask and answer honestly some questions about yourself and take it from there.Dress scruffy get a dog and go and sit outside a cash machine,change change got any change.They do better than i do everday.I have been where you are now ,i had £80 and worked in the gutter to start.whats the worst that can happen ,end up back there.I think its nearly to late for people coming into the trade as independents

as legislation ,the banning of pattern parts and the end of people legaly working on there own vehicles is all on its way.Its funny i trained as a Plumber and a Bricklayer

and apart from the big site work the jobbing ones are doing really well.The training now is only six weeks there must be other things you could maybe train for.If i had my time again i wouldnt work with my hands.Wish you best of luck anyway.I thought of being a profesional nuisence so people pay you to go away.:rofl:

 

Bummer is CW - I'm a qualified machinist/toolmaker for jigs and checking fixtures by profession but cannot work in a tool room ever again because of the epilepsy, not even back on the benches. Same goes for any driving jobs. Even though DVLA have issued a full unrestricted valid until 70 license I cannot even drive a small van for a living.... I used to drive Class 1 HGV's for pocket money 30 years ago...

Virtually everything I was trained to do is closed now either due to the epilepsy or because, in IT circles, the work is leaving the country faster than the rats leave a sinking ship......

 

Like I said - just got to plug away at sending off job applications that rarely even get acknowledged and once a fortnight have the DWP tell me I'm not doing enough to find work, even though they aren't paying me a bent farthing - apparently, despite having worked full time for 34 years, I don't qualify for any state aid and thus don't qualify for any of the reskilling programs either...

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Bummer is CW - I'm a qualified machinist/toolmaker for jigs and checking fixtures by profession but cannot work in a tool room ever again because of the epilepsy, not even back on the benches. Same goes for any driving jobs. Even though DVLA have issued a full unrestricted valid until 70 license I cannot even drive a small van for a living.... I used to drive Class 1 HGV's for pocket money 30 years ago...

Virtually everything I was trained to do is closed now either due to the epilepsy or because, in IT circles, the work is leaving the country faster than the rats leave a sinking ship......

 

Like I said - just got to plug away at sending off job applications that rarely even get acknowledged and once a fortnight have the DWP tell me I'm not doing enough to find work, even though they aren't paying me a bent farthing - apparently, despite having worked full time for 34 years, I don't qualify for any state aid and thus don't qualify for any of the reskilling programs either...

Get the ferry over to Lithuania or somewhere doesnt really matter buy a fake passport as a foreigner,come back speak me no english ,the police will direct you to Croydon ,Problems over.:-D

Even worse for me.out of work ex self employed,scum of the earth.

[Degsy]

Neil, I've been through the horrors of the job centre when I was close to sixty and could have stayed on the 'permanent sick' had I so wished. After a short time I discovered that all jobs go through a central regional office before appearing in the local job centres, if you find out your 'area' office you can access new jobs daily on the phone before they appear locally thus giving you a head start. I know you are not supposed to contact companies direct but I did it explaining to them how keen I was to work and that was the reason I was short circuiting the system. Whilst I realise it could backfire it worked for me and might be worth a try. Good luck whatever you decide to try.

[Enigma]

I can definately imagine your predicament.

Being unemployed (again) with health problems (back-no real diagnosis) and some problem which may offer a way forward .

So I know what it can be like to not have a positive imcome future, something which happens to a lot of us nowadays.

I try to sell the odd helmet but sell only occasionally.

Your idea might not be a feasable one but keep looking, maybe some better idea pops up.

Take care mate.

[ArtistsRifles]

Thanks Degsy/Olaf!!

 

Got to admit that Job Search database they use at the centres is a right POS!! You select the area you want and opt for a 5o mile radius - then the jobs it lists are all up in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff, Aberdeen etc. About as much use as a bucket with no bottom!! A few times it's been on the tip of my tongue to offer to create a decent, working, database for them- at a reasonable cost of course - but somehow I suspect the sense of humour removal all the staff have seemingly been through will have dire repercussions were I to do so.....

[Simon Daymond]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It looks like this is a non-starter then.

 

QUOTE]

 

whoaa there. I think there are people out there who will pay for work doing, although I have little experience with MV's, there are those who are paid to restore both old lorries and old buses on behalf of owners who may well have the skill, but simply don't have the time.

 

In my experience, as someone who did just this sort of work in the past, the difficulty is getting the price right from the outset, jobs which appear straightforward can all to often turn into a much bigger task, the diffuculty then is getting the owner to part with the money to see the job to completion.

 

I know of one vintage commercial restorer, who asks potential clients for a cheque for 'x' amount, and then tells them "I'll ring you when it runs out", this might seem a ludicrous idea, but his yard is full.

 

If you are sat with nothing to do, what have you got to lose? Just be careful what you take on, if as people say, certain jobs require financial outlay to buy specialised tools, then the simple answer is don't do them, not at the start anyway.