Old contact of mine, now in his mid 70s called last night a little miffed and in search of help, told me took several calls to get a phone number to get hold of me wondering if I could help or knew of anyone else. He has used a service for servicing their trucks and HE for the last couple Decades ran by a one time 'Friend' of mine and the guy has gone to receivership. The 'Friend' stole a idea I was working up as to a general service tech company , oil changes, lubes, repair minor lighting or leaks, up to adjusting clutches or brakes, check tire pressures and for flats(Referred to someone else), make recommend lists for actual Repair technicians to perform, stay OUT of deep parts investment/tools investment/dedicated long time in one spot jobs. He never really gained profitability, had a dozen trucks on routes where his overhead was a steadily advancing target just ahead of his profit line margin. In the long run he had failed to Listen in my idea bouncing ramblings of pitfalls and could not lay hands on the notes I made, watched him make the mistakes I HAD noted down as problematic potentials he had not listened to as I had spoken of them.
Long Story Longer and MORE Boring, he set up even using the company name I had considered as to a On-Site Service, was in business less than three weeks of a late night run through of my last considered ideas where he quit to take this on 100% in 1989. Instead of buying a or a couple used Service oriented rigs at less than 1/4 the money he invested, he bought THREE right off the bat NEW trucks and had NEW service bodies with NEW Equipment under the covers. The term Go Big or Go Home came to my mind of that time, where he did Not spare a dime, bank loan and all. At first money was OK, he even called once to grind it in he had opened under the base idea I had come up with then we parted ways. My intent was to as noted, buy USED service equipment from fleet duty operations in HE service, a little TLC, upgrade and repairs that myself or a couple well defined mechanics I knew could take on as a side load to the service work, AVOID the Bank to as much as possible until had some cash flow then start expansion. I already had materials contacts to reduce expenses from buying under a new domain contract as he began with, already had a volume of tooling as had the guys I had considered as asking to join up on a percentage base system as sub-contractors (LOWER initial overhead) and then as opened new doors adding some financially expand consolation prize benefits to the original staff and present a draw for next hires. He missed those side bar notes, hired Low Ball could not be less value Newbies, a lot of Liability expenses in first years due to employee damage to missed details that dumped oils or filters were incorrect and failed, etc etc etc. He also missed my notes as to family strain where around the 10th or so year, his wife of some 15 years left him taking house, cars, loads of cash with her, she was HIS High Maintenance in the over all picture!!
Well his service is defunct, owes a balance sheet value about half again higher than his entire marketable inventory is worth, owes a recycling company a ton for waste fluids removal disposal, owes a dealership for trucks that have been repo'd and money to a body installer/outfitter he had laid a string to figuring on a Next Loan along with his own trucks tire and materials invoices unpaid, was so deep in hock will possibly not survive as a street urchin. Makes me reflect on Vetech's current employ option with a narrower view!! He was smart enough to open under a LLC, HOWEVER, in the last decade the idiot went to signature PERSONAL Notes to attempt crutching a already failing business, he has lost even his ass now per my old contact friend, where has disappeared from the radar, no one knows where he is currently.
Myself, I have NO INTENTION as this age and wear condition to EVEN Consider that type service as a option for retirement, leaving it to the Next gen people that think they will Rule The World. I had no options for the old contact to call, suggested he look to others in his contact files as to competition where they get their work performed, he already had where two are in same bed as he in using this guy's service and the three may be at that point is time to retire ALL of the chaos. Pretty Sad in the general jist of things today.