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re: I know we love the blue collar types, but..
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:14 am to FAT SEXY
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:14 am to FAT SEXY
I own a blue-collar subcontracting business. My two main materials, glass and aluminum, have doubled in cost the past decade. Good workers are demanding more because there are less of them. Insurance requirements and costs have gone through the roof. Fleet maintenance is stupid high because car parts and labor are crazy. Bank interest is higher. New machines and replacement parts cost more because of tariffs. Customers are demanding quicker turnaround while stretching payment terms.
It all adds up. shite's expensive these days.
It all adds up. shite's expensive these days.
0
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:20 am to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
brand new F-250s
This has gone on in South Louisiana forever
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:21 am to FAT SEXY
I was at a PE backed HVAC/Plumbing company for a couple of years recently. In our monthly reviews, it was common for the Execs to encourage 10-15% price increases with qualifier that you can always discount back down to make sale if needed.
There were about 5 of these increases over two years on already inflated prices. One of our AC systems went out and was a 6k cost but all of my companies from PE would’ve charged closer to 20k.
My local area is often warning consumers about these now affiliated companies and price gouging. It’s more important than ever to shop around and haggle.
There were about 5 of these increases over two years on already inflated prices. One of our AC systems went out and was a 6k cost but all of my companies from PE would’ve charged closer to 20k.
My local area is often warning consumers about these now affiliated companies and price gouging. It’s more important than ever to shop around and haggle.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:36 am to litenin
Definitely some supply and demand inflation happening. My neighbor, elderly widowed lady, was going to be charged $150 to change the tailight bulb on her Pilot. I did it for her in 5 minutes.
HVAC company was going to charge me $1200ish to replace the blower motor. I rhink rhat included cleaning the outside coils as well. Cant remember. I got a Carrrier blower from the Jungle site and slapped it in there for ~450 and it may have taken 45 minutes. Most of that was me looming wire because Carrier thought it wise to leave wires running against metal all day every day.
But, I get it. When there are few of them, and tons of work, you can charge more.
HVAC company was going to charge me $1200ish to replace the blower motor. I rhink rhat included cleaning the outside coils as well. Cant remember. I got a Carrrier blower from the Jungle site and slapped it in there for ~450 and it may have taken 45 minutes. Most of that was me looming wire because Carrier thought it wise to leave wires running against metal all day every day.
But, I get it. When there are few of them, and tons of work, you can charge more.
This post was edited on 6/3/26 at 6:37 am
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:42 am to FAT SEXY
Car Repair,
Have a ‘21 Aviator, water leaking inside in rain. Was plugged sun roof drains, not the seal. A place in Covington that has worked on wife’s car since warranty expired said they’d have a look. Not being a dealer I thought they would be more competitively priced. Ha !
They wanted $1600.00 to take out complete headliner system to install new drains. I asked, how about unplugging the ones I have. They had no interest in that.
In short, YouTube showed how ford installs sound insulation in front of rear drains. 3 screws for fender skirt. Moved insulation over. Cleaned out drain with a small drill bit. 30 min to watch YouTube gather tools, do job and put tools away.
HVAC
Contacted a company in Slidell diagnosed a leak in coil. Common problem these days. The coil was sent to me by manufacturer under warranty. Slidell guy says he needs $4200 to install it. I asked how many days are your 2 guys going to take. His response floored me
“You don’t understand, I can send that truck out for a day and make $15 k. I have to charge you $4200 for 2 1/2 hrs !
Yea he didn’t do the job. Manufacturer arranged a free install !
Slidell boy was free to go make his
$15 k that day!
Win-Win…….
Actually best post I’ve read in a long a long time.
Thanks Fat Sexy.
Have a ‘21 Aviator, water leaking inside in rain. Was plugged sun roof drains, not the seal. A place in Covington that has worked on wife’s car since warranty expired said they’d have a look. Not being a dealer I thought they would be more competitively priced. Ha !
They wanted $1600.00 to take out complete headliner system to install new drains. I asked, how about unplugging the ones I have. They had no interest in that.
In short, YouTube showed how ford installs sound insulation in front of rear drains. 3 screws for fender skirt. Moved insulation over. Cleaned out drain with a small drill bit. 30 min to watch YouTube gather tools, do job and put tools away.
HVAC
Contacted a company in Slidell diagnosed a leak in coil. Common problem these days. The coil was sent to me by manufacturer under warranty. Slidell guy says he needs $4200 to install it. I asked how many days are your 2 guys going to take. His response floored me
“You don’t understand, I can send that truck out for a day and make $15 k. I have to charge you $4200 for 2 1/2 hrs !
Yea he didn’t do the job. Manufacturer arranged a free install !
Slidell boy was free to go make his
$15 k that day!
Win-Win…….
Actually best post I’ve read in a long a long time.
Thanks Fat Sexy.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:52 am to FAT SEXY
Honestly when I was a pipefitter I didn't mind the work. What made me get out of it as soon as I could were the people I had to work around. On one job out of about 25 of us on site at a plant there were only 3 or 4 other fitters/welders that I would consider to be decent guys and cared to talk to. It didn't help that the plant didn't require TWIC so it was where the company stuck all of the felons.
The money was good but if you care about work/life balance it ain't the best in my experience. It seemed like most of the guys there had empty lives and were making up for that by buying nice sh*t that they couldn't afford the notes on unless they were working 84 hour weeks.
The money was good but if you care about work/life balance it ain't the best in my experience. It seemed like most of the guys there had empty lives and were making up for that by buying nice sh*t that they couldn't afford the notes on unless they were working 84 hour weeks.
This post was edited on 6/3/26 at 6:55 am
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:53 am to CleverUserName
quote:Don’t know if I was ever thought of as a Yunick that I’d go bragging on it.
They thought I was freaking Smokey Yunick after that.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:58 am to FAT SEXY
My secret to success I found 6 years ago: Become a General Contractor that focuses on small to medium size commercial renovations ($500k-$1.5m is my wheelhouse). There aren't enough in my area and all my competitors (not many) have crazy OH. You have a bunch of big dogs who are too busy with big stuff and then all the small guys who can't bank roll a $500k project. Not a lot in the middle. I've been making bank while also being the cheapest guy on the block.
This post was edited on 6/3/26 at 7:00 am
Posted on 6/3/26 at 6:58 am to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
You ain’t kidding. I call for some concrete work estimates and guys are showing up in brand new F-250 Platinums. I’m about to learn how to foreman a concrete driveway myself.
I knew a guy that owned a temp nurse company that got into the fence installation business by accident. He called a fence company to come out and give him a quote. Fence company owner comes out, quotes the job and the homeowner agrees to the price. Fence guy leaves and sub-contracted Texicans show up next day to do the job. Fence guy was never on the job until completion.
So the temp nurse company guy says this looks like pretty easy money and goes to the fence supply company. Asked them what’s needed to open an account….nothing but a business license. Opens an account the next day. Puts ad in Craigslist. Guy was doing six fences a week within two months and having Texicans do all the hard work.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:00 am to FAT SEXY
quote:
Random simple example: Paying $250+ for a shower cartridge swap = Joke
I can’t wrap my mind around people who pay someone to do something like that.
Yesterday, the lady that cleaned my house told me about a customer who paid a plumber $400 to get a ring out of a P-trap. Unbelievable.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:03 am to Loup
Reliable labor in the blue collar world is a big problem. I think the engineers and salesmen that fantasize on here about working blue collar think they’ll be working along 25 Mike Rowes.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:13 am to NIH
quote:
they’ll be working along 25 Mike Rowes.
I worked with 25 guys that looked like Post Malone.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:14 am to NIH
quote:
I think the engineers and salesmen that fantasize on here about working blue collar think they’ll be working along 25 Mike Rowes.
They'll be working next to Ricky Bobby. Ricky has substance abuse problems (all of them), has his check garnished to almost nothing because he pays child support in three states, and sometimes misses work because he got picked up by the law on the way in. 
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:18 am to FAT SEXY
quote:
Random simple example: Paying $250+ for a shower cartridge swap = Joke
They had to come to your house. Nobody's doing that unless they can make money.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:19 am to FAT SEXY
They still exist. A lot of them. They come to you in all colors. Out there grinding every day trying to make a living.
I've started using Thumbtack to find local service people and it's been working out great so far. Prompt. Reasonably priced.
Imagine being them and having to drive around all day for work in a big arse truck paying $4.49/gallon right now.
You don't see politicians doing anything to give them real relief. Real American Heroes.
I've started using Thumbtack to find local service people and it's been working out great so far. Prompt. Reasonably priced.
Imagine being them and having to drive around all day for work in a big arse truck paying $4.49/gallon right now.
You don't see politicians doing anything to give them real relief. Real American Heroes.
Posted on 6/3/26 at 7:22 am to CleverUserName
quote:
The home mechanic doesn't need snap on tools. Most of my mechanic tools are Kobalt. You can catch a multitude of decent tool sets on sale for pretty reasonable prices. The recently new ICON sets at harbor freight is actually great for the home mechanic. And sales are run often on those.
And specialty tools can be rented for free at the chain auto parts stores. Just have to front the deposit.
Again you guys are not understanding the point. To do a small job on your own sometimes you can get away with cheap tools or loaners ,but when you are a buisness everything revolves around time. Any buisness that is good will invest in professional tools that last longer, easy to repair/replace, and can get the job done faster. That is where costs for the buisness comes in and typically can do it alot faster than you can, not a dig they just have the tools. Now apply your logic to a bigger job, you think you can drop a transmission or pull out an engine with cheap tools or loaners? I doubt it. Also you are not taking into account that most are not willing to do so.
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