Itinerant Air-Cooled

Damn.

chitwnvw wrote:Damn.

Expand on that? It is either blown-away admiration. . . or beer-besotted commiseration. hmmmmmm, which one?

You should add mileage driven so you can average gas cost per mile, you know, for posterity's sake.

Let's hope you can get close to 2006 net again!

I plan to be smarter and meaner this summer. In the past I have tithed 10% of my work to those who need a break. You can see it show up by dividing number of customers into the gross. . . it does not come up $380.00. However, this summer, I must be more efficient because the gas costs are going up, food costs are going up, lodging costs are going up, and my vehicle expenses are going to skyrocket because I am at the end of my last 100,000 mile wear cycle, i.e. transmission rebuild and engine rebuild will be due + tires too. What a business model, heh?
Colin

Amskeptic wrote:What a business model, heh?
Colin

And to further that business model, if you do your job right, you should have fewer and fewer customers every year as they learn self sufficiency in the mechanical sense. You do realize that is bad for business, no?!

Did you really spend the exact same amount on fuel in 2005 as 2007? Coincidence?

sped372 wrote:Did you really spend the exact same amount on fuel in 2005 as 2007? Coincidence?

Corrected. Thank you. NOW I HAVE TO AMEND MY TAX RETURN ^%*^%&
ColinNotReallyHaventFiledYet

Have you thought of adding a simple hydrogen booster for 20-40% gain in mpg.?..considering the miles you accumulate..it might add up to sizeable savings.

dingo wrote:Have you thought of adding a simple hydrogen booster for 20-40% gain in mpg.?..considering the miles you accumulate..it might add up to sizeable savings.

I. . I. . . I . . . no, wait, um, yeah, no. Do I have room for such a thing? Colin

Amskeptic wrote:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005. . . . . . 2006 . . . . . . 2007 . . . .
Total Visits ............ 52 .............. 32 .............. 35 ........
Gross ................. 15,895 ........ 11,570 ....... 11,895 .....
Fuel ..................... 3,933 .......... 2,386 ......... 3,041 .....
Food/Lodging ........ 4,009 .......... 2,339 ......... 2,682 .....
Average Net/Call ..... 152 ............. 207 ........... 174 .....


Expand on that? It is either blown-away admiration. . . or beer-besotted commiseration. hmmmmmm, which one?

Your visits are down, I'm surprised, I'd think word of mouth would grow your business exponentially. You give great service and are a great value/roi. Mostly that's what I was surprised at. It's not a real good sign.

Lodging costs are down? Is this when you discovered that sleeping in your bus could improve your bottom line.

Of course, I admire you and what you've accomplished. I try to be realistic, and maybe I can come of as being critical, but I really live for the unusual, the unexpected, and you've taken on a grand venture. I wish for you to flourish, but I fear that if you can't make a half way comfortable existence doing this that you will stop doing it!

.

Do I have room for such a thing? Colin

It doesnt require much roomyou just need room for a couple of mason jars and a bubbler...sure it might crimp your purist/stock aesthetics....but it could be practical ,economical and you have the skills and knowledge to figure out how to dial it in on a Bus.

plenty of varied designs and info out there...plus it might give you something to tinker with whilst at rest stops between clients

And the friends you've made....priceless =D>

chitwnvw wrote:

Amskeptic wrote: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005. . . . . . 2006 . . . . . . 2007 . . . .
Total Visits ............ 52 .............. 32 .............. 35 ........
Gross ................. 15,895 ........ 11,570 ....... 11,895 .....
Fuel ..................... 3,933 .......... 2,386 ......... 3,041 .....
Food/Lodging ........ 4,009 .......... 2,339 ......... 2,682 .....
Average Net/Call ..... 152 ............. 207 ........... 174 .....

Your visits are down, I'm surprised, I'd think word of mouth would grow your business exponentially. You give great service and are a great value/roi. Mostly that's what I was surprised at. It's not a real good sign.

Over in my analysis universe, the 2006 summer I cancelled some appointments so I could spend ten days with my dad in August. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Also 2005 was nuts, two laps.

chitwnvw wrote: I fear that if you can't make a half way comfortable existence doing this that you will stop doing it!

This whole thing is an experiment a little retirement party in my relative youth that only manages to keep me treading water. I do not want to get too well-oiled and too professional about it, it would lose the charm. But this summer I am going to get more focused on the bottom line just to stay ahead of the inflation curve. Enjoy it while you can, I am.
Colin

I know you have thought of these already but what if you could get 70-100 calls a year and manage to control the overhead. Or at least reduce the percentage that it takes out of your earnings.

Or diversify? A book? ruckman101 videos? Show up at VW shows and turn yourself into a VW show carnie (just kidding) the show thing might work though, do a demonstration and you might gather a few customers that way.......like the beetle folks.....lots of them out there. Just sayin.

Or diversify? A book?

..yeah a book that is a compilation of your daily observations and travels and random encounters...they always make very good reading. Slap it all together and it would be much better reading than 99% of what is out there....and doesnt require you sweat over which watercolor acurately depicts a slightly rusted ball-joint