Would You Use, And How Much An Hour Would You Pay

[Cowboy1600]

It depends on pricing though. Can you really make it profitable without getting above 50% of the price to get something done professionally (I know, "professionally" can vary a fair bit hence why so many people here do tasks themselves)

A day at a BYO workshop = $200

A day at the mechanics = $800

Pretty simple maths, really.

[mad082]

for it to be a profitable business it would need to have all the things list above by someone (food, etc), but it still would struggle as public liability insurance would be extremely expensive. prices would have to be higher than what was listed above. the only way it could be viable for someone to do is if it was a mechanics workshop with a spare hoist or 2 where people can do DIY work. that way it is a viable business making a side income.

[Cowboy1600]

Why is everyone so scared of PLI?

It wouldn't be any more than a few grand a year, tops. In fact, I'm hit up some of our brokers next week and find out.

[zebra]

While it sounds like a good idea....there is no way I would sign an imdemnity with god knows who f**king aroud with the hoists/compressors etc.....what happens if a hoist collapses with my car on it? Or I slip and split my skull open because someone left oil all over the floor?

Im not one to sue people but having no cover would turn a lot of people away..including me.

Also things like what if the air compressor breaks down...would you still charge people even though they cant use all the equipment.

Even little things like if you had say an engine building room and an engine fails due to foreign objects...who's fault would it be etc.

It would be a logistical nightmare at best

[blackers10]

zebra i dont think you understand what this is about... and you sound like a sook..

anybody who works on cars takes risks climbing under their car... building a motor in their home garage.. changing a tyre... anything,

i think I would trust a mechanic quality hoist any day of the week

[Cowboy1600]

While it sounds like a good idea....there is no way I would sign an imdemnity with god knows who f**king aroud with the hoists/compressors etc.....what happens if a hoist collapses with my car on it? Or I slip and split my skull open because someone left oil all over the floor?

Im not one to sue people but having no cover would turn a lot of people away..including me.

Also things like what if the air compressor breaks down...would you still charge people even though they cant use all the equipment.

Even little things like if you had say an engine building room and an engine fails due to foreign objects...who's fault would it be etc.

It would be a logistical nightmare at best

When have you ever heard of a hoist just collapsing? Seriously? That's daft.

And slipping over? You're more likely to slip over a spilt coke at Maccas. Oil won't be left on the floor because A) everything will be done to avoid it getting there in the first place and B) it will be cleaned up immediately, and fully, as per the agreement on the door.

Should I not open a corner store in case the milk fridge breaks down? Every business relies on machinery to some extent. To not have some kind of redundancy is plain stupid. Have a 2nd compressor, FFS, if you business relies on having one operational at all times.

And again, who said anything about not having freaking insurance? It's not that darstardly, really. And a workshop like this is a shit load less dangerous than say a go kart track, but they exist, don't they? Struth.

[zebra]

Im thinking worse case senario.

Shit can and Will happen.

Believe me I would love a place where I could go rent a hoist for a few hours, but only if every avenue was covered to ensure the saftey of people and the cars.

Also what about theft? if you leave your car there for a week, Cameras would help but wont stop nosey buggers sticking their dirty fingers in your glove box or taking a liking to your gear lever

So calm down you overly sensitive twats, I am trying to offer all sides of the arguement, where you will have shit heads messing with peoples stuff, stealing your tools blah blah.

On the other hand, a big(ish) parking area for customers who have something go wrong while the car is there so it can be moved off the hoist and at least moved out of the way, sounds better than charging them double and having a hoist out of action, even if you charge 20 bucks a day for the parking area.

What would you do about staff....as in what would the job description be? you counldt just have them sitting around all day, maybe a qualified mechanic how can offer advise and/or lend a hand where needed. Would help turn around times if a car is going to run over time.

[zebra]

As for a hoist collapsing.....I have personally seen 2 do it....

[zebra]

Actually just had another thought...

A Tilt tray/tow truck on hand would be a good money spinner as well.

[Cowboy1600]

Actually just had another thought...

A Tilt tray/tow truck on hand would be a good money spinner as well.

But what if a car falls off the back, or it gets a flat tyre?

As for hoists, you're jinxed. I've got 2 very good friends who have ~35 years experience between them and probably 4 other friends with double that again and I know that the 2 good and 2 of the not so good have never seen a hoist collapse. Haven't asked the other two yet but I'm pretty sure they haven't. So ~80+ years between them as a mechanic and not a single hoist collapse. You claim to have seen two.

If I start one of these businesses up, you're banned!

Have you taken a look at the Facebook pics of that joint in WA? Very professional, very clean, obviously well maintained, or at lest it's going to be. That is what I would envisage. A clear, stocked workshop, not some junky joes scummy backyard job. I'd also aim to have, perhaps not a qualified mechanic, although they can be had for ~$50k pa, but someone with some nous when it comes to cars. It wouldn't be a minimum wage slave who quite frankly couldn't care less. It'd be someone who loves cars, such as myself, if it was financially viable to work it myself.

EDIT: Also, safety and security of stored cars would be absolutely paramount. Word would spread very quickly if people's cars were getting messed with and your business would evaporate overnight.

[zebra]

But what if a car falls off the back, or it gets a flat tyre?

As for hoists, you're jinxed. I've got 2 very good friends who have ~35 years experience between them and probably 4 other friends with double that again and I know that the 2 good and 2 of the not so good have never seen a hoist collapse. Haven't asked the other two yet but I'm pretty sure they haven't. So ~80+ years between them as a mechanic and not a single hoist collapse. You claim to have seen two.

If I start one of these businesses up, you're banned!

Have you taken a look at the Facebook pics of that joint in WA? Very professional, very clean, obviously well maintained, or at lest it's going to be. That is what I would envisage. A clear, stocked workshop, not some junky joes scummy backyard job. I'd also aim to have, perhaps not a qualified mechanic, although they can be had for ~$50k pa, but someone with some nous when it comes to cars. It wouldn't be a minimum wage slave who quite frankly couldn't care less. It'd be someone who loves cars, such as myself, if it was financially viable to work it myself.

Hahaha

I must be jinxed lol...but these hoists were in rather shitty almost back yardish work shops on the Gold coast area

[james111]

For everyone here who is screaming omg what about insurance etc etc does anyone here actually know the costs of insurance, its defiantly not the cost everyone is making it out to be.....

Great idea i think maybe just plan it out a bit more, great idea on having a mechanic who can offer help to everyone. All the best with it mate

[Truffles]

For everyone here who is screaming omg what about insurance etc etc does anyone here actually know the costs of insurance, its defiantly not the cost everyone is making it out to be.....

Great idea i think maybe just plan it out a bit more, great idea on having a mechanic who can offer help to everyone. All the best with it mate

So you do know the costs involved?

The idea can and is working. But as you said, it's down to planning.