Cuda Console Restoration
Um,
That reminds me, it's time for lunch. :lol:
Chomp chomp!!!! Kev, you never ever fail to put a smile on my face! I miss you and Deb -- we should talk.
That is a nice piece. Pot metal isnt an easy thing to work with.
But it turned out awesome.
If someone wants work done, the price is the price. I can work every day all day for free,i choose not to. Discounting your skilled work doesent do you any favours. And if the next guy waiting for parts is paying full price, why would you work for less. I have a very select few that get discounts,but even at full rate im the cheapest shop in town.
Thats great work, should never sell yourself short.
Thanks
@Tooljunkie for the awesome compliment and sharing your thoughts. I knew at the outset I'd never get rich or retire to a tropical island doing what I do. As long as I can keep the bills paid and turn out work that both my customer and I can be proud of for a few generations, it's good enough for me.
I believe in giving our honored Armed Forces members (active / retired / Veterans) a serious discount just as a small Thank You for the sacrifices they've made on my behalf my entire life. If it weren't for them, we might be typing on this forum in German, Japanese or, God forbid, Arabic and I hold them in very high esteem. I was just an enthusiast before I opened my shop ten years ago and if it wasn't for the Barracuda Owners Group and the extensive members of FABO, I would most likely be commuting two hours a day back and forth to a law firm in Memphis or Nashville. The way I see it, the Mopar Community supported me even before I went pro in terms of both build advice on my Barracuda and affordable parts to get it back on the road, and continues to support me today when boxes of parts show up at my shop. It's the least I can do to "Pay It Forward," keep my rate reasonable, give them the absolute best work I'm capable of, and do everything in my power to keep our dying hobby alive for future generations to enjoy.
As to the "select few" who get a discount at your shop, that is your prerogative in every respect! The discounts I've offered in the past here on FABO, FBBO, Garage Journal and a few other places are usually enough to at least cover the shipping but this year's are extra special in my eyes. Celebrating the
10th Anniversary this year incited me to up the rewards to the customers -- 7% for new ones, 10% for returning customers (because I wouldn't be having a 10th anniversary without them), and 12% for Military and Law Enforcement -- and I've continued to stay busy even without it. It's just another way to Pay It Forward and hope they continue to keep coming back.
It is interesting to note that in the past, 90%+ of my business came from FABO members. Although I know there's some overlap between various Mopar-oriented websites now, I haven't had a single FABO-only-member even request a quote in over two years. The majority of my business now comes from FaceBook and The Garage Journal. I don't know what happened to cause such a decline ... unless I just talk too much and they all fall asleep now. << wink >> But I do miss this place, the people who make it such a wonderful forum to visit, and all the cool stuff they used to send me to work on.
