HELP! PROFIT MARGIN QUESTION.

natty Said:

Or rather... what a fool.

You missed my point. Communism and Capitalism are similar in respect that they both exploit labor. Communism doesnt work because it removes individual initiative. Capitalism fails without govt provided safety nets. America is at the point that even the safety nets are failing and has become dependent on cheap foreign labor. I have spent 40 years on the roof- maybe my brains are fried- but it has given me a lot of time to think. Knee-jerk reactionism gets us no where. I fight for a lot of things and one of them is freedom for ALL- not just the few at the top.

As I said many years back your ads for help should read, Start at the Top and work your way down. :)

Sorry double post

Mike H Said: Aint no mexicans working for me. 100% american work force with healthcare, retirement plan, good bonuses.

I used to whine about the state of the biz, then decided to change my luck.

Same here. No one gets exploited. Although some think they are being exploited.

100% local work force here as well. Although about two weeks ago, I was tempted to change this...

I was sitting at a mexican restaurant after a couple weeks of that June heat that really thumps you out of nowhere. Our grunt had quit us due to GF issues, and the next six we hired all seemed like good prospects. Only one lasted more than a day, only two others lasted all day. Puking by 10am and whatknot. It was brutal and was taking a toll on the rest of us.

So I'm sitting at the mexican restaurant thinking....well you know what I was thinking. Glad I didn't though.

100% American to me is anyone who has the right paperwork.

My grandmother on my mom's side was half Cherokee Indian and my Mom 1/4. That makes me 1/8 so I guess I'm working 12.5% Native American and 87.5% non Native American give or take a little. :unsure:

clover, hang in there buddy. I experienced what you described many times. One time in particular comes to mind. I had went through about 5 wanna be's like you have when I hired the 6th one. On his first day we were around in the back yard where we had just finished tearing off the backside of the house when the new guy asked me if there was anything I needed him to do. All the material was around in the front yard. I said yes, go around front and bring me 4 rolls of felt expecting him to make 2-4 trips but when he came around the corner of the house with all 4 rolls at once, I knew he was the one.

Chuck Said: My grandmother on my moms side was half Cherokee Indian and my Mom 1/4. That makes me 1/8 so I guess Im working 12.5% Native American and 87.5% non Native American give or take a little. :unsure:

clover, hang in there buddy. I experienced what you described many times. One time in particular comes to mind. I had went through about 5 wanna bes like you have when I hired the 6th one. On his first day we were around in the back yard where we had just finished tearing off the backside of the house when the new guy asked me if there was anything I needed him to do. All the material was around in the front yard. I said yes, go around front and bring me 4 rolls of felt expecting him to make 2-4 trips but when he came around the corner of the house with all 4 rolls at once, I knew he was the one.

Chuck,

I know you did not mean to but you just hit a sore spot with me.

I hope you thanked him for bringing the 4 rolls at the same time but than told him, next time make two trips as I know a lot of roofers that when age crept up they had back issues and could not enjoy life to the fullest in the golden years.

This sort of thing is like promoting a contest for a job, guys over do, some go out on Workmans Comp.

The best man would not have asked a question he simply would have started bringing the needed rolls over at a good but fair pace. :)

Mike H Said: Aint no mexicans working for me. 100% american work force with healthcare, retirement plan, good bonuses.

Lefty Said: 100% American to me is anyone who has the right paperwork.

Tom, I guess this is the second time in a short period that I hit a sore spot with ya. Didn't mean to hit either one. The guy I referred to above was a grizzly bear of a man. I later found out that he had came in second place in the Indiana state tough man contest the year before he came to work with us. We were working a hail storm in Louisville, Kentucky. That was a rare isolated incident ( which is what made it stand out in my mind after reading clovers reply ) and I already stated that I was expecting him to make 2-4 trips not just one. He became quite a roofers helper and worked with us for about 18 months. That was nearly 20 years ago when I was still a sub-contractor for other companies.

Lefty: I agree. I would never have done it if they were illegal, but most of the waiters at this restaurant can barely take orders.

Chuck: Totally know what you mean. I've seen hundreds of laborers and "roofers" that can't hack it. We normally have two grunts, but only one for the last couple years. I hired a guy today who did pretty well, and if not there was another guy that came to our door over the weekend who seemed promising.

It was just a stressful time not to have a low man on the job to play the part. I'm much more relaxed these days :) (3 weeks later)

clover83: "Chuck: Totally know what you mean. I've seen hundreds of laborers and "roofers" that can't hack it. We normally have two grunts, but only one for the last couple years. I hired a guy today who did pretty well, and if not there was another guy that came to our door over the weekend who seemed promising."

Thumbs Up! :)

Bump

Really depends on the job.