A little explanation....

[Phreddy]

G'day All.

OK, I guess there might be a couple of people who are a little concerned that I've been a bit quiet lately - especially the Brisbane folks....

Last week was a bit of a bummer for me, after realising that I was in just a wee bit of strife. I had very little stock on the shelves after developing a couple of new products, and little or no cash to fill the drawers back up to get on with some jobs. The mortgage also started putting a loittle excess pressure on, and things were looking just a little grim.... Can't run a business without somewhere to run it from....

So the decision had to be made, and I sold my much loved SV6 - and bought something a little older, a little cheaper, and walked away with enough to get myself out of the poo....

But this is it - I now need to get on with these jobs, and get the dollars turning over. Lately there have been a lot of "gunners" - who are "gunner" come and see me, and "gunner" get their work done.... Even in the recent past, a couple who have made a firm booking, called and postponed at the last second (after in one case I went to great effort to get the parts I'd need... ), and have at this point never even bothered to call and re-book. I'm just asking you all guys - don't let me waste my time, it's costing me too much.

Prices will rise too. I know there has been some waiting for the price lists, part of that has been this bit of uncertainty. I'm sorry to say that the prices ARE going up, but will still be sensible enough. The fact is that I've sold my pride and joy to pump straight back into this business, so I figure I've lost enough. It's time to look after ME for a change.

So to wrap it all up, please nobody get too concerned here. I'm working hard to make this real, I am totally committed to it. I must extend my thanks to all my existing customers, and hope that there are many more to come.

All the best, see some of you soon.

Cheerz!

[Zeussy]

Ahh shit Greg, thats not good news... Had been thinking you were a bit quiet lately,

Hope you have it under control for the moment, and that it all works out well for you in the long run.

If theres anything I (or any other customers [I'm assuming??]) can do, just give us a hoy...

I'll come back for some more! Are the footwell lights all dialled in yet?

[rch-13z]

100% behind ya greg, you know you can always call on me

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Sorry to hear of your strife mate, i myself have been going through a bad patch (ended up in hospital, & lost my apprenticeship,Long story ) However.. now that you have a VS stato when you get some interior lighting products for that model, i will give ya a holler and i know times are tough man but you will get there mate

[danfrg]

your gonna have to find your way down to melbourne, there seems to be alot of interest for a visit from what i can tell..
best of luck

[sparkie67]

Greg, I've installed your line out / aux in and couldn't be happier. Sent you an email - I'm quite happy to drive up to Sydney for a blue dash / bluetooth. And more than happy to shove the cash in your account now so its 'self funded' so to speak. Hang in there. Quality always wins through.

[Torquative]

and bugger it, Greg doesnt want to say it but I will

If anyone has any suggestions on how he can go about finding some funding please speak up. Ive been investigating the past few months, but more intensley the past week, and I keep coming to dead ends

Surely theres someone on here whose started a business before, who has some tips and tricks to help a bloke out.

Greg, pump the prices up, stick em online - stick em in a locked thread at the top of the forum here too so people can see them, that way they know what their dealing with and can ring ya knowing how much it'll cost and ask when they can get it done.

[VZ-Rob]

Grant finder
Tax Payers at Work

[jaisvz]

Greg, i think a vic trip would be in many peoples interest!
I am pretty sure there would be enough work here to get cashflow happening again.
I for one am very keen to get some lighting work done.
I would get some expressions of interest in another thread to gauge interest.

[wrx884]

It is sad u had 2 let the SV6 go specially being the 1st car that was eva converted, who knows mayb u'll end up gettin it back again just like last time man

Tho dont 4get Greg u have alot of ppl that will get ur back n support u in any way they can including myself after all the things uve done 4 me theres no real way i could thank u enough 4 it but 2 say i'll always b here 2 help.

[Phreddy]

You guys are legends - thanks a bunch fellas.....

Hey, I was pretty bummed when I had to walk away from the Z - but the decision was pretty simple really. Anyway, they Statey is really nice for a car its' age, so I reckon I did OK.

Rob - thanks for that tip Mate - I'll look into that. Yes indeed, I've been paying my taxes for the last 30 years now, maybe I could get some of it back....

Ant, your kit is as good as on the way (for Matt's car), sorry again Mate - events last week sorta jumped out in front of me....

And Matt (Torq), good suggestions Mate. Thanks for your efforts too.

Melbourne folk - very soon boys n girls.... I have to get to Brissy first, that'll be happening as soon as I can confirm that the new ride will get through the trip without troubles... (I mean, she's nice - and been well looked after - but with almost 190 thousand on her she needs just a little love...)

Anyhow, thanks again to all. I need to get back to a couple of you guys, and if I have slipped on replies please accept my apologies in advance, and give me a friendly poke. (as I've mentioned before, my email / web hosting provider seems to have zero spam filtering on the email server - a typical day I receive between 80-100 emails, with about five of them that actually mean anything. As a result sometimes legit emails are missed....)

Heh - I'll get to see everyone eventually I hope....

Cheerz!

[D-Man]

got a hotmail greg? maybe use that? there isnt tooo much spam around on hotmail. or gmail they're good too.

80-100 = shit. i get around 200 or so that are spam - Daily. all those viagra or mailorder brides and shiyet annoying when 3 or so are actual emails.

sorry to hear about the business mate but good to hear that your comitted to it - it will come good in the long run.

i really really hope you come down to melbs for some work - i for one will definately be buying. just need notice - getting paid monthly isnt a nice thing :'(

anyway mate good luck with it all !!

[-scyth-]

Sad to hear about "phreddy" is your laser cut name still on it? Hope it comes back to you sometime soon mate, its a stella car still! chin up lad things will get better soon.

[Tasmaniak]

Yo Greg, as a heads up mate, I don't ever book in jobs unless they make a deposit payment first. Which 25% or $100 (whichever is less) is non-refundable. VERY few people have complained about it. Actually, I don't think anyone has? Some people will tell you they will make the booking later when they have the money....I never hear from them again. That tell you something?

-Ray
(yes, the same Ray)

[wrx884]

Yo Greg, as a heads up mate, I don't ever book in jobs unless they make a deposit payment first. Which 25% or $100 (whichever is less) is non-refundable. VERY few people have complained about it. Actually, I don't think anyone has? Some people will tell you they will make the booking later when they have the money....I never hear from them again. That tell you something?

-Ray
(yes, the same Ray)

This actually sounds like the way 2 go Greg im sure customers that do want things done will understand and u'll also get that bit of extra cash 1st 2 start on their gear wat eva the case mayb and should speed things up a lil, im all 4 it

[markER717]

Ooo should devalope a dash light setup for the stato dash, and then I would buy one for my calais. =]

[Torquative]

Second (or 3rd) for the idea Greg, 25% or $100 whichever is cheaper payable by Paypal or bank deposit upon confirming the time and date you'll do the work.

Would give ya a tiny heads up on each job, and the customers know the work will be getting done too as it technically locks them in to having the work done.

[PaulSV6]

Sorry to hear this Greg, that SV6 was a great car & that sound sys Wow!

Not to worry, you'll always have me as a customer

[HoldenManDan]

aww damn Greg I'm sorry to hear this! Thats a real bummer when shit just creeps up on ya and then hits the fan! But try and stay positive, you've got a customer base that literally spans the entire country, and i'm yet to hear anything but positive things about your work! Things should only get bigger and better!

Also in regards to the deposit idea, i'll 4th this as i remember telling you a good number of months back that i, from a customer's point of view, would seriously not have a moment's hesitation in giving you a deposit in advance for your work. After all, it's less stressful for yourself and we know that something will be getting done, possibly sooner than if we were approaching you with the "gunna" attitude. Win win in my book!

Definately consider it Greg, the next door neighbour is modding his VE at the moment, i'll let him know about your work and see if he's interested...

Also, despite having to let the Z go, the VS sounds like a nice pickup, and hope you will eventually be able to develop more of your cool creations for these older models.

Keep up the good work mate

[taztassio]

thats a shame greg!

oh well, next time you come down i have some work for u!

[Phreddy]

Heh - yeh, letting the SV6 go was pretty heartbreaking - I have to be honest though, the State is pretty tidy.... Relatively low Ks, nice and straight, and it's been looked after and maintained well through its' life. Heh - and I have to admit, it's good to be driving a V8 again....

Now - on to business.... There's a long way to go, but things are looking up for a change. I have to say though that the "deposit" idea you guys are talking about does seem like a good idea. It does assist with getting stock and prep sorted out for the jobs in advance, and makes 'em more likely to come back and actually get the job done! As long as no-one objects to paying a deposit to someone who they don't even really know, apart from some forum posts.... I'm just hoping that the rep I've built with my existing customers carries some weight there....

I'm possibly taking on a new range of audio products also - from an Italian manuafcturer, branded "AD - Audio Develpoment". I have a set of splits to install and try out, firstly driven from the HU outputs (to evaluate performance in a direct replacement scenario), and then amplified to check out the performance at higher power levels. Keep an eye out for a report and announcement soon.

(that's not to say I'm done with JBL by any means!! It's just an opportunity that has presented recently, and I'm impressed with the gear...)

Cheerz!

[Torquative]

Greg I'll have to catchup with you in the very near future but on the Xmas shopping list is to deck out the Acclaim from head to toe with audio, so if you need a test car for AD I may be able to assist especially if its cheap enough, or perhaps deck mine out in JBL to use as a demo car if your gonna go AD... anyway stuff we can discuss.

Once the suspension and tyres are replaced I'll be on the warpath for audio, especially after the Response speaker in the drivers door shat itself on the way to work this morning

[jakstas]

Hey Greg, hope everything is working itself out mate, as a small auto electrical business owner, amongst other things, i know how difficult it can be to make ends meet. I've sent you through an pair of emails a few days ago, regarding your queensland visit. Hopefully they made it through your spam filter. Dont brush me off as a Gunnar, im more than happy to pay upfront for your product, and give it a try.

Jako

[Phreddy]

Thanks Jako - I'll get back to you shortly on those emails....

[danja]

Greg, have you thought about selling your wares on eBay?