Question for Business owners......

[DJDIGGLER]

TweetOut of curiosity has anyone noticed any type of loss in income for your business since the gas prices jumped over the $2.50 mark a few months back?

I noticed a gradual decline in both areas (Fl had a more dramatic loss, than my NY office did). Then both area's completely dried up the moment the prices passed $3.00. Both area's had consistent calls, (NY had upwards of 30 calls a month) and now both areas have ZERO calls a month, with more advertising than previously.

I was just curious as to how hard hit anyone else has been?

[kite]

TweetMy vendors have all added a fuel surcharge on their deliveries so my expenses have deff. gone up.

[DJDIGGLER]

Tweet

My vendors have all added a fuel surcharge on their deliveries so my expenses have deff. gone up.

But did you notice any loss of revenue, or a drop in the amount of customers you usually get?

[kite]

TweetNot at all man I run a nursing home so......... I forgot to add that we also started doing our own non emergency transport service and our fuel runs about 400-500 per month depending on how many trips we do and the distance.

[DJDIGGLER]

Tweet

Not at all man I run a nursing home so......... I forgot to add that we also started doing our own non emergency transport service and our fuel runs about 400-500 per month depending on how many trips we do and the distance.

Yeah it probably wouldn't hurt that industry. I think it's doing a number on the construction industry (remodeling).

[T-Man007]

TweetI haven't, but I have a totally different kind of buisness. If anything, if money get's too tight people will refinance more to put a little cushion in their savings account. I spend more on gas now but it just comes with the job. The busier I am the more gas I use but I haven't seen if effect my business volume. Also, with 10,000 soldiers on their way to one of the bases here, appraisals are going to be staying up for a while. And, with the foreclosures, the banks need appraisals too, so there is always a place to make money in my business. Whether the market is strong or weak, someone needs an appraisal. I do know of some appriasers who have raised their fees to cover gas costs and most people pay it.

[3Vandoo]

Tweetfuel surchange is a scam

fix your price accordingly to the price of gas no! sheez

[trip]

Tweetno, my clients are 30's-40's with good incomes, never comes up, it's a service

if you're in construction remodeling, what type of client base would be affected by that increase

i just hired a remodeler for 2k, and that never came up, and this guy is always busy

[daved150]

Tweetdude...i'm in the car biz!! what do you think?

[T-Man007]

TweetYeah, fuel surcharges to toaly BS. And yet, when gas dropped back down, did they remove that charge? Hell no they didn't. I told our garbage company that if they are going to nickle and dime me then to just come get their can I'm going with another company and they quit charging me the $2.00 extra. It's total BS.

[3Vandoo]

Tweetthe fuel surchage is set like there a "normal middle price established a long time ago"

so, if the price is now more than 1.60$ a gallon, you add a fuel surcharge even if the price is above that since 4 years

set your price accordingly with a manoevrability margin.

[DJDIGGLER]

Tweet

no, my clients are 30's-40's with good incomes, never comes up, it's a service

if you're in construction remodeling, what type of client base would be affected by that increase

i just hired a remodeler for 2k, and that never came up, and this guy is always busy

Strange. I've spoke with several business owners I'm friends with and all of them said their business has been severely effected by the raise in gas prices.

The majority of people don't have extra money because gas has caused a domino effect. Gas takes from their extra money, extra money spent on food since prices of food has gone up, energy bills going up, and so on and so forth.

If you do the math most people are probably losing upwards of $300-$500 a month on extra expenses due to gas prices. Most of my customers save up a few months and buy from me. Now that the extra money they used to save is gone, So is my income!

[VveTTe917]

TweetI adjust my charge on clients for mileage based on the gas price so I don't lose money.

[trip]

Tweetwell it's about 1200 a year to the average family

the unemployment rate is at low levels

people are being choosier about where they spend money though

you have too think of your clientel, if gas prices affect there spending it will always affect your business, also if you're in areas where new home construction is down what do those guys do who were laid off, go out on their own, call all friends and family and say i'm the handy man, etc. and they under cut prices in the industry, that scenario can last upwards of 3-4 years

[DJDIGGLER]

Tweet

well it's about 1200 a year to the average family

the unemployment rate is at low levels

people are being choosier about where they spend money though

you have too think of your clientel, if gas prices affect there spending it will always affect your business, also if you're in areas where new home construction is down what do those guys do who were laid off, go out on their own, call all friends and family and say i'm the handy man, etc. and they under cut prices in the industry, that scenario can last upwards of 3-4 years

Yeah in my line of work you can't do that. What I do can be done in both old homes, and new homes. The problem is it's not a necessary thing. It's more of a thing people would spend on when they have extra cash. There is plenty of money in this line of business, but when that extra cash is not so readily available, people aren't so willing to spend on my products.

Yes unemployment rates are at low levels, but wages are also at low levels. As wages continue to dwindle, prices of things continue to rise.

As for undercutting everyone in the industry, I'm one of the most inexpensive around, but carry the exact same name brand products as my top competitors, and actually have extra's I add for free that they don't even offer. So it's not my product, prices, or advertising that's off. It's the market is hurting from the rise in prices from gasoline!