Shutting down

[TailgateNut]

...it's been coming and it isn't worth counting the monthly losses anymore. Ridiculous bidding wars which benefit only the owners and those contractors willing to buy projects for the sole reason of keeping their employees employed long enough for the ****ty economy to turn rosy again. It isn't happening folks. I've had enough. The stress isn't worth the meager return.
I've cut back to 12 employees who have about two months left on current projects and will sadly continue to thin the "herd" as we near completion.


Every one of my bids in the last 6 months have been undercut to below cost by others who still have a glimmer of hope. Good luck to them.

I've continued to cut the profits to bare bones and there aren't any bone left to gnaw on.

As they say: Another one bites the dust.

Oh well!
I started over after leaving the service in the early 80s, and then started over after moving back to Colorado in the early 90s, we'll see what the cloudy future holds.

[theAPAOps5]

Sorry to hear that Nut. I know companies are taking it in the hoohaw right now. Every bid I have seen on our projects have been ridiculously low. Its really just to make payroll and keep the lights on.

Good luck in your next move. Good people always come out on top so I know this will only be temporary.

[Crushaholic]

That sucks. However, I know you'll land on your feet. You're one of the most stubborn people on this board. And I mean "stubborn" in a good way. Good luck with your next career path...

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

That sucks. However, I know you'll land on your feet. You're one of the most stubborn people on this board. And I mean "stubborn" in a good way. Good luck with your next career path...

I already have some offers from WalMart.

My biggest mistake was waiting a bit to long to shut down. I tried to keep it going, but it's not worth the effort and cost anymore. Just sorry to loose a bunch of great employees who will have a tough time finding full time employment at their current wage.

I spoke to one of our competitors yesterday at a pre-qual meeting and they are considering the same thing. They currently have one project in progress with nothing on the books. He told me they are bidding as far away as Ft. Riley, Kansas and running into the same situation. "Contractors buying work".

[bronclvr]

I hear you-I am having so many pieces of Construction Equipment reposessed it isn't funny, and I don't have a home for all of them (hello Ritchie Bros!)-it is a tough time for Contractors, and people like me who supply them-sorry to hear of your Companies' demise, and as you already know, you are definitely NOT alone-good luck-

[Rohirrim]

Damn. That's tough news, Tailgate. Hope something good comes your way.

[jhat01]

Sorry to hear that dude...Good luck.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by bronclvr

I hear you-I am having so many pieces of Construction Equipment reposessed it isn't funny, and I don't have a home for all of them (hello Ritchie Bros!)-it is a tough time for Contractors, and people like me who supply them-sorry to hear of your Companies' demise, and as you already know, you are definitely NOT alone-good luck-

^this^

Rental companies have been knocking my door down attempting to peddle their machines. Three years ago their equipment yards were bare and now they don't have any parking space.

Trackhoes and loaders are currently available for .60 on the dollar in comparison to a few years ago. Too bad I have no use for them anymore.

[Meck77]

Sorry to hear that man. I wish you the best of luck in your next endeavor.

[Hogan11]

Sorry to hear of this Nut

[elsid13]

That sucks dude. I am other side of it and contracts that we were begging for competition on now have 10 to 14 vendors attempting to get them.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by elsid13

That sucks dude. I am other side of it and contracts that we were begging for competition on now have 10 to 14 vendors attempting to get them.

No doubt about that. Our bid oprnings and pre-bid are becoming standing room only events. It's definately a "buyers" market and the contractors are doing the work for free or paying to do the work.
A few years ago we were competing with 3-6 others, now there are, as you stated, 12-20 bidders fighting for crumbs.

[Florida_Bronco]

Sorry to hear this, but I'm sure you'll land on your feet.

[strafen]

That's terrible man.
That's one of the reasons I've decided to go back to school and pursue a different degree...

[TexanBob]

My sincere condolences. But elections have consequences. Electing the most anti-business administration in history to power means guys like you get squashed.

"Hope and change", boys. See how it works?

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

My sincere condolences. But elections have consequences. Electing the most anti-business administration in history to power means guys like you get squashed.

"Hope and change", boys. See how it works?

Sorry to burst your bubble but this wasn't caused by Obama. Our industry was hit hard by the bursting housing bubble. Although we aren't involved in residential construction, lack of development and reduced tax intakes by municipalities caused to cuts and added numerous contractors who were originally involved in commercial and residential construction to the companies vying for contracts.

It's been going in the crapper for years. Just can't take the constant losses anymore.

[theAPAOps5]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

My sincere condolences. But elections have consequences. Electing the most anti-business administration in history to power means guys like you get squashed.

"Hope and change", boys. See how it works?

Wow Obama was in office when the credit crash happened? Or the housing and construction crash?

Man he must be a magic man because he did a good job looking and sounding like a Texan Hick who couldn't put 2 coherent sentences together.

This has nothing to do with Obama and more to do with a culture of excess catching up with us.

[ghwk]

Originally Posted by McApaOps5

Wow Obama was in office when the credit crash happened? Or the housing and construction crash?

Man he must be a magic man because he did a good job looking and sounding like a Texan Hick who couldn't put 2 coherent sentences together.

This has nothing to do with Obama and more to do with a culture of excess catching up with us.

It also has something to do with TexanBob's me first attitude when he didn't realize this thread wasn't about him. Ouch.

[TexanBob]

Sorry to be cruel but it is clear by now that Obama and his pals don't know Thing One about restoring credit and putting the country back to work. All they know is how to demonize people who make a profit. Who wants to put their capital at risk in that environment?

But go ahead with your silly fantasies that this is somehow all Bush's fault. Maybe it will make your bed at the homeless shelter more comfy blaming some bogeyman rather than understanding that your leader is choking the economy. A full year in and you guys still refuse to see it. How sad for you.

[ghwk]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

Sorry to be cruel but it is clear by now that Obama and his pals don't know Thing One about restoring credit and putting the country back to work. All they know is how to demonize people who make a profit. Who wants to put their capital at risk in that environment?

But go ahead with your silly fantasies that this is somehow all Bush's fault. Maybe it will make your bed at the homeless shelter more comfy blaming some bogeyman rather than understanding that your leader is choking the economy. A full year in and you guys still refuse to see it. How sad for you.

Let me put it this way you F Nut. The guy starts a thread about shutting down his business. A bunch of other maners come together to offer some condolences and support.

You on the other hand just offer up your usual political agenda bulls**t and make it about you. You are just another redneck douchebag it's all about me a$$hole. Grow up you POS.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

Sorry to be cruel but it is clear by now that Obama and his pals don't know Thing One about restoring credit and putting the country back to work. All they know is how to demonize people who make a profit. Who wants to put their capital at risk in that environment?

But go ahead with your silly fantasies that this is somehow all Bush's fault. Maybe it will make your bed at the homeless shelter more comfy blaming some bogeyman rather than understanding that your leader is choking the economy. A full year in and you guys still refuse to see it. How sad for you.

Good grief! I know I sometimes mention that the posters from Texass are clueless and uninformed in jest, but you make it clear that it shouldn't be in jest. Just a bunch of dumbass redneck cowpatty tossin inbred waste of the planets' oxygen.

What part of the "Economy went into the ****ter during Bushs' dictatorship" do you not understand. Just because he was ANOTHER village idiot from Texas shouldn't give him a "get out of jail free" card from you and the rest of your inbred brethren.

We were hit by terrorists on 9-11 on his watch. He didn't respond by going sfter them. Instead he trumped up enough lies to start a war with a country which had NOTHIN to do with the attack. This was done to line the pockets of his and Cheney's friends with unearned millions. MISTAKE #1
Then he and his buddies did nothing to stop the freefall of the market and the bursting of the housing bubble. Mistake #2
Then he started the ball rolling for the Bank bailout without clauses to prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds. Mistake #3
He did nothing to stop the goddamn Illegal Immigration which is killing us like a bad ****ing VIRUS. (Those of you who don't believe that this is one of the greatest factors in our demise are ****ing dumb as a box of rocks).Mistake #4
He continued to allow the tax breaks he gave to the rich to stay in place which is one of the dumbest moves EVER. (Spending without budgeting doesn't work. You can't start an endless war without paying for it. )Mistake #5

This catering to the rich in this country HAS TO STOP, or we might as well give up!

Close the ****ING BORDER! (Illegal Immigrants are sucking us dry from the inside)

Place substantial tarrifs on any imports!

Do not allow unregulated garbage into our country!

Do not continue to kiss the collective asses of the wealthy!

Eliminate the tax shelters of Corporations who hide their REAL INCOME!

Charge and convict any and all senators, Congressmen, and Reps who take handouts for favorable votes!

Stop the ridiculous wate of taxpayer money on drug wars which just enrich the cartels.

Stop supporting other countries with our tax funds.

Stop the ridiculous growth of our Military Machine!

and last but not least: Convict Bush and Cheney of treason and crimes against humanity. (send a message to all future Presidents that we will not allow anyone to pull the wool over our eyes!)

[Irish Stout]

Don't forget when Bush was willing to sell our ports to the United Arab Emirates.

Look, I personally think Obama is doing a poor job. However, blaming any one president for the current problems is not right. It is the entire system that has allowed itself to be over-extended to the point where it cannot support itself.

I'm not an economist, but I truly believe that our deficit is a clear indication of the health of our country's economy. In the last 9 years we've increased our deficit from an almost zero balance (relatively speaking) to a point where every American could be counted for owing almost $40,000 to other countries, primarily China. That in and of itself shows how we've made our own bed and how the majority of us just allow it to keep on rolling.

TGN - sorry man. I recommend getting into the booze business. People drink when times are good and people drink when times are bad. And I think its always time to drink.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Irish McStout

Don't forget when Bush was willing to sell our ports to the United Arab Emirates.

Look, I personally think Obama is doing a poor job. However, blaming any one president for the current problems is not right. It is the entire system that has allowed itself to be over-extended to the point where it cannot support itself.

I'm not an economist, but I truly believe that our deficit is a clear indication of the health of our country's economy. In the last 9 years we've increased our deficit from an almost zero balance (relatively speaking) to a point where every American could be counted for owing almost $40,000 to other countries, primarily China. That in and of itself shows how we've made our own bed and how the majority of us just allow it to keep on rolling.

TGN - sorry man. I recommend getting into the booze business. People drink when times are good and people drink when times are bad. And I think its always time to drink.

My response re: the economy was to the dumbass Texassian. He seems to think the current state of the economy rests in Obamas lap.
I don't agree with many of his (Obamas) policies, but he isn't the one to blame for the dire straits we're in.

The "meat and potatoes" of my business for the past 15 years has been in infrastructure (Bridges, Water and sewage treatment facilities and distribution lines) and our country has yet to see the effect of no/little maintenance of the afore mentioned items. The Denver water supply system will, during the next decade encounter some serious issues with their system due to the age and condition of their current pipelines.
The whole Denver Metro area will also encounter severe water shortages due to the lack of storage capability. The band aids which are currently being applied will not suffice considering the growth, depletion of the aquifers and drought years.

The time to pay up is coming, and the costs will be outrageous. You can bank on that!

The same can be said of the majority of bridges serving this area, but until people die, no one will do squat.
I've seen where some of the stimulus money is being spent, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason to the expenditures.

Re: your alcohol comment. It appears that liquor sales/supply is going to the "big boys". The small "Mom and Pop" operations will be a thing of the past just like the neighborhood hardware stores.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

Sorry to be cruel but it is clear by now that Obama and his pals don't know Thing One about restoring credit and putting the country back to work. All they know is how to demonize people who make a profit. Who wants to put their capital at risk in that environment?

But go ahead with your silly fantasies that this is somehow all Bush's fault. Maybe it will make your bed at the homeless shelter more comfy blaming some bogeyman rather than understanding that your leader is choking the economy. A full year in and you guys still refuse to see it. How sad for you.

You truly are an idiot. There is just no other explanation.

[Meck77]

Here is what gets my goat and it's arguable that a REAL investment in America could have saved your business nut. When all the stimulus talk started it was billed as a "rebuilding of America". There was talk of this FDR "New Deal" type plan. Instead trillions have been squandered bailing out a auto industry that in my opinion deserved to fail. Billions have been shuffled into the private "banksters" that Obama said he was going to crack down on. He hasn't.

Had several trillion dollars actually been spent on projects like they promised I think things could have been slightly different and maybe your business might have benefited. I personally don't know anyone who has benefited from stimulus money. What I do know is that every turn fees and taxes are going up as a result.

We've basically dug ourselves into a deeper hole and the results of the spending are not apparent IMO. Like I said a couple weeks ago. The son of b****es haven't even taken the time to repaint the stripes on I-70. That is the one of two major highways in Colorado and they can't even make that a little easier to travel on at night? Instead BILLIONS are being stolen right in front of our very eyes.

Furthermore we're continuing down the same path of war. There is no change there. Billions pissed away on the war and to countries like Israel while hard working Americans like yourself nut are closing your business.

Yeah we can look back and blame Bush. It's easy to do and he deserves his blame. Well I blame Bush, I blame Americans who took money from banks that they shouldn't have, and I blame our congress and Barack Obama for continuing down the same path as before. Lastly I blame each and every American for letting it all happen myself included.

I've always said. At some point Americans will get angry. If and when we do maybe we'll get change. But for now there is no change. There were plenty of us who did pretty well during the 8 years Bush was in office and I'd bet the bus you were one of them nut. I know your political affiliation won't allow you to admit it but those were good times for a small business even though a train wreck happened. It was pretty obvious it was coming IMO.