Something constantly being told to us by professional installers like yourself is van break in's and tool theft off site and from lock ups. Its one of the factors we took into consideration as we designed our own product in the way we did. IE low cost value for money.
In my opinion as soon as tradesmen invest capital outlay on equipment it looks tempting to theives. Its almost the sad penalty of investing in your job.
You might think as my company has deliberately designed a range of tile cutters that were low cost that we might not be the victims of crime.
Not so!
At one exhibition (Last years Tile & Stone) we left the stand for ten minutes at the end of the show and went to the pub for a celebratory beer. The reason we all went was because we were asked to keep the isles clear until an Astin Martin car was moved out of the building ahead of breakdown.
When we got back to stand the theives had been to work and stole over £500 of tools, props, batteries, stock, - the till. They even stole the girls pilot shirts.
All the good work done over three days was spoilt by theives who helped themselves to anything they could and stripped our stand. What annoys me is that they took the shirts which each cost me £100 and have no resale value to the theif.
The Boshh drill I can understand. But them shirts start out as £30 quid each. They have two embroidery badges at £8 each sewn on. And five patches are printed on front and back at £6 each. Then each shirt is fitted with lapel ranks costing £14 a pair. So each bloody shirt costs me about £100 quid and the gits nicked THREE of them. Plus the pilot hats at £20 each.
What the hell does someone want with a set of 365Drills pilot shirts and caps?
So we are now lesson learned and battle hardend. We never leave the stand and we make sure all clothing is kept secure. What a shame.
I guess there are two types in life. People lwho get out of bed and work damn hard to earn a living. And others who prey on them.
And I dont just limit my rant to thieves. I extend it to all those out there preying on hard workers like
1) The gits that give me parking tickets at £40 for being 2 mins late
2) The cowards who tried to sue me for £1600 posting an image on a website that I own the rights to!
3) To Construct Data - The company trying to extort £1500 from me over three years for an advertising campaign I did not sign up for.
See you in court
4) To the company who refuses to hand back £600 that we paid into their account by mistake (I made a genuine typo on the account number) see you in court as well.
5) To the tile company who is refusing to pay for 20 x BFKMX that we supplied in good faith.
Most people are genuine but there are a minority waiting in the wings ready to pounce. Its hard enough making the money without scroungers and theives milking it.