| rabiedmushroom |
| Total Posts: | 3852 |
| Last Post: | 05-16-08 |
| User Since: | 02-17-02 |
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Posted: May-12-2008 04:34AM
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Its always a little sad when someone's hobby has turned into a business, and after several years turns out to be not the dream it originally was. I'm sure you've learnt a heap of stuff on the way and had a great experience. Sounds like a weight has lifted from your shoulders just by making a decision. Best of luck.
www.MinisUnlimited.co.uk
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| mur |
| Total Posts: | 2601 |
| Last Post: | 05-13-08 |
| User Since: | 11-12-99 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 04:25PM
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Wrenchhead/Tim She was not your soulmate. She cheated on you. I'm only telling you this here because your close friends have stopped trying to tell you as much or you don't listen when they do say it. This is one of those things that many of us have to learn in life and I figure that since you've had all of the confusion and the heartache you might as well grab this lesson from your experience and move ahead with things. Nothing in life is guaranteed. Cosimo worked a bunch at something he loved and he is changing his gameplan. It is an opportunity for someone else. It is a hard market, but at the same time this could be a total bonanza for the right person at the right time. I wish Cosimo all of the best, and I'll sure have a small chunk of envy for anyone who might decide that they can take this stuff and make a go of it. But again, I'm going to say, your soulmate is someone who is going to take you on their team and relish in you giving them 100 %, and they will be on your team 100%. No cheating.
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| Minimike1 |
| Total Posts: | 4176 |
| Last Post: | 05-13-08 |
| User Since: | 02-26-99 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 12:34PM
 Edited: May-12-2008 05:52PM
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Amen bro! been there. I just have so much stuff that I can't seem to put it on the market at one time, so I've done nothing. Still a small voice that says one day, I'll fix my stable of cars. one day..
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| pmustang |
| Total Posts: | 18390 |
| Last Post: | 05-15-08 |
| User Since: | 09-03-00 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 12:05PM
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Cos, you know I feel for you buddy, we both realized the same thing and decided to end on a good note, the economy is not helping things. I find the market for used parts no longer exists, I had to give away a bunch of sheet metal (used stuff) to make it go away at any price. Front subbys at 25 bucks would not sell, The exchange rate puts the nail in the coffin as well as the avalanche of paperwork you tell yourself is part of the business and it is but you don't figure it in to your profit, if you counted hours towards eventual payout you are working for free.
Take care and hope the clearing up of the business goes well, At the very end its best to just dump everything to someone in business or getting into the business. I sold the last of my 2 cars and all of my leftover bits to one guy in boston ages ago when I finished up my first go around.
I find that all the last batch of bits I have sold have went to guys in the military over here from the USA, UK buyers don't exist in any great numbers unless you have super trick stuff.
Best of luck to you and I still am thankful for the super help you were ages ago storing some crates for me.
Peter No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.
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Posted: May-11-2008 08:47AM
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Thanks Tim, You hit it on the head.. there is no one else in the picture so I am lucky. We are at a cross roads. She needs to find a job, as a landscape architect. that is not an option where we live.. so we have to look at what ever options are on the table.. the prospect of staying with all this cold steel wile the love of my life leaves to follow her dreams I just cant bare it!! We have tried my dream and I have learned alot about myself. So I feel I would be shuting down on a positive note and happy to a less stressfull job. I need to give her the support she has given me over the last 7 years. I will do what it takes to help her find a job she can be happy with. I would be a fool to make any other move!! regards, Cosimo www.madhouseminis.com
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| pixieracing |
| Total Posts: | 400 |
| Last Post: | 05-15-08 |
| User Since: | 02-15-03 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 08:44AM
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Hi Cosimo I fully understand where your at , I had a great racing garage fully equiped but saw the end of the racing after 40 years , it was getting expensive at 30 to 40k per year and that was in gt5 and not winning much. so it had to go , hated to sell some of my great cars , but you can not live in the past. As a positive point I have more time now , spend way less money and enjoy many of lifes little moments I missed with 14 hour days in the shop. but it can be a pain selling parts , most guys are great and appreciate the lower prices ,but a few you never satisfy. take a buy out even if the price is lower , the selling game takes more time then racing.
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| wrenchhead |
| Total Posts: | 691 |
| Last Post: | 05-14-08 |
| User Since: | 07-06-03 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 08:18AM
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Ya-know thats odd that we both have felt this way in the past,last year in july i lost my soulmate because i think i put to many hours into my shop work and not enough into our relationship.It caused her to cheat on me and i lost her forever and i dont think i will ever find another like her again,I regret not doing what it took to keep her in my life.I dont have any other skills for a carreer change though,cars are all i know how to do.I miss her eveyday,even think about her constantly.I understand where you are at in life now sorta and can only say if your g/f is that important to you,then do what ever it takes to keep the love of your life,if you dont you may kick yourself daily as i do for making such a mistake,now all i have is a body shop full of stuff to remind of her still,it is the worst thing i have ever felt.Good luck,my shoulder is here anytime.Tim http://austinmini.ositech.net/Hosting/WrenchHead/wrenchhead.htm 1996 silverbullet limited edition @ tim's aka (wrenchhead on MM board) year-to-date progress > photos > see photos here: http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/pologround/test/Silverbullet%20mini/
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Posted: May-11-2008 07:51AM
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the truth of the matter is that my girlfriend is done with needs to get a job and to let her go to a market where she can find a job or try something new. there is not enough fun in the shop to make it worth staying in business.. this is not a sacrafice for her but a relization that I am not happy doing this anymore. I enjoy the work just not the paperwork and taking care of all the details. It is all consuming and not the fun hobby it once was. I will keep my favorite stuff and work on having fun. I dont think it is about giving up but coming to terms with what I am good at and what I am not. I feel good for the first time in a long time just saying I am not happy.. Cheers, Cosimo www.madhouseminis.com
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| wrenchhead |
| Total Posts: | 691 |
| Last Post: | 05-14-08 |
| User Since: | 07-06-03 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 07:01AM
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To a fellow car nut to another,im sorry to hear your aggrivation. I felt the same way as you about 5 years ago when the fast and furious was big,i sold body kits and all the silly crap like fart cans mufflers to blue hid bulbs,i spent more time on the phone with the suppliers than it was worth.It was a real nightmare,so i stopped selling the parts and the headache for the most part went away.I still have problems with parts not being correct all the time and have just learned to deal with it as being part of the deal,yep it really sucks at times but im not giving up. http://austinmini.ositech.net/Hosting/WrenchHead/wrenchhead.htm 1996 silverbullet limited edition @ tim's aka (wrenchhead on MM board) year-to-date progress > photos > see photos here: http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/pologround/test/Silverbullet%20mini/
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Posted: May-11-2008 06:06AM
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I have become enlightned that familly is truely the only important thing. I have many skills and I can do many jobs well. I have worked with dogged determination. I enjoy the work of fixing cars not running a business. in fact I dont want to worry about getting stuff done or finding that little part i need to finish a project so I can get paid. or some times getting paid over 6 months. It is just all a head ache that is not worth it. I have a lot of better things to do with my time. .well the grease mini is not mine.. but there are parts here to do one or 2 more so for intereted partys there are "grease MIni kits " available. I have to finish hermans car and the Targa Newfoundland car. I then have about 6 months of work in the shop and I figure 6 months to work on the few cars i will keep. I will keep my original MGA and several minis .. the Inno I have will stay,.I am on the fence about a van project I have. I have a great clubman with roll cage that will stay. I will work on lists after I get the targa car done. http://www.madhouseminis.com/projects/targa%20newfoundland%20race%20mini/newfoundland%20race.htm I have engines and gearboxes. Lots of take off parts interiors and seats for recovering. porject cars.. midas bronze , woody wagon, panel van, 6 or so saloon minis. I need to cash out as best as I can. I need some cash to finish my house so I can rent the last appartment and move on to a better market for my skill set. I will keep my 3 family house here in mass, as I have a in law apartment. so IT will always give me a fall back point and with one more appartment rented it will be a good income property. Cheers, Cosimo www.madhouseminis.com
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| Dr Mini |
| Total Posts: | 3709 |
| Last Post: | 05-15-08 |
| User Since: | 05-23-02 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 05:23AM
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Looks like a good side trip on the way up to Maine! Are you gonna sell the grease Mini as well?
"Retired: No Job, No Money, No Wife! Will
travel anywhere for Minis"
hockey91dad@hotmail.com
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| Club Man |
| Total Posts: | 4983 |
| Last Post: | 05-15-08 |
| User Since: | 02-27-99 |
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Posted: May-11-2008 05:07AM
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Well, it's not April 1st so this is serious.... Sorry to see anyone get out of the Mini business, but as you said, family first. Good luck in your new career. You may wish to inventory the major stuff and get an email list together to publish/mail. You may wish to break it down into lots, also. Have you contacted any other Mini shops to see if they'd be interested?
Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better
idiot....
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Posted: May-11-2008 01:56AM
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I have decided that it is time for me to sell off all my parts and get a real job. I will be selling off all my cars and parts over the next 12 months. I would consider selling the whole lot with or with out the building or lease the building if anyony is interested in a British Car business.. I have to refocus my life on family.. I can no longer stand the 70hr work weeks every thing must go or be melted for scrap.. Cosimo www.madhouseminis.com
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