Do I love Vanagon... you tell me?

dhesq · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:28 am Post subject:

You do good, Ben. That's all I have to say!!
_________________

climberjohn · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:17 am Post subject:

Ben,

Does the approx price you charge of $10K include all taxes?
What taxes are required for car repair work in Quebec?

I ask because Oregon has no sales tax and no labor tax on car work, and a quality Suby conversion here runs about $9-10K.

If your prices DOES include tax, you really need to raise your prices!

-CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

Wolfphotos · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:58 am Post subject:

Hey Ben.

Let's not loose sight of why we do what we do-

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Happy Easter!

Wolf

Crankey · Samba Member Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2659

I wish you had a shop in Seattle. Smile

thummmper · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject:

how many of us have 47 conversions under our belt? Ben has a unique perspective on this aftermarket resto genre.
You are a smart guy--very talented--surely there are other projects that interest you? you could cousult also.
Most of us only know our own vehicles. the book is a good option.
"imagination is more important than intelligence" Albert Einstein

ftp2leta · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:51 pm Post subject:

Thank you Dylan for those nice words.

One day I know I'll fix boat, don't ask me why.

Now, I have no choice (not for now), I will still fix those square box for some time. Price are already raised and will go higher in a few months.

I know those van like not many folks out there, it's just a fact. I have stripped them to the bones so many time... and still learning today. that as a price.

General mechanic, yea Smile

Go see aq specialist when you have a var/van problem, no one can learn everything about so many vehicle,

I did a very hard and good week:

Link

Thanks to some of you here.

This is my 46-7 conversion. It went pretty good after all.
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

insyncro · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:40 pm Post subject:

Benny,
I see you as an artist, mentor and perfectionist.
I consider you a friend because if you needed me I would be there for you.
What you do and have been doing for so long has had an amazing impact on our Vanagon community.
Not only have you freely shared your hard work and talents, but pioneered it in many cases.
I myself and my business flourish thanks in part to the time you have taken to help educate the Vanagon owner/mechanic.
Yes, I have said it before and will say it again, raise your compensation level to the average hourly rate in your area.
Not making enough to cover your expenses, not having the best tools for the job and not being able to have understudies learning from you does not work in todays business world.
You will not be able to work at the pace you do forever.
Keep on pluggin' Ben.
Keep your head up, allow the universe to steer you and live in the moment.
It will all work out just as it should.
I'm pullin' for ya!

dylan

ftp2leta · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Bassyaks · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:02 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a Classified!!!!

trying to drum up some business

YAH!!! BRUINS

schoonerman · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:07 pm Post subject:

DAIZEE · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:49 am Post subject:

Yes, Ben with your sense of humor and values, it will be a GREAT book, and excuse me Schoonerman, I'd be the FIRST customer, you'd get the second copy of many more Wink

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

schoonerman · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:29 am Post subject:

I agree with Daizee....WRITE A BOOK....make it fun easy to read and understand with hand drawings and cartoon pics....I think it would be a Vanagon world best seller ....I would be your first customer and I'm positive that the thousands of Samba members alone would make it a success.
Something to ponder Ben!!!!
_________________
87 Westy/Vanagon

j_dirge · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:16 am Post subject:

If work was always fun and rewarding.. we would not call it work.

I began a career doing something I loved, and found myself liking it less and less the longer I "worked" at it.. the pressures of building a career on something that might be better off as a hobby.

When I morphed that into a traditional career type job, I found myself missing the other elements.. the freedom.. meeting over lunch and breakfast. I was tied down to a cubicle and/or office.

So I quit. I managed a sailing school and charter business. That was fun.. then over time it became "work".
I headed for the mountains and worked at a ski resort.. That was fun, too... but by season's end it, too, was "work".

Its been a few years.. and I am back doing part-time what I started with many years ago.. Some days it is rewarding. Some days it leaves me wanting run and hide.

It comes down to balance.

Have an outlet to blow of work steam. Have work that can still get you out of bed in the morning.

But if work has become something you dread.. day in day out.. Its time to consider something else.. new line of work.. meds.. therapy..

I dunno.

I do know.. you ain't alone brother.. I don't know but maybe one or two people who truly "LOVE" thier work. And I am somewhat suspicious of those who "LOVE" thier work too much.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

ftp2leta · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:47 pm Post subject:

All my reply to your GREAT post and advice will be in a video form....

the 80' where my life, and many great stuff came out of that era.

Link

but today, finally, and again (from the UK), some young punk know how to make music that make people feel good, even with some good lyric :

Link

2 generations, same thinking.

Life is what you make it.
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

Fritz · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:06 pm Post subject:

chojinchef · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:30 pm Post subject:

ftp2leta · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject:

levi · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject:

I don't think you give yourself enough credit, and at the same time you say you deserve MORE credit.

You, Benny, are a mass of contradictions.

As was said "charge what you're worth, and then add some profit".

You say you give a 2 year warranty when vw only gives 3 years. How the hell can you do that? It's like begging to be kicked, and then eating the charge when it happens, and there goes your profit. C'mon. CYA, man.

Is there a french version of CYA? Cover your ass.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

fastwagens · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:21 pm Post subject:

to answer the original question....Yes you do.

DAIZEE · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject:

and when thinking of the business and it gets you down, just remember that beautiful new home on the river and all your water toys Applause

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)


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