ALL POSTERS should read this- Antitrust suit

[grumpydasmurf]

I came across this in another forum I go to. What I read is very disturbing. The following words are quoted from Anita:

Antitrust law suit filed against a local contractor.

This article appeared in the paper today, thought I would share it with you...a bit scary and a lot BS.

(I wont copy the entire article, just the highlights.

The Utah Attorney Generals Office filed an antitrust lawsuit agains a local company Wednesday. The suit accuses a curbing, landscape company of organinzing a price-fixing conspiracy to encourage other installers of landscape curbing to raise prices in the summer of 2003.

They will ask the owner to pay a fine of $50,000 and the company to pay a fine of $100,000 AND they have to contact all other companies that they conversed with that what they did was illegal.

The conspiracy was reported by a consumer, while looking for landscape curbing information on the internet, found a DISCUSSION PAGE (forum) that contained a plan, discussion of raising prices to make more money. The website forum encourages curbing installers to "set prices at a figure you can all make a living with" The Attorney Generals office stated this was a way the installers could charge moree and do less work"

The company owner was shocked, stated "I'm NOT price fixing here" Instead, he said he was legitimately trying to teach other curbing companies how to increase profit and still pay for their labor costs. "It (website discussion page) was shoiwng them how everybody could equal out the work and still keep their labor paid, I drew out a complete map for it." "There was only suggested prices"

What a crime!! Criminal contractor trying to point out that owning a business should be able to pay their labor and overhead and still make a profit, how dare he!! I guess he should be doing MORE work for LESS money, not paying his bills, his employees, or his overhead!!

[grumpydasmurf]

What's bad is every day on one forum or another I give advice to fellow contractors on how to bid and try to explain overhead and true profit.

I've done the very same thing this guy has on several occasions.

[Rich]

Damn.. I've done much the same many times. And I agree - it's not that I'm trying to fix prices or get America to pay more for my services - it's a damn forum - it's there to help people out NOT to start a conspiracy theory.

[Rich]

Well maybe some forums are setup for that.. :)

[Grump]

I belong to several professional flooring forums and we discuss issues like this all the time. I guess I oughta put some dough aside for fines an' such. I guess that means I should raise my prices now to prepare for the inevitable.

:roll:

Hi all. I'm new and this is the kinda stuff that just makes me, well, grumpy. Glad to be here. I hope I can learn something and I hope I can share what little I know.

See you in the Ether.

Grump
http://grumpsplace.com/images/misc/carpetroll.gif

[Rich]

This may get confusing with 2 Grumpys'. :) Just kidding - Welcome to the forum Grump.

[grumpydasmurf]

I think he needs to change his name, that's my vote. :?

[Grump]

Sorry, Grumpy, not gonna happen. I've been "Grump" for many years. It's my nick-name on about 20 different forums. I have a personal website named after me -- www.GrumpsPlace.com. My '65 Tbird has a license GRMPJIM. My email address is either Grump@GrumpsPlace.com or GrumpyJim@inreach.com (I also have Grump@myway.com).

Anyway, our names are different enough so as not to confuse anyone, I think. There are several "grumps" of one variation or another on many of the forums I belong to and there's never been a problem. I hope you'll be okay with that. Unless you wanna get all grumpy about it... :D

[grumpydasmurf]

Dont expect me to be cordial twards you.

For all your credentials, mine are equally as impressive.

[Rich]

Now now.. there is enough room here for two grumpy a-holes. :)
One for flooring and one for roofing.. nice and easy. Starting to remind me of a typical jobsite.

[Grump]

He's a roofer? You do know them guy's brains are fried from bein' out in the sun all day, don'cha? 'Sides, anyone can do a roof:

http://grumpsplace.com/images/home/addition0157.JPG

I only had to ask a few questions. Okay, 20. Maybe more. It's just a little different than flooring. :roll:

And don't worry about the cordials, Grumpy, I don't drink no more. :shock:

Grump
PS: I really don't have a lot of credentials, just a lot of years on the floor and a strong desire for satisfied customers. No doubt just like you in that regard, or you wouldn't be here.

[Rich]

Am I going to have to seperate you 2? I hate having to edit, delete, or lock posts (unless you're a spammer :) ) so let's try and keep it civil.

[Rich]

I guess the way I see it is I don't hear Dan, Dann, DanG, or Dano upset because they all have "close" to the same name. So let's just leave it at that.
As grumpy as I've been lately maybe I should change my name too :) ignorance is bliss isn't it (damn architects - oh I can't call him that - illustrator may be better)?

[grumpydasmurf]

Yeah I was doing flooring when I was 5 with my father. It was too easy for me. I'll leave the light work to you.

[Grump]

Thank you. I don't mind the light work, as long as it's paid with heavy cash. :o

You didn't say though, how'd I do on the roofing job for my addition? Not bad for a rookie? I used ice dam along all the eaves and around the skylights (there's another one on the old part of the house outside the left border of the image) and all over that weird gable that is actually the kitchen window (the addition is 6" lower than the original house for that sunken living room look).

I must admit though, you're right about light work -- compared to novice roofing. I worked my ass off for over a week and you coulda prob'ly done a better job in less than 2 days. Besides, I hate heights. That was the worst part of the whole job.

Anyway, I told Rich that our exchange was more in jest than anything else. I am happy to be sharing the forums with other professionals that take pride in their craft and enjoy helping others.

Your fellow Grump

[grumpydasmurf]

While I do welcome your advice on flooring and sharing your knowledge of general contracting I am still upset about the name issue.

I'm also upset at myself for bastardizing this somewhat serious thread.

[Grump]

You're serious? I didn't know you had a corner on the "Grump" handle. It seems silly to me and I hold no grudges or animosity toward anyone with any name similar to mine. With a real name like Jim McClain, I can't afford to.

Even the nick-name that was given me (no, I didn't choose it originally, but it grew on me over the years) is not an uncommon name. I belong to one forum where my name is but one of 4 derivatives of "grump" (Grumpster, GrumpyOldMan, GrumpyDude and me) and another where I had to choose "GrumpyJim" because "grump" was already taken. I didn't even bother to look to see if there was any kind of Grump here.

I hope you'll learn to live with the fact that you are not all that unique. I can. I am sorry something as petty as this has caused some kind of rift between us. And I am sorry I helped throw this important topic off.

Grump
PS: I know nothing of general contracting, only flooring.

[Dano]

Hey..I never realized that others are using my name also...That makes me Sooooo "Grumpy".....................(you guy's are living up to your name)