DSMCentral Member Work Shop, The next Level? Options

[awd4kicks]

I have had discussions with a couple other core DSMCentral members and I feel the next level of DSMCentral may be upon us.

More to the point I propose a shop space with a vehicle lift that can be accessible to members on a share plan. I do not want to open up a shop for profit necessarily, but one that will be a support point for DSMCentral members and a place to congregate. The place I have in mind is near the intersection of Rt24 and Rt116 (Between Peoria, E. Peoria, and Germantown Hills). There are a few options to this shop area. I can procure a one stall heated and air conditioned space, or a larger 2 stall long heated space, or a very large non heated or air conditioned space. Any of the locations will include my lift and a garage door to get away from the out door elements. The landlord is pretty laid back performance oriented guy that I am friends with.

The tentative plan would be each member brings their own tools and has the lift for a predesignated amount of time. This time will be preplanned on a calender for the most part, but I'm sure there will be a lot of open time where members can just pull their vehicle on for some quick repairs or check overs. All paying members will be welcome at anytime we designate the shop to be open. ALL DSMCentral members will be welcome to hang out while paying members are there. The local club house so to speak.

The details need to be worked out and the membership fee will vary between $25-$40 a month for full access. Regardless of the final amount or details of the shop, a years worth of membership will need to be prepaid once the details are hammered out. This will ensure our ability to procure the building for a full year and cut down on collecting payments hassles. Depending on the number of paying members, non-paying members may be able to rent the lift and shop space for small periods of time when it is empty (I'm thinking say $25 for half a day...WAY cheaper than going to a repair shop, but more expensive than Full membership.)

For reference the cheapest shop rate I know of was SloPny at $50-$55 per hour. That included an experienced tech to do the work, but at that rate one full day at the DSMCentral workshop can pay for it's self for the full year.

Some may wonder about insurance hassles and I don't plan on having any. The Land lord will have his appropriate building insurance, but all members will be required to sign a waiver for any problems, injury,loss or damage. The price will surely be too high if we have to get some sort of insurance. I will be checking into the legalities and details of this in the mean time.

So please make a selection on the Poll and pass along any ideas or questions you may have right here.

Thanks!
Marcus

[xian 1g]

In all honesty, I'm not infavor of such an idea. I don't think that you are looking at all the hassle, time and finances that will come out of your pocket to set this up, especially as non-profit organization.

1. Key access. You pay a year, you get a key? Otherwise, you have to show up every time someone wants to come and go.

2. Tools. Who's supplying them? if you are, prepare to have them lost, stolen, or broken... Happens all the time. Especially if everyone has key access, then it becomes the 'who dunnit?' With a bunch of shady ass fuckers that won't admit to it. Why is the lift arm broke? The compressor doesn't work anymore? My 17 gear end is gone, my 1/2" driver 6 point 17mm deep well is also gone, and I'm doing suspension work. And of course everyone says that they would fess up, but you'd be amazed at how things get broke or lost and no one knows anything.

I would recommend a no tools at the shop... Just like if you want to be a mechanic somewhere, bring your own tools, if you don't got it... you don't got it.

3. If everyone has key access, there needs to be a sign up sheet for times when you can come in. Otherwise you are occasionally going to run into scheduling cluster fucks.

4. You do understand that you are basically setting yourself up for a full time job that doesn't pay? I personally, just don't think that you are thinking ALL the way through the situation. You would be amazed at all the little things, phone callse, emails, etc. that are going to eat up your time for no money. Welcome to not having a life, for free.

From joe shmo's stand point it's great, I pay $40 a month, get to use all of your tools, lift, etc... But from the man in charge stance, it sucks.

There is a lot more than those minor points, but this thread has been done on cii a couple of times, and the truth of the matter is that in 'theory' it sounds and looks real good. But in real life, especially for you, the man in charge, it just sucks. You are better off starting a for profit shop for all the time, effort and money that will be invested.

I would highly recommend calling Travis to talk to him about set up of such an operation as he has more experience in the 'owning a shop' than I do, that and I believe when cii peeps were talking about the same thing he had some other points that people had not forseen, that I don't remember.

For reference the cheapest shop rate I know of was SloPny at $50-$55 per hour. That included an experienced tech to do the work, but at that rate one full day at the DSMCentral workshop can pay for it's self for the full year.

and for refrence. Your paid advertiser KOUmotorsports charges $40 an hour.