More undoing of America.

http://www.rbauction.com/equipment_search/equipment_results.jsp?auction_id=All&industry_id=6&class_cd=CPU&vc_make=MACK&Search_type=Other

Just a thought, and a question.

The best business to be in these days is the auction business. These folks that know absolutely nothing about a concrete pump, how to advertise it, describe the product or get the most out of it are making a literal killing on the backs of the victims of the economic slowdown and destroying the value of the still operational machines.

Since our little slowdown began many, many pumps have been sold. Lots of them have moved off shore. Most have been, for one reason or another, the high-priced spread. What will this sell-off of these premium branded pumps do to future sales and values?

Could this be a time for market price normalization?

Will a pump is a pump is a pump be a given in 2009 or 2010?

Will all pumps cost the same?

Will service (finally) sell?

What do you think?

Sustainable

Now who gets to define that word? The pump company that is operating at or above his profitable level of utilization and is turning down more work every day? Or is it the people buying the substandard/subprime loans, bundling them and selling REETS to retirement funds and other investors with a 10,000 to one leverage?

It is easy to second guess a failure, hell, we all do it.

It is much harder to conduct business when the people that have the responsibility to tell you the truth are holding out on you. I think maybe white collar crime pays well enough for people to take the chance.

You are right in that some of these guys had their head close to the seat of their pants; more though were just deceived by the same people that are ruining our economy. You see those all white pumps and the blue and cream ones and know that neither of the owners of those companies were fools. Some of the country's largest players are 1/2 a step from the same thing. It is brutal out there. I think that perhaps the smartest pumpers are the owner operators. One guy, one pump... they know where they are, and need to be, every day.

And yes, I do think that there is a major shift in the true value and resale value of pumps. Manufacturers with in house financing are never going to get themselves into this mess again. Nor are the venture capital boys that loan $$$ for pumps. Yes, mos def' we are seeing and will continue to see a re-evaluation in WHAT IS A PUMP'S WORTH. And like I have been saying for years; the answer is only what someone is willing to pay.

One more small item.

When you, as a fleet owner, wake up one morning and get a call from your banker saying that your debt to equity numbers that you sent him are WAY off the mark... that is a good indicator that, as you put it, there is a new 'blue book' for pump values.

so i have a little concrete splatter on my pump and some guys say why do you not keep it pristine for resale so i tell them the repo guy does not care how dirty it is and i can allways clean it later. 

high demand high prices,low demand low prices,no demand,were all in deep sh-t

Bob,knowing where some of these pumps came from and only a little of curcumstances it's hard to say.

Auctions are a valuable tool to sell,when selling in the open market won't fly.As an example Dallas last year at a rb auction.It is the policy of most lenders to send repose"s to the aution,just like cars,rv's and such.

Somehow I see the more stable companies have already made there adjustments and are better able to compete.As for the smaller one's much remains to be seen.

I also see Chicago's O'hara 15B expansion is in jepordy,cause is the fuel prices and lack of airlines contributions.Stocks rallies as the barrel dropped,yippie!!!.

I used to work for the company that had all the blue and white pumps until they went bankrupt. My 42m is one of them.

 Anyone looking for a skilled operator. I have 4 years on 36m to 58 m Putz and 7 years on Schwing trailer and truck mount line pumps. I have good work ethics and self motivated. I like being independent out in the field and can take care of many situations that may occur. I am mechanically inclined and have some knowledge of construction. I have been in the concrete and aggregate industry for 20 years now.I have formed  it, hauled it, pumped it, placed it and finished it, and still don't know everything about it. I Speak english but can communicate with others , although, as we all know some barriers can't be broken. I would prefer to stay on the West Coast to be near family but other arrangements can be made. If you have a position available please contact me through this web site.

Scolew

PumperMike	08-10-2008 15:59:27	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 06-07-2007	For those operators needing more hours and a good position please check out Todd's classifieds! and Todd - please keep your eyes closed for a couple days on this one!  :)
Todd	08-10-2008 19:23:47	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 04-10-2006	lol ok, can i keep one eye open, if i dont bob will ban me.
PumperMike	08-10-2008 21:09:26	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 06-07-2007	Thank you - I guess you can keep one open - don't want you running into anything.  (PumperMike's Wife)
kneerick	08-11-2008 10:55:48	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 04-30-2008	nice looking pump
zuat150	08-11-2008 17:31:54	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 07-16-2008	why are there no operators in wyoming?
PumperMike	08-11-2008 17:46:22	reply | profile | send pm
Member Joined : 06-07-2007	Hmmm - to answer your questions I have two of the best operators around. (36 years betweent the two) You have to be diverse here - you need to know your equipment, how to operate it safely, and you need to have mechanical abilities to be able to get the job done if problems.  You do have to drive some days - others not.  You may put in a 12 hour day and pump 20 yards.  You are left many times to your discretion on a jobsite as to safety, etc. and so we need experience here vs. having the time to train.  So essentially getting the right operator for what is more a team here sometimes takes some work.  (and then you get into cold weather pumping, etc. etc.)