Hi all,
it's been quite a while since posting on AN so I thought I would drop by for what may be the last time (in the Picogroup).

I am looking at a sea change as far as my business goes and will probably close the doors at the end of the financial year (June 30th next year).
The reasons are varied and include being unable to attract talented staff or for that matter, someone that actually gives a f*#k.
Twenty year anniversary in February was also cause for reflection.

As such I'm winding back on a large percentage of my annual subscriptions and Picogroup being one of them.
I have enjoyed being a part of this tight-knit group over the years and have learned a lot and hopefully others have learned from some of my posts.
I've met a whole lot of people through this forum that I continue to keep in touch with and will do so in the future.

So thanks Tom, Brian and all group members for a great experience.

Brad Halse         [smiley=chopper.gif]



 

Wow Brad I am kind of shocked about the business, hang in there if it's hard times they will turn around.

Mick wrote on Oct 27^th, 2015 at 7:28pm:

Wow Brad I am kind of shocked about the business, hang in there if it's hard times they will turn around.

G'day Mick.

No mate not hard times, we are still as busy as ever. I have started blocking off two days a week on the booking board and we still barely keep up with it.

The problem is I'm tired of it, the relentless workload and no one to take the load off. There's myself and an adult apprentice.
Every time I try hiring I spend as much time helping them out as I do doing my own work....

The Toyota dealer has started booking in used cars for diagnostics, other shops or companies with their own mechanics book in cars that they have had a go at. and created more trouble than the original problem.

Everyone tells me it's a good problem to have Mick  ::), but alas, it has worn me down.

sorry to hear this Brad, but I know how you feel after 25 years self employed, working for everyone but yourself, babysitting staff got to me.

I did have a 2 year break and now I'm mobile for myself, work 4 days part time, learnt to say no a lot and will cost you all on my terms.

good luck on your future, andt do have a good break after you shut the doors

I'm hearing you Brad I contend with the same issue myself....yet booked out two months ahead.

The caramelized abalone farm is a much better idea, can I join you in the investment stage?

Thanks for stopping by and letting us all know.

We have really enjoyed having you here. 

I get it.  If life is getting you down, change something.   ;)

Best wishes to you mate.   [smiley=ok.gif]

Going to miss you Brad! You can still pop in on the other half of the forums, right?
I see you from time to time on the "other" forum (you know the one with all the PICO haters(Don't tell Tom))! You are still going to be there for a bit I assume.
What ever happens, enjoy life and may the wind be always at your back.
-Ward-

Brad....
decisions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p5yzdCa2GE

Brad,

Sorry to hear you are hanging up your tools. I know it is a tough decision but as long as you are happy. This is what really matters ;)

Keep in touch here on the forum. Maybe dabble a little bit here and there and post something up.

Trust me, I know about apprentices. I have one now. I enjoy the fact teaching a young tech, but trying to do my own work wears on me and having to double check the work takes time. I feel your pain ;)

Bob

I had wondered where you had gone to. Yes it can be frustrating, relentless and challenging, Im in a similar boat as you and Ian, but this is all I know, Ive been doing it for 30 years.

Good luck in the future, if your ever in Melbourne, drop by and say hello.

Your not gold mining or running a topless  waitress pub by any chance.


Andy

Good luck in whatever you decide, Brad.  I'm hoping a superstar applicant shows up before June 30th, though.  :)

Brad you have been one of the guys on here that I have learnt a lot from. And thanks for your help with the G-scan lately.  :)

I’m in the same boat, and I’m cutting down on work and expenses, to get more free time (but not closing down).
So therefore I’m also out of this group. Thanks to all for educating me.  8-)

Take care.  :)

Thanks guys for the kind words, I hope I didn't sound too melodramatic  :'(

This trade is all I've ever known and all I ever wanted to do since I was in primary school and when you get to do what you love, well, it makes the day go quick  :)



DzlTec wrote on Oct 29^th, 2015 at 10:23pm:

Yes it can be frustrating, relentless and challenging, Im in a similar boat as you and Ian, but this is all I know, Ive been doing it for 30 years.

Hi Andy, yep, 29 years in the trade this month for me and I still remember starting out like it was only a couple years ago...  [smiley=huh.gif]
Setting up my own shop and building a good customer base from word-of-mouth has been the highlight of the past twenty years, without question.
I just found over the last few years that I haven't been getting the satisfaction I use to and I don't know if it's a contributing factor but everyone seems ready to tell you what they "read on the internet" these days  ::)

I still have some time to mull over the next step and I'll let you guys know when I figure it out.
I think Rod hinted that he won't talk to me again if I consider being a sales rep. [smiley=boxer.gif]


Daniel wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2015 at 11:17pm:

Brad you have been one of the guys on here that I have learnt a lot from. And thanks for your help with the G-scan lately

That's the best thing about this group Dan, all bouncing knowledge off each other mate. You think about how different the parts of the world are that we all live in, but here, it's like we are all in the same town.   [smiley=arms.gif]


DzlTec wrote on Oct 29^th, 2015 at 10:23pm:

Your not gold mining or running a topless  waitress pub by any chance.

Haha, no mate neither of those will be on the cards if the missus has anything to do with it  [smiley=bash.gif]  

Brad

Brad and Daniel,

Sure sorry to see you guys let your subscription expire.  Both of you had special discounted Picogroup subscriptions because of your time with us and your contributions. 

I wish we could just give the subscriptions to you but we do have to be fair to all the other subscribers.  Supporting the Picogroup resources are the biggest part of our overhead costing us thousands of $$ each month.  We have to have the revenue stream to be able to keep it all going.

Our only sponsors are our members.

We have really appreciated your support of the cause over the years. 

[smiley=dankk2.gif]

Tom,
It is your shop, and business is business, and I understand you. But I think it is a shame to see so many good techs(you educated them yourself) leaving this site. When they/we are educated we contribute more to community, than we use resources.

For the future you may want to graduate the paying members to equal the ones that bought the scope from you to: let’s say if you had paid for support for 5 years, and you now know how to use a scope, you’ll be a lifetime member, as the scope buyers.

That way you’ll keep the techs in the shed, and now and then sell other products.

But if you want to keep it simple/small and mostly have new scope users you’re doing fine.  ;)

No hard feelings, just my 2 cents.  :)

Daniel wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

But I think it is a shame to see so many good techs(you educated them yourself) leaving this site

In the twelve years these forums have been up I can count them on one hand.


Daniel wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

When they/we are educated we contribute more to community, than we use resources.

That's why you were only paying what works out to $20 a month.  If you don't get that much out of it anymore then I just don't have anything to say... My wife spends more than that every week at the coffee stand.   :-?


Daniel wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

let’s say if you had paid for support for 5 years, and you now know how to use a scope, you’ll be a lifetime member, as the scope buyers.

By that time, there is a new model scope to upgrade to anyway so... do that with us and your in.   ;)


Daniel wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

No hard feelings

None here either.  But everyone has to support the effort financially in some way.  That's just the reality.  Otherwise we close up shop and go home.   :-/

Like anything else.  You gotta pay to play.   ;)

Tom Roberts wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2015 at 2:26pm:

Like anything else.  You gotta pay to play.

If this was the case, we would all pay the same.  ;)

I could pay the $’s, but it’s more the principle that some are paying, and some are not.

Sorry for hacking your thread Brad.

Daniel wrote on Nov 4^th, 2015 at 4:15am:

If this was the case, we would all pay the same.

I know, the stuff we do seems silly at times.  Even to us.   ;D

I know you are not disappointed that you paid less.  :-? Something we have not published is that we do gradually reduce the subscription cost over time for those that renew before their expiration date year after year.  There is a minimum though which is lower for those overseas.  For those that let their subscription lapse, the price goes back up and they start over.

It's also true that those that get a custom kit from us pay less... as in nothing.  But they bought a kit and we roll most of that kit sales revenue back into the support system.  So they are supporting the effort.  The goal here is to make a kit purchase the obvious way to go.  This is how we have built the largest PicoScope automotive users group in the world.


Daniel wrote on Nov 4^th, 2015 at 4:15am:

but it’s more the principle that some are paying, and some are not.

That could be you not paying.  It's your choice to continue to subscribe, or not.  You can choose to support our mission here, or not, as well.

A personal example....  I pay a lot more as a supporting business sponsor of iATN.  I have not posted anything there in years.  I certainly am not getting my moneys worth.  But I do it because I support the mission even though it has degraded a lot over the years in many ways.  I know it cannot continue if no one supports it.  I may not benefit but I know others will.  So, I contribute.  I may choose not to contribute in the future, if I no longer support the mission.

So, from my point of view, you are choosing not to support our mission.  And that's OK.  We still have many that do.