Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6522300
04/20/19 08:15 PM
04/20/19 08:15 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,828 Southwest Michigan
Michigan Trappin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,828
Southwest Michigan
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I enjoy the heck out of it, but my wife makes better money working for the us govt. so my income level does not need to be high. I only do adc no bugs or mice. But I also choose not to push growth on the business yet. Going on five years doing it. Could I make $70k-$100k Yep, but I choose not to work that hard
I would say if you are in the right location and you want to bust your hump you can do well
But there are hardships too, work 7 days a week from April to August Calls at 10 pm that the neighbors cat is caught Or maybe a kill trap didn’t quite work and it’s 11pm and you have to drive 30 miles to take care of it
Definitely a different line of work
But I use to work in the corporate world and where a suit everyday so this has been a totally different thing from some past employment.
Lots to consider my friend
Every day is a gift from GOD, don't waste it!!
If they have plenty of food, give them something interesting to smell
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6522324
04/20/19 09:00 PM
04/20/19 09:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,491 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,491
james bay frontierOnt.
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I really enjoyed my full time work in beaver control for the railroad.Money was very good with per diems, full pension and benefits.The work was hard and very physical especially the inland work.Days were long 10hrs straight time and 2-4 hrs Overtime at time and a half each day 4 days a week.3 days off.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: EatenByLimestone]
#6530431
05/02/19 10:02 PM
05/02/19 10:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,861 Greene County,Virginia
run
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,861
Greene County,Virginia
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To be fair, most of the guys here are probably self employed or at the top of the hierarchy at the company they work for. They most likely make more and are more apt to love the work. Ask the seasonal guy at Orkin or Terminex who has to make 20 stops a day and has no way to rise in the ranks and you'll probably get a much different story. That's gotta be a rough job doing 20 stops.
wanna be goat farmer.
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6530620
05/03/19 08:11 AM
05/03/19 08:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,190 Chauncey, Ohio
wormbobskey
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,190
Chauncey, Ohio
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I've been at it for a couple decades now and still love it. I don't do bats or bugs. Don't want to deal with the possible health risks. Still get a kick out of setting up new jobs. I guess when I don't enjoy it anymore I'll find something else outdoor related to do. I don't see myself quitting anytime soon, but then again I have a messed up back from truck driving. I'm my own boss and know how far I can go before I have to stop. I'm probably the cheapest guy in my area because I don't do it for a living. I have many repeat customers because they like my prices and know I can get the job done.
OSTA Lanums ADC & Repair We don't do bugs
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6531728
05/05/19 05:37 AM
05/05/19 05:37 AM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
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I like my career because I am the owner, boss, and worker. As owner and boss I make the rules fair for the worker - me.
Seriously, I do have some fundamental business rules that prevent most problems. And I invested in good professional documents that clearly explain the terms.
I do not do bats or bugs. Some jobs are more fun than others.
If for some reason a job is not going as well as expected, I add a couple days at no charge. That is great for customer relations and referrals. When I quote a price, I also include a price for any necessary or desired additional days at a discounted rate since the traps are already set. For repeat customers I give a small discount and note that it is a good customer discount. Those people are great for referrals. One repeat customer wrote the best compliment and testimonial. “You sure aren’t cheap, but you sure are effective!”
When establishing prices, consider all overhead and somehow divide that into charges. Taxes take a chunk. I charge enough that overhead is covered and some left for me.
Still, the market will only bear certain rates. I read somewhere that if you are getting every job your prices are too low. If you get none of the jobs your prices are too high. If getting a majority of jobs your prices are just right.
The toughest jobs to quote prices for are jobs with a long drive. For example, I explain that this job involves 2.5 hours of drive time every day for 5 days which equals 12.5 hours of driving and expenses. The job price must include the cost for the driving time and fuel.
I turn down some jobs where there are already serious obvious administrative or business conflicts or problems. I also turn down jobs that would be a public relations nightmare. I am not willing to get involved in those situations.
Yes I like my career.
FRAC LIVES MATTER
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6534265
05/09/19 12:36 AM
05/09/19 12:36 AM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
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I forgot to include that there are a few additional significant reasons to like an ADC career.
1. Huge amounts of money roll in constantly. Some people send me money just to get on my list in case they ever need to hire me.
2. The next reason is about the fast cars. I work out of a Shelby Mustang.
3. The last reason is, and you might have guessed this - yes, the women. Do you guys have a following of female groupies? Mostly from age 19 to 28? I am concerned that something might get cold in those short skirts. Sometimes they can be just too much of a good thing and I get tired.
Oh, the stresses of a professional trapper!
FRAC LIVES MATTER
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: run]
#6536214
05/12/19 08:48 AM
05/12/19 08:48 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,719 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,719
Maine
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To be fair, most of the guys here are probably self employed or at the top of the hierarchy at the company they work for. They most likely make more and are more apt to love the work. Ask the seasonal guy at Orkin or Terminex who has to make 20 stops a day and has no way to rise in the ranks and you'll probably get a much different story. That's gotta be a rough job doing 20 stops. I think he is making a different point than the rough 20 stops. Might be wrong.
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Re: do you guys like your ADC careers?
[Re: joepennanti]
#6553979
06/12/19 11:49 AM
06/12/19 11:49 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,247 wantage n.j.
eric space
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,247
wantage n.j.
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I only do (did) wild animals and birds, no rats, mice or bugs. Love the work, hate working with homeowners. Mostly transplanted city people who watched too many Bambi movies. Best time was winter, then they did not come outside and tell me how to do my job. Never charged the limited amount of farmers in my county (mostly beaver problems), as a result I have more places to hunt, fish and pelt trap than I can get to in my old age. One farmer had a deer hunting lease that was all state troopers. They complained to him about me trapping there (I was snaring mink on his creek). He told them "take a hike, I can find lots of hunters, but he is the only beaver man I trust". Eric One other thing, I charged a flat rate for a job, not a setup fee and a per animal rate. Most of my clients were not home from 6AM to 6PM and if I caught and removed an animal when they did not see it they often would not believe me. Flat rate solved that problem.
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