And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

[rhillman75]

Sorry had to vent a little! I have been doing business with this local marina for more than 8 years now and i had them quote me just to do the shrink wrapping since my cover was basically killed in a hailstorm earlier this year. Thinking I would get a good price just to wrap it since I have them tune up all my boats every year and it turns out the boating industry is just about as bad as the economy when they hit me with the quote. C'mon man!!! You seriously want $250.00 just to wrap the damn boat? So I got to thinking and "googling" and found a distributor that sold shrink wrap in my area and not to mention is a distributor for my marina as I found out. I scored a 100' roll of blue shrink wrap for $80.00. I also got to thinking... I own a window tinting company and window tint needs shrunk on most every window. I broke out my 2,500 watt heat gun, laid out my poly cord around the boat, throught the shrink wrap up and cenetered it, cut the excess and tucked it under, shrink wrapped the lower part, tied down the wrapping, and 2 hours later... the boat was wrapped! I later through the 75 foot roll left over on Craigslist and sold it for $100.00! I not only covered my boat but I also made money selling the leftover! Just goes to make you think what you are being charged for! It's just plastic and a little bit of labor!

 

[CC245]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Sorry I need to vent a little! I was on Craigslist and someone was trying to sell a 75' used roll of shrink wrap for $100.00! C'mon man!!! You seriously want $100.00 for 75' of shrink wrap that I can get for $80.00 for 100'. Just makes you think!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Bawhahahahahahahaha

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Most of us here on iboats are DIY types, so we are always looking to buy the stuff and get to work.

However, as a business owner myself, you have to charge a certain markup on your goods and services or else it make no sense to be in business. Supplies get marked up. Labor gets marked up. From the markup, the owner most pay other bills such as rent, utilities, etc. Then there's taxes. And of course, he needs to actually make some money to feed his family.

So, I can see both sides. Hope this helps you feel a little less upset.

 

[Don S]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

You was quoted $250 because it's a business that is supposed to make money. They furnish all the material (strapping, propane for the burner etc.) along with what it costs to run a seasonal business year round so they can keep the doors open. They don't get to pay rent for their property and building only during the boating season. along with utilities, insurance, and all the other fun things about running a business.
If you think you saved so much, think about all the time you spent getting stuff together for the job, the running around, the electricity you used for your heat gun, the wear and tear on that heat gun.The gas you used for your car or truck to get all the stuff.
If you don't like the price of paying someone to do the job, do it yourself. But quit complaining about how much a part time business charges. Would you do someone elses boat for 250 bucks day in and day out for nothing? I doubt it.


EDIT: I was typing when Kick Back replied ..........

 

[a1akeywest]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

I own a window tinting company and window tint needs shrunk on most every window. !

how much do you charge to tint a car??

ever think if all your customers go buy a 10 doller roll of tint and cut it and stick it themselves????

food for thought....

 

[Don S]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

ever think if all your customers go buy a 10 doller roll of tint and cut it and stick it themselves????

Ever look at how those jobs look, and how long they last?

 

[YZ165]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Ever look at how those jobs look, and how long they last?

This is exactly what I was thinking! I can see the pools and saturation thereafter already!

 

[a1akeywest]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Ever look at how those jobs look, and how long they last?

hypothetically speaking i paid 300 for my tint job on my benz

then agian, i have a couple work trucks that my guys tinted themselves over 10 years ago,, and as far as i can see they still look good.... i guess its all a matter of preferance..

 

[YZ165]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

hypothetically speaking i paid 300 for my tint job on my benz

then agian, i have a couple work trucks that my guys tinted themselves over 10 years ago,, and as far as i can see they still look good.... i guess its all a matter of preferance..

Then you didn't buy cheap tint, and your guys need a raise!

Not that I think the OP bought cheap shrink wrap material, just that everything takes some practice and patience to get right. That's where the pros come in. I have watched several shrink how to's that I found reading posts on this site.....I have no delusions of making it look that easy, or last, or shed water as the guys in the videos do.

The OP, on the other hand, has experience with a heat gun, and shrinkable material. May be a great job and last! Hope so!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

I think the point that was lost here was that a guy who makes a business out of charging his customers for applying a little bit of film to their windows threw a big fit about another business charging him to apply film to his boat...... To show how unfair it was to profit from a boater he did his own boat and then profited off of someone on craigslist when he sold his leftover film.

 

[Philster]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Window tint guy's customer base ponders:

How can a guy who applies micro thin sheets of inexpensive plastic film to auto windows be rich enough to afford a boat?

Also: *Threw. "He just threw the window tint onto my windows."

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

going rate here is $6-10 per foot and it depends on how much reinforcing tape they need.

 

[DonHof]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

So you don't want to get screwed and pay 250.00 to wrap your boat, but you'll turn around and screw someone on craigslist?

 

[LongLine]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

$20 for the wrap (1/4 of roll) & 2 hrs labor @$20/hr (being generous) is $60. A DIY'r & someone who's been a customer for 8 yrs would probably think it a high price. Marinas are generally much higher than anyone for anything as already mentioned - off-season, taxes etc.

However if the marina owner had said: "our normal price is $275 but since you've been here for many years, we'll give you $25 off." Would you have gone for it?

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

I remember getting mad when the car dealers started charging for repairs by "book time" and a battery swap was about a half hour. Takes me < 5 minutes, I said, but then I realized, that's if the new battery was sitting there next to the car. Time to go get the new one, find my tools, swap, and return the old one was way more than "book time."
I can paint, and used to paint part time. Made a lot of money; saved a lot by doing it myself. But now that I make more than a painter, I'd rather let him do it while I'm at work. I do plenty of DIY projects, but try to stick to the ones I enjoy, the ones the typical "pro" can't do right, or the ones where it doesn't make sense to hire someone.

The OP's reaction to paying $250, which isn't that much, and the time he spent doing it himself (from start to finish, including messing with CL) and materials--yes, add the cost of the heat gun--shows a false economy.

 

[stackz]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

I remember getting mad when the car dealers started charging for repairs by "book time" and a battery swap was about a half hour. Takes me < 5 minutes, I said, but then I realized, that's if the new battery was sitting there next to the car. Time to go get the new one, find my tools, swap, and return the old one was way more than "book time."

what kind of battery do you have? one of those audi ones way down in the fender? I just pull up to the parts store, walk in and ask to borrow a cresent wrench if I dont have my spare tools in the truck. pop out the old, take it in and buy a new one, pop in the new and return their cresent wrench.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Did the marina make you use their guy or their services? Where my 34' Silverton is, they charge $12/foot. I had the Cruisers wrapped with a door for $8/foot ($260 total) by a mobile guy that does almost every boat at my club.

Shrink wrap is one of those things that 95% of people, even DIYers would not try to attempt. You are lucky you had the tool to do the work properly, most wouldn't.

BTW, it's odd someone would DIY their own shrinkwrap, but a tune up pay to have done?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

So you don't want to get screwed and pay 250.00 to wrap your boat, but you'll turn around and screw someone on craigslist?

Now this is capitalism at it?s best.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: And they "quoted" me $250.00 for JUST for "shrink-wraping!"

Sorry had to vent a little! I have been doing business with this local marina for more than 8 years now and i had them quote me just to do the shrink wrapping since my cover was basically killed in a hailstorm earlier this year. Thinking I would get a good price just to wrap it since I have them tune up all my boats every year and it turns out the boating industry is just about as bad as the economy when they hit me with the quote. C'mon man!!! You seriously want $250.00 just to wrap the damn boat? So I got to thinking and "googling" and found a distributor that sold shrink wrap in my area and not to mention is a distributor for my marina as I found out. I scored a 100' roll of blue shrink wrap for $80.00. I also got to thinking... I own a window tinting company and window tint needs shrunk on most every window. I broke out my 2,500 watt heat gun, laid out my poly cord around the boat, throught the shrink wrap up and cenetered it, cut the excess and tucked it under, shrink wrapped the lower part, tied down the wrapping, and 2 hours later... the boat was wrapped! I later through the 75 foot roll left over on Craigslist and sold it for $100.00! I not only covered my boat but I also made money selling the leftover! Just goes to make you think what you are being charged for! It's just plastic and a little bit of labor!

I'd be curious to see how your first time DIY shrink wrap job endures the Indybanana winter, but of course we'll never hear about it if it fails and you have to get back out there in a foot of snow and cold wind to do it again... will we?