HansonSigns

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The bulb crusher I was looking into did their own recycling - you call them when your barrel was full and they bring out a new one and take away your old one. There is a mercury filter/trap incorporated in the mechanics of the thing, so the barrel company deals with proper disposal of that. The only problem in WA state is that if you process a certain amount of fluorescent lamps (I think it's just over 2 barrels worth)you become a "large volumn hazardous waste" tree hater and have to comply with WA large volumn stuff. We have a company in Seattle (EcoLights) come and pick up our uncrushed bulbs - way cheaper and not considered hazardous because they aren't broken. I wonder why we haven't looked into recycling neon this way... nor have I heard anything about it.

We got a quote from MET in 2009. The program cost was $950 (less than UL) but to get our stuff inspected it would be $900 for the first inspection, then $700 for each quarterly inspection. Upon completion of four consecutive discrepancy free audits, you can go down to bi annual audits. I'm not sure but I think that you have to send them a sample sign and some other information (including your current UL listing info) so they can make sure you are eligible for their program.

We let them use it as they wish - I have a simple spread sheet that I use to keep track of it and it's not an issue. We have a week of vacation after the first year of employment, and a week after every 6 months after that. We only have 11 employees. I do payroll weekly (which cut out requests for payroll draws). We do NOT do sick leave, although we encourage the sickies to stay home. They never do, though, and the cold from hell has been going thru our shop.

WA state is no better - our workers comp is supposed to go up 45%, and we already pay thru the nose for our service/install crew. However, there is a ballot measure on the Nov election to allow companies to pick an insurance co for their workers comp, instead of going thru the state. The State has been running ads about how AIG will come in and screw us all, but the business people here know who's been doin' the screwin'! This state is so anti business it amazes me. Erik, we know how you feel - we have to get permits in a bizillion different cities here, and everyone is different. Some are easier to work with, some are a pain in the keester. We had to hire a person just to do permits, and charge our customers accordingly at $78 per hour for permit labor.

The training program we took had a separate fee for the written and a fee for the practical - is the ISA fee ($349 plus $195) for both, or just the written test?

The first company was ATS - Associated Training Services Network,ATS Specialized LLC. I don't know that I'd classify them as a ripoff, but they sure didn't have any kind of leeway for our industry needs. The great company we used was Overton Safety Training, Inc. Wish I'd gone to them first. They are out of Oregon, Phone # 866-531-0403. We had to go to Tacoma/Kent to take the tests, but that was only about 1 1/2 hours travel (one way), so it was do-able. NW Sign Council has been setting up classes with a company called Working Class Heros. The normal registration rate for their three-day class is $995 plus testing fees. Their website is http://www.wchcranesafety.com. We didn't use them because the classes weren't anywhere near us. Most of the training places guarantee you will pass the written exam, and it's a tough one, but our guys didn't have any problems passing it after the two day class. Overton said if our guys didn't pass the practical, they could come out and practice more then retake it without an additional fee. Washington State L&I (Labor & Industries, our workers comp system) inspectors have been checking sign companies for crane certs. Of course, the inspectors don't have any crane training, so they wouldn't know if a crane was being operated correctly or not. Don't you just love bureaucracy?

Our two crane operators just got certified a few months ago. Talk about a pain in the rear! The first certification company we used - written test was a three day class, Practical was practice for 1 hour, then take the test for $895 each. Well, the practical is a lot harder than you'd think because you have to use the testers' crane, not your equipment. There is a course - first you have to go thru it with a chain on your hook, and not knock any of the tennis balls off the traffic cones outlining the course. The second is picking up a 55 gallon drum and taking it thru the course to set it in a designated area. And it's a TIMED test. And anyone who's ever moved a neon sign will tell you slower is better if you don't want to break neon, but the crane testers don't recognize that as an issue. Our guys did not pass that practical the first time and the company we used wanted an additional fee for them to retake the test. We called another certification company who, for the same fee, allowed our guys a full day to practice before they took the practical exam. That was no problem - they passed. If you are looking for a certification company, make sure they allow lots of practice time on their equipment!

I suppose that's where my comment about trusting the govt less and less comes from - the money generated from a particular tax revenue that should be dedicated to a particular budget gets spent on whatever else the govt decides to spend it on. Washington State is the perfect example of that kind of government. I do agree that competition is the way to go, but prying the govt fingers off the companies in place will be tough. Hey, here where I live, the county (Kitsap) voted to make every one here pay for recycling. It's only about $5 and change, and I would be all for it, except there is only ONE company here that does recycling, so you are paying them to pick up your recycle stuff, no matter if you want to or not. Waste management is dancing in the streets... Sorry, Monday rants http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wallbash.gif

"The question is whether your government is smart enough, or can be trusted to invest only enough to make smart financial case, or if they're going overboard and pushing a different agenda based on carbon credit trading, subsidies, etc..." Trusted? HA! If our govt was so concerned about energy, they would invest in more wind power and solar power plants and LED factories so the workers at the incandescent bulb factories would have jobs and .... wow, it's a never ending list. Trust my government? less and less.

We are ready to install our first Trans Lux unit. After some initial confusion about installation, it seems to be a pretty easy set up. We went with TransLux because - well, timing is everthing. John Macley (sorry if I spelled your name wrong, John!), TransLux sales, stopped by our shop. TransLux had a unit that was in our clients price range and the right size, so there you go. I have a question - why are all the electronic message centers sold with serial ports instead of USB ports? Try finding a new computer with serial ports..... Just wondering.

Just had to add this - sent to me via email: I am shocked that so many Americans are against the mosque, near Ground Zero. We should allow it, but in order to promote tolerance....... I propose that a gay nightclub be opened next door to the mosque to promote tolerance in the mosque. We could call it "The Turban Cowboy" or "You Mecca Me Hot". Next door on the other side, could be a butcher shop, that specializes in pork, and pork products and makes a nice lunchtime pulled pork sandwich. Then across the street, a very daring lingerie store, called " Victoria Keeps Nothing Secret". Next to Victoria's would be that new topless redneck hoagie shop called "Beers-Breasts&Buns". And of course, what area wouldn't be complete without a three girl nudie car wash called "The Three Mosqueteers" And, skin headed white supremacists would be renting a store front tattoo parlor just above the butcher shop, which would of course be just a few feet down from the Armed Forces Recruiting Office...just a step or two from the VA administration office To make the neighborhood and street complete I also propose that we build the largest Southern Baptist Church in the country with shared parking with the mosque, which would have to allow use of their parking lot for old fashion tent revivals. You know....just to promote that, "tolerance thing"! Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the Hell's Angels are looking for a new area for a clubhouse...are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yep, I know the perfect area. Hey, just trying to promote that tolerance thing. I'm a good loyal concern for my fellow man kind of guy...what can I say? If your tolerance promotin' is similar to mine then by all means pass this along, especially to all of your democratic friends and of course to all politicians everywhere. Signed, Bubba Ray Smith, TPM (tolerance promotin' manager) The good ole US of A *This message was made in America without harming any cats or dogs...or fish...or horses, or cows or chickens or ferrets. Did I mention that the women from P.E.T.A. would be naked on every street corner raising awareness about the evils of wearing fur? Gosh I love this country....wish everybody did.

We sold our old crane truck to a very small company in Reno. My hubby (has a CDL) was at that time working in a job he absolutely hated, so he took a week vacation and we drove it down from WA state. The boss paid our expenses and airfare back, gave us some "spending money" and we had a blast. Now hubby works here and it's all good! Angie, maybe you could look into that kind of situation - it's gotta be cheaper than trucking the truck!

Thank you! I appreciate your replies.

Has anyone worked for these people? How are they at paying? I didn't find anything negative on the web....

Yeah, we always tell our customers they'll have to foot the bill if they want us there right away - usually they say it's not an emergency and they can wait.

Hourly here also. We try to combine trips to some of the areas we service regularly, so everyone pays only a portion of the "trip fee". Usually no one has issues with it.

These are a few of the web pages I found while googling Imam Rauf. There is more to this guy than I've heard in recent news. No way will I trust this guy, if he's not a terrorist himself, he's fronting for them. Follow the money! http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.6766/pub_detail.asp http://redcounty.com/content/exposing-real-imam-feisal-abdul-rauf http://weaselzippers.us/2010/08/19/video-moderate-imam-feisal-abdul-rauf-in-his-own-words/

My personal opinion - not the opinion of my boss (I didn't ask him) - no way would I work on this project. The timing and PLACEMENT seem more like a spit in the face of the American people.

We tell our customers that ask for more insurance than we carry that for the scope of work we do, our insurance is more than adequate. If they insist on more, they have to pay the cost of the additional premium. We've had one customer do that. Most say never mind, our insurance is fine. (2M umbrella)

It's SHINY! Cant' wait to see her first neon sign all lit and purty!

I'm shocked at such shoddy work!! :talk4: