DL,

Sorry to here your departure from Stinklite. At these hard economical times no one should lose their job. But believe me it's better on this side of the fence. I left on my own behalf because I didn't agree with many of their practices. I had the opportunity to make my way to where I wanted to be. I'm not mad at them at all. In fact they gave me all the training to be their best competitor. I just don't have a muzzle over my mouth to voice my opinions anymore.

As far as a even playing field goes. Every business out here has to fight for equal market share. But its hard when the TPA is owned by the same replacement company and manufacturer. It's called the funnel effect. But that's just big business. Giant was Stinklite adversary for many years. They couldn't beat them and Giant made money. So they bought them finally. So there are ways to thrive in this industry. You just have to find what works for you.

Being upper management has difficult choices to make. Mite not always be morally correct. But has to be executed. But the choice is ultimately yours to choice what you need to do for one's self consciousness.

Need to get as many done before people get tired of waiting for them & decide to go to an affiliate shop, even if their "Insurance Co." STRONGLY recommended using Bel/Safe only. They can redo later once $$$ is in pocket. If someone is injured in an accident, Oh Well.
JMHO

Nice reply...actually a productive conversation

The level playing field analogy is fine...as long as the definition of level playing field is accurate. There are FAR too many in this business that mistake a fair playing field and a subsidized business. Just because one tries hard doesn't mean one succeeds. Talent and strategy have to be part of the equation. I've been on both sides on the fence now...22 years as an indy and 8 in a corporate environment...both do things well. Both have weaknesses. Both have good people and bad people. The biggest difference I have seen in most small businesses fail to visibly exploit their own strengths on the right platform. The irony is those same strengths are often a larger businesses weaknesses.

As far as leadership / ethics / morality... I have to live with my actions and I have always led with that philosophy while keeping whatever objective at hand in mind - sometimes detrimentally to my own career. I'm ok with that. I sleep well and have helped far more folks find success than a new job.

I can now have a conversation like this with you. Reason is I believe you are no longer restricted in anyway.

Being on this side of the fence has opened many doors. I agree with complimentary competition weaknesses and strengths. One must exploit those weakness of the adversary with counter strengths they can apply towards a business plan for market share.

Also as a independent shop. You can not depend on your competitor to dispatch you work. You have to make that happen. Market yourself as you must to secure your own market share. You can change the rules of the game. But the game will remain the same.

As being in management positions in the corporate world. I had to make tough decisions. Some that haunted me. Some that was not morally correct in my opinion. But I accepted what I had to do. It was a choice I made at the time.Now comes the easy part for you. You will get the opportunity to follow your philosophy when seeking your new job.

Think what you want...DL will be just fine.
glad to hear you'll be ok, hope you'll be even better, working on putting the wheels back on a company whose wheels are falling off. You get the down wind drift.

DL, sorry to say you fought for the foreign invader. They ignore our moral, fairness & trade laws (in my opinion) in this industry. You helped them & now you are on the outside. I wish you luck personally in the future but trying to rationalize what you've help happen in our industry doesn't fly. Being ok & getting yours doesn't make what you've helped do to others acceptable.

Yeah New Yorker
But SL puts in more glass in one day and has more satisfied customers in one day than you will in a lifetime .
It's all relative to volume

U hate em because they are doing well.

More satisfied customers. That's too funny. Just read consumer reports from real customers and you'll see what we've always known. No one does worse installs than SL. Except maybe the one man pickup installers that used to work at SL.

SPOT ON!

DL-Nice to read your posts again. As always - living your motto.