Let’s Go Through This…ONCE AGAIN

I like to think of myself as a nice guy—you know?

I’m also a businessman.

Further, I’m also really concerned about the recent victims of Hurricane Dennis down there in Florida and Alabama.

I want to help their situation. Not just praying or donating five dollars or some canned goods, I want to really do something to assist in the shortage of supplies in the area affected by the storm, and I also want to make a little profit for my efforts—nothing extreme, just some extra cash in return for my time and energy.

I know—GENERATORS…they need generators…and I’ll go get some (generators) and haul them down there (to the hurricane victims in Florida) and sell them for a reasonable price—my out of pocket cost plus 25%. That’s not too much profit, is it? Furniture companies often make between 50% and 75% mark up on sofas and chairs—so 25% shouldn’t be too much to ask.

Yes, that’s the ticket!

I spring into action, first I get out my credit card and call around the local area looking for generators for sale. Bad news…since we live near the coast and it’s hurricane season, there are only a half dozen generators to be found in the area.

I know…go to a big city, away from the ocean, like ATLANTA—they certainly have to have lots of generators for sale in Atlanta. I crank up the Internet and book an airline ticket on Delta to Atlanta from Brunswick and a return flight next week from Panama City, Florida back to St. Simons through Atlanta.

Cost: $678.00

Next I go on line and rent a U-Haul truck that I will pick up in Atlanta and use for seven days driving around Atlanta to pick up my goods and to drive my generators from Atlanta to the Florida Gulf coast area.

Cost $766.00

I pack my suitcase, catch a few hours of sleep, and at 6:10 AM this morning I’m on an airplane on my way to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. I snag a Starbucks Latte and a bagel on my way through the airport.

Cost $16.00

After picking up my luggage, a half hour taxi ride later I’m standing at the truck rental counter in Marietta, Georgia.

Cost $43.00

By the way, I also have also already spent one half of a day of my time in the venture so far, but I’m giving that away since I said before…”I’m a nice guy...”

So now as to the hard part—I need some generators to sell down there in Florida. Off to Home Depot and Lowes.

Vroommm Vrooommm in my rental truck

I buy all the generators I can get my hands on—new, still in the boxes—in several sizes. The little portable units that will run a few lights like the little Honda EN2500 that only costs me $665, and the larger 6500 watt electric start Honda units that set me back a little over $3200 retail.

Cost: (20) 6500’s and (40) 2500’s = $90,600 plus tax…not exactly chump change…

It’s still daylight, so after having my truck loaded full of generators, I hit the road for the six hour drive down to ground zero, arriving outside Ft. Walton at the Motel 6 having reserved a room for five nights.

Cost $500.00

On Wednesday morning I call the local day labor company and arrange to hire two assistants to support my sales effort.

Cost $200.00 per day x 5 days = $1000

Escambia and Walton Counties aren't stupid, they're in this for the moneyalso, so I have to buy a short term business license in each county and guess what...

Two licenses each x $125.00 = $250.00

I also need to pay for myself and my employees to eat for five days and I have to pay for gasoline to drive my truck from Atlanta, so I add in an additional $750.00 and my total expenses are…

(drum roll please……….$94603)

Now reality sets in. With expenses and a 25% profit, the EN2500 generators will cost you $900.00, and the 6500 watt models will cost $4075.00.

Being the greedy capitalist that I am, I stand to earn a tidy $22,897.00 for seven days worth of work.

NOW THE BAD NEWS…

Most governors (including Jeb Bush,) legislators, and many of my readers call my business idea...

“PRICE GOUGING”

I say I’ll just stay home here on St. Simons and let the poor Floridians and Alabamians sit at home in the dark.

After all, they could have bought a generator BEFORE the storm hit, when they were sitting around on the shelves like leaves on a tree (like my father did), rather than waiting for me to deliver them to them now, using the government to force me to sell them to them at a discount price, AFTER the hurricane has come plowing on shore in their back yard.

Where is Sam Kinnison when you need him?



Tell 'em Sam...