Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I have to fire someone tomorrow. Never had to do it before, so not looking forward to it.

Had to it once, on Monday after a staff football match where I ruptured my achilles. The guy I fired was the one who drove me to the hospital and then waited while I got the temporary cast and then drove me home again...

I didn’t feel good about it at all.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I have to fire someone tomorrow. Never had to do it before, so not looking forward to it.

I haven't had to fire people but I've had to be the person to deliver the message that they were laid off, which is basically the same thing (and kindof sucked because I didn't even make the decision - that was made higher up but, as the team lead, I had to deliver it). It kindof sucks even with people who deserved it - the ones who don't work and who bring the rest of the team down. But it /really/ sucks when the person did nothing wrong and was caught in a numbers game (these were contractors and they were getting rid of contractors).

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

If someone is sadistic, they're called a sadist.

Why then am I not called a sardon?

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by AlexB

Had to it once, on Monday after a staff football match where I ruptured my achilles. The guy I fired was the one who drove me to the hospital and then waited while I got the temporary cast and then drove me home again...

I didn’t feel good about it at all.

Oof, that is awful.

[pantera]

Ever dream of zipping among the stars like your favorite sci-fi astronauts?

The New Horizons spacecraft travels at 36,373 miles per hour (58,536 km/h). Launched from Earth in January 2006, it took 9 1/2 years to reach Pluto. At that rate it would take 78,000 years to reach our closest star Alpha Centauri.

Stock up on some snacks for the trip.

[CrimsonFox]

[sterlingice]

The Smurf movies are getting really dark and destructive

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

what in the fresh fuck is THAT?

[CrimsonFox]

newest mentos commercial?

[thesloppy]

I think that stuff is called 'elephant toothpaste' (no joke)

[pantera]

This doesn't deserve its own thread, so apologies for asking it here...

I just joined the forum recently after buying FOF8. I can log in successfully with my current username & password. But every time I visit the forum (before logging in) I see one of my email addresses saved in the username box along with a password (instead of the one I recently joined with, that I'm using as I write this). I think I had tried to join the forum years ago when I demo'd FOF7 and never stayed...

If I try to log in using that old username, I get a forum popup saying it is invalid. It is also not listed on the forum's username list.

I've looked for it in my Chrome list of saved log-ins, but it's not there. I can't figure out how to get rid of it. It's quite annoying to see it every time I visit the forum now.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by pantera

This doesn't deserve its own thread, so apologies for asking it here...

I just joined the forum recently after buying FOF8. I can log in successfully with my current username & password. But every time I visit the forum (before logging in) I see one of my email addresses saved in the username box along with a password (instead of the one I recently joined with, that I'm using as I write this). I think I had tried to join the forum years ago when I demo'd FOF7 and never stayed...

If I try to log in using that old username, I get a forum popup saying it is invalid. It is also not listed on the forum's username list.

I've looked for it in my Chrome list of saved log-ins, but it's not there. I can't figure out how to get rid of it. It's quite annoying to see it every time I visit the forum now.

Ping moderators.

[miami_fan]

Are storage units and car washes a growth industry?

I was driving around running errands and I counted at least ten newly built or soon to be built storage unit businesses and just as many car washes. That is in addition to the two car washes that are attached gas stations that were just built/expanded and similar businesses that have been there since I moved here five plus years ago.

[bhlloy]

I’ve anecdotally heard the profit margin on storage units are pretty huge... not saying there isn’t a point of saturation but your outlay is basically rent, insurance and a couple of employees, and a lot of times your customers don’t have a ton of choice (in between homes/evicted/out of state for extended periods of time - you’ve got to find somewhere to keep your stuff).

Car washes I can see being a larger initial outlay, but let’s just say I’m not sure most of them are exactly paying their workers benefits or anything over the absolute minimum wage. If you think you can have a workforce of 5 min wage workers knock out 25 cars an hour at 30 bucks a pop, that’s a pretty nice earner I guess

[JPhillips]

Breaking Bad taught us that car washes are all-cash businesses perfect for laundering drug money.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Are storage units and car washes a growth industry?

I was driving around running errands and I counted at least ten newly built or soon to be built storage unit businesses and just as many car washes. That is in addition to the two car washes that are attached gas stations that were just built/expanded and similar businesses that have been there since I moved here five plus years ago.

I've looked into storage unit businesses but the capital to get it started is more than I can afford unfortunately. I had thought it would be a good retirement business to do.

Also thought about like a UPS Store (or like) but don't see them growing anymore and I'd have to accept that busy season will mess up holiday plans.

Thinking about a Subway franchise now ...

[pantera]

Holy Thread Bump Batman!

12 years and 3 months.

Cord Blood banking - Front Office Football Central

[sabotai]

I was incredibly confused for a minute until I reread the thread title....banking....okay, that makes more sense.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I've looked into storage unit businesses but the capital to get it started is more than I can afford unfortunately. I had thought it would be a good retirement business to do.

Also thought about like a UPS Store (or like) but don't see them growing anymore and I'd have to accept that busy season will mess up holiday plans.

Thinking about a Subway franchise now ...

The last I heard about Subways was they were making you buy them in 3 packs. I don't know if that is still true. It has long been one of the most inexpensive franchises to get into. The probelm at this point is just saturation.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The last I heard about Subways was they were making you buy them in 3 packs. I don't know if that is still true. It has long been one of the most inexpensive franchises to get into. The probelm at this point is just saturation.

Lower front end entry cost but among the highest royalties in the industry (8% of gross I believe, plus a mandatory 4.5% national marketing fee every month)

[Ksyrup]

I wonder if they refer to the high royalty as the Jared Sex Settlement Tax.

[thesloppy]

Some things that might give me pause about buying a Subway franchise:

• The food sucks
• They are always empty

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Some things that might give me pause about buying a Subway franchise:

• The food sucks
• They are always empty

They are never empty around here.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Lower front end entry cost but among the highest royalties in the industry (8% of gross I believe, plus a mandatory 4.5% national marketing fee every month)

Yes. The per store profit is pretty low, but that is why you probably should own at least three. I had a friend who was a general manager for several stores. They have very low overhead because of how few employees you need to run them, but even a very busy store doesn't have huge receipts compared to other restaurants. Their per ticket collections are not bad. They are just not ever going to be high volume. That is how you can have one on every corner. They are all "profitable", but you aren't getting rich off one, or two, or even three.

[NobodyHere]

Well this looks absolutely terrifying

Live from Geldingadalir volcano, Iceland - YouTube

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

They are never empty around here.

I can't say now but when the kids were young, we would go to Subway fairly often (e.g. right beside the Karate Dojo). They were never empty but never brimming full either.

I'm thinking Jared scandal and also the rise of so many other chains have hurt Subway quite a bit.

The strategy is not a Subway in a city or big town, more like in a small town where there aren't as many options, or medium town at a popular strip mall.

FWIW, family is past the Subway stage of life. Food was okay back then but can't imagine going out of my way to get a sub.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I can't say now but when the kids were young, we would go to Subway fairly often (e.g. right beside the Karate Dojo). They were never empty but never brimming full either.

I'm thinking Jared scandal and also the rise of so many other chains have hurt Subway quite a bit.

The strategy is not a Subway in a city or big town, more like in a small town where there aren't as many options, or medium town at a popular strip mall.

FWIW, family is past the Subway stage of life. Food was okay back then but can't imagine going out of my way to get a sub.

No, that is the place to do it. Any strip center in a more rural area that doesn't have many options. I was talking to my buddy that was the general manager for several just yesterday, and he confirmed what I remembered. To actually make money of these, you need to own 3-5.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Edward64

The strategy is not a Subway in a city or big town, more like in a small town where there aren't as many options, or medium town at a popular strip mall.

Certainly the empty ones that I am always passing by are smack dab in the middle of this foodie city, typically sandwiched directly between a local tacqueria and a pizza joint.


...but I do think that speaks to the quality of the investment. Do you really want to tie your life to a restaurant that is reliant on making sure there is no other decent food in a certain radius & keeping labor costs as low as possible? It's the restaurant equivalent of being a slumlord.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Certainly the empty ones that I am always passing by are smack dab in the middle of this foodie city, typically sandwiched directly between a local tacqueria and a pizza joint.


...but I do think that speaks to the quality of the investment. Do you really want to tie your life to a restaurant that is reliant on making sure there is no other decent food in a certain radius & keeping labor costs as low as possible? It's the restaurant equivalent of being a slumlord.

That's is really not a fair assessment of a Subway's. The food isn't great, but it isn't bad. They offer many healthy options, and even their most unhealthy is better for you than what you get at an average fast food restaurant. Having one in a area with very little other options is actually a God-send for the people that live there. I have lived many places that I would loved to have a Subways near by.

A food slum-lord is the owner of a wings restaurant. Even cheaper than a Subways franchise (no franchise fees at all), food cost is much cheaper (froxen wings by bulk are super cheap) and all you have to serve is deep fried chicken and fries. No healthy options, low overhead, and just feed fried cheap garbage to people.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

When you called it elephant's toothpaste...I literally was wondering if this is how they get elephant's tusks clean and wondered if the elephant is just supposed to walk through all that...

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Some things that might give me pause about buying a Subway franchise:

• The food sucks
• They are always empty

also don't order the jared pedo special

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I wonder if they refer to the high royalty as the Jared Sex Settlement Tax.

man late to the jared joke party

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I have lived many places that I would loved to have a Subways near by.

And before Subway won the sub-wars, the same was true (probably even moreso) for Blimpies.

Even a town the size of, say Canton (circa 1990s), getting either was a very big deal. It was really the first chain to arrive that wasn't drivethru oriented not named pizza hut.

It was also cheaper than the only legit (VERY legit, NYC import owner, authentic deli quality ) sandwich shop in town (and for at least 15 miles in any direction) AND even more importantly, was open all day and into the night rather than merely doing lunch business.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And before Subway won the sub-wars, the same was true (probably even moreso) for Blimpies.

Even a town the size of, say Canton (circa 1990s), getting either was a very big deal. It was really the first chain to arrive that wasn't drivethru oriented not named pizza hut.

It was also cheaper than the only legit (VERY legit, NYC import owner, authentic deli quality ) sandwich shop in town (and for at least 15 miles in any direction) AND even more importantly, was open all day and into the night rather than merely doing lunch business.

Exactly. I used to love the smell of the fresh baked bread. There was no where that offered that at the btime around here. Now, there are sub shops I prefer over it, but I still eat at Subways at least once a month when I am working more rural areas. Places other restaurants would fail.

[cartman]

Been a weird past 24 hours. My dad went from going to the hospital with an angina attack, to needing an angioplasty and stent, to a full blown quadruple bypass.

He had the surgery last night, which went well.

[rjolley]

Originally Posted by cartman

Been a weird past 24 hours. My dad went from going to the hospital with an angina attack, to needing an angioplasty and stent, to a full blown quadruple bypass.

He had the surgery last night, which went well.

Glad to hear everything went well. Speedy recovery to him.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cartman

Been a weird past 24 hours. My dad went from going to the hospital with an angina attack, to needing an angioplasty and stent, to a full blown quadruple bypass.

He had the surgery last night, which went well.

Sounds like a whirlwind
Very glad to hear things turning in the right direction.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by cartman

Been a weird past 24 hours. My dad went from going to the hospital with an angina attack, to needing an angioplasty and stent, to a full blown quadruple bypass.

He had the surgery last night, which went well.

FWIW, mom had triple bypass and live for another 23+ years. The improvement was pretty radical after the bypass so hopefully he'll be as good as new.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Though Post Malone has kinda been a bit of a punch line for some of us after the whole duet with Ozzy thing, credit where it's due: the country cover (I've only seen the main performance one, not the aftershow one) he did on the Matt McConaghey benefit show last night was 100% legit afaic.

Sure, having a veteran country band (Dwight Yoakam's touring band) to work with had to make it easier but he still had to deliver the vocal & he did that in a fashion I saw absolutely nothing to find fault with.

Props.

[tarcone]

If you are looking to be a franchisee, I would look into Chick-fil-a. I believe the initial outlay is $10k. Then they do everything. You do have give them like 50% of you profits and something like 15% ownership, but you can make about $200k a year.

Not sure on the all the numbers as it was about a month ago when I saw it.

[Edward64]

Had to look it up.

Not sure why I would want to get into an CFA "franchise" if I don't really own it?

Chick-fil-A doesn't call the people who run its restaurants "franchisees." Instead, they're called "operators," which helps signify their role in the company. According to AOL, and this is hugely important, "Operators do not own or receive any equity in their businesses. The company picks the restaurant's location, and then owns the restaurant. Franchisees cannot sell their locations or pass them on to the next generation. Nor can they open multiple locations, which can limit franchisees' potential profits."
So, if you have the intention of buying a franchise you can later sell, Chick-fil-A isn't for yo

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Had to look it up.

Not sure why I would want to get into an CFA "franchise" if I don't really own it?

Part of that is not completely true. They can own more than one franchise (local owner has two), but the rest is probably correct. Why you want to own is they print money. I mean big volume.
The hard part of owning a CFA is becoming an owner. My understanding is you have work in their management training program for a year before you even qualify. Then, they are really strict where one can be built, and are very protective of the other store owners territories.


And just as an ad, I really question the $200k a year thing. The local owner owns two stores, rents an office to run managment for both stores out of, and his house is easily in the multi-million dollar range.

[Edward64]

We picked up lemonade and ice cream yesterday at 2pm. Busy as heck. They had 3 lines with teams of people taking orders and delivering them (e.g. in lanes 2 & 3).

You may not like the founder's take on stuff, but CFA is a well run machine. The quality and service is definitely higher than the others.

But I will say there is a lack of minorities at CFAs that I go to. I would be interested in seeing their HR metrics on # applicants, voluntary ethnicity info, how many are hired etc. My guess is there is an underlying problem there and won't be surprised if it catches up with them.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

We picked up lemonade and ice cream yesterday at 2pm. Busy as heck. They had 3 lines with teams of people taking orders and delivering them (e.g. in lanes 2 & 3).

You may not like the founder's take on stuff, but CFA is a well run machine. The quality and service is definitely higher than the others.

But I will say there is a lack of minorities at CFAs that I go to. I would be interested in seeing their HR metrics on # applicants, voluntary ethnicity info, how many are hired etc. My guess is there is an underlying problem there and won't be surprised if it catches up with them.

I wonder, but I will say the local store has minorities, including the store manager at the one closest to me.
And just another bit of info: You cannot sell a franchise on the open market, but you do cash out once you want to sell or if you die. The franchise can only be sold to someone qualified to own the store by Chick-fil-a, and the price you get is fair market value, not highest bidder.
All of this is really doesn't matter anyway. There is probably a lengthy waiting list for a franchise in Georgia right now. The best chance you would have is to try to get one where they under-represent, and evn then it would be a long process.

[sterlingice]

Have you ever wanted to move to South Dakota in the winter and own a Chick-Fil-A? Then do we have an opportunity for you!

SI

[pantera]

Originally Posted by Edward64

FWIW, mom had triple bypass and live for another 23+ years. The improvement was pretty radical after the bypass so hopefully he'll be as good as new.

Agreed. My dad had a triple bypass at 65 and never had another heart issue until his passing (cancer) at 81. I had open heart surgery 2 years ago this week to repair a valve and am doing really well.

Your dad should be fine.

[Ksyrup]

My wife ordered CFA on Friday after Caitlin's game and they screwed the order up. She got both drinks, but only one meal. I believe that's the first time since I've eaten at CFA for over 20 years that I can recall a mistake.

And yeah, my wife's pandemic meal ordering luck is amazing. This is now the 6th order that a place has screwed up since March 2020 and her meal has been impacted EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

And yeah, my wife's pandemic meal ordering luck is amazing. This is now the 6th order that a place has screwed up since March 2020 and her meal has been impacted EVERY SINGLE TIME.

The kinship I feel here is incredibly strong.

[Ksyrup]

It's become a running joke in our family. I made chicken on the grill a couple of weeks ago and only came inside with 3 breasts and told my wife the grill forgot hers.

[JPhillips]

I don't mean any disrespect to the officer or his family, but whoever picked Cat's in the Cradle as a song to honor the officer as a father doesn't understand the lyrics.