Hey gang, there comes a point in one's life where realizing there are certain things not even money can buy, things not even "good looks" can seduce, things not even intelligence can solve; turn back time.
I sit here in this fithy hotel room boner-harded surfing porn and Beyond on highspeed wireless reminiscing the days of dial-up, reminiscing the days of $0.60/litre gas, reminiscing similarities between popstar Britney and I - able to play game so tight cause we be it virgins. Then I look in the mirror thinking shit son, this September will mark 10 years since I initially signed my youth away to become trained in my specific automotive field of skill.
Reminiscing the old days how far the industry has evolved. (for those who don't know, I fix car dents, but without filler or repaint)... In the old days "they" made this trade so secretive some dent guys only visit dealerships/bodyshops after work hours when the employees go home, old days metal and paint didn't perform as to now, had to pay huge amounts of $$$$$$ for private training/"tutor" session, old days tools and techniques (honest training) didn't allow the results we can achieve now, not as much competition, not as much public knowledge (good for hacks, bad for good techs trying to get biz), not as much auto industry support (bodyshop thinks it's against them, now you can hybrid and merge/promote 2 services pending on damage), not as much exposure (i.e. more people have internet now, more quality dent shops try to describe our skill publicly and not behind closed doors knowing chances of past customers talking to someone else about how a repair "should" turn out is slim to none)
Anyways so back on topic, for those who aren't emerged in the automotive trade, you guys have no ideas the uphill disadvantage for me being on Beyond (i.e. Beyond hard group to please, pissin' off the competitors; it'll be like a bodyshop painter coming on here saying: "careful with dirt in paint, careful with colour mis-match, panel misalignment... but look here's my personal work, good luck" but those are all common sense in that field)
The only reason I've gotten decent reviews on here is purely because I'm just speaking as a true technician, the dent removals I provide is product driven and not political (advertising, discounts, carshows, hype)... and people happy with my "business" is just because I'm just a single owner-operated tech business, I treat you guys like I would like to be treated myself as a customer of other business products whether it'd be sandwich shop, electronic store, buying used car, etc... The whole "Tom Co limited" brand doesn't mean shit, but just a legal and tax purpose requirement.
With that said, my role as a sponsor here is kind of different than other sponsors, more of a "show and tell" than provide, hoping to do something positive with my whole industry. Which kind of sucks and I feel bad, but because I'm just one tech, I more or less work for others (with big contract projects), then I may take on side jobs during free time (i.e. Beyond, but sorry, that only accounts for 5-7% of my annual income)
Some of yous will wait till I'm available (thanks for support), some can't... But if you're reading this far, here's what I'm going to try to do for the community. Since I'm not on Beyond to PURELY gain business and always unavailable, so for my 10 year anniversary since starting this trade, I'm going to be giving away some free prizes of other cool and reputable businesses on Beyond or mentioned on Beyond. "Sponsor the Sponsors"
I hope this will encourage a stronger Marketplace community, more honest dealings (less lowballing), more support and trust to go around. Only 1 year ago, my business service was a victim of taken advantage of (non payment or no barter recieved), seeing my "business" belongs to the labour owner, that means I got scammed. That was totally not a good experience.
Here's how you could win some free prizes on me, actually some of these businesses donated their products/services when I conducted them with my cause.
Eligibility
- No purchase necessary
- Registered Beyond members before August, 2008 (this prevents people from starting a crap load of accounts, so sorry August, 2008 registered excluded)
- Business accounts excluded (ok for moderators, adminstrators, owners)
- Alberta residence (please realize most of these credits are from Calgary based businesses; pointless winning prize if you're not from here/Alberta)
To Enter
- Reply to this post, and write about your life experience within these 10 years. It'll be neat hearing what people have been doing. Either in a chronology order (life resume list), or "then and now" (i.e. school then, work now)
- You are encouraged to be as open as possible, please do not criticize anyone else's own life choices... Everyone is welcome to share their story: from the jocks who became cops, to the sluts maturing to responsible moms.
Prizes to be won (Prizes drawn in decending order, highest to lowest #1)
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(added: August 18, 2008)
ADDITIONAL "participation prizes" you MUST BE PRESENT and qualify for these, handed out on the spot (if you're not there, your name will be re-entered into original #1 - #16)
#22- $50 Esso gas card
#21- $50 Esso gas card
#20- $50 Esso gas card
#19- $50 Esso gas card
#18- $50 Esso gas card
#17- $50 Esso gas card
____________________________________________________
#16 - $50 gift credit Urban Expressions Wheel & Tire Inc. Bay #6, 1303 44th Avenue NE Calgary, AB; contact Beyond: Tirebob
#15 - $50 gift credit Urban Expressions Wheel & Tire Inc.
#14 - $50 gift credit Urban Expressions Wheel & Tire Inc.
#13 - $50 gift credit Speedtech Racing Development Inc. 1655 32 Avenue NE Calgary, AB; contact Beyond: Will@STRD
#12 - $50 gift credit Speedtech Racing Development Inc.
#11 - $50 gift credit Speedtech Racing Development Inc.
#10 - $50 gift credit Peking Peking Restaurant #232, #8338, 18th Street SE Calgary, AB; contact Beyond: max_boost
#9 - $50 gift credit Peking Peking Restaurant
#8 - $50 gift credit Peking Peking Restaurant NOTE: This credit is provided/ donated by max_boost (owner) himself
#7 - $50 gift credit Option Import Auto & Tire Inc. 4674 Macleod Trail SW Calgary, AB: contact Beyond: option-import
#6 - $50 gift credit Option Import Auto & Tire Inc.
#5 - $50 gift credit Option Import Auto & Tire Inc.
#4 - $50 gift credit gtHID.ca Calgary, AB; contact Beyond: Brendan_4g63
#3 - $50 gift credit gtHID.ca
#2 - $50 gift credit gtHID.ca
#1 - and FINALLY, this grand prize is fully donated and sponsored by the business for this event: Full vehicle detailing package from Mobile Reflections www.mobilereflections.ca in Calgary, AB; contact Beyond: Jed Bouscal up to a value of $600 six hundred
Deadline for entry
- August 27, 2008 @ 11:59pm Mountain standard time (Calgary), your reply must be time stamped before then (below your avator)
Draw Date
- Nick Chow (Shadowz on Beyond) will be the man in charge and conducting the draw on September 3, 2008 @ the Chinook meet.
Claim prize
- Winners wil be announced in this thread
- Winner(s) must provide real name (to me privately, then forwarded to appropriate vendor), the name given will be the only person claiming prize at vendor with photo ID. Sorry, these vendors are very accommodating, but I'm not doing the: "Hey, can you please change one of the winner's credits from so and so, because his girlfriend's sister's dog's neigbhour's aunt is coming in town to pick it up"
- Winner schedule (or drop by) appropriate vendor, provide photo ID, claim prize
- Enjoy!
Disclaimer and Terms of Use:
- Tom Co Paintless Dent Repair Ltd., hereafter, TomcoPDR, reserve rights to change, cancel, alter draw conditions without notice.
- TomcoPDR does NOT guarantee accuarcy of draw
- TomcoPDR not responsible for actual services or any damages or injuries or deaths by prize vendors (listed #1-16)
- Entries and contestants of this draw release TomcoPDR of any liabilities and accept any errros by entering
- Prize credits must be used on or before closing business day on September 3, 2009
- Winner of Mobile Reflections (listed #1) prize must accept servicing hours and schedule provide by Mobile Reflections
- Maximum of 1 prize per user (i.e. name not re-entered into next draws)
- All prizes must be claimed at according vendors, no cash surrender or residual values
- Prizes non-transferrable. Winners' full name will be forwarded to according prize vendors, names given must match photo ID when prize being claimed on site.
Thanks for the past support everyone!