$led Rental$

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Mark@TimberlineSports

New member
dawolf said:
I'm a business owner too I understand the costs the public doesn't see or think about. Every month i start out 35k in the hole just to turn on the lights. Joe public doesn't get that.

My point is that the rental shop isn't fixing broken rentals to break even or out of the goodness of your heart. Repairs and damage are built into the business plan. If you're not building the lost opportunity cost into the price of repairs,money is walking out your door, that you deserve to keep. If someone wrecks your sled it shouldn't hit your bottom line if your agreement is written right.

I'm not bashing the shops at all. Quite the opposite. But having seen newbies pay $250 to replace a set of junk "wear bars" it occurred to me that rental agencies probably don't mind a little damage now and then. Especially in the middle of the week.

Sorry if I'm off topic.

I'll go back to praying that I can pull the boat out of storage next week. Hoping otherwise hasn't panned out so far.
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I see your point, the only thing is you cant rent a sled that is broken. Therefore, if you have the sleds booked back to back you have to cancel the next renters while you wait for parts that are hopefully not back ordered. That doesn't go over very well when the guy picking it up in the morning has traveled 6+ hours to ride. I know, I know Spares. We should have spare sleds for that very thing. Well, we do, a couple. It is pretty hard at the price of the new sleds to have 10 or 15 sleds sitting around "just in case".

I would be VERY VERY happy if there was no damage. EVER.

BTW $250 for wear bars?? WTH? Are you sure there is not more to that story?

-Mark
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bonnevier

Member
A couple of thoughts on this topic:

Like others have stated on this thread, myself along with about 5 others guys end up renting sleds almost every year for our guys trip. Why? Well between us we have 11 kids and the opportunities to head north is very minimal at this point in our lives. Throw in the cost of storing, towing, insurance, etc...it just makes more sense. Last year we took off due to the most recent addition to my family so that would have been a wasted year of unused equipment. Don't get me wrong, when/if I have the expendable cash and time I am buying one!

With that said...the last few years we have rented from Mark and his dad Marlin at Timberline and that's for a couple of reasons. First, they are great people to work with and have always been honest and nice to do business with. Second, we have enjoyed the Doos and are looking forward to trying the 4 strokes this year. Sure we have had some break downs...one that comes to mind was a broken/snapped A-arm that was caused by an extremely bumpy trail 12 from Onto to White Pine. We have all been on 2-3 foot mogul trails before and he must of hit one the wrong way. Didn't notice it until we limped into the Konteka, had a few drinks and an hour or 2 later they trailered a new one too us. I believe they sent this one back to the manufacturer as it was an highly unusual case.

In any event and in most cases, if you are honest with people they are more than likely going to be honest with you. That is what we have found with Timberline. We also had great experiences with Guy and the folks at LGSC. Can't say the same for when rented out of Hurley as they tried to nickel and dime us for no reason.
 
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dawolf

New member
Mark@TimberlineSports said:
I see your point, the only thing is you cant rent a sled that is broken. Therefore, if you have the sleds booked back to back you have to cancel the next renters while you wait for parts that are hopefully not back ordered. That doesn't go over very well when the guy picking it up in the morning has traveled 6+ hours to ride. I know, I know Spares. We should have spare sleds for that very thing. Well, we do, a couple. It is pretty hard at the price of the new sleds to have 10 or 15 sleds sitting around "just in case".

I would be VERY VERY happy if there was no damage. EVER.

BTW $250 for wear bars?? WTH? Are you sure there is not more to that story?

-Mark
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I appreciate the service sled rental shops provide and don't have an issue with them making a buck. I hope they make a buck and keep offering sleds. My fantasy would be to move to the northwoods and set up a rental/sales business. But like most fantasies probably better in my head....

Really just started my comments as a bit of good natured ribbing.

Please, no one take my comments as a dig at any of the outfits on this site or those responding to this thread.

Pray for rain!
 
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chad66

Member
Trust me, I'm sure there are shops that welcome some damage, there's shady people everywhere. I'm with, Mark though, a perfect season would have ZERO damage. Last year I even figured I'd put 6" triple bergstrom carbides on all my new Cat's...figured never have to change them out in the season so with the cost of paying a guy to check them all the time I just might save money AND have a better handeling sled, win win!? Until the guy that wore threw his carbides and ski's decided he should have a set of new ski's and bergstroms off one of my rentals. You just cant plan for everything. The good thing is, for every A-hole I've encountered through snowmobiling, I've met two great people! Heck I even met, Mark through snowmobile racing!
Chad@M&M
 
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Mark@TimberlineSports

New member
Dawolf - I didnt think any of your comments were meant in the wrong way at all I was just throwing out the other side of the coin.

Chad- Yep racing it was! I cant remember if it was one of the countless times you came to our trailer looking for help or parts? Or was it one of the countless times you were looking for advice on how to go faster? Maybe it was one of the countless times you came to eat Caged_Beagles A$$ burner Chili? I dont recall!

:cool:

-Mark
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Modman440

New member
I own sleds and have rented i got my snopro new in 10 abd ill keep it for a long time to come but only reason i bought it is because i rented one with 0.1 miles on it and fell in love. But i think the prices now a days is crazy who wants to pay 230 bucks to rent a sled for 24 hours that is a months payment for a new one to call your own
 
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Tankjo

Member
Well I'm not sure ,but LIFE IS WAAAY TOO SHORT....You have to have some kind of hobbie . JUST DEW IT!!!!! (HAHA>>>HA) Ok that being said,I'ts not cheap but to me,my wife and our grandson it's well worth it!!!! LET IT SNOW!!!!
 
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chad66

Member
Hey...it's starting to snow! WHOOP WHOOP!

Mark, pretty sure it started with helping you guys in the pits...and I recall a guy sleeping in my trailer at a race...looked a lot like you! Ahh those were the days.

Chad@M&M
 
gogebic_sledder

gogebic_sledder

Member
Mark@TimberlineSports said:
I see your point, the only thing is you cant rent a sled that is broken. Therefore, if you have the sleds booked back to back you have to cancel the next renters while you wait for parts that are hopefully not back ordered. That doesn't go over very well when the guy picking it up in the morning has traveled 6+ hours to ride. I know, I know Spares. We should have spare sleds for that very thing. Well, we do, a couple. It is pretty hard at the price of the new sleds to have 10 or 15 sleds sitting around "just in case".

I would be VERY VERY happy if there was no damage. EVER.

BTW $250 for wear bars?? WTH? Are you sure there is not more to that story?

-Mark
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-Hey my sleds are at your shop right now , hope there not being used as spares(just kidding)How's my new track and riser look? Is your rental fleet ace's this season or 2 smokes. We're bringing up some brother in laws in Feb. and their not borrowing my second sled. Always put newbies on rentals, they will be more careful when it's their credit card.
 
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xcsp

Member
Modman440 said:
I own sleds and have rented i got my snopro new in 10 abd ill keep it for a long time to come but only reason i bought it is because i rented one with 0.1 miles on it and fell in love. But i think the prices now a days is crazy who wants to pay 230 bucks to rent a sled for 24 hours that is a months payment for a new one to call your own
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Better to spend $200 to rent a sled, especially if you're thinking of purchasing a specific brand or model, better than buying a new sled & not liking it.

Someone mentioned about someone offering discount coupons for renting on this site, here is the link:

http://www.johndee.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?37270-Save-money-on-renting-this-year!!!
 
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caged_beagle

Member
Mark@TimberlineSports said:
Dawolf - I didnt think any of your comments were meant in the wrong way at all I was just throwing out the other side of the coin.

Chad- Yep racing it was! I cant remember if it was one of the countless times you came to our trailer looking for help or parts? Or was it one of the countless times you were looking for advice on how to go faster? Maybe it was one of the countless times you came to eat Caged_Beagles A$$ burner Chili? I dont recall!

:cool:

-Mark
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↑Ha Ha burns on the way down and the way out! And I had plenty of hours napping in both those trailers........and motel room bathtubs. ARGHHHH. Thanks Chad and Mark for some great memories.

Now, with all the snow on the ground let the rental mis-hap excuses fly...........

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Mark@TimberlineSports

New member
gogebic_sledder said:
-Hey my sleds are at your shop right now , hope there not being used as spares(just kidding)How's my new track and riser look? Is your rental fleet ace's this season or 2 smokes. We're bringing up some brother in laws in Feb. and their not borrowing my second sled. Always put newbies on rentals, they will be more careful when it's their credit card.
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Your new track is sweet! I think your really going to like it! Now all we need is some snow. When are you headed this way?

-Mark
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bonnevier

Member
Mark & Chad...have you had any rentals go out yet this season/are you even letting them go at this point?

Just curious!
 
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Mark@TimberlineSports

New member
We had a couple yesterday go to Rockland and back, other than that we had a couple go out today. We are letting sleds go out, but conditions IMO are iffy at best.

-Mark
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