Tough Times in the Northwoods

[maximumpsi]

Back to the original topic of this thread -- I talk to a lot of snowmobile dealers and I've learned that at least one of the snowmobile manufacturers is making it hard for northwoods snowmobile dealers to stay in business. One dealer I talked to in northern Wisconsin said he got penalized because too many of the new sleds he sold were registered in southern Minnesota and northern Illinois, outside of his "area". Seems logical that snowmobilers want to buy and service their sleds where they ride, and want to support these local businesses.

Changing policies like this helps support small town businesses, and helps keep people in the sport with local service where they ride.

John Gehring
JohnDee.com advertiser
US Distributor for Skisaver Flex snowmobile ski wheels

 

[brad460]

Jumping back in, I'm with John and Snirtdawg. A good chunk of what I studied has absolutely no pertinence to what I do everyday. Just opens more doors.

Every day that I'm out on the factory floor, I think about how I would be a really good lead machinist. I would have saved a lot of money and probably be higher paid all things considered. Instead, i'm writing multi-million dollar CAPEX's to automate the jobs that guys like me would do very well. Way of the world, and I do think it sucks.

If I were to go back in time, I think I'd have been an electrician. Trust me, I pay electricians for capital projects, they are a lot better off than I am. Alas, it's too late for me now; I've carved my niche. Not bragging, but I know I'm really good at what I do and I work for a division of a Fortune 500 company and I can go anywhere. Just got to wait till those managerial jobs open up I guess.

Either way, please don't count us young guys out. We might have different ideas and backgrounds than the guys who run the game up North, but I want to help. Sorry I got so confrontational, I just want to friggin snowmobile. Guess I need to take that aggression out on a nice groomed trail instead!

BTW, I don't give a blank what anybody says, I like spending money at Northwood's bars and restaurants and so do all my buds. I hope the Norhtwood's bar system is around for my little guy to appreciate, that's all i really care about.

-LDF180

Typical millennial ....you wimp out when challenged on your opinions and apologize for being confrontational... Besides being brainwashed over global warming (or climate change...or whatever you're calling it now), your generation was raised without a backbone!

(oh and don't be offended- I am half kidding)..

Admin note: I was going to give this one the boot as it appeared to be a personal attack, but realized it was a spin-off from post #41. Carry on. This has gotten way off topic, but has been very enjoyable to read the different opinions, so keep-em coming!

 

[G]

I am 60. Back when I got out of High School you either went to college or you went to work on the family farm or you went to work with the county or the state driving road equipment. I ended up in Small Business after cramming 4 years of college into 10 and never graduating anyway. I am not bitching. I have done OK. In fact I can have macaroni and cheese anytime I want. Most of the farmer guys that chose to grow big are doing OK. They juggle incredible amounts of debt but they are for the most part OK. Every once in awhile one of them shoots themselves but most dont. The ones that chose not to grow big ended up getting squeezed out of farming and now either work for another farmer or a fertilizer company. And the ones that went to work for the county or state are all retiring now with good insurance and good pensions. They dont have as many toys as me if that is a measure of success but they don't have the stress either. So who was the smart guy?

 

[SledTL]

23 year old millennial checking in, this thread is all over the place but some of us like indy have our heads screwed on right. I put my time in this fall marking trails, and still bust my a$$ even if I have an engineering degree. We really need snow...

 

[snoluver1]

At the end of the day, no matter how much education or money you have, we're all a special kind of stupid! We have to be, to be snowmobilers! Lol

I'm heading west to find some snow. I'll end up spending upwards of a grand to ride for 4 days. Yup...I'm special all right. Enjoy the season my stupid brethren...it's short!

 

[euphoric1]

Agreed!

At the end of the day, no matter how much education or money you have, we're all a special kind of stupid! We have to be to be snowmobilers! Lol

I'm heading west to find some snow. I'll end up spending upwards of a grand to ride for 4 days. Yup...I'm special all right. Enjoy the season my stupid brethren...it's short!

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Grub, I gotta say you are one of the guys on this forum I'd truly like to sit down and have a beer with.

"So who was the smart guy?" I'm thinking it was the guy that found something he enjoyed doing. I have a plumber I use from time to time and he loves his work. His only concern is there are too few young plumbers coming up. I know some pilots that love to fly despite living out of a suitcase most of the time. It's not for me but if it makes them happy....It's true that a college education can and will open doors. It's also true that a Technical College can offer opportunities in about half the time. And let's not forget that Steve Jobs started Apple out of his parents garage while Bill Gates and Paul Allen dropped out of college to start Microsoft. In their case, timing was everything! They were in the right place at the right time with the right idea. So there's always that chance....

"I can have macaroni and cheese anytime I want...."

Personally, I like the sauteed Hot Dogs for the main course along with the Mac & Cheese. You gotta try it sometime.

Gary

 

[frnash]

Our company will not even look at people without a collage [sic] degree. Lots of qualified people out there with years on experience, that I personally know, and know they can do the job, but no degree = no interview.

Now you got my curiosity up. where do you find someone with a (click →) collage degree?
At a (click →) Liberal Arts School, perhaps?
I guess a (click →) STEM degree just wouldn't do, eh?

 

[frnash]

… college is defiantly [sic] not required for everyone. …

(click →) Defiantly not!

 

[blkhwkbob]

Grub, I gotta say you are one of the guys on this forum I'd truly like to sit down and have a beer with.

"So who was the smart guy?" I'm thinking it was the guy that found something he enjoyed doing. I have a plumber I use from time to time and he loves his work. His only concern is there are too few young plumbers coming up. I know some pilots that love to fly despite living out of a suitcase most of the time. It's not for me but if it makes them happy....It's true that a college education can and will open doors. It's also true that a Technical College can offer opportunities in about half the time. And let's not forget that Steve Jobs started Apple out of his parents garage while Bill Gates and Paul Allen dropped out of college to start Microsoft. In their case, timing was everything! They were in the right place at the right time with the right idea. So there's always that chance....




Personally, I like the sauteed Hot Dogs for the main course along with the Mac & Cheese. You gotta try it sometime.

Gary

All those computer guys were geniuses in the first place.

 

[Sweep800]

The real genius is the guy that invented yoga pants! LOL
Heading up to my non educated blue collar place in St Germain in a couple hours. Woot!

 

[nc666]

At the end of the day, no matter how much education or money you have, we're all a special kind of stupid! We have to be, to be snowmobilers! Lol

I'm heading west to find some snow. I'll end up spending upwards of a grand to ride for 4 days. Yup...I'm special all right. Enjoy the season my stupid brethren...it's short!

A grand for 4 days , how can you do it that cheap , mine is closer to a grand a day.

 

[1fujifilm]

A grand for 4 days , how can you do it that cheap , mine is closer to a grand a day.

Maybe he lives in Denver, he doesn't state where he is from.
Could be a quick run up to Monarch pass. I was there in September, pretty close to the City and looks to be sweet riding.

Bear

 

[snoluver1]

A grand for 4 days , how can you do it that cheap , mine is closer to a grand a day.

Lots of practice, I guess.? 4 guys in a truck, split all costs. Rent a small house/cabin, bring our own food, etc. I'm in northern IL. 1000 miles 1 way to Snowies.

 

[indy_500]

A grand for 4 days , how can you do it that cheap , mine is closer to a grand a day.

I rode in the snowies for 4 days a couple weeks ago, stayed in a VERY nice LARGE cabin that is brand new and ate steak every night and spent under $600...

 

[nc666]

I rode in the snowies for 4 days a couple weeks ago, stayed in a VERY nice LARGE cabin that is brand new and ate steak every night and spent under $600...

No way gas alone is at least $100 a day , but those Banquet Salisbury steak dinners are awesome.lol

 

[sjb]

The real genius is the guy that invented yoga pants! LOL
Heading up to my non educated blue collar place in St Germain in a couple hours. Woot!

But...............should never go past a medium size however.

 

[indy_500]

No way gas alone is at least $100 a day , but those Banquet Salisbury steak dinners are awesome.lol

Well you must be trail riding as 6 hours of technical tree/mountain riding cost no more than $25 a day in sled gas for premium in my pro... i ate out for every single meal, didn't bring any food with me except granola bars and powerade/water. If you go to Togwotee mountain lodge and pound out 200 miles a day i could see the cost quadrupling easily as that place knows how to suck your money from you.

 

[snoluver1]

Even at the Togwotee trap, I don't know how you could spend a grand per day??? Hookers and blow part of the package deal now?

 

[rp7x]

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