CABL Forum - Re:What's happened to the primes?

you know, i'm just a hick from wisconsin, and i never really had to play the hardball game until i got into sweep and went nationwide. then i really learned what it meant to get f*cked. the primes around here are: broadband communications-depere, wisconsin. fenix(now bought out by orius)communications, green bay and fondulac, wisconsin, and cci out of michigan. also i worked the east coast for channel communications in sheboygan, wisconsin and had to prove(by looking at my saved maps) that the area they had a problem with wasnt mine...to get my retainage back. the most any of these companies took was $500. i got fu*ked for 20 times that money when i got in to the real world of hardball sweep with the pros. "if ya cant piss with the big dogs..." well, wisconsin might be hotter'n hell in the summer, and so cold ya dont see yer balls fer 6 months in winter, but i kinda like sittin' on my porch and enjoying things a little. check out these companies, maybe they have opportunities available. mark. triple s telecom llc box 35 larsen, wi 54947. 9208361998

>I wish it were that easy. I've been working for primes for 7yrs until a few months ago. Of the 5 I've worked for 3 are sitting idle, 1 has gone out of business, and 1 sold out and is also idle. Now, anyone with work claims to be a prime.
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>>when i was splicing i saw guys who could talk a good game, but who couldnt splice shit becoming qualified subs/primes because they new what the mso wanted to hear. what the mso wants to hear is yes. yes. yes. So if you want to move up instead of having some asshole climb over you in this monkeypile we call contracting, you have to learn how to appeal to the people in the mso. hire a few guys, kiss a little ass, and get the contract! Take someone out to eat a few times and talk about your need to make a living in this cutthroat world. Then have the people to do the work.
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>>>What goin on? Youv'e got Companies who are 3rd or 4th down line from the PRIME claiming to be the prime.All these middle men are taking all the money and doing little or nothing for it! It used to be the PRIMES hired the subs {who did the work}, now they hire a co. who hires another co. who hires another co. who MAY hire subs.I'm primarily talking about mapping, but after looking around for other types of work I'm running into the same thing. I'm convinced this is the reason for the lowering of prices over the past 2 yrs. EXAMPLE: The prime pays $250/mi---contractor takes 30% leaving $175/mi----next cont. 30%= $122.50/mi---and now comes the so called prime paying $75-$85/mi NOW, CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW, AFTER PAYING FOR W/C INS.,LIABILITY INS.,HEALTH INS., TRUCK INS., TRUCK PYMT.,HOUSE PYMT, $250-400/WK MOTEL, $150-200/WK GAS,AND $100/WK FOOD ON THE ROAD, A PERSON CAN SURVIVE ON $600-800/WK BEFORE TAKING OUT 10% RETAINAGE. NOT TO MENTION WAITING 5 WEEKS FOR YOUR FIRST $600 CHECK! BY THE TIME YOU SUBTRACT JUST TRAVEL EXPENSES AND DIVIDE BY THE # HRS WORKED, IT COMES OUT TO LESS THAN MIN. WAGE! IF THE PRIMES WANT THE QUALITY WORK THEY CLAIM THEY WANT FOR THE MONEY THEYR'E PAYING, THEY HAVE GOT TO CUT OUT ALL THESE MIDDLE MEN! I HOPE OTHERS WILL STAND WITH ME AND REFUSE TO WORK FOR THESE FLY BY NITE COMPANIES. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT MAP FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN $150/MI EVEN IF IT MEANS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AFTER 20 YRS.

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Re:What's happened to the primes?