Rampage repair could be costly at VisionLand

jdancisin: If a company doesn't want a project, whether it is because they think it is a headache or not, they don't bid on it. Simple as that. The notion that a company would go through the trouble to put a high bid together just to avoid being selected is a complete load of garbage. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one. *** This post was edited by bigboy on 11/6/2002. ***

bigboy:

I've worked with contractors who do exactly that. They bid high to avoid the project, but they bid to get their name in. In construction, it's almost always better to bid and lose than to not bid at all. On any state or federally funded project, law requires at least 3 bids be entered for a project to even be considered. Sometimes contractors will submit a hihg bid because the gov't needs a third bid. This is a rare situation, but it does happen.

Something that I learned in accounting..."Good will" between two companies has equity. It's actually calculated. A good contractor purposely bidding high on a project with a good client is a measure of "good will" and improves the value of the company and relationship between.

Now that I think about it...why would GCI add a whole bunch of stuff to their bid? Typically, clients issue a bid set of drawings and a specifications book to contractors. Based on those requirements, the contractor submits a figure to complete the work. If the contractor proposes any additional changes, they do not do that in the bidding process, rather after the bid has been awarded. It could be a case of bad reporting, but I find it wierd that they would add a whole bunch of stuff to their bid. Really, it's not fair...if the other company propsoed exactly the same thing as GCI, they may been cheaper and gotten the contract.

Okay, I'll buy that. It seems like a very expensive means of advertising, but what you've said makes sense. However, I'm willing to bet that in the amusement business its the exception rather than the norm.

bigboy:
My company has overbid jobs we didnt really want numerous times. Simple as that.

Now, I dont know if that is the case in this situation but I do know for a fact that companies do overbid on purpose sometimes.

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sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't

Chris: Unless the law has changed since '97 or you meet very specific criteria, the home-office deduction is little more than an audit trigger. Those of us who have operated consulting businesses (I used to be a freelance radio engineer) where much of the obvious work has to be done at the client's site have long been shafted on that one...

Anyway, getting back on topic...
Here's my theory. CCI and GCI have (for simplicity I'll use the present tense for both) different engineering standards. This applies not only to construction methods and materials, but also to the dynamic limits applied to the passengers. GCI, for instance, admits that they will not design for a vertical acceleration of less than 0G downward. My theory? When the company agrees to do the work on the coaster, they open themselves to the possibility of assuming the liability for the safe operation of that ride "as built." In other words, if GCI performs repairs on the ride to make it just as it was when it was new, and something happens because of CCI's engineering, the potential exists for GCI to be held liable for not "fixing" the design problem. So my guess is that GCI opted to place their bid based on the expectation that when finished, the ride would meet or exceed GCI's engineering standards.

And no, I don't know anything about this situation beyond what I just read in the Brimingham News story.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

You should fire your sister then because there is no magic percentage. It's calculated as a square-foot percentage of your overall space against your rent, or if it's a mortgage, against the value only of the home, not the land it's on. Furthermore, if you own, you will likely have to pay back a portion of the money you deducted when you sell. See form 8829.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Well, let me just say this Chris...

If you are trying to get a business started, I would not be talking about potential jobs on a message board for coaster enthusiasts. That is a recipe for disaster. There are a lot more people who are high up in the management of Major and Small Amusement Parks that read these boards religiously. I would be seen but not heard. This is just a word of advice. I understand you might know little tidbits of information regarding some work being done in the industry, but leak it elsewhere and let that person commit information suicide. I think if you ask anyone else on here who owns their own company they would agree,... Jeff?

Don't take this as a slam. Just some honest advice.

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"Sit down, enjoy much airtime and put your feet IN the fire!"

"He's gross,... He ain't gettin' none of this!"

Hey, don't get on my case... you said to Dave that, "As long as you use more than 25% of your living quarters for office space, you can gain a deduction for it." That isn't correct. No part of it is correct.

Scorcherboy is right. You don't hang out on the Internet talking about stuff even vaguely. You sure as hell don't post projects on your Web site (which I think are bogus anyway) until the project is announced, because it's just too obvious in this small little community what they'd be.

I still think you're a fraud.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

If you were a higher up would you hire a consultant that goes on boards and plays the "I know something you don't know" game with kids? The very fact that he's on this board (and just about every other board) flaunting his "job" is enough to tell me that he is one of two things...1. a phony or 2. an idiot.

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WOOD: It does a body good.

Fraud, Jeff don't you think you're being a little too lenient?

If you really worked in the industry, Godsey, either you'd say nothing at all or you'd at least prove to be a little more knowledgable.

Even if you DO work somewhere out there, don't you realize what rumors come from posting ANYTHING related on the web?

Sometimes we all know things that we may WANT to let leak out, even slightly, but OUR BETTER JUDGEMENT tells us not to.

Hell, if I went around saying every little thing that I ever heard from a park, I wouldn't be allowed at any more media events or anything of the like. There are some privledges I choose to keep. Sometimes a very bad descision can cost you.

--Josh

In case anyone was thinking about becoming a pathological liar in their future, please visit www.godseyrides.com and someone with tons of experience in the field will be happy to provide expert consulting!

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WOOD: It does a body good.

I don't know about you, but I STILL believe that Titan_Fan_13 was a real guy with millions doing legit research on his park and not a 13 year old kid with a lot of pipe dreams! ;) ;)

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- Peabody

It weird looking at this... I'm a regular at a few other coaster boards, and its actually quite funny that they all have their villains :P

Go figure.

Captain Obvious here...

Commissioner Gordon called me on the hotline to tell me something in CoasterBuzz City reeked of month-old diapers.

I navigated to the site in question, took some samples and did some analysis on the ObviousComputer and nothing came up. That's right, absolutely nothing.

Why anyone would hire a consulting firm owned by a man that posts no credentials whatsoever....no degrees, no certifications, no specific work experience or history, not even when and where he graduated high school is beyond me.

A firm with a staff of four other employees without names, much less credentials to stand by.

With a steel coaster in the works so unique it doesn't even have specs....talk about mind-blowing.

A 'company' that lacks its own separate $40 a month phone line. Now THAT'S impressive.

I could whip a site together with RCT screenshots and have something more substantial.

As for the IAAPA membership as proof of legitimacy--gimme a break. Actually, calling yourself a 'consultant' gets you in to IAAPA for about $100 less than an individual membership. See the ugly truth for yourself.

-Yo Cap'n, Baby gettin bizzy with the High Pressure Hose of Da Troof

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo. *** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 11/7/2002. ***

Did he actually delete all of his posts in this thread? Huh...If so, I guess he really showed all of us who's boss. Really, I actually thought he might have a little bit of legitamacy until I saw his web site.

Well lets see here. Marketing is famous for dropping hints, Peeking interest and playing with peoples minds.

One person says something and is called a fraud, Other people say things that they are clearly in the know about but are not allowed to come right out with it and are called "RESPECTABLE"

Go figure, I thought there was something about personal attacks in the TOS.

Chuck, It's not my board, Nungester

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

Come on Playa... we don't need to know about his education. I mean, he's been riding coasters since he was 4! What more credentials do you need?

So when do we start to see "DaTroof.com" TV spots?

It does appear he deleted all of his posts. I don't even see a reason to comment on that... it speaks for itself.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

It doesn't look like he got all of his posts, but I guess he took my FREE ADVICE. I have never met this guy, and I feel sorry for him getting the crap kicked out of him on this board.

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"Sit down, enjoy much airtime and put your feet IN the fire!"

"He's gross,... He ain't gettin' none of this!" *** This post was edited by Scorcherboy on 11/8/2002. ***

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One person says something and is called a fraud...Go figure, I thought there was something about personal attacks in the TOS.

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What makes this a personal attack? If you look earlier in the thread, you'll see where I pulled the people accusing Chris Godsey of being Darren Mullins off of him because it wasn't true.

Other than that--I clicked, I saw, I raised the troubling questions. He could have answered them if he wanted to...or if they had answers at all.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

FYI, this will my last post regarding this subject...

Again, ANY of you on here could have e-mailed me and asked me those questions. I would have gladly answered all of them. I would have sent you my credentials, my staffs credentials and certifications, and even my friggin bloodtype if it would help. I have always made myself available by posting all of my e-mail addresses and contact information. But, all of you have chosen to try to make yourselves look good on here by degrading me in any way you can. Everyone feels that I deserve all of this treatment for some reason. What reason, I dont know. My website just launched on Monday for God's sake! Since this is just my first draft of it, there is still TONS of stuff to add. I deleted all of my posts in this thread because it made no sense to keep them there. Anyone can always e-mail me to discuss it.

Almost all of my posts on these boards have been simply made as an enthusiast. They have simply been my subjective comments and opinions all relating back to me being an enthusiast. Regardless of my day job I will always be an enthusiast first and foremost. I really enjoyed chatting on these forums and interacting with other enthusiasts. But, as I noticed on this and other boards, things change. If I continue to chat on these boards it will be for nothing more than me being an enthusiast.

I have come to learn in life there are social groups everywhere you go whether its high school or online in these message boards. Just like in High school you have your so called "popular people" that try to exhude their dominance over the whole school. They try their best to turn the people around them into themselves and try to make them part of the "herd". If someone says or does anything the herd doesnt like, they attempt to publically humiliate them to show that the "herd" is right and you are in the wrong. The exact same thing happens on here and other message boards.

People on these boards think the admins of them are all knowing and wise. History has shown us people tend to follow people with perceived power. They tend to follow and agree with them regardless of what they say. When people tend not to agree with the "herd" and voice their own opinions, they are publically blasted. If the "herd" thinks you are wrong in any way, they try to make sure that everyone one on these boards see your mistake(s) and that they know the "herd" is always correct regardless of what it is.

Well, I think all of this "herd" crap is totally unnecessary. I thought the purpose of this board was to join together and discuss and learn more about our hobby not choose sides and try to conform everyone to your way of thinking. Having opinions is a good thing and I am all for it. But, there is a time and place for everything. If you have something personal to discuss with me, be an adult and discuss it with in an e-mail. Think about it before you post hurtful remarks on here about anyone. All you are doing is making yourself look bad in the long run. *** This post was edited by Chris Godsey on 11/7/2002. ***