Driving the van around on weekends

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Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
How many of you drive your van around for your personal errands
ie: weekends etc........ I've started doing it for the additional advertisement for these slower times....You see a whole different set of folks out and about. I get the good parking spots at the restraunt, walmart, lowes.... so everyone see's my graphics when they come out the door.....:D
 
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SEO

Senior Member
Location
Michigan
I've had a few people call over the years and say that got our number off a parked truck . You have already paid for the lettering might as well take advantage of it.
 
ceb58

ceb58

Senior Member
Location
Raeford, NC
The only experience I had with my small trailer that had the graphics was a lady who was behind me called me to tell me I had a brake light out ( which was nice of her) and some guy saw me in a restaurant parking lot and tried to ask 10,000 diy questions:mad:.
 
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nakulak

Senior Member
just don't drive the van to the local bar when you decide to get tanked - that's the kind of advertising you might not want.
 
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Duke E

Member
Location
Washington
I?ve heard the argument that van lettering is the cheapest advertisement that can be purchased. I also believe it might be the least effective. Less than 5% of my business is initiated through van side logos. I?m not sure its worth the additional liabilities that come with weekend driving. If it works for you, more power to ya.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
I would not be too concerned about the insurance issue. But a quick check with your agent might be in order.

In fact, any personal use of the vehicle is supposed to be paid for by the user, or reported as taxable income, but in practice it is near impossible to police.
 
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Duke E

Member
Location
Washington
Mule said:
How many of you drive your van around for your personal errands :D
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To specifically answer your question...I don't allow it. Business cards are less expensive and word of mouth is free. Imho, your better off parking the van and picking up the phone.:)
 
GUNNING

GUNNING

Senior Member
Location
Gainesville, Florida
SHirts too!

SHirts too!

I will give my kids logo tees to wear to the mall, school etc. I always walk around a little if I'm in an area with a lot of foot traffic with a clean work shirt on. I get looks from drivers when I drive around on the weekend and I can see them thinking, Weekend electrician. hmmmm. ...
I have a plumber friend who parks his trucks along the busy main road next to THE mall. Its like a giant moving billboard. Brand recognition. It gets you work. Thats the whole idea isn't it?
Have you tried something new called the internet. Its out there 24/7.
 
little sparkie

little sparkie

Member
Location
Mt. Airy, MD
driving the van around on weekends

driving the van around on weekends

I have a tan '08 Silverado 3/4 ton with a Reading Spacemaster 57" utility body on the back (I ran the circuit for the overhead crane that dropped the body on the truck, also wired the crane...cool), worked out of one of those when I first got in the trade and told myself I'd have one of my own one fine day. So now I do. I got out on my own a little more than 2 years ago and have 3 trucks now, all have the company name and contact info. on them. The '08 is the newest and prettiest of the fleet and the only custom-lettered one, the other 2 have magnetic signs. But from the first I have got calls from people telling me they saw my truck, they're next to it at a light, in traffic, they were eating dinner in a restaurant and there I was sitting at a light and they wrote the number down, etc. I drive those trucks, especially the new one, anyplace I can. Yes, there is a risk, but I have had no trouble since we all try our best to not drive like a %#$@ and the investment in "rolling billboards" has produced fantastic returns. So I say go for it and good luck, give 'em hell!!
 
O

ohm

Senior Member
Location
Birmingham, AL
SEO said:
I've had a few people call over the years and say that got our number off a parked truck . You have already paid for the lettering might as well take advantage of it.
Click to expand...

I will take my big truck to do an estimate. It gets lousy mileage but I show off my capability which often gets me the job. It must work, there are companies that have billboard type signs on their sides. They try to stop at all the lights and circle the block constantly.

If you can't get a parking spot when you take your wife out to dinner just take the truck next time, double park in front of the restaurant with the flashers on and an orange cone front & back. You'll get free parking, advertising, quick service and possibly a ticket.:smile:
 
tonyou812

tonyou812

Senior Member
Location
North New Jersey
Ive gotten several servicd calls and smaller jobs with my logo. It works, if that is the sort of stuff you do. I know alot of EC generally dont like doing resi so they dont see any need to advertise.
 
Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
tonyou812 said:
Ive gotten several servicd calls and smaller jobs with my logo. It works, if that is the sort of stuff you do. I know alot of EC generally dont like doing resi so they dont see any need to advertise.
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That's very true for us. Resi small jobs and service is our least favorite, but we take it all, as it all buys groceries. We try really hard to skew our business toward commercial and industrial. In fact while everyone else has higher rates for commercial, we tend to have our resi rates a bit higher than commercial, just to encourage that type of work.....
 
M

MA_Electrician1

Member
Duke E said:
I?ve heard the argument that van lettering is the cheapest advertisement that can be purchased. I also believe it might be the least effective. Less than 5% of my business is initiated through van side logos. I?m not sure its worth the additional liabilities that come with weekend driving. If it works for you, more power to ya.
Click to expand...


I agree with you.
 
O

ohm

Senior Member
Location
Birmingham, AL
Kdawg67 said:
Personal use mileage should be counted separate, if you're claiming mileage. Driving around to JUST to advertise would be a tough sell to the IRS. Again, tough to enforce...
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That would be in a perfect world. Now if you have an accident pulling a boat with a company truck on a Sunday afternoon...you might have some explaining to do.:smile:
 
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