The joys of private equity firms - Page 2

Shaun @ Tru6 · 03-09-2025, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Shaun - I just gotta say, those bolts look really nice. The neighbor I grew up next to worked at Long Lock, the guys who made Nylock bolts, and he'd bring home bolts for us to put our go kart wheels together with and they NEVER looked that good even when new.

Thanks Scott, I put a lot of work into plating and am pretty sure I'm the only one in the country that abrasively tumbles and then polishes hardware to create both a brand new surface and one with a specific sheen.

Here's what the customer sent me. 911 case acorn nuts are a bear but turn out so nicely. It's hard work but a lot of fun.

540964 · 540964's Garage

Beautiful Shaun.

berettafan · 03-10-2025, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWJ

I have had so many clients sell to PE. It seems almost universal that they can take a profitable company and run it into the ground asap. Just weird. Not a fan.

My impression is it's explainable if you consider the motivations of the PE people. It's not their money and they get paid for doing 'something'. How much capital did we deploy this month? The end game for the staff is to churn the money.

Those in industry who say 'I want to make the best possible widget' are beneficial to society. Those in industry who say 'I want to maximize profits' are leaches that reduce quality of life for all of us.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 03-10-2025, 03:49 PM

My biggest issue with private equity is their buying homes which artificially raises prices on an already tight market and apartments/condos/trailer parks and then jacking up rents and fees as well as kicking out all tenants and rehabbing for twice the price rents.

Average and first time home buyers just can't compete.

herr_oberst · 03-10-2025, 04:05 PM

PE and the recreational skiing industry:

Shaun @ Tru6 · 03-17-2025, 04:13 PM

update, I was told today things will be changing, for the better. apparently a lot of big customers were threatening to jump ship. This is great news for me as my negotiations went nowhere, which was to be expected. My only win was not being charged $250 for nickel plating two, that's 2, 1960s BMW motorcycle badges.