I'm eyebrow-deep in starting my own shop after 22 years of BS.
I see many people have gone through what I have, I'll spare you the horror stories. Last straw, apparently the machine I run (hint: my user name) can program itself. All you need to do is run the CAM software, load the tools (ANYONE can do that for $7.50 an hour) and then slap a sheet in and press start.
We've gone through this twice before over my career here, and I am NOT going through it again.
Bought some specific knife-and-blade making equipment, an old turret-punch press and very shortly a molding machine for handles. Got enough work lined up to pay for everything purchased to date.
Well, ok... one horror story but that's it.
We hired a laser operator from Rochester. Promised him $$$ if he'd quit his $$$ job in Rochester and move out here. Full supervisory oversight, improvement budget, the works. Money, title, authority, training.
He showed me the job offer.
He also showed me his paycheck for $9.25 an hour, then got screamed at by the production supervisor for not sweeping the warehouse like he was told to.
Poor bastard quit his job, sold his house, bought a new house here in Buffalo and is in deep sh*t because he makes a third of what he was offered.
Like I said we went through this twice before, twice before we were brought to the brink of ruin. This time there isn't enough left... and I'm not riding the Titanic to the bottom.
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