Originally Posted by FCPWLLC

The reason most of us couldn't make that machine work is that we would still need the use of a ladder and still consume time moving ladder and going up and down that ladder. By the time you pull that machine out, get it set up and started, the local neighborhood handyman has already got half the gutters cleaned and he does it for much less money than most of us will even get out of bed for. Running legitimate, insured and licensed businesses with the accompaning expenses, we can't economically make another $4900 space taking piece of eqipment work and still be competitive in a market notorious for low-balling fly-by-night individuals. My customers would not want to hear that I now offer cleaning out thier gutters for $500. The average vinyl cleaning job here pays $275+ and can be done in an hour and half or less. Any other add-on service needs to be priced accordingly in order to make the best wage possible in the said given time. Not much sense in spending an hour that is worth $100+ doing a job that only pays say $45/hr. Make sense?

I don't even offer the cleaning of the inside of gutters for this reason. I refer them to a guy that does odd jobs and feels that $15/hr. is good money. At that rate, that macine wouldn't pay for itself in a long time.

Yes, $4900 is too much for a machine that most likely can be built for about $900 if you are getting stuff wholesale etc... Add to the fact that I don't see it doing away with the PITA factor of needing a ladder. You still need to see if you are getting all of the debris out.

Originally Posted by J S

Contact the county state or federal environmental services. Let them know of the pollution. Now that Christmas vacations are over someone should be there to check things out. Also contact local media like newspapers or television to show what these people are doing.