I hear you.... my shop is hidden, not on a main street...i don't pay much
for rent, 800$. The only way i get cutomers is through my web-site and some
local mailling list. Am in the Montreal suburb, 3 millions peoples around,
most shop are at 55$ to 90$ an hour. I started low...to attract customers,
it did work...now it as been 6 months, spring is comming and i went up to
35$, i lost 1/2 of my future spring cutomers because they told me that i
went up!!!!
Sad...but true... what can i say! i still have some work, not a problem for
now...time will tell. Where will they go.... that is not my probleme, but
for sure, they will pay more...and get poorer service...that, i am sure.

Am an honest guy, and my work..  well,i see it as an art, period, i take
pride in what i do, and i will continue like that...that is the way i see
it, so if I cannot make a living out of fixing VW, i will buy some, rebuilt
those like new, and sell it the big price...

I have been sharing my VW experience for 6 years now, for free! that is the
way i am... i don't care about money...and "Thank you" (still, it's verry
nice to hear those sometime). I appreciated those who take the time to do
free stuff for others, regardless of what they will get out of that.
Internet is a good way of learning and sharing stuff, i have a problem with
those who always take...but do not give...i have taken stuff, so my way to
say thanks is to give some...

Best regards, Ben
http://www.benplace.com/
ps.: next winter, am gonna travel in the southern USA will my tools, and be
a mechanic on the road.  The deal will be: You help me, let me sleep in my
van at you're place, provide a place and the missing tools to work on the
van and pay me cash money at 35$hr USD!!! (got you there!!!)... and have a
few beers at night... i will meet peoples, see the road and do what i love
to do...