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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-07-17, Page 5Page 5 Small engines proves big business for Exeter man By Ray Lewis EXETER - Just west of Exeter is a sign which reads Mason's Small Engines. That doesn't appear unusual Glance inside and you see a young man working in his fa- ther's shop; still not unusual. Then you approach him asking for the owner of the shop who you assume to be Ron Mason; and now you've made a common mistake. Jeremy Mason has just turned N. While most young men at that age are scra:nb1igg to find work for themselves, a is the owner and operator of Mason's Small.Engines and has had to hire help to just to keep up. "I guess I shock a lot of people with my age," grins the high school student. "But they usually compliment you on having done something like this." Ever since he was little, Mason has been tearing apart engines; mostly his father's. He learned first by watching his dad tinker, and then gradually picked up the rest on his own. He started out part-time, doing repairs for friends out of his garage, but nothing com- mercial. Last April, he saw a chance to turn his hobby into a money-maker to support his real passion, which is to become a pi- lot. "The roughest part of it all was getting a loan," said Mason. When you're only 17, you're too young for anyone to even look at you, even with a co-signer." - Determined to make the business a go, Mason enlisted a silent part- ner and hasn't looked back since. When Sherwood of Epter closed, it gave him the opportunity to real- ly get started. He purchased many of their tools and took over much of their business, which really gave him a head start. Mason says that he doesn't really have a lot of technical background from high school, having taken only the fust two years of autome- chanics, because they didn't cover much by way of small engines. In- stead, he learns from the odd maga- zine and picks up technical points from the companies for whom he is a dealer, but says he likes the direc- tion the high schools seem to be taking with technical studies. Mason works on all lawn and garden equipment as well as chain - saws, motorcycles, snowmobiles and pretty well anything else that runs and makes noise. He confines his work to small engines, but does handle Briggs-Strauon engines as big as they get. Currently, he is a dealer for Briggs -Stratton, Tecum- seh and Kohler, and is also carrying a new head for weed eaters for which he is the only dealer in Cana- da. Mason is also into the buying and selling of used mowers and says that this spring he couldn't stock them fast enough. He has been get - ung enough business of late, to keep him busy full time and then some. "I started out this spring by my- self and found that 1. just couldn't keep up," said Mason. A month ago, he hired another 18 -year-old, Mark Stuart, and has managed to keep him busy every day since school let out. Mason. likes the idea of being his own boss, but says it requires a lot more time and effort, especially for him. He is open weekdays from 8-5, and Saturdays from 8-12, but the busi- ness keeps him going longer. The 18 -year-old seems to enjoy challenges as well. Last year, a man came to him wanting a tractor repaired which had an Onan engine manufactured in Ingersoll. Those particular engines are no longer made and neither are their parts, but that didn't stop Mason. He got a twin -cylinder, 18 - horsepower engine from Kohler and made it to fit. The project re- quired the machining of various parts and turned out to be a big job, but he's been out to see the owner Watch -for easy money schemes TORONTO - "Work at home -- make money, money, money." "For only $29.99 you can receive a work -at-home investment kit that'll make you rich." "You too can be a millionaire." Out of work consumers may find these newspaper ads very attrac- tive, but many of the offers aren't legitimate, say experts at Ontario's Consumer Ministry. "By promising large quick profits through work -at-home plans, many scam artists hope to take advantage of those trying to find jobs," says Marilyn Gurcvsky of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Re- lations (MCCR). "Job -hunters should be suspicious of any job offer that asks for mon- ey." Typically, work -at-home scams involve envelope stuffing or mak- ing crafts that the employer will sell. Though details differ, all schemes of this type are really sell- ing something. Here's how two types work. A carefully worded newspaper ad suggests that job -hunters write to a post -office box number or tele- phone for information on how to get rich quick. Those who respond usually re- ceive a kit containing testimonials and photos of people posed with yachts and mansions promoters say were earned through the program. The consumer is then asked to send more money for their instruc- tional kit. in the case of the envelope - stuffing scam, the kit usually con- tains only an explanation of how to duplicate the procedure to exploit other innocent job hunters. The craft -making scheme gener- ally offers employment making - dolls, place mats or some other dec- orative item. Consumers are told they must pay for materials up front, but the firm will buy the completed items for resale. Kits and instructions are usually priced from $5 to $30, and a regis- tration fee may also be requested. The materials may be quite ade- quate to make attractive articles. Problems arise when the consumer tries to sell finished articles back to the company, and the promot- ers refuse to accept them. The reasons given may vary with the conditions listed in the finetint of the promotional kit. A standard line is that the completed articles aren't of "acceptable quell- • ty". Bolder promoters may ask for a credit-card number, claiming ft is needed as a securjr deposit on the materials sent will -be worth only a fraction of the amount charged. "it may be difficult or impossi- ble to reverse charges on a credit card once they've been made", she cautions. Ontario's consumer ministry suggcsits consumers should only • A give credit-card numbers over dfe telephone wvtteri they know= the firm's reputation and have placed the call themselves. Whether the deal is struck over the telephone or through the mail, it's often' impossible to get any money back from work -at-home scam artists. The careful wording of their advertising and promo. tional kits frequently keeps them just within the letter of the law. Gurevsky says the only way to avoid losing money to these peo- ple is to do your research before sending money. Anyone who has information about a work -at-home scam is asked to contact their local police department or the nearest MCCR consumer services bureau office, listed in the telephone directory blue pages. Consumers wishing to receive information on a variety of consu- mer issues should contact MCCR's Consumer Information Centre, by calling (416) 326-8555 in the to- ronto arca, or collect from area code 807 only. From other parts of the province call toll fret ' S00- 268-1142. The TDD I hard of hearing is (41( Permit Parking plan needs cooperation of Grand Bend residents GRAND BEND - A present con- cern of Grand Bend Council's Parking Committee is the delayed pick up of parking permits required for vehicle owners living on cer- tain roads within the village. Although the "permit parking" areas appeared to be under control on the July 1st, 1991 weekend, the committee feels if "people have not picked up their permits by the next long weekend, they could have their cars towed." 4) several times and it's still running fine. Mason said that improvising isn't something he does everyday be- cause it is much easier if you can order the right components, but he hates to see anyone throw some- thing away because they couldn't get a particular part. "In that case," said Mason, "well make something up." The South Huron student still has ' three credits to finish up this year, and by next hopes to be attending college in Sault St. Marie to be- come a commercial pilot. His busi- ness has been successful enough to allow him to obtdin his private pi- lot's license, and currently he's working on tuition. The problem now is what to do with his gold mine when it comes time to make the trek north. "Even 1 was skeptical when I started," said Mason. "But I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it." Always a challenge Mark Stuart, above, of Mason's Small Engines, works on a Vespa Scooter from Spain. ftti s•ThJ D 0 a, @gi CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Small engines, big business - Jeremy Mason works on a lawnmower in his shop outside of Exeter. He originalty started the business hop- ing to earn enough money to pay for his pilot's license. No repayment required USBORNE - A 43 year-old grant from the Ministry of Trans- portation to Usborne Township will not have to be repaid. The township is in the process of building a new roads depart- ment building to replace the old one which was constructed in 1948. In 1948, the ministry gave a grant to the township to help them build it. But there was some concern that, since the property and old building were being sold, the town- ship would have to pay a portion of that to the ministry. "I think we got good use of their money," said clerk -treasurer San- dra Strang. The new building is going up on Huron Street across from the Us - borne Central School and comple- tion is expected by October. Quality. It's as important in diamonds as in anything else you own. And quality shows—in a fine diamond, a home, or an automobile. Quality in diamonds is determined hy. the 4C's: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat -weight; Cut is the precise formula for cutting a diamond wallow the maximum amount of light in. Color refers to the different gradations from exceptional white to yellowish. Quality is also determint'tl by Clarity, the degree to which a diamond is free of interior and exterior inclusions. finally, there is Carat - weight, the size of the diamond. Your jeweler is the expert where quality diamonds are concerned. He can answer your questions on quality and can show you quality diamonds in. all price ranges. Your jeweler under- stands nder stands how important quality is to you in anything you own. 421 Main St., S. 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