Slashdot Mirror
uTube.com Business Stalled by YouTube Purchase Hype
prostoalex writes "Google's acquisition of online video sharing site YouTube.com resulted in massive traffic headed to uTube.com, "the number one supplier of used Tube & Pipe equipment in the world!", according to the site. CNN Money reports: "The company, which sells used machinery for making tubes to clients worldwide, has seen its site utube.com knocked off line by millions of online searchers looking for video site. "It's killing us," said Ralph Girkins, president and owner of the 22-year-old business. "All my worldwide reps use our Web site. Customers all over the world use it to bring up photos of the machinery, descriptions and specifications there."""
If they can't figure out a way to profit from this, too freakin bad for them.
Their site is fine now. Their equipment, though...
They're a surplus machinery dealer, and much of their equipment has seen hard use followed by neglect. The neglect is worse than the hard use. This lathe is a good example. That's a good Monarch precision lathe, but the picture, taken in 2000, shows considerable rust. Most of their gear is like that; it looks like it came out of an abandoned factory. It's repairable; you can send the lathe back to Monarch for an overhaul. But it's not good for much in its current condition. If there's any rust in the bearings, the precision is lost.
For comparison, see this Monarch Lathe on eBay. Made in 1950, and still in good shape. Those things will last a century if cared for.
If you have machinery like that around that's not in use, you have to oil it, then wrap it in plastic with some dessicant inside.
Now i know why they named their site YouTube instead of uTube. The second would be more appropriate given the audience, but was already taken.
...professionally edited article at CNN...[snip]...At least they engage their brains
Two firsts in the one day!
(Someone had to say it. But I agree they made the correct decision)
Blank until