Don and Jim of Lakeside Express

This was posted on TOB:

Hello to all of our wonderful friends Lakeside from your friends at Lakeside Express.

I am sorry to report that Jim is continuing to decline and I think the doctors are trying to prepare me for the worst. He has some sort of virus in his brain (not a stroke) as was determined in Mexico. I continue to drive 140 miles each day, (70 miles and 2 hours each way) to visit him and each day is met with utter sadness. The V.A. hospital here in Atlanta is something else to say the least.

I need some help and advise from all of you that care about us. I most likely will have to sell our home in Ajijic if things do not improve soon. If I have to return and clean out our home I will be needing boxes and packing materials. I will be most likely trying to pack up 2 computers, our kitchen wares, clothes, and some misc. pottery pieces that are very dear to me/us and anything else I can squeeze in to our Ford pickup with small camper shell and maybe...just maybe another small pickup. I would be taking these items initially to a storage room in New Mexico until I figure out where life will take me.

The other thing I would like help with if possible is does anyone have any suggestions other than attempting to haul these things myself back across the border? I know nothing about the local moving services and their websites are pretty vague. Does anyone do this personally and/or are they reliable and trustworthy?

I would also be curious about what I should do with all of the things I will have to leave behind and either donate or try and get to a consignment operation.

I am certainly not giving up on Jim but I need to be prepared for the worst right now based on what I have been told by the doctors. Ajijic was supposed to be our home for the rest of our lives but unfortunately I am only 53 and will not even begin to qualify for social security for quite some time therefore I will be forced to get back in to the workplace somehow...somewhere.

Any ideas, advise, or suggestions would be much appreciated. As far as Lakeside Express goes...I truly don't know if I can sell it or will just have to let it go and remember what a great niche we had for 10 plus years and all of the wonderful people we met along our journey. It is all very sad.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support, prayers, and emails of encouragement. It is all that keeps me going right now.

Sincerely,
Don

Such nice guys and so sad. I'd be willing to help him pack and sell their stuff. . .

If you are going to drive a pick-up down, why not consider buying a used cargo trailer to tow down and back with your stuff, assuming that your truck can haul the load?

I really hope some entrepreneurial person will consider buying the business. They have a solid customer base, Costco delivers all the stuff to a central location, and their Website works well. Surely there is someone out there...

I hope so too. I much prefer their service. I would think it would be a good opportunity for someone.

I would be very concerned about driving back with a truckload of stuff, much more towing a trailer. I think it would be an invitation for the bad-guys to get an easy hit.

Also, you need to look at if the computers and other non-personal items are worth the costs/time/space to transport back.

I would consider a massive garage sale and what's left over, give over to a consignment service/people who would sell it for you.

As for the business, it I were someone else, unknown here, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Adapt and move forward amigo. The pain will never pass fully, but life continues.

Does anyone know how we can contact Don? We'd like some more information re: the Lakeside Express business.

NEGringos wrote:Does anyone know how we can contact Don? We'd like some more information re: the Lakeside Express business.

IMHO, a good business venture. Once you figure out the time+ the cost of gas + wear and tear on the car +the hassle of the traffic.......versus the fees that Lakeside Express charges to deliver to your door, it's a bargain for the consumer.

NEGringos wrote:Does anyone know how we can contact Don? We'd like some more information re: the Lakeside Express business.

http://lakesideexpress.com/costco/
is the website.

Thanx Gringal, we have been their customers for about a year, so we have the web address. We are looking for info on how to contact them regarding their bussiness.

NEGringos wrote:Thanx Gringal, we have been their customers for about a year, so we have the web address. We are looking for info on how to contact them regarding their bussiness.

On their website, under "contact us" at the top of the start page, you will find this:

"LakesideExpress
Ajijic
Mexico
(376)766-5784

Thank you for contacting LakesideXpress!

We will answer your questions as soon as possible.

If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, please contact us by telephone: 766-5784

They are in the states right now so the phone won't help. The only email I have is lakesideorders(at)outlook.com. They had an ad for selling the business in the Guad Reporter. It's not in the current issue, but was a month or so ago. You might call Celia Waters or Libby Townsend and they can probably look it up for you.

gringal wrote:

NEGringos wrote:Does anyone know how we can contact Don? We'd like some more information re: the Lakeside Express business.

IMHO, a good business venture. Once you figure out the time+ the cost of gas + wear and tear on the car +the hassle of the traffic.......versus the fees that Lakeside Express charges to deliver to your door, it's a bargain for the consumer.

Jaja......and don't forget to factor in "re-delivery cause no one was home" and the "that isn't what I ordered" return, exchange and re-deliver. The courier business is a pita.

I was a Operations Manager for the courier side of a huge delivery company, based in Phoenix, AZ, that does more business on the west coast than UPS & FedEx combined. This could be right up my alley.

NE, are you a member on TOB? I have been PMing Don over there and he responds fairly quickly.

No, what is TOB?

Sorry, NE. TOB is chapala.com, The Other Board.
I will reply to your PM.

NEGringos, I'll PM you the email I have for them.

Haven't heard anything further about Jim's health.

Does anyone have an update on how he and Don are doing?

Thanks

SunFan

It's bad news, SunFan. Very bad. Jim passed a couple of months ago, I think it was, and Don returned here and passed shortly after. Sorry. May they RIP.