Today we’d like to introduce you to Alain Betancourt.
Alain, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Sweet! Well, I started my repair business on my own back in 1978 at age 18, with zero help from anyone. No surfboard shop in the area would hire me or train me because I was not “a local” that did not live in any of the beach communities. That did not bother me at all. So, I started out in my dad’s garage and started to repair my own boards first until I got good at it, then started repairing surfboards for the high school surfing team. From there, via word of mouth, my business blossomed. Of course, there were a few setbacks as expected since I had no real business experience, but I overcame them. Eventually, by age 19, I opened my “real” repair shop in an industrial park in Gardena, Ca. Things went well and had plenty of work, I hired 1 guy to help me out with repairs, getting supplies, etc. Eventually, I learned how to glass surfboards (yup, again on my own) and before I knew it, I was also glassing surfboards for private shapers. I made pretty good money for a young man back then. Which leads me to present day 2016 and still going strong. I have NEVER worked for a surfboard shop in 40 years, I have turned down many offers to do so…some were shops that refused to hire me back when! I have traveled all over to surf and gather information from fellow shapers, glassers, and yes, repairmen. One of my highlights was when I was hired to fix surfboards for the 2012 U.S. Open of Professional Surfing in Huntington Beach, Ca. I met a LOT of pros (some of who I knew already over the years). I look back at my career and pride myself for one SINGLE thing I care most about; Giving EXCELLENT customer service and fantastic repair work. I have since had surfers as far down as San Diego and as far north as Malibu, make the drive to bring me their surfboards because of my Legacy and professionalism. I’m a natural “chatterbox”, so customers always get a kick listening to my surf stories and stuff…lol. The BIGGEST kick I get is when a customer brings me a battered board and when they pick it up when it’s ready, they go, “WHOA! That is a really nice repair, bro!” That alone makes me want to do what I do even more!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This industry is either, “feast or famine”. You can be in business one day and out the next. I’ve had days, even weeks, without a single surfboard in the shop, and I have had days and months were I am over my head swamped with work. I have thoughts of “packing it all in” during the really tough times, as well. It happens. Not too many shops survive the ups and downs of this business. If money is the motivator for anyone to get into this business, better think again…it ain’t easy. Only the real good repair guys stick around and stick it out. Now, could I have gotten a much “better job”? Of course and I have. Yup, I have held other jobs while I repaired boards during those tough times. “Ya gotta do what you gotta do to pay them bills.” But, the bottom line will always be the LOVE of surfing…that alone motivates me to continue to do what I’m really good at.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with AB Surfboard Repair and Glassing – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Well, over time, I probably have seen every possible surfboard damage out there! Some repairs are easy and some are very complex and hard. My prices are very reasonable and competitive with other shops out there. I pride myself on EXCELLENT customer service, I do NOT gouge people, I am very fair and honest. Customers like that I am upfront from the get-go, I explain what I will do to get their boards back in shape, and I offer a 5-day guarantee on repairs (NO one offers that anywhere!). Over the years I developed the reputation as the “go-to” shop for specialized repairs such as broken boards, busted fin boxes, and delaminated boards. Most shops will not do these types of repairs because they are difficult to do and require TONS of patience and steady hands. Most shops will just tell people to toss it in the trash and but another board. Not me, unless the board is destroyed beyond repair, naturally. I guess what sets me apart from all the others is: Honesty, integrity, EXCELLENT customer service, watertight and really professional repairs. I get a BIG kick when new customers come to my shop and tell me that they have heard of me from stories from other happy surfers and they just had to see for themselves, “The Repair Guru”, which I find as funny. I’m incredibly humbled by comments like that. “Stoke”…it’s ALL about the stoke.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The future: No immediate plans come to mind. I’m good where I’m at…”If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
Pricing:
A I stated earlier, my prices are very reasonable and lower than my competitors. My price for an average ding repair starts at $60 as compared to $100 at other shops.
Contact Info:
- Address: I’m located 405 and 605 fwy close on Studebaker Rd. in Long Beach, Ca. *Private location…Call FIRST for physical address.
- Website: www.absurfboardrepair.com
- Phone: (424) 221-1069
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: AB Surfboard Repair
- Twitter: AB Surfboard Repair
- Yelp: AB Surfboard Repair
- Other: Google Search: AB Surfboard Repair
