Fellow contractors in your area

[southside]

How do you get on with the other contractors<br>in your respective areas? Over here we tend<br>to get on fairly well,got a few dickheads<br>though,but all in all we all tend to get along well.How about you blokes?<p>Karl<br>

[Toroguy]

Only have contact with them while getting fuel, or while eating at a restaraunt...I just nod my head.

[cutntrim]

I'm sure to outsiders it's probably funny to watch us size one another up at a gas station, fast food joint, or lawn equipment shop. Relations are pretty cool between operators here, everyone's chasing the same buck (more or less) and it's major competitive. <p>We don't worry ourselves about what other guys are up to too much...we're too busy trying to improve our own business.<p><p>----------<br>Dave in S.Ontario<br>www.cutntrim.com

[Lee Homan]

It's funny how everybody in this forum can talk to each other so openly but when your out mowing all you get are dirty looks from other contractors. There's alot of that going around this year in my area. Just the other day I was passing another contractor and he flipped me the bird, I didn't even know him never saw him in my life. Funny thing this business is.

[gene gls]

My customer base is very consistant,very seldom take on anyone new so the other cutters know I am not trying for any of their customers.I am friends with about six other opperators in the area.I referd a lot of new would-be customers to two of the young guys that were getting started so were very close.Price shoppers are suprised when they call one of us and find out we are friends and will not bid against each other.The bigger cutters don't talk much about business.There is one new cutter in town (two years)that lives two houses from one of my customers and has been trying to get thier business. I just wave as I drive by them.

[cjcland]

lee, <br> man that guy sounds like hes a real jerk, i get along with with most of the people, i have been doing lawn care for a long time so i have worked for a few of them and left on good terms so they are pretty nice to me i always talk to other people when i get a chance i dont discuss prices and such but i try to keep a good professional conversation going, i have found that most people realize that as long as you do a good job you dont have to worry, i have a good relationship with my customers so im not worried about being undercut, some people say its a waste of valueable time to talk with your customers when you see them but to me thats good job security, they are less likely to fire you if they feel they know you and your family <p>----------<br>CJC Landscape Management<br>Winter Haven, Florida

[Keith]

I remember having small equipment and larger contractors wouldn't even speak to you or look your way. As my equipment got bigger, people start talking to you and you get the waves more often. I try to be friendly toward anyone who speaks or waves, but there are still some assholes

[walkerrider]

Actually I find that I get along with everyone pretty well. That was before I started talking with you guys. Since then I have been fighting this rising urge to run down old ladies who insist on having their lawn cut real short and then want you to use their mowers.!T&*!@T#*!~T* damn of ladies

[Eric ELM]

I have become friends with several of the other lawn company owners. I've given them work also. I've even helped them get their equipment running when I've seen them having problems. I guess it may be a farm raised boy thing, we all helped other farmers when they had problems. Actually around here it freeks people out when you offer to help them. They think your up to no good, because that just don't happen much around Chicago. The expression on their faces is priceless. LOL :)<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.townserver.com/elm/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>

[little green guy]

I get along reel good with most of the other guys around here, We all kind of help each other out if someone is in a jam or something.but there are some jerks around too.

[yardsmith]

Afriend of mine who's been mowing longer than me helped me get off the ground, & we swap ideas & pass work to each other.<br>I get along with about 1/3 to 1/2 of other contractors in my area, including John from trimmasters.<br>There is almost a legend about one guy in our town. His name is Ben, & he puts ads all over the media with daddy's $$. Instead of calling it Ben's lawn, he uses Benz lawn, & stole the Mercedes circle & 3 point logo for his ads-copyright infringement.<br>Anyways, he thinks he should be the only lawn guy in town, & calls to threaten other guys about turning them in to this bureau or that one, etc. He gouges all his customers & passes it off as the price for high quality work-HAH!<br>Anyways, enough badmouthing; I don't know anyone who has ever met him that likes him. He makes enemies everywhere he goes. He's good for MY biz, cause I get his old customers.<br>He's the only one in town like that, pretty much. Most the rest of us are mature enough to get along. <br>All I want is a full plate of good customers- I DON'T WANT the whole town! I couldn't do it if I had it!<br>The one thing that gripes me (& alot of you guys) is the steady stream of under the table cut-throats that come out of the woodwork each year; They're like cockroaches-more than the last bunch before them.<br>Those who don't know each other can usually be caught rubbernecking each other in traffic, & at the stoplight, etc. It's funny to watch.<p><br>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<p><br>

[AB Lawn Care]

I have from day one waved to all our competition.I would say that 2/3 are nice and wave back.I talk to half of my compation at the repair shops and so on and they are nice.I don't talk much about prices and so.I too have a few real dorks in town who give me the cold sholder.That is ok,if they whan to be that way then I will feel less guilty.............ok make that happy when I get one of their jobs.It is funny too becouse the one jerk has gone from 3 crews with new trucks him a truck and one walker this year.The last couple of years he has been no doubt laughing becouse he was the largest company in town,now who's laughing!!!!Don't take me wrong,but after years of being treated like dirt you don't really feel bad when that happens to people like that.The really funny thing is that the other company in town that gives me the cold sholder under bids anyone.This year he lost a contrect from the city.A couple of guy who collect scrap metal in town under bid him!I think if you wave and are nice to your fellow lawn and landscape company they will be less likely to under cut you or steal on of you jobs.<p>from:Adam<p>AB Lawn Care

[HOMER]

I can talk to two of the bigger guys in town, thats it! The rest of them act like you've taken something from them, which I have not! I started a few years back and got all those looks and laughs with my small stuff, but they don't laugh anymore. I guess thats why they don't wave, don't talk, don't call, don't write, etc&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; I have enough worries trying to keep up with what I have, I don't have time to go in the back door and steal their business. I always wondered if people that work at McDonalds snub and flip off the flippers at Burger King!<p>Homer

[DMC300]

IN MY AREA THERE ARE ONLY 4 OTHER CO.S THAT DO LAWNCARE.FOR SOME REASON TODAY I'VE BEEN OFFERED 7 ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY BEING DONE BY THE SAME GUY.I WOULD FEEL BAD ABOUT IT ,BUT THIS GUY HAS BEEN UNSOCIABLE TO US IN THE PAST .I'M STILL GONNA BID MORE THAN HE DID THOUGH,TO SEE IF THE CUSTOMERS ARE JUST TRYING TO GET IT DONE CHEAPER,OR IF THEY ARE REALLY THAT DISSATISFIED.<p>----------<br>DON<br>LIANNES' MOWING

[cjcland]

well if its seven from the same guy it be a safe bet to say he is slacking <p>----------<br>CJC Landscape Management<br>Winter Haven, Florida

[trimmasters]

Smitty, It is right about Ben turring people in. I ran in to him 2 days ago and today we got a suprise inspection from Dep. of Agriculture!? Happy to say we did just fine on it.<p>John W Bell<p>P.S. How come our IP adress now shows up?<br>cant people get in to your computer with that?

[MOW ED]

I wave at all of them and have talked to them when I see them at the dump. The way I see it is that its only competition if you want ALL of the work. It might sound funny but there is so much work where I'm at that you can feel good. Keep smiling.

[jcoat]

Since we're on the topic of competition, do any of you guys ever have workers sign agreements stating they will not compete in your market for, say, the next 1-3 years? I do understand competition IS good for business and there will always be those who undercut. I ask 'cause I once almost worked for a guy who said he'd train me to do his trade pending I sign a non-compete agreement for the next 3 years.

[yardsmith]

hey john-<br>Nice guy isn't he? If he can't undercut you, he'll try & get you shut down. One way or another, he's busy sticking his beak into everybody else's business.<br>What all did Dept. of Ag. check & look for? Just wondering so I can give it the once over & be sure I'm still in good standing-Thanks.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[Gus]

i make it a point to talk to the other guys when i run into them and for the most part they are all pretty friendly. the competition<br>thing is really stupid to me because there is more business than most of us can handle and im always glad to pass on jobs i cant do.<br>i`ve helped guys out with their equipment before because as we all know what goes around comes around eventually.