Kept My Customer From a "scrub"

[Green Finger]

Here's the story.

Last winter I gave an estimate to a customer. She liked the estimate and decided to go with the yearly service.
Cool.
This year I called her and told her when the sevice was going to start and she told me that she went with someone else. I told her what do you mean you went with someone else.(politely)
I said Miss before I get off the phone, can you answer a few questions.

She said ok.
Was the guy in uniform that gave you that estimate?
Was the guy professional, did he give you a business card?
Was the guy insured that gave you the estimate. (because you live in a 1/4 million dollar home)
Did he give you a phone number where he could be reached.(cellphone)

Her answer was NO to all the above.

She said let me call you back.

She calls me back and says I'm going with you. I'm keeping my contract with you.
Now Note:
My contract was higher than the OTHER guy, and she still went with me.

My point is communicate with your customers on a REGULAR basis.
Be professional, and show your credentials, and you shouldn't have to worry about any "busters" trying to jack you for your customers.

Keep in touch with your customers.

[Freetime]

It is good to know some people still care about quality and not price. Now you will most likely not have to think about her leaving you anymore as she has been shown the difference between a pro and an amateur. Dam good show go Get’em.


Mo,mo,mo yo self quickly to de bank!

[syzer]

AWESOME!!! Its a shame we cant bust all the butts like that, wouldn't that be great. Scrubs could start a site....... http://www.lawnscabs.com and b*tch about the professionals taking all there business =). I would love it heh.

[Jet boater]

Homeowners point of view....

I think it would help you guys to attach a copy of your insurance certificate (and any other credentials such as applicators license copy) to your bid/literature.

My thought are the single biggest thing that your going to do the keep them from using "Joe-low-ball" is to scare them into what may happen IF something bad does occur and their contractor does not have insurance/license, etc.

In what I do for a real living, we get copies of insurance certificates from ALL subcontractors before they are allowed on a jobsite.

[Green Finger]

Jet I agree.

It seems to be a hot topic for everyone to talk about scrubs but you never hear anyone talking about what makes their customer base "scrub proof".

Like putting your insurance paperwork in with your bid. In doing that it sets a standard. So when the next person submits a bid, the customer knows what to look for based off your bid.

[Fantasy Lawns]

ahhh education IS the key to success ;->

[jeffyr]

Good news greenfinger.

[Davis TLC]

Good to hear that Green Finger. I always let my customers know that I'm insured so if anything was to get damaged due to something I did while working of their property, they know it will be fixed. Chalk one up for the pro's.

[cos]

You mean to tell me you were dressed in a uniform and didn't wear your thug gear, greenfinger?

No tommy gear, triple fat goose, or fubu?

And she could understand your ghetto talk?

[B LAWN CARE]

good job man that means there is up for us yet

its bad when we have to watch our lawn like a halk

[nysnowman]

Thats a great idea.What part of my ins. policy would I show them.

[Green Finger]

Hey Cos, actually I got a page out of your book.

I was dressed with overalls, barefeet, straw hat, with a tooth pick in my mouth. LOL

To sign the contract, I spat and shook hands.

"Boy there is a lot of Playa Hating around here" It's just all up in your face.

Don't be mad because Vince McMan bought the WCW.

[cos]

If you could only here me now. If you listen closely, you can here me from philly. LOL

You reap what you sow.

http://www.lawnsite.com/threadid=10687&pagenumber=2

In life you have wannabees and you have the real deal.

Jason has a great point.

Before there was lawncare, marriage, college, and Jesus.

I was in a Gang. Let me tell you. It was not cool. Your mentallity is that of a terrorist. You don't fear anything. If you were robbing someone. If they looked at you wrong they got atleast pison whipped. If not shot.

I have seen first hand what guns can do. One of my boys shot 19 times, another hog tied and shot in the head, another shot in the back with a shot gun. (his head swelled up like a basket ball.) The story goes on.

One of my best homie was shot twice with hollow tips. When they shot him, he didn't even know right away. He just started throwing up green stuff followed by blood. Thick dark blood, think dark heavy blood. It wouldn't stop comming out. The only thing that saved him was he was a heavy set guy. (he lived by the grace of GOD) Now, he has a 3inch wide scare from his throat down past his navel. The doctors had to slice him open like a pig.

Question?
How many of you guys got phone calls around 3:00am because your friend or love one, got a cap busted in him. Come identify the body.

Come identify the body.

That was routine for me. You start to become numb you stay high and drunk so you don't have to deal with pain. (It's like the vietnam effect)

For all you pistol toating fellas. We rolled heavy and deep. DE, SW, Glocks 45,Tec 9, Sigs, we had it all. Can you imagine carrying a piece because you had to. We didn't carry for protection, we carried for survial.

I don't know how it is your area of the country. But here in D.C. it's rough. Like Jason said, it's the front lines.

When you encounter a thug, You must remember they have nothing to loose. They are confused, high,drunk, possessed by devils. Chances are they don't value life. So if you wanna be a Rambo. That's how they want to go. They want to be bragg about when they die.

Regular people don't want to go out like that. They aleast want to be around to see their children and grandchildren.

Don't get me wrong, my house has be broken into and I live in the subs Now. I was upset and mad. But you what, me, My wife, and child was Blessed by God not to be there.

This is not a black, white, liberal, republican thing, it's an eternity thing.

I'm for the right of having arms in your homes and defending it if it comes to that.
But you have to count the cost. Are you willing to go out like that. Costing a life.

I know this may sound like a sermon or one of those public announcements. I just wanted to share some stories of the past with you.

You guys be safe out there, Cuz I'll be praying for us all.

Peace.
__________________


OOOOOOPS, playin hatin' again.

[Green Finger]

And your point is.

You know Cos it seems like you always got something smart to say to me. (indirectly) If you do you need you just go ahead and say it.

This forum is about learning and teaching. Whatever thing you got going on you need to get over it and just let it go.

Because you got it all wrong.

[cos]

Sorry that you feel that way. Nothing personal, I just know a bs(er) when I see one. I could go on and on. Talking about attacking, you are the one that attacked first, remember. Let me also add that if someone is hit with a hollow tip bullet they are going to know it. The police don't let anyone, but family members identify bodies, but it was routine for you?

Sorry bud, nothing personal, but if you are going to attack someone and call them names, atleast have the gumption to take it back, or are you now a playa hata?

[Edited by cos on 03-29-2001 at 04:27 PM]