Got a PLUGR Hydro

[David Grass]

Bought a Plugr Hydro last week. At first I thought "what have I done?", as it wore me out on 2 smallish lawns I did. Then today, I did my own yard and let the machine do the work, and worry less with the Hydro which I finally figured out would forward without me having to do it. I simply nudge it when going up a slight grade or transporting from a to b. Now that I have a couple of hours of experience under my belt, I am quite pleased with the unit. Cant wait to make more $$$ this week.

[grasswhacker]

Bought a Plugr Hydro last week. At first I thought "what have I done?", as it wore me out on 2 smallish lawns I did. Then today, I did my own yard and let the machine do the work, and worry less with the Hydro which I finally figured out would forward without me having to do it. I simply nudge it when going up a slight grade or transporting from a to b. Now that I have a couple of hours of experience under my belt, I am quite pleased with the unit. Cant wait to make more $$$ this week.

If you don't like the hydro, I'll trade you my PL800 for it. Just let me know.:dancing:

[David Grass]

Thanks, but I will need it here in the mountains of NC. I just had to get used to the balance of using it with the forward motion of the tines (takes a few times to get the hang of it)

[DLS1]

What did you pay for it? Around here they are $3995 for the PL850 with Briggs engine. Need a lot of yards to pay for.

[David Grass]

got a better deal than that, and got the Honda, no real dealer in my area, so I was able to go thru the distributor for our two Carolina states. The thing is, if I get 2 mowing accounts simply because I have more professional services to offer, then it is paid for on that merit alone. Often times, business is much more than numbers!

[DLS1]

The thing is, if I get 2 mowing accounts simply because I have more professional services to offer, then it is paid for on that merit alone. Often times, business is much more than numbers!

Your kidding right. The customer cares about the price and if a job is done to their satisfaction. The could care less if you rent an aerator or have a new one that your bought.

So the more fancy toys you get the more customers you get. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[work_it]

The only way he'll loose money on that machine is if he runs over it with a truck, bounces it off a moving trailer, or simply doesn't sell aerating services. That machine should easily last 10+ years, but will be paid off in the first season.

That purchase is as sound as a pound...yea baby!!

[David Grass]

Your kidding right. The customer cares about the price and if a job is done to their satisfaction. The could care less if you rent an aerator or have a new one that your bought.

So the more fancy toys you get the more customers you get. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

No I am not kidding and I have been in business for 18 years watching many come and go all the while. I was the third person in my area to even own a commercial walk behind back in the 80s, when everyone would pass them up for an MTD or whatever. Yes, my customers DO care what I OWN. The aerators you can "rent" in my area are junk. I just dont work with crappy equipment. It hurts my spirit of doing a good job as well as my body. Yesterday I sold enough Aeration jobs to my customers to pay for 25 percent already, and I picked up an additional account, and yes, the new guy was actually impressed that I "OWNED" a lot of great equipment. The operative word is not "fancy" as you described, but an underlying "sense" of business spirit and attitude.

[DLS1]

Yes, my customers DO care what I OWN. The aerators you can "rent" in my area are junk. I just dont work with crappy equipment.

You got some weird customers if they care what you own to get their grass mowed. So do you wash your truck, trailer, equipment every day. If you don't then you should since it sounds like you could pick up even more customers with that new clean looking equipment every day.

The area I mow is 350,000 - $500,000 (1 million or more for you guys on the east and west coast) subdivision homes and they could care less what I own. No one mentions they wished I owned a newer truck or that I would aerate their yards with an aerator I own instead of using a rental aerator.

By the way how do your customers know what equipment you own vs. renting? Do you tell them up front you own the finest equipment money can buy. :laugh: :laugh:

[David Grass]

You got some weird customers if they care what you own to get their grass mowed. So do you wash your truck, trailer, equipment every day. If you don't then you should since it sounds like you could pick up even more customers with that new clean looking equipment every day.

The area I mow is 350,000 - $500,000 (1 million or more for you guys on the east and west coast) subdivision homes and they could care less what I own. No one mentions they wished I owned a newer truck or that I would aerate their yards with an aerator I own instead of using a rental aerator.

By the way how do your customers know what equipment you own vs. renting? Do you tell them up front you own the finest equipment money can buy. :laugh: :laugh:

OK you win, You do a lot more than I do, I only do 3 days work, off 4, go camping a lot, write music, read literature,.......but......... I LIKE OWNING my new aerator, and am making good money with it now. I only wanted to share in case someone else was thinking of getting one. I should have rented one tho, because driving 2 hours round trip to rent one (yes Waynesville is the only place that rents them in my area) and only getting the rental unit (the little 410) would be what you recommend. NOT for me. I think you have SOME good advice for folks on Lawnsite, but each man, and each area, and each business is unique. What works for you , will not for me, ..... it may for others tho, so your advice is worthy. Just dont preach sarcasm to me. It lends NO credibility to your suggestions. Good luck to you in your endeavors.

[David Grass]

PS yes, I point to my trailor and say "I bought a NEW aerator" and they look at it, and say cool, or wow, or whatever they want to say. and then we talk aeration.

[hole in one lco]

You got some weird customers if they care what you own to get their grass mowed. So do you wash your truck, trailer, equipment every day. If you don't then you should since it sounds like you could pick up even more customers with that new clean looking equipment every day.

The area I mow is 350,000 - $500,000 (1 million or more for you guys on the east and west coast) subdivision homes and they could care less what I own. No one mentions they wished I owned a newer truck or that I would aerate their yards with an aerator I own instead of using a rental aerator.

By the way how do your customers know what equipment you own vs. renting? Do you tell them up front you own the finest equipment money can buy. :laugh: :laugh:
that price will get you land no house:)

[Bull]

DLS1 I really think you have missed the mark in what David Grass is saying. His business lends itself to be more profitable and produce a more desired result to both himself and his customers through the purchase of a pieve of equipment rather than going the rental route. And yes I do believe people care about what is used on their property. I do not believe or expect them to be as knowledgeable about it as we are but they to are concerned about results and in many cases perception of who is seen working at their house. I remember once when the pest control guy came out to my house for the monthly check up. I followed him around the basement as he did his inspection and noticed that about 1/3 of the way through his inspection his little pocket flashlight burnt out. Well he continued on as though he could see just as well without it. Guess what, after he left I called and cancelled the service and I also explained to them why. You are totally in the wrong with your train of thought. Remember bad equipment = bad results = bad image = bad reputation = loss of profits = loss of business = DSL1

[Splicer]

:cool2: I just got a pull behind aerator, 48" swath myself and love it. May I ask how you sell the service? How you price it?

[DLS1]

DLS1 I really think you have missed the mark in what David Grass is saying. ....... Remember bad equipment = bad results = bad image = bad reputation = loss of profits = loss of business = DSL1

I missed the mark with David but you got me figured out with your formula.:laugh:


Somehow your equation is messed up for me since I have not lost a single customer in 5 years. I guess I have EXCELLENT used equipment. Or maybe they don't care what I cut or fertilize their yard with.

I feel sorry for you guys with customers that care about what you use on their property.

Could it be you guys that think they care are actually the ones that care and you are projecting your believes onto your customers so that is how you justify buying brand new trucks,mowers,etc. to you or your wifes. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Bull]

DLS1, what then is your process used in determining when to buy a piece of equipment and in doing so how do you justify new versus used? Do you agree that a piece of equipments condition may effect its efficiency either positive or negative?

[DLS1]

DLS1, what then is your process used in determining when to buy a piece of equipment and in doing so how do you justify new versus used? Do you agree that a piece of equipments condition may effect its efficiency either positive or negative?

I am not here to tell anyone how to justify when to buy used or new equipment. That involves a lot of things including emotion which could be a small or big part of when buying equipment.

I was only really talking about "customers care what equipment you use" theory which for me I say no.

Yes equipment condition does effect efficiency.

Personally I have bought everything new except the truck and the trailer. Don't want to worry about downtime with lawn equipment. I have a backup vehicle if the truck is in the shop.

[timturf]

:cool2: I just got a pull behind aerator, 48" swath myself and love it. May I ask how you sell the service? How you price it?

I would think you would ask and figure that out before purchasing a aerator!

[Splicer]

I would think you would ask and figure that out before purchasing a aerator!
I have. Just wondering how others do it as well:drinkup:

[David Grass]

I made flyers for some nice yards near my customers, which are not my customers, and just point to the trailor with my cool PLUGR and talk to my regular customers in person. I just got a neighbor yesterday to walk over while I was doing the work. The beauty of NOT RENTING, is that I can come back at my leisure and do the work for the other person. Another PRO for owning the equipment, is that I just dont like doing more than 2 or 3 aerations at one time, I need to spread them out over the month of March, and over the month of October, so renting was not an option for my method of operation.