Compettion took my Flyer

[Holloway Lawns]

I was putting flyers on doors today and went down one side of the street then came down the other side well, at one of the homes on the first side I went down there was a crew of 3 about to start putting down sod at one home I still put a flyer on the door and when I came back down the other side I seen one of the guys reading it. I went on down the road then on my way back towards that house were they were putting sod down I stopped there and seen my flyer trashed and in a wheal burrow. I asked them if they were worried about a little completion they did not answer. I asked if they do maintenance and installs they said just install I told them so why did you take my flyer how will it hurt you I am offering maintenance not install's. One of them said sorry and went to put the flyer back on the door. I said no I will put a new one there. I do not want that trashed one put there I have a better image than that. How would you all handle this?:blob3:

[guntruck]

Not real sure i would have put up a flyer beings there was company there working, its kinda just askin for some beef. But you never know i may have, i think you handled it very well, i bet you earned there respect to a point, it also gives them a professional image about you and your company to a point. There is so much work out here i wouldnt let little things like that get to ya!! Keep up the good work!!

;)

[mowerman90]

A couple of years ago,in an exclusive sub-division, while talking to a customer in her yard after finishing mowing, this truck pulls up at the curb. This young guy jumps out and walks up to the homeowner and starts asking her who does her yard Etc., etc. Good Lord, I'm standing right there!!!! Man, this guys got some walnuts. Anyway, the homeowner gets kinda ticked off with him and tells him that I do her lawn and she doesn't need another service. Not being phased, he goes on to ask her who maintains her sprinkler system. Talk about a salesman on steriods! Strange, but true.

[George777]

Holloway Lawns, I think you did the right thing. I like how you stood your ground. Who knows you may end up cutting that lawn in a few weeks.

[1MajorTom]

When we passed out door hangers for the first time this year, if we saw anyone that even remotely resembled a lawncare business, tree business, landscape business, we passed that house by. So many houses out there that passing by a couple a houses was no big deal to us. Why take a chance of invading someone elses turf?

[gogetter]

Did you know whether they did maintenance before you put the flyer at that house? I would guess "no" since you had to ask them. In that case, I think you should have passed that house by.
How would you have felt if you were working on a lawn and along comes another company putting a flyer on thier door while you're standing right there? Pretty ballzy if you ask me.

[lawnman_scott]

My personal opinion is that its kind of cocky to put a flyer right where someones working. after you left they probably went down the street and took them all.

[65hoss]

I would have passed it, maybe in a day or two drop one by.

[Holloway Lawns]

This company that was there showed up right at the time I walked to the house but any way they only do installs no maintenance so I did not see a problem with putting my flyer there. My flyer's are offering maintenance and hedge trimming services not installs. Thanks for every ones view on this.

[lawnboy82]

i am kind of thinking that you should have passed by that house as well. i tried putting out fliers and found out that they are not worth the hastle. i just go by word of mouth and that is it, well that and being known in the area. if you see somebody doing work at a house, leave them be. you never know, it may turn around to bite you in the butt one day. i mean if you had a customer who you do a lot of work for, and they got a flier in their mailbox while you are workin there and they turn around and use that guy, wouldnt you be pissed?

[kutnkru]

I think that in the early spring that everyones house is fair game for potential competition. There is no harm done in getting your name out there, trying to expand your business, or looking to get rid of some of the low-ball Mow-N-Go LCOs that are out there.

Once the season has begun and/or the crews are currently working at a site, the courteous thing to do is to pass them by or at least come when they are not working there. This is perceived as a slap to the face by most contractors.

Just my .02
Kris

[Jusmowin]

I would put a flier on a door no matter if a crew is there or not !My reason for this is if your customer is happy with your services them they will not think of changing services . There is enough work to go around if your price is rite . Just my 2 cents

[Lawn DOG]

Did you ever stop and think how you would of felt?:mad:

[joshua]

i agree with the idea that you should of passed the house right by. but they shouldn't of taken the flier for it wasn't theirs. they must be afraid of competion. you handled this very well, you didn't back down and made a point when you asked them if all they do is installs and they said no.


kutnkru welcome back, long time since you posted last.

[ronslawncare]

i think that was asking for beef i had a customer call me about a month ago for a estimate for lawnservice i showed up 15 mins earlier there was another landscaper giving him a estimate out of respect for the business were both in i passed on it.there enough work out there for every1....

[Barkleymut]

I know there is plenty of work out there for everyone, heck I haven't done one bit of advertising in over 2 years. But think of this who are the big companies in this world? ATT, MCI, Wal Mart, Capital One. What do they all have in common? They ask for your business and don't care if a competitor is currently servicing you. If your customer isn't happy then they will probably drop you sometimes anyways. Put a flyer anywhere it is legal. My 27 cents.

[Atlantic Lawn]

I attach a business card to all my flyers now. It's only a few cents more and the way I look at it is that card can last in a home way after the flyer is gone. The flyer may go in the trash but I think I have better odds of the card goin in a wallet ,bowl or desk drawer..... Just my .02

[KD'sLawns]

I think that you should have asked the guys about maintenance before you put your flyer on the door. If you do not do installs and they do not do maintenance, you should have exchanged business cards with each other and worked together for referrals to each others services. Because you know that they get asked if they do maintenance. They could have referred you, and when a customer asks you about installs, you could have referred them. I think you passed on a golden opportunity!

[Charles]

Yep you were disrepectful to put the flyer out while the other company was there. When i see flyer or cards on my jobs I trash them too.

[Guido]

It was a pretty balzy move in the first place, but I have a lot of respect for you after I read what you said to the other guys.

I'll also be honest and say that I would probobly rip flyers off of one of my properties too if there were some there.

[powerreel]

:mad: If you come up to one of my sod jobs with your flyers again guess who's gonna get put down & trimmed? LOL!!!

[trimmer]

I would just passed it on by.