Higher Frequency ...Cheaper Price?

[LoneStarLawn]

If a customer wanted to have their yard cut every 4 days instead of every 7 would you offer them a discount? Would you suggest an every week cut with a discount to a commercial property that wants it every 10 days? Lets say the commercial property is $330 for every ten days so would you cut it for $300 for every week?

[awm]

if thats what he wants yes.

[geogunn]

Originally posted by LoneStarLawn
Lets say the commercial property is $330 for every ten days so would you cut it for $300 for every week?

EARTH TO LONESTAR--if you could get 330 bucks for cutting a property every ten days (three times in 30 days), why in the cat hair would you take less money (300 bucks) to cut it more often (4.3times in 30 days)?:confused:

[LoneStarLawn]

Originally posted by geogunn


EARTH TO LONESTAR--if you could get 330 bucks for cutting a property every ten days (three times in 30 days), why in the cat hair would you take less money (300 bucks) to cut it more often (4.3times in 30 days)?:confused:

Ok...
#1 It is on a fixed day...making scheduling easier.

#2 It is easier to cut since there is less time between cuts...

#3 It is an average of $300 more per month...

I thought it was a valid quesion...really didn't think I needed to be brought down to earth....

Oh wait it should be Earth to geogunn...it is $300 PER CUT!!!!

[oneEXMARKfan]

Personally, I would rather make 1290.00 cutting 4.3 times a month, than 990.00 3 times a month........just me though.......(I always give them somewhat of a brake, for more freg. cutting...like buying in bulk...it's the American way)

[Fantasy Lawns]

where's that kitty kat ;->
<br>
http://home.cfl.rr.com/theleven/catwalk.gif

[baldbeefman]

I have a commercial property I mow, that I did that on. I bid it at $250 per mow and I could tell the guy wasn't going for this. He told me he would have to take some more bids. I figured he would have me mow it every 2 weeks (to save money) because it was looking all grown up and he didn't seem to mind. ($250 x 2 per month = $500) Remember he didn't go for this either. So it would probably be even less. Maybe $200 a mow.
I called him back and told him I could do it for $150 (should've said $175) if I could mow it every week. He jumped on this offer. Of course I double charged him for the first mow and charged extra for trimming the hedges (total $375 first mow).
I mow every Wednesday, this month the bill will be $750 (5 mows). It now takes me 3 hours to mow, it took me around 4 1/2 the first time to mow.
If you already have lots of good accounts I would say stick to your guns on price, but if you need some more, its always better to bid high and then come down or make a deal that would benefit the both of you. Always keep the customer happy.;)

[kris]

I have a few commercial accounts that are every 10 days...I have never had this before and it is causing me a scheduling nightmare...wish I had thought of offering them a bit of a discount for every week...now i am not in that area on the 10th day etc etc...next year I will work something out with them.

[linky]

I think its a down to earth idea.

[Lawn DOG]

Why would you go cheaper if they want to see you more? Did your time suddenly become less valuable? Commercial accounts are usually the first to let you go when the cheaper bid comes in next year. No loyality strickly business. If you are providing a proffesional service and thats what they want they will pay for it. You get what you pay for. If they want sub-par work let them go some where else. Just my opinion. Hope this helps.

[geogunn]

Originally posted by LoneStarLawn


Oh wait it should be Earth to geogunn...it is $300 PER CUT!!!!

LONESTAR--OKEYDOKEY!!! you are correct in "earth to GEO". by the cut makes obvious good sense!!! I wasn't meaning to bring you down, just wake you up! I thought you were monthly billing, which many people do for commercials.

I hope you guys haven't forgotten the ALAMO! we TENNESSEANS haven't!:angel:

[LoneStarLawn]

We do bill monthly....but I was trying to help the math wizards here by giving the price per cut so that the discount can be seen easier.

As mentioned before a ten day schedule will make it difficult for us...cutting more often will make it easier to cut (making the price justified)..more money in pocket at the end of month...

[Runner]

This is not to mention also, that in doing it more frequently, for cheaper, that your road time, transportation costs and routing cost have just doubled as well. So figure THAT into your formula, and see how much you're coming out on the short end of the stick. If you did it more often, for the same price, You save a little by cutting less growth, but when you are cutting it for LESS, you are just shorting yourself. So, when pricing in "bulk", make sure you are considering all other costs to you in there.

[LoneStarLawn]

Originally posted by Runner
This is not to mention also, that in doing it more frequently, for cheaper, that your road time, transportation costs and routing cost have just doubled as well.

Doubled....I don't see your math.

The good thing about having it every week is that it is on a SET DAY....therefore I can be in the area so travel is not a problem....Travel problems can come from having it every ten days

[KD'sLawns]

I understand what you are doing Lone Star. I do this with new customers all the time. They ask what I would charge to mow. First thing I ask them is how often they want it mowed? Because I cut some that do not want to mow once a week. For example; If I tell a potential customer that it will be $35.00 every ten days or $30.00 every week. All they hear is the $30.00 and usually jump on the offer. Even though it is actually costing them more. Sometimes five weeks in a month so you make even more money. Cutting weekly you usually do not have to worry about double cutting like you do sometimes waiting ten days. So, the mowing goes much quicker, they are on a set day, and you are actually making more money! People love it when they think they are getting a deal. I agree with your reasoning!

[R & J LAWN]

IN MY AREA THERE IS JUST SOME THAT THEY THINK THAT IS ALL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE MOWED(10 DAY). I TRY TO KEEP ALL MY 7 DAY MOWING FOR TUE., WED., THU.,AND FRI. THEN I PUT MY 10 DAY ON MON., AND FRI. ON FRIDAY MY 10 DAY MOWS ARE IN THE SAME AREA AS MY 7 DAY MOWS.THAT WAY YOU MOW THEM ON FRIDAY THEN IN 10 DAYS IT WILL BE MONDAY BUT THEN I DONT GO BACK UNTIL FRIDAY WHICH MAKES IT 11 DAYS. IT HAS WORKED OUT FOR ME AND I HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR 17 YEARS WITH THE LAST 8 YEARS FULL TIME.
IF EVERY BODY DONE EVERY THING THE SAME WAY THE DIXE CHOPPER FACTORY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP.



A CUT ABOVE THE REST :angel:

[kutnkru]

The only aspect that we would even consider doing every 10 days or once a month when it comes to Commercial and Industrial accounts is the Rough Cut Mowing(bush hogging) of field or pasture areas.

When we bid for the Fine Lawn Mowing its either a property that we can cut short enough to withstand two week intervals to meet their budget needs or they pay the price for weekly maintenance.

Its very simple from our perspective they either sign on for 22 cuts if we can cut them very short, or they have to pay the buck for the 32 cuts for the season.

The only variance would be extremely dry mowing conditions in which we would recommend to them that we forego the cut or at pro-rate the billing to hit the front entrance ways, etc. to keep the property looking kempt but avoiding the larger back wide open areas.

Just my .02
Kris

[Runner]

Lonestar,
I was figuring if you were going there MORE than once a week, like every four or five days. If it's in your route, then it fits right in, but I was thinking you were making a special trip for more frequency. For me, cutting once a week is the norm, however, it doesn't always work out that way, with running behind for rain and all. I kind of feel like I cheated myself or was cheated when I only end up with three cuts for the month when I could have had four. On the other hand, there are SOME customers that do't mind being cut every 5 days when it's really growing fast.(like now) Those are all really close by and still get charged full price per cut.

[jaclawn]

The only reason I can see to discount the price for more frequent service, is if the more frequent service means that the work is eaiser.

If you are cutting on a7-10 day schedule, the grass can get a little high, depending on the time of year. You may have to double cut, and have to spend time dealing with excessive clippings.

If you are cutting on a 5-7 day schedule, growth should be less, and the need for double cutting, and clipping management will be less. IF this is the case, a small discount may be warranted.

[Paradise Yard Service]

Ouch! Coming sooner/more frequent is great for the zoyasia lawns here, but that will put a definate hurt on my reel and bed knife sharpening fees! Not to mention their eventual replacement! I am going to have to come more frequent (every 5 days) to one choice property w. zoysia. Reel mowers are the exception here! I charge more. Wear - N - Tear!

Aloha,
P.Y.S.

[smburgess]

No Discounts...

[Vibe Ray]

I used to discount for weekly instead of biweekly, but not any more.....And NO!!! 10 day cuts!!! Either 7 days or 14 days if they want it cut by me. I realize they are just trying to save money, but it is a REAL inconvinience that I choose not to deal with. I might take on a 28 day lot if it was level and pretty big and close by. There are several factors that influence my price as well, but from now on I would not charge less for weekly versus biweekly although I would charge more for every 28 days....

[LoneStarLawn]

it's weekly versus 10 days...

So your saying Vibe Ray...that if a customer says that they wanted their proerty cut every ten days ($330 cut) that you would say you only do every week or every two weeks...that you would cut that lawn every two weeks for $330...or every month for $330?

[Vibe Ray]

Lonestar, I am saying that if a customer asked me to cut every 10 days, then I would say that I only cut at either 7 or 14 day intervals and whatever my price would be, it would be the same whether they agreed to cut it weekly or biweekly, every 28 days would be higher price, though....if decide to take it at 28 day intervals, which I may not (depends)

[LoneStarLawn]

Ok lets do some numbers....

Every week at $300 average per month...$1290 at 4.3 cuts per month
Every 10 days at $330 average per month $990 at 3 cuts per month...

Estimated time for 3 man crew every ten days (3hrs*3men*3cuts)...27 man hrs per month

Rate: $36.67 per man hr. ($990/27 man hrs)

Subtract 15 minutes (atleast) to cut every week. (less to cut less time) so 3 man crew every week (2.75hrs*3men*4.3cuts)....35.475 man hrs per month

Rate: $36.36 per man hr. ($1290/35.475 man hrs)

Seems pretty close to me...

Tell me if my math is wrong or not...

*Plus I would rather cut every week than every ten days or even every 2-weeks

[LoneStarLawn]

Is there no dissagreement about that?