Horrible, cheap customers!

[JasonPC]

The new potential clients are calling everyday, but so many of them live in these HUGE houses and are cheap as hell. First off, how do I compete with a huge landscaping company with one of those dumb mulch blowers? They're prices are much cheaper, but I think the job looks like ****. It washes away after a couple of rains. Our mulch jobs always look absolutely beautiful and stay that way for a year. But no one wants to pay our prices (around $40-$50 a yard). What the hell is wrong with people? we seem to be getting calls from price shoppers so far this year. It's really frustrating me how cheap people are. They tell me they're not happy with their landscaper, but they won't change unless we're the same price or cheaper. I don't get it! Anyone else having this experience? we charge $35 per hour per guy. I think that's pretty damn reasonable. We're right in the middle in our area. UGH!<p>Nicole

[Retro67]

I have had that as well. This is a numbers game. The more people you get in front of, the better the chances for landing decent accounts. Your rate is very reasonable by any standards. <p>John

[tjg]

Try showing them pictures or giving them address of of clients then show and tell them about their current landscaper( or exlandscaper)tell them the whole difference between the two ways it is being done. If you can find a close major complex,hospital,Home Improvement,Golf Club House that uses the process you use and show them how long it last.If they use it, it must be the best way to go.<p>----------<br>T.J. Greenfield<br>

[Scape Sculptor]

I have been running into the same story, They are not happy with the last guy. But they want me to come down to their price. I tell them that I have expertise and do a quality job. I offer a 10% prepay for the season. That brings it closer to the last guys price. I'm only $5 off before the prepay offer, now I'm only $2 off per mow after. I am trying to stay in the $35 to $40 per hour range. Too many price shoppers also. So what gives here?

[Charles]

I am having the same problem too this year. Frugal people to the extreme. Seems to be worse than years past. One woman over 70 even went out and bought her a pushmower to push her rather large yard. Said she will call me when she tires of it. But she said i did a beautiful job. I don't know whats going on. Maybe because their are so many lawn companies out there. We are hitting the bottom of the barrel el cheapo on new customers. The majority of good accounts seem to be taken. I have alot of good accounts myself. Its replacing the ones you lose due to death etc is the problem. Too their are alot of people getting 5 estimates just to save 5 dollars per cut. Our newspaper tells people to shop, but I think they mean for bigger type jobs.

[steveair]

I love this story. I think a lot of it is a new genration of people. With the economy so good, everyone is going out and buying these big, fancy Half million dollar homes. The thing is, have you ever looked inside of one? I can't tell you how many times I have looked in and seen things like TV's sitting on milk crates, old ratty furniture, and then rooms with no furniture at all.<p>Face it. A lot of these people have put everything they have into these homes. The saying, 'to keep up with the jones' should be the motto of our times. These people will most likely not have the money to pay for decent lawn care for years. However, that doesn't keep them from wasting our time and making us give them quotes. If you think that on top of a 2000 per month mortage these people can affore lawn care too, then I also have a bridge in brooklyn to sell you. <p>steveair

[lawngator]

It's called living beyond their means. I live in one of the fastest growing areas in central Florida. People are buying twice the house they can afford, but they still want a &quot;lawn boy&quot;. Be patient, do not compromise on price, if your quality can back it up. The good accounts will surface eventually. Bill

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody & Steveair:<p>Yep, your right the Jones's don't have the money that they should have!<p>It's nothing new the Jones's were broke back in the 80's too. Probably half the time you go up to a $250K home, they can't afford your services. All you do is give them something to gripe about over supper at the country club.<p>Yes they will be their telling complete strangers that Lawn Service people are crooks & try to rip them off just because they live in a $300K home, it goes up in price $50K when they are boofing at your fees.<p>Hey it might just be me but have you ever noticed that most the women have blonde hair? Probably are dyed or bleached? LOL, mainly in the upper 20's to 40's age range!<p>We moved into a new neighborhood 10 years ago in Columbus, Ga I thought I was doing it for the kids & I was wrong. When we first moved in their about 35 or 40 houses in the $165K to $285K range. My wife only red head & only one that worked. They would not even talk to her for the 8 years we lived there.<p>I would offer 2 prices the Economy & the First Class job. If after a few minutes they don't take it give them your card with both prices & offer good for 30 days. Then go!<p>In most cases when you give them your prices, about the first or second sentence comming out of their mouth is the indication one way or another if they are going to let you do the job.<p> Don't wate anymore of your time with them!<p>This is just my thoughts only!<p><br>----------<br>GrassMaster - Home: www.lawnservicing.com<br>My Start Up Page www.lawnservicing.com/startup/<br>

[MOW ED]

I've seen it with the 30 something gotta have it all crowd. 3 or 4 kids in school or daycare, mom and dad working 50 hours a week making +150k per year with the boat, Navigator and house up Nort on da lake and they piss about 100 bucks to thatch their lawn that they don't have time to rake.

[Charles]

I just remembered a lawn I did last week. New house. Man called me on my cell. One time thing. $200,000 home. 1 acre of land. Young couple with 1 kid. Had to have it done that day(saturday) or the next day. I made a special trip that day. Told him 45$. He Whew!!! that is high! It was either do it or drive 15 min back home. I said 40$ then. He was happy with that. He should have been happy that I made a special trip just for him on short notice. Times sure have changed. You know if he went to work and his boss said he would cut his pay for that day he would be screaming bloody murder. He was willing to offend me over 5 !@#$%^&&*( dollars

[CLM1]

I have the same story. Lost out on my first commercial property bid last week by $920.00.<br>However, the guy told me that my proposal was the nicest he'd ever seen. I replied, &quot;well that is a reflection on how I do things. I take alot of pride in my work and try to do the best job possible and I AM in the business to make a profit&quot;. He wanted me to have the job but wanted me to do it for the next highest bid. ($920.00 less than mine) I told him I'd run the #'s and see what I could do but it wouldn't be much less than what I had bid. I came off $400.00 and still lost out. He said that wasn't enough and he was going to have to go with the other bid. My reply,&quot;That's fine, and there are no hard feelings. If I can't do a job and feel good about it when I walk away then I don't want the job or my name associated with it. Here's my card and feel free to call me at anytime if you ever need anything and keep me in mind the next time it's up for bid&quot;. He thanked me for my time and said he would.<br>I rode by the property yesterday and after two cuts it looks like hell. I just grinned to myself and thought oh well, I bet I get a call next yr.<br>Maybe, maybe not. The bottom line is THE BOTTOM LINE...YOURS! Look after it.

[Lee Homan]

It's all in where people put their priorities and lawn care rates way at the bottom of the list. As a previous post said lawn care is a necessary evil. Doesn't matter if it makes the property look nice or not. In most peoples mind that $100-$150 per month could be spent on eating out or paying the phone bill on time. What kills me the most is when they balk at your price instead of having their two teenage sons mow the lawn in the first place. I could never figure that out, when I was growing we always mowed the lawn and looked forward to it.

[Retro67]

Mr. Homan-<p>I think what the customer is really saying is, &quot;my sons are too lazy to mow it for me, but they make a great excuse for me to call another lawn company who will mow my acre lot for $20.&quot; :)<br>

[Lee Homan]

Yeah retro, you hit the nail right on the head. Of course if the whole family wasn't so lazy they would get out there together and knock it out in a half hour. <br>

[Charles]

The United States is becoming more like the Roman empire every day. But instead of gladiators. The american people will entertain themselves by watching lawn companies fight in the streets over customers. I bet my lazer can whip your lazer.

[Barkleymut]

The real problem here is the fact that the average homeowner doesn't understand that the Dixie Chopper I'm towing behind my $18,000 truck on my $2000 trailer costs over $9000! They think that a craftsman rider can do the same job. So let them get a craftsman and do it themselves. Your equipment is expensive and therefore time is money. If you can, get an established customer base and keep them happy. I rarely take on new work because I don't have time for it. I have only been in business for 2 years (full time). You will get to the point where you won't even go out to a home unless you think it will be profitable. Free Quotes really bite if you ask me. I don't want to go out and spend 1/2 hour listening to how some old ladys yard looks like crap and she has $75 a month that she can &quot;give&quot; you if you make it look nice. Take that job and shove it. If you are just starting out and you need work then go get it. If you have no work then get out in your mom's front yard and pick weeds, mulch it, do SOMETHING! I am at my moms eating lunch right now and right before I ate I was mowing the lawn and had someone ask me if I could look at their lawn. So get out there, the customers are waiting, but don't count yourself short, someone is willing to pay you decent money if you do great work. BTW sorry to ramble on like that.

[GroundKprs]

Has anyone ever considered the customers perspective of lawn mowing? Did you ever cut the grass before you got into this business? (Lazer doesn't count, he was on mower, 3 days old!) What is the typical homeowner doing when he mows?<p>He's out there to relax, to just do something empty-headed and not think. Be honest - if you're not in the business, that's what lawn mowing is. So if someone is calling for your services to cut his grass, guess what he expects to deal with. You have to have some angle, some twist, or some special introduction to shatter his idea of hiring you as an empty-headed mower jockey. It's not exactly what people are spending their money for, but their perception of what they are spending it for.<p>I once had a client who constantly told me I didn't charge enough. After not raising his price for 5-6 yrs, I raised it almost 50%. After he grumbled about a &quot;50% increase!!&quot;, he said I still didn't charge enough. You will go a lot further if you are selling special grass cutting, instead of just selling grass cutting. <p>----------<br>Jim<br>North central Indiana<br>

[Charles]

We are a nessescity to a large part of the population now. Society has changed. The larger portion of the US population is over 60. A large portion of the population has 2 incomes. No time to take care of the yard. Too tired to take care of the yard. Too old to do it. With this great demand they need us very bad. To be dependable and keep up with this demand we need quality commercial equipment. And too we need to make a decent income to support ourselves and/or our families. And keep this high dollar equipment serviced and running. Its the public we have to educate. And slowly and surely they are. I don't know about some of you but I am trying to run my service like a business. I am trying to make a good living. Too you have to run it like the seasonal business it is. Do not be embarrassed to tell a customer what you charge. I use to be in Real Estate as a owner/salesman. No brain surgery there either On a $80,000 home I made 2800$$$ sometimes just for showing a few houses and maybe spending 10 hrs getting it to closing. Some sales job pay alot more than we make per hour for alot less labor and equipment.

[nlminc]

Good point Charles! Want to buy my equipment, I'm going to get my realestate lic. tomorrow:) No really, you have to tell them like it is. I think we are always going to have this problem getting no respect. You just have to educate the customer (those that are worth it) have a professional inmage and stand up for yourself and your business.