I've been lowballed, this guy is a joke...

[65hoss]

A commercial account that I inherited last year decided to get someone cheaper. And Boy did they. This account had a 12 month contract about 3 years ago, but since then the other guy never worried about it and so neither did I. They stopped us from cutting yesterday. Told me they were dropping my services. I talked to the "NEW" office mgr this morning. She said that the part-timer that cuts the property next to them offered to do theirs much cheaper. Wanted me to met his price. Here are the details of the property:
Cutting 2 manhours
4 yards of mulch in the spring
Nothing else because they are too cheap.

My price was only $150 per month. It was low, but like I said I inherited it.
They don't want to pay during the winter because there is nothing to do. I tried to explain it was divided out per month. So here are their new lawnboy #.
Lowballers numbers:
cutting=$35 per cut every 2 weeks
mulch= $78

I told her that the cost of business made this amount crazy. I asked if he had insurance. She didn't know, but assumed he did. He promised that if anything happens he will take care of it. What a joke. I also told her that due to his prices he didn't know anything about expenses. $78 for mulching job tells that he's stupid.

I explained that I didn't plan to compete with this guy. I didn't consider him competition. He would be out of business soon based on these prices. I also said that if they were only concerned about price they better take him up on this offer.

Thanks to John Allin for coaching me on expenses recently. It gave me the confidence to say NO to lowering my price.

Eric:angry:

[SLS]

65hoss,

You did the right thing.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the first time the new guy gets behind because of rain or equipment failure the NEW "office manager" will be giving you a call.

NEW "office manager" will soon learn a valuable lesson: "You get what you pay for".

PEACE!

[lawrence stone]

When they call back get $200 and a 2 year contract.

[SLS]

Darn Tootin', Lawrence! :D

[awm]

the problem with them calling back is the manager looses face.
she will probably call one in the yellow pages an you are both losers because of her poor judgement.not to make anyone mad but she is 24-30 yrs old id bet. full of ideas and never wrong. i hope im wrong 65.ive dealt with many many managers,sometimes youd like to just shakeum.
ps there are many in that age group that are very wise ,and many older thathave little common sense. later

[65hoss]

You got it AWM. She's in her late 20's and has something to prove to the owners I guess. Cut expenses on the lawnguy to prove her worth.

I just can't believe someone would be this stupid. Oh well, I've always believed that when 1 door closes another opens.

[MOW ED]

Thats why Mr Stone has a registered trademark after his name, I'm with him. Get it in writing and don't bend.

[Charles]

I had a parttimer the other day tell me "He could work cheaper than me because he didnt pay taxes on the money he earned"
I would not stoop down to the lowballers level no matter what.

[Freetime]

Send them down the road to who ever is willing to take your leftovers (or behinds) off the plate and find better customers that appreciate the service and quality provided by you. Don’t waste your time fretting over it, as you say one closes and another opens then out steps the golden goose.

Good customers are like gold take care of them. Bad ones have decreased in value (from a dime to a nickel) since the gas increase, stick to your price and mow man mow.
:eek: :)

[MikeLT1Z28]

believe us, not having this account is no big heartbreaker... everyone makes more in a year doing residential than this account produced.

[lawnman_scott]

Call the city and turn them in for hiring an unlisenced contractor, you dont know hes not, but at that price he cant be. My prices are reasonable, sometimes too cheap, but thats just insane. awm is right, she will feel to stupid to call you back, she will just look in the paper, but they will probably bid it higher than 150/month, so you can smile about that

[65hoss]

I would just love to be there when this fool figures out how stupid he was to bid this property this way. :p

I guess if he likes minimum wage he should really love this job.

[SLS]

Maybe he needed a job...badly.

I view the whole thing just like Freetime apparently does.


The sun comes up, pigs don't fly, and crap will always flow downhill...and theres nothing we can do about it. So why sweat it. :)

[jeffex]

there is a way to be the first one she calls. stop in and
talk to her and tell her it is just part of your business
practice to follow up on past accounts. complement her for
being EFFICIENT or some other BS and drop off a 2yr contract
with your price and remind her that value=$/service. if this
kissing but is not in your way then forget it. You will look
good and she can save face too. I can here her telling her
boss now how pro you were and what a better job you did and
how she didn't have to worry with you on the job. Hey it
could happen!!

[Eric ELM]

To add to what Jeffex wrote, let them know what happens if this guy hurts someone on their property if he has no insurance. Who ever gets hurt will sue them, since this guy probably has no insurance.

[morturf]

I just wondered how come this guy did not have to provide a proof of insurance. I have this for all my commercial accounts. The certificate is always provided by my insurance company directly to the client. When the insurance company does this they also notify the client if you have been cancelled for any reason. How about you guys, don't you have to? :confused: