Stuck to my guns

[Volhunter]

I'm new to the business and doing it part-time. Starting up way too late, its been tough getting work. I passed out 500 flyers this week and have 500 more to put out by the first of next week. Got a call for an estimate this morning & went to take a look. Pull up to a $350,000 house with the bermuda gone to seed, hasn't been edged in probably a month and I doubt its been trimmed all year. The lady comes to the door and cries about being pregnant, having to work on one of their 3 rental houses, no time, etc. I listen politely then start measuring the yard. It comes up to about 10,000 sq ft and roughly 800 ft of edging/trimming. I figure 1.25 hrs for the job plus a mark up for a "one-time" cut and the extra time it will take for being in such bad shape. I quoted her $65, which I thought was reasonable. I thought she was going to fall out! Gave me the "poor pitful me" look waiting for me to give away my services. It didn't work. She said she couldn't afford that (for a one time cut! LOL). I told her if I did it weekly, it would run about $50 per cut. She said she would just wait until her husband could get to it. I thanked her and left. I wanted to relay this to the younger guys starting out (I ain't no spring chicken). Stick to your guns...you should know what a job is worth (if you've done your homework), bid it and stick by your number. It hurts when you need lawns like I do, BUT I've been in the business world a long time and I promise odds are that a good job at a FAIR price will take you far. There is ALWAYS somebody that will do it for less...don't be that somebody, because if you are, you won't be around for long. Sorry I got long-winded, but I thought this might help some of you.

[cos]

That is sooo funny that she couldn't afford an extra $15 for grass that is high enough to be baled. I love when there is people out there that make enough money to buy that jag, but refuse to pay the price for everyday things.

[sheppard]

Dear Volhunter, great post. I'm 45. Been taken advantage of so many times as a youngster. Nothing gives me more confidence than to 'walk away' from a cheap customer- you in effect set yourself up for success when you define and enforce your bottom line. Customers like definative answers: yes or no, Teusday ( as opposed to 'sometime next week'). I always tell myself that my price is worth the service I give. There's no free lunch- some customers have not found that out.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[Double D]

Amen Brother!

[Fantasy Lawns]

soooo true ;->

[CSRA Landscaping]

Good show! ;)

[evergreenlawn]

Way to go. Another will come.

[Scag48]

I had a customer like that last year. Always complaining about this, that, and the other. She suckered me into a cheap price, ain't happenin' no more. I'm more educated, only because of this great site. Glad you stuck with your price. I hate it when people think we're just dummies that mow, HA! Take a hike sister, we're smarter than that!

[leeslawncare]

Good for you! stick to your guns!I like the ol saying "i'am on a fixed income "I always tell them "it must be nice knowing how much you will get every month" i heard that here an i started useing it .It works.They usually shut up or think you are a smart a**.

[Kent Lawns]

You should've been able to weed out a customer like that over the phone.

I know different sites have variables, but if one of my crews spent 1.25 man/hours on a 10,000 square foot lawn, they'd be fired.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Glad you held out for what you wanted but...

$50 for 10,000sf... That's alot of money for less than 1/4 acre.. isn't it? Shouldn't take longer than 30-45 minutes

[Runner]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by leeslawncare
I like the ol saying "I am on a fixed income" I always tell them "It must be nice knowing how much you will get every month" I heard that here an I started using it.
I like that. I can kind of equate that to what someone else once said on here. They said someone had been told by the customer. "They are on a budget." The LCO simply replied. "Yeah, so am I."

[lawnmowerman29]

I just had a meeting with a potential client last week. She has not mowed her grass yet. I was walking through waist high grass when a big yellow lab came at me through the grass, scared the crap out of me. I waited 30 min. for her to show and she never did. She called me and i quoted her $175 for the first mow and $50 after that for approx.1/2 acre. Her husband did not want to pay that much for their "crappy grass". I told her that would be fine and did not back down and i sure could use the money.

[Lawn DOG]

Don't ever let the customer tell you how much your prices are.
You played it like the pro's.

[Volhunter]

Thanks for the support. I knew I did the right thing, but it still hurts when you need the money! I know it will come around though...like most things good, the main ingredients are patience, perseverance, and knowledge, not to mention hard work. A lot of one of those can be found on this forum. Thanks to all here, because I have learned from many.

[65hoss]

Excellent! You did it right. That is a good price for an overgrown lawn in our area. You probably estimated the time correct also. Bermuda is different than cool season grasses. It takes much longer to edge. You don't just run a stick edger over it and your done. You go over it several times. Not to mention, that is ALOT of grass to deal with. I know of several guys in this area that actually charge double a regular cut price for a 1 time only job.