Ever give away lawns to your competition?

[1MajorTom]

We gave away two lawns yesterday to another Lawn Care Operator.

They are side by side. Roughly a half an acre each. Minimal trimming. We had the one lady for three years. Did everything we could to get her to convert to a 10 day cycle, but she always insisted on 14 days. This year we picked up her next door neighbor. Another 14 day customer. $40.00 each for the lawns. $160.00 a month for those accounts.

But we just didn't want them. Bi-weeklys now to us are simply awful.

We saw a crew cutting across the street from where we were cutting. Matt says, "Do you think I should go ask them if they want those two accounts?" I said, "Yeah, go for it."

Turns out the guy is really nice. He seemed real happy about it. He said he would go check them out.

Matt talked to the customer and told her that we just couldn't do a 14 day cut anymore, but he had someone that was willing to stop by and take a look.

Well we went by those two houses today, and we see that they are cut.
So we're happy, the lawn care operator is happy, and the customers should be happy too. It's not like they even cared about their yards. They just needed them cut.

Just wondering if others out there gave away any lawns to a fellow LCO?

[gusbuster]

Jodi, what you and your husband did is just a matter of integrity.

You never know when that other person will give the favor back.

We have been doing this for a long time. Sometimes somebody wants something done a certain way, so I don’t want to deal with it. Other times, I get referred, but the client is not in my service area. So I will recommend a person that works in that area. Not worth it to me if I have to fight traffic, drive a half hour, just to earn a $10 profit. Believe me, I have given some highly profitable clients away to family friends in the trade. However, those favors have been always rewarded, at least for me.
John

[Lawn DOG]

Did it twice this week. I turn work over to other lco's all the time. Usually it is because it is in an area that I don't target and reccomend someone that I know works that area. Every once in awhile they return the favor. It is good business to do this. I used to think I must be crazy for doing this but people appreciate the help. Just like jodi said "everybody is happy" then that's all that matters.

[BRL]

Do it all the time. If I can't or don't want to do it, and I know the job is someone else's "niche" or in an area that they are busy in, I refer it to others that I know.

[Chuck Sinclair]

If they don't meet what i want as a customer (Area, Yard whatever) i refer them to a local LCO i met that does a real nice job.:)

[Calvin]

We dumped over 30 pain in the ass accounts this year. All good paying customers but with very difficult lawns (fast growing turf, steep slopes, ditches, alot of trimming, far drive time etc.) gave all of them phone numbers of other LCO's I had seen written their trucks. Wanted to keep good customer relations as many were neighbors of customers we wanted to keep. The smart LCO's would have passed or priced accordingly I figured. One of those LCO's now waves at me when we pass by so I guess he appreciated the work.

[Runner]

I give away accounts, but it is to friends rather. I don't rally consider myself as having any competition. If there is something or some location that is not feasible for me to service, than hey, why not. Right now, I am having trouble because I am getting all these calls for shrubbery. I realize it's rather easy to refer out mowing jobs, but shrubbery is just something that I really have to see more results of before I can just say "here's a guy that can do a great job for you." This is kind of tough as no one really likes to do shrubbery in the first place.

[Richard Martin]

We have what could best be described as a mowing ring here. We are 3 seperate LCOs. AM Lawn Service (my company), T&S Lawn & Landsape(they post here on a rare basis) and Johnson's Lawn Service. We are constantly giving one another help, customers and anything else that comes to mind. It has worked out very well for me and the others so far.

[Columbia Turf]

I think there are times you have to refer things to otherlco's. I have not taken on any new clients since beginning of the season. (unless it was to good to pass up) For some reason, this year I bet i get 6 calls a week for one time or new yards that people want mowed. You have to know your limitations. I know what Calvin is talking about, we also try each year to "weed"out the undesirable accounts. The reasons are not always the same, to far out, not enough $, slow pay, or just pain in the a##. We always seem to pick up better properties. A couple years ago, by mutual agreement, dropped a $40,000+ year account.....Best year we ever had!:eek:

[Eric ELM]

We have given a lot of lawns to our competition. Once you are doing all you can do, it's better to give them to someone you know, which helps them out.

[KirbysLawn]

Yep. Just gave away my $75 a week lawn, gave away 7 last fall. I have a few friends that I send business to that are in our local association.

[awm]

i like richards idea. if i can find some lcos around here that
i can trust,this would increase total potential of my service
and theirs.

[script]

I usually don't turn down any new accounts that are within an area that I target, even if I am over the limit amount of yards that I have set for myself. Then maybe two to three times a season I go through and pick and choose which accounts I'd like to give up. I have given several other lco's yards over the years, and have had the favor returned several times.

[1MajorTom]

Yeah we refer lawns that we aren't interested in to others all the time.

But this was the first time we actually just walked up to another lawn care operator and gave away two accounts that we had already priced and were maintaining.

[HOMER]

I'm trying to get away from 10 day accounts and your trying to get them. You must have everything set up on 10 day.

I have given some away and referred others when I didn't want the yards. I've also had the guy I gave them to take an extra one for good measure. I haven't referred or given any away this year and won't until a decent guy comes along that I can trust.

[kutnkru]

There are a select few that we will "refer" clients or prospects to. I try to make sure that when we either give the referral or let the client go that the Contractor will provide the same or better service for that clients needs.

Many times in the spring, the LCO who are in the phone book will have their phones ringing off the hook so much that they just cannot answer all the calls, so they just get forwarded to other LCOs they know.

I will usually give a $25 Finders Fee to those whom have referred us the work after we have kept the clients for 30 days. If they have us perform pruning/shearing, landscape enhancements or other work, I will quite often cut them a check earlier.

No, we do not claim the money but I just think its only right to say "Hey, Thanks for the vote of confidenece!":p

Kris

[1MajorTom]

Quote: I'm trying to get away from 10 day accounts and your trying to get them. You must have everything set up on 10 day.


No, we don't really like the 10 day accounts either. Have very few of them. We just work them in our schedule the best we can.

But with those two accounts, we would have accepted 10 day schedule, but they wouldn't take us up on it, so we were glad to get rid of them.
80% of our accounts are weekly.

[Lawn Wizard]

Hey Eric Send me some Lawns! LMAO j/k

[Grassman]

Jodi, you're just fine tuning your business. Russ

[Schlepie]

Gave my 1st and not the last potential account to a friend he just had bigger mowers to do the job faster and for less than I could of . The customer is happy just hope friend returns the favor.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Geez... I wish you guys were in my area! I've been walking up to other LCOs asking if they had accounts they wanted to get rid of or sell. It must be nice to be able to give up or turn away work!

[HOMER]

TSG,

There will come a point in your business where you start giving them away or referring the callers to other LCO's. When I started I thought I would never have enough accounts to buy groceries, now I have so many I can't keep up with them all. I need to shed some now but for some reason keep thinking "I'll get to it as soon as I can". If you were down here you better believe I would send them to ya.

[Nathan]

We just gave up 21 accounts last week to a guy that we had seem in th area a few times prior. We decided to leave a particular area, over 100 miles of driving in one day mostly every other week service and only mowing(9 month contracts). We just have gotten too much business in much closer locations(less than 40 miles driving all day) with 12 month contracts and much better money.
The only thing that made me hesitate was that we had some very nice customers, but since we referred a competent replacement I didn't think for very long.

Decide for yourself if you can make better money elsewhere and go for it.

[roscioli]

A local LCO just gave me 5 of their accounts. They are located in the town next to mine, and these accounts are in my town, and the next town over. Very nice lawns, going to be a great challenge to keep up the quality of work. There is another local that just gave up ALL of their residential mowing accounts (trying to concentrate on installs, commercials and clean ups), but didnt refer them to anyone, just plain dropped them. I wish i had the list! Recently i was mowing one of their old accounts (who is related to me), and he was there working on the irrigation system (which i dont do), and he wouldnt even look at me. I guess he doesnt like competition. Oh well. :)

[1MajorTom]

Update

We were just pulling up to our house to go inside today, when we saw the guy we gave those 2 accounts to stop his truck. He shook Matt's hand, and he said thanks. He thinks those lawns are good, and he is happy with them.

That was nice to hear. He is very friendly, and I'm sure in the future if we have any other work we aren't interested in, we will refer him. He seems to be a hustler (good worker)

[KD'sLawns]

TSG, There are many LCO's that are unwilling to help others. Not all LCO's are kind-hearted people like the members of LawnSite, many are threatened by other LCO's presence. You get treated like you treat people though, so their day will come. I know a guy the operates another LCO and I always wave, go out of my way to say hello, and have even sent work his way. I get calls for landscape jobs from many of his customers and I take some of the jobs.(He only wants to mow).
But, when I see this guy he barely waves and always looks at me like I am dating his mother. I do not want this guys lawns and he should know this . If I wanted his lawns, I could get at least 85% of them in a matter of weeks. But, I stay as busy as I want to be doing my own work. Some people are just selfish and too easily threatened.
You just keep doing good work and by years end, you will be turning some work away also! Just keep your head up and be friendly (most people respect that). Also, learn all that you can about all aspects of maintenance, horticulture, and landscapes. too much knowledge is always better than not enough!!!

Good Luck.

[scottb]

Not in the position to give any away yet but I have had a few given to me by another lco which I thanked him for till no end. ( I still owe him a beer.) I do recongize the fact that I cant handle the larger properties and I do recommend other lco's in the area.as my opinon it is the only decent thing to do.

[Grasshog]

Kirby, what local association are you speaking of. I'm in the Charlotte area. Wouldnt mind checking it out. If its open to new members.