Winter Complaints

[4 Seasons]

Hey does anyone in this forum live in New York? If so, I was wondering if any of your customers that you plow for are giving you a hard time because of the lack of snow? All of my accounts are contracts and I have had a couple complaints like: maybe next year I should come down on the price. I say a snow plow contract is like an insurance policy so it doesn't matter how much of the white stuff we get and there will be no price reduction!! Nobody had complaints 2 seasons ago when I was plowing and salting 2 to 3 times per week. What do you guys think?

[topsites]

Well...

You win some, and you lose some, right?
So do your customers.
When you win, they lose... And vice-versa.
The idea being, in the long run it should add out.
So... If you find yourself coming out way ahead for too long, you might want to cut back on the prices some.

But it didn't bother anybody the entire time it was you taking a beating, right?
Maybe it bothered you, and you may have complained a little...
So now it is them taking a beating, and it bothers some a little, and a few complain.
It's just hard to see this 'adds out in the long run' bit when it's you taking the beating.
But it's not so hard to see when it's not you.

Now if you start to feeling guilty, you might give someone a discount on a bill, maybe a tax break idk...
I'd wait until a little past the break even point thou.

[grandview (2006)]

Never had a problem here.They don't ask for a reduction and I don't ask for more. All seasonal.

[Dstosh]

Tell them to find another plow guy. I would just as rather sit arround all winter. I am sure that you can replace those customers.

[Mowtown Mike]

I have 35 plow accounts in a small community, all of them are per push. No complaints from them, just my own, and my wife isn't too happy herself. I am getting depressed. I did not save enough money this summer to keep me tied over this winter.

I just advertised to sell some firewood. But I was saving the wood for myself. It is a lot of work to produce seasoned wood and not a lot of income from it.

I am accepting any and all donations. Thank you in advance!

[BSDeality]

same thing came up on plowsite last week. Your thinking is exactly right. ask them if they would be ok with charging them more when we get the big snowstorms at the end of the year.

[4 Seasons]

Mike, you gotta try to get contracts for next year. At least a few, that will gauranty some $$ comin in. I will probally be lookin to unload a few before next winter. I also know of a few places that are and will be looking for a plow guy.

[Uranus]

How do you think the guys who lease loaders for the winter feel. My exmark dealer was talking to me about his $2300 monthly payment for lease snow equipment. Seasonal contracts are insurance policys. get shafted if you dont use it but make out good if there is a ton on snow. Same thing with pe-pay for home heating oil. Tell them next year they can go on pay per storm status.

[RedMax Man]

I think my clients are loving it. I remember when i used to show up a few times a week to wack out the driveways. Haven't had any complaints this winter but I did get some when i'd be showing up a few times a week for some people in the past. I hope the grass grows better than the amount of snow some of us have gotten so we can make up for what we lost.

[mgmlandscaping]

I am in NJ. We usually bring in anywhere from $50k -$250k for the winter months. This year I have brought in $400 in snow. We salted one property last week. I know how you guys are feeling. Keep your heads up and hope for some white money.....

[A and N]

Its just not ethical here in Southern Ohio to even own a plow. I couldn't live on just my Lawn income here though. I also work year round in a factory. Wish I was a teacher, then Id have it made.

[topsites]

Winter is slow here as well, but that is nothing unusual...
If anything, last year's busy winter was...

Funny thing is, I've about spent more money since December than I used to spend in the busy spring season.

Reason is, lessons learned:
When the spring rush starts, SAVE your next winter's money FIRST no matter what.
Do NOT spend it foolishly (or wisely or any which way) on equipment if at all you can make do, because you need to save MONEY!
First off, if we have another drought, it will get you through July-August.
Then you get into the winter blues, and it's like lalala...
AND you got money to spend, and plenty of time to do it in.

Because I do get calls this time of year, but they're few and far in between...
And every single last one of them is for crap work at cut rate prices (work your tail off for free).

Took me 5 years to learn that LOL.

[scottish lscape1]

same thing came up on plowsite last week. Your thinking is exactly right. ask them if they would be ok with charging them more when we get the big snowstorms at the end of the year.

Ditto that