Grub Proof Guarantted

[humble1]

I have seen other people advertise that they guarantee grub proofing. How can you do that if the customer doesnt water it in? Do you still repair the lawn if the grubs do damage? Any pricing sugestions

[Runner]

2 main rules in this industry, 1., in many cases, you may not get all of many things....the idea is the word control...... and 2., if instructions aren't followed - ESPECIALLY per LABEL instructions,...all bets are off.

[olive123]

its a percentage game...

[lawn king]

Guarantee is a word best unused in this business. As joe stated, control is a great word to use. We applied weed control today not weed killer! You dont want the mindset of the word killer and you cant gaurantee something that you cant 100% control.

[mikesturf]

Most homeowners wouldn't know a grub if they saw one. I'm sure many techs or companies when faced with a grub problem after they "put down grub control" may tell the customer "Oh you have a lawn disease" and charge them for Dylox and reseeding. I've been doing this for 5 years and I have heard many ugly stories.

[group501]

I feel pretty safe offering a guarantee on our grub control. If our service does not provide the proper control then we will apply the curative control and any damaged areas will be repaired at no charge. In six years we have only had one failure with Merit and it was only a small area in the backyard. I am sure that not every customer follows our directions to water after the service. However, if there is a problem do you think they are going to admit that they did not water. I do not have the time to go back to each house to verify if they watered. I feel that if you charge appropriately for the service then if some touch up seed and Dylox become necessary it has already been factored in.

[RigglePLC]

I could be wrong--but i think I heard the Bayer people guarantee grub control with Merit. So some companies feel confident they can guarantee it to their cutomers. Merit works--so usually it would be no problem--if applied at the right time and right rate, and watered in within a reasonable time frame.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I could be wrong--but i think I heard the Bayer people guarantee grub control with Merit.

Ever seen the movie Tommy Boy? They explain it perfectly. Warranties are to lure in the buyer.

[Tscape]

Ever seen the movie Tommy Boy? They explain it perfectly. Warranties are to lure in the buyer.

Which one?

"You can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass. But wouldn't you rather take the butcher's word for it?"

"All they sold you was a guaranteed piece of ****. That's all it is. If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I've got spare time."

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

"All they sold you was a guaranteed piece of ****. That's all it is. If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I've got spare time."

That would be the one. LOL! :laugh:

[KLR]

Guarantee is a word best unused in this business. As joe stated, control is a great word to use. We applied weed control today not weed killer! You dont want the mindset of the word killer and you cant gaurantee something that you cant 100% control.

repectfully I disagree, in fact we have large block letters on our trucks that state 'results guaranteed'
your weed control example is true....we cant guarantee every weed will be killed, but we can come back out to respray if needed, hence our service is guaranteed

[garydale]

We guarantee grub control by promising to repair any grub damage at our expense.

We cover any warranty work by charging double for a "Merit" appl. over our regular appl. price.

I don't believe we have ever had to do any warranty work.

[Mscotrid]

Bayers guarantee is the "Backed by Bayer" program. Which essentially will provide the end user with Dylox if an outbreak occurs. The applying company has to have receipts of purchase of Merit. You will also have to provide dates of application, square feet treated and area of damaged turf. If it is a large claim they might send a rep and do a site survey.

In my opinion the slogan "Results Guaranteed" means I will do anything the customer says if the customer is not happy. If not be prepared to return all monies paid to that point.

[KLR]

In my opinion the slogan "Results Guaranteed" means I will do anything the customer says if the customer is not happy. If not be prepared to return all monies paid to that point.

exactly, although results guaranteed is not our slogan and I got it backwards its actually 'guaranteed results' that is lettered on our trucks.

we are guaranteeing customer satisfaction, plain and simple. If our hand is forced we will return the cost of the last application...not an entire seasons worth of applications, if that were the case we would have heard complaints from the customer before it got to that point. (side note....have never had to return an application payment)

I am an old school guy, thats they way it was done back 25 years ago when i first got started in lawncare with chemlawn. With setting expectations at the time of sale, communication thru the season via newsletters and even notes on invoices there will not be a problem. If a product fails for whatever reason we will come out free to take care of the situation. If its weeds then we respray weeds at no charge or if its a grub damage we will retreat with the appropriate product and seed if necessary.

Younger guys will not do things this way and thats fine by me, I wont argue the point or tell anyone they are doing things wrong. But I will say this....if you are not providing a service to your customer you will need to be a good sales person to get other customers to take the place of those that cancel.

Business is good, I do things my way, you are entitled to disagree. :)

[humble1]

If you apply merit and need to come back what product would you apply for a second app merit again or something else?

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

If you apply merit and need to come back what product would you apply for a second app merit again or something else?

No way! Merit is systemic (slow to take effect). You need a fast knockdown if you're getting callbacks for grubs. I use bifenthrin products (Bifen I/T, Crosscheck, Talstar). Waaaay cheap and great kills - but no residual to speak of.

[Mscotrid]

No way! Merit is systemic (slow to take effect). You need a fast knockdown if you're getting callbacks for grubs. I use bifenthrin products (Bifen I/T, Crosscheck, Talstar). Waaaay cheap and great kills - but no residual to speak of.



Checking the Bifentrin label I'm not seeing Grubs on the kill list. I would roll across the lawn with Dylox.

[LIBERTYLANDSCAPING]

Yeah, Bifenthrin is for surface feeders only... (Lawn use anyway)

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Checking the Bifentrin label I'm not seeing Grubs on the kill list. I would roll across the lawn with Dylox.

Sorry. I should have clarified. My "grubs" are sod web worm and billbugs.

[Runner]

Also, guaranteed results is not a bad term at all to use. When Lawn King stated the the word "guaranteed" is a good one to avoid in this biz, I think he was simply implying that we should not imply that we "guarantee" something to be completely irradicated. Now, guaranteed RESULTS is not a bad thing to say, because obviously we can GET positive results. It kind of reminds me of the old saying that scamlawn always used to say....."A greener thicker lawn - guaranteed." Well, when you think of it,...this is really not that hard of a guarantee to back up, since any amount of fertilizer will do this.

[KLR]

Also, guaranteed results is not a bad term at all to use. When Lawn King stated the the word "guaranteed" is a good one to avoid in this biz, I think he was simply implying that we should not imply that we "guarantee" something to be completely irradicated. Now, guaranteed RESULTS is not a bad thing to say, because obviously we can GET positive results. It kind of reminds me of the old saying that scamlawn always used to say....."A greener thicker lawn - guaranteed." Well, when you think of it,...this is really not that hard of a guarantee to back up, since any amount of fertilizer will do this.

guess I did misunderstand the guarantee statement. My bad

the joke we use around the shop is "guaranteed results"....dosent necessarily mean 'good' results????:rolleyes: