Would you guys consider this "rude" to a customer?

[Landscape89]

I gave a quote for a Spring Clean up for a house down the street from mine the other day. As I was walking around I noticed Dog Mess in a few places. The lady called and said she was fine with the price and now I am planning on doing it sometime soon. Do you guys think it's rude to call and nicely ask for the dog mess to be cleaned up before I came? I certainly dont mind doing my job that I am being paid to do.. But when I have to come home and clean up dog mess off the tools and/or my boots thats just not fair. Am I wrong and being rude to call and say something or is this reasonable? Thanks for your input--

[lifetree]

I don't think it's rude if you had mentioned it when you gave the quote ... but now, after the fact when she has already accepted the offer, I think that may be rude and also not good business practice !!

[DanaMac]

Not rude at all. I asked one lady yesterday to do the same. We are doing some major rework of her drip system in flower beds, and she has 4 or 5 dogs. Stuff everywhere. She knew what I was getting at before I finished.

[Dave_005]

Anytime i give a quote if they have a dog i ALWAYS ask them to make sure the dog messes are picked up prior to my arrival, if they dont clean it up before i get there i ask again before i start and if they dont clean it up i double my price and if they dont accept the new price i simply tell them thanks and to find someone else. i HATE stepping in dog messes or getting it on my mowers.

[Carolina Cuts]

yea, just call her back before coming out.... be polite... "Hey mam', I'm lookin' forward to gettin' over there to clean up the property... I only have one small request before I come out... I noticed you have a dog... blah blah, equipment, tires, boots, garage stinks to high heaven... "
she'll get the picture.... just be cool about it.

[Runner]

Yep. Mention it nicely, and this gal will think nothing of it. She would be glad to do it, I'm sure. If a guy comes over to fix the washing machine, they are usually grateful whn it is not full of wet clothes. Dishwasher? Same. If the guy is coming to clean the carpets, it is understandable that THEY will be moving some furniture,...but PLEASE have the rug vacuumed and the garbage picked up.

[bln]

I have it in my contracts that it must be cleaned prior to our arrival.

[dmc337]

I have a $15 cleaning fee stated in my contracts...whap one pile and I HAVE to get a shower quickly...

[PROCUT1]

"Ill be over tuesday please have the dog piles cleaned up before"

[lawnprosteveo]

Not rude if you do it politely...I hate mowing/trimming thru dog poop!

[Edwardsville,IL.PLS]

I don't quite understand it. Why all the hoopla about dog poo?I need the money so I just do it.Can't afford to turn a job down just because of some dog poo.Who am I to tell a customer to clean-up dog poo on their own property.If I were the customer & some one told me to clean up the dog poo or they weren't going to do the job that I was willing to pay them for, I'd be looking else where.I guess everyone has their own limitations.Just sounds SOFT to me.

[Uranus]

I always ask for them to try to clean up the crap for me. I know they wont get it all but getting up most of it is a big help. Your in a tough spot now. You never know how these people will take your request. If I was in your situation I would try calling over there and hope for the answering machine. Give the old "Mrs. whatever, I wanted to call and tell you I will be over to do your cleanup on wednesday. When I was there I remember seeing some toys in the yard ( fill in whatever you want) and was hoping you could take a moment to pick them up so they dont get lost into a pile a leaves and mowed over by accident. I also noticed several piles of dog crap in the yard and was wondering if you could give the yard a once over and pick up some to help keep our equipment and shoes from picking it up. Thanks and I'll see you wednesday."

So you can call her, offend her, piss her off, or maybe she will take the hint, or just deal with it.

[kleankutslawn]

i think you should have told her when you first saw it,now i would do it the first time and tell her you noticed it and go from there

[Chilehead]

Let her know that it has to go!

[mngrassguy]

Let us know how you handled it and how it worked out for you.

[Gardens55]

I would expect her to do it without being asked! If not bill her for it!