what do u do when it rains?

[mikey]

hi
starting out this spring,what do u do if u have a customer that u cut once a week,what do u do if it rains for a couple of days straight?just bill for the cuts that u did for that month?

[The Good Earth]

1st thing: Go out and do an ancient indian tribal raindance. Wear the headgear, feathers, the whole bit. Maybe even sacrifice a squirrel or something. You know, a little gift to the gods. Kinda like giving Tony Soprano his cut.

2nd: Find a good pub or tavern. Make sure they don't know you. Go in and run your tab up real high. Just get looped. Call a cab and go home. Next morning, pick up your truck at pub before the owners get in. And if you happen to run into them again, play stupid. I did what? Nah, you got the wrong guy....:D

3rd: Go buy a rainsuit and join in the reindeer games with the rest of us. It is called being dependable and dedicated to the well being of the customers property. Take your time, don't booger anything up and the customer will thank you in more ways that you can ever know. But if they do complain, explain that your vast knowledge in the turfgrass industry led you to maintain this yard for it continued vibrance, and overall beauty that it brings to this once run down avenue of turfgrass sorrow, because, after all, they have the finest yard on the street.

OK, problem solved! Back to the tavern!! :blob4:

[vipermanz]

Originally posted by mikey

what do u do if it rains for a couple of days straight?

sing in it!, if it's not lightning i see no true problems, except ruts and weird facial expressions:)

[ladibugg]

Good Earth, great solution. I'm calling you next time it sprinkles to see if we shoould go throw back a few.
:blush:

[David Haggerty]

I tried that hiding inside too.. Actually for me it was Wal-Mart not the bars for me.
Finally learned to just stay in the truck 'till the rain let up where I could see.
But not many areas of the country get rain like we do.

Vipermanz, I've never been to Birmingham that it wasn't Storming. Y'all get some scarry weather there.

Dave

[vipermanz]

yea its raining now!:( my poor poor yard is flooded:cry: :cry: :)

[TGCummings]

Hey Mikey,

I charge a flat monthly rate (dependent upon the size of the property, location, difficulty, and whether the cuts are scheduled weekly or bi-weekly) and that rate is the same whether it rains or not.

A new customer called us yesterday and asked us about this policy and we explained to her it all averages out in the long run. I cut 4 times a month, on average, for weekly service but sometimes I'll get it 3 and sometimes 5. Price does not change for these factors.

Of course, I'm in Cali and I cut year around, but this policy works great for me.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Charge per/cut. You'll be motivated to mow in the rain!!!!!

LAWNS AND MOWER

[Bassman]

Your reputation is probably the most important asset you have. Rain or no rain, the customers property must be maintained as agreed and as needed. You can get away with a short delay if it is a virtual downpour. But in most instances it should be no problem mowing in the rain. Certainly no problem as far as equipment goes. Just get a good rain suit and never skip a beat.

[naturescape]

My, I hate to see people mowing here in the pooring rain! In the South you can probably get away with it due to the course grass, in Michigan, it just makes soup out of the lawn.

My general rule is to go out when the pavement is about half-dry. I plan on working Mon-Fri. If it rains, I have Sat. for a backup day.

I charge only for the cuts I perform. I offer a 10% prepayment discount for the year if paid in full by March 20. If I have to skip a lawn a few times, customers get a credit slip at the end of the year. About 15% of my customers go for the prepayment.

[bobbygedd]

if i have to miss a cut cus of rain, the next cut is charged by 1.5. this is for the customers that pay "per cut". for full service people, they pay a flat monthly fee, if i cant get there cus of rain, no refunds r issued, i cannot be responsible for acts of god.

[ohiolawnguy]

As long as it isnt a torrential downpoar, lightning, or tornado, we keep mowing.

If it is one of storms stated above, i go golfing. Only time I get to play, and nobody is on the course. If it is a lightning storm and i'm golfing, I just grab the trusty one iron and continue. Even god can't hit a one iron-LOL. j/k :)

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Can God hit a Great Big Bertha????

LAWNS AND MOWER

[ohiolawnguy]

Can God hit a Great Big Bertha????


Lawns and mower, im not sure, but give it a try and let me know what happens.-LOL j/k

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

I shall. I'm leaving in 3 days for 4 days of golfing in Myrtle Beach. I have a Great Big Bertha on loan to try out. Forecast calls for sunny in the mid 70's:blob2: :blob2: :blob2:

LAWNS AND MOWER

[groundsguy1970]

It rains EVERYDAY in Washington....I do all the normal stuff you guys do....( We may have more of an inclination toward INDOOR SPORTS, though...;) ) So I like The Good Earth's line about the pub...that's my advice! Go there, who wants to mow and stuff when you can do that!!!;)

[Samurai WeedWacker]

As long as it isnt a torrential downpoar, lightning, or tornado, we keep mowing. My policy is to take a break if lightning is striking less than a mile away. The pause between flash and sound is 4.5 seconds per mile of distance.
Edited to add:
Gore-Tex coat and pants are worth the investment

[scagman]

Yes, it does rain alot in Washinton. I charge per cut so im motovated to mow no matter what. You know what really sucks I have a BELT DRIVE W/B. I plan to get a hydro before mowing starts up.It's real hard to mow in the rain with a belt drive mower sometimes the thing will barely budge when it rains, but I keep a mowin!

[danzig]

:D RAIN IS THE SOUND OF MONEY:D

[JimLewis]

What do we do when it rains???? Buddy, I am from Oregon. That's all it does is rain, here! If it's not raining, it's pooring. If it's not pooring it's sprinkling. I wouldn't know what to do if it DIDN'T rain.

Sheesh. People in other states are such woosies! A little rain and they become chicken little and they grab their binky and go into hybernation for a few days. :D :D :D :D :D :D

[MATTHEW]

I only have 3 days a week of mowing, so maybe I can be flexible, BUT...
I absolutely do not mow in the rain. Only twice last year because a certain customer insists that it is done on Friday-no matter what.
And after that one cut, my equipment was stained and crusted with hard clumps of grass all over. I bagged it , but still the lawn had little clumpettes that stuck around until the following week. Then the grass I collected was so heavy when I unloaded!
I had deep green stains all over my clothes from trimming and the stuff was in my usually clean cab. I don't see how you guys do this.

[cormierlawn]

Take a break, when it rains

[Barkleymut]

I work. But rain is so infrequent in the summer that I usually break down crying when it rains because that means the man isn't going to come and take away my house!

[David Haggerty]

Originally posted by The Good Earth


2nd: Find a good pub or tavern. Make sure they don't know you. Go in and run your tab up real high. Just get looped. Call a cab and go home. Next morning, pick up your truck at pub before the owners get in. And if you happen to run into them again, play stupid. I did what? Nah, you got the wrong guy....:D


OK, problem solved! Back to the tavern!! :blob4:

[Bob Minney]

Stop truck, put on rain coat, drop ramp, unload and mow, load equipment, drive to next stop, drop ramp, unload and mow,---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, done.

[LoneStarLawn]

It depends on location I believe. Seattle Washington averages 37.10 in. of precipation (some snow) and San Antonio, Tx. averages 30.9 in. of precipation (no snow).

Now during the mowing season (well here at least...March - Nov) Seattle, WA. averages 21.8 in of precipation and San Antonio, Tx. averages 25.9 in of precipation. It is my belief that alot of Washington has drizzle type precipation most of the time and Texas has alot of down poors. We definitely are able to mow in drizzle conditions if need be (not good for grass here) but when it down poors there is no way we can mow.

Those guys in Washington are the wossies! ;) :D Right back at you Jim.....J/K.

[groundsguy1970]

LONESTAR, I've lived in TEJAS and know for certain you don't mow on anywhere near in as wet conditions GOING VERTICAL!!! you live in the flatlands and you get way more sunny days than we do. BTW we mow all year round here.....so who's the wuss?
Plus we are MUCH superior to TEXANS because of all our dark days we have learned SONAR NAVIGATION, ( it helps in the rain too) you Texans come up in our hills and we'll eat ya up with our BANJOS.....:rolleyes:
ALSO, you get way more SUNNY days and a higher temp than we do....SPRING & FALL live here.....mower ruts last along time in the wet season. I'd pit a reel over any ZTR on a wet northwest day.....you'll get out produced and mulched!:cool:
BTW do you have any AFRICANIZED BEES near you?:confused:

[LoneStarLawn]

First off I have to say I was joking with my last post so relax...now to the nitty gritty..:D Originally posted by groundsguy1970
LONESTAR, I've lived in TEJAS and know for certain you don't mow on anywhere near in as wet conditions GOING VERTICAL!!! you live in the flatlands and you get way more sunny days than we do. BTW we mow all year round here.....so who's the wuss?
Your right you do mow more in the rain...exactly my point.
How do you mow in the snow? I guess I actually meant growing season not mowing season since WE actually mow pretty much all year.
Originally posted by groundsguy1970
Plus we are MUCH superior to TEXANS because of all our dark days we have learned SONAR NAVIGATION, ( it helps in the rain too) you Texans come up in our hills and we'll eat ya up with our BANJOS.....:rolleyes:Don't know what that has to do with our industry but OK.
Originally posted by groundsguy1970
ALSO, you get way more SUNNY days and a higher temp than we do....SPRING & FALL live here.....mower ruts last along time in the wet season. I'd pit a reel over any ZTR on a wet northwest day.....you'll get out produced and mulched!:cool:
OK didn't know this was some contest.
Originally posted by groundsguy1970
BTW do you have any AFRICANIZED BEES near you?:confused: NO

Just fun and games guys....Not looking for a pissing contest.

[plow kid]

Originally posted by LoneStarLawn
Not looking for a pissing contest.

Ok, everybody stand along the road and see who can pee accross it.:p ~NAtE

[JimLewis]

Ok. Here goes.... :D
http://www.joelnewton.com/Peeing%20Man.jpg

[OBRYANMAINT]

mow straight thru......only thing that stops the schedule is lightning