I used a customer's mower today.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

OK, I live in a part of Louisiana where the yards are usually big. So I bought a 50" Gravely. Then I bought out a LCO in a neighboring city(Lafayette) which has alot of smaller yards with gates. So when I started these, I broke out the lawnmower I started my business with. A 5.5hp (i think) B/S push mower, well the thing was junk from when I first bought it, and today while I was cutting a lady's yard it just went kuput. It had been running really high lately. The lady wasn't home and I knew she had a push mower, so I went inside her shed and got her mower and finished the yard up.(I filled it with gas when I left.) I must say though, I did get a little angry with that push mower.

So now I really want to get me a good w/b for my yards with gates, also I have 3-4 huge properties that I might get my helper to help me mow if he finishes trimming.

I found this one on CL, what do you guys think???

http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/grd/1087406235.html

[nosparkplugs]

Why you letting your old push mower work "high", surly you know you can't cut grass stoned.

[sweetz]

No mention of how many hours? How much do you plan on using it? Is this going to be a machine you are going to NEED, or could you get away without it if it breaks down & you can't use it for a couple of weeks?

[LouisianaLawnboy]

No mention of how many hours? How much do you plan on using it? Is this going to be a machine you are going to NEED, or could you get away without it if it breaks down & you can't use it for a couple of weeks?

I'm pretty sure I would need it, but if I absolutely had to I could go buy a used push mower for 100.00 that would get me by.

The guy told me he bought it brand new and used it on his property, and a baseball field for 2-3 years, then he got disabled and its been sitting.(I know to check for corrosion, etc from sitting). No hr meter. He lives about 2 hrs from me, so I'd pretty much like to know that I'll buy it before I go up there, unless I get there and its a piece of junk.

Thanks for the quick answers. BTW I have a Lesco dealer in Lafayette.

[sweetz]

For $700, it seems descent (without seeing it in person).

[S.A.L.]

surly you know you can't cut grass stoned.



Says who?:waving:

[LouisianaLawnboy]

For $700, it seems descent (without seeing it in person).

How much would you pay?

[sweetz]

$5-700, if it was worth buying.

[diamondlandscaping]

2 words-Wright Stander.
If you have a lot of gated properties, why the heck would you be wasting your time with a 21? In my area we have tons of gates that you need a 36 or smaller to get into. When i first started i bought a 48 ZTR and a 21 push. I had to use the 21 on like 6 properties and cost me at least 15 min per. I bought my 36 stander and never looked back. If you want productivity, buy a Stander. just my .02. good luck

[One man show]

Says who?:waving:

And probably do a better job too. More attention to detail!;)

[LouisianaLawnboy]

2 words-Wright Stander.
If you have a lot of gated properties, why the heck would you be wasting your time with a 21? In my area we have tons of gates that you need a 36 or smaller to get into. When i first started i bought a 48 ZTR and a 21 push. I had to use the 21 on like 6 properties and cost me at least 15 min per. I bought my 36 stander and never looked back. If you want productivity, buy a Stander. just my .02. good luck

Sorry, but no dealer support. Nearest one is 70 miles away.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

OK. I found two more w/bs in my area.

http://texarkana.craigslist.org/grd/1088165553.html

http://shreveport.craigslist.org/grd/1087062517.html

Please let me know what you think. I really need some help, because I'm about to buy one, and as I have said this is my first w/b.

[huskres]

Get that lesco for 700! those other 2 are junk!

[ExtExc]

the name texarkana always makes me laugh. whenever i hear it, it makes me think some imbred southerner was too lazy to say Texas County.

[S.A.L.]

Go with the Lesco as long as it doesn't have a million hours on it.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

the name texarkana always makes me laugh. whenever i hear it, it makes me think some imbred southerner was too lazy to say Texas County.

Nah, we Southerners knew that Yanks, dont know to much about geography. We just trying to make it easy for ya'll to find.:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Brett's Cutting Edge]

The first mower the Tecumseh is probably the worst engine ever made. The MTD is a glorified homeowner mower. Lesco is a Commercial mower and it will last. Dont buy to satisfy needs now cause with the bigger mower you will be able to get alot more work done.

[S.A.L.]

Dont buy to satisfy needs now cause with the bigger mower you will be able to get alot more work done.



Not if it will not fit through the gates.
I have some gates that are 24 inches.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

Oh, there is no way I'm getting rid of my Gravely. This will just be an addition to the "family."

[LouisianaLawnboy]

Not if it will not fit through the gates.
I have some gates that are 24 inches.

I don't have any of those now, but if I do I guess I'll just a self-propelled push mower.

[billslawn89]

How much would you pay?

pull out 5 crispy one hundred dollar bills and offer it to him and see if he bites at it. mower looks clean from the pic. i have a 36 inch lesco and i'll tell you, mine is old. it has the green lesco lettering on it, newer ones are white like the pic. i've been using mine since 1989. just used it for the gated yards though. starts up every time and i like it!

[S.A.L.]

...I guess I'll just [use] a self-propelled push mower.



I either use a 21 or most of the time I use the string whip.:dancing:


Best wishes.

[scagwildcat]

If i were your customer i would be very upset , you should have gone to the dealer, broke out some cash and bought a new one to finish, thats what ANY respectable lco would have done! what if she left it in her shed with no oil in it? now you need to buy two new ones, im not trying to put you down, but if you want to call your self a lco, you need to act like one....

[S.A.L.]

In the south people aren't as cold, scagwildcat.
I know, without a doubt, that I've developed relationships with my clients which allow me the use of anything on their property. They've said so.
It's not a regular occurring practice, but if I'm in a pinch such as the OP it wouldn't be a problem. Several property owners go as far as to leave the back door unlocked incase I want to grab a drink out of the fridge.
But I do understand your point.

[Midstate Lawncare]

If i were your customer i would be very upset , you should have gone to the dealer, broke out some cash and bought a new one to finish, thats what ANY respectable lco would have done! what if she left it in her shed with no oil in it? now you need to buy two new ones, im not trying to put you down, but if you want to call your self a lco, you need to act like one....

Bologna!
We know who we can and can't ask for "help" from, wether or not we actually asked. I had the same problem last year and after I told my customer, she tried to give me the mower... my dealership was closed that day. I bought a new one on the following monday and offended my customer by spending my own money and not taking hers. If your customer has a problem with it, knock off $5-$10, and apologize. They are usuaully happy to help.
Also, if they have a mower, and don't use it anymore.... offer a few free mowings for it. sell it and move on.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

If i were your customer i would be very upset , you should have gone to the dealer, broke out some cash and bought a new one to finish, thats what ANY respectable lco would have done! what if she left it in her shed with no oil in it? now you need to buy two new ones, im not trying to put you down, but if you want to call your self a lco, you need to act like one....

I made a commitment to cut her grass that day. It was about 7:00 and with an 80% chance of rain that night, thats why I was doing it that day and that late. My dealership closed at 5:00. I started to cut the ENTIRE back yard with my trimmer, when I rememered her telling me she sometimes cuts her own yards, if needs to be cut in between my bi-weekly schedule. I saw her shed, and saw the mower sitting right there. I pulled it out and finished the rest of the BACK yard in about 10 min, then got my helper to fill up her mower with my own gas. I'm almost 100% sure she wouldn't have minded. I'll probably tell her later on.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

In the south people aren't as cold, scagwildcat.
I know, without a doubt, that I've developed relationships with my clients which allow me the use of anything on their property. They've said so.
It's not a regular occurring practice, but if I'm in a pinch such as the OP it wouldn't be a problem. Several property owners go as far as to leave the back door unlocked incase I want to grab a drink out of the fridge.
But I do understand your point.

Well said.

[scagwildcat]

Look guys, i didnt say what i did in my last post to put anyone down, but, the customer pays you to mow with your equipment not theirs! second thing, i too have customers, that leave the door open, for me, have i entered no! have i been offered a snowblower/lawn mower yes, my point is, you never know what is going to happen! its a risk! would she have minded, chances are no! but if her mower broke while he was using it, now hes stuck!
also i didnt know that he was mowing the lawn in the evening hours..

[scagwildcat]

Oh yes i do realize that southern people are much more relaxed then most of us are in the north. most people here are nice, but because most are stressed out, they can be jumpy...

[JPsDuramax]

Damn Yanks! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

J/K but really give the guy a break. Sh*t happens...just don't let Sh*t happen to often though. Otherwise you'll be out of business. Just a random ramble.