My last rant on lawnsite about this....

[soloscaperman]

I think some of you guys should stop crying like little girls about Low ballers. If you lost a customer..

A.) Good because its shows the customer isn't good and would of dragged your business & you are one step closer to a better customer.

B.) It tells you the customer is a low baller himself.

C.) Maybe you charge insanely and do a medicore job

D.) Maybe you should be the man that offers a full package like snow plowing, fertilizing, etc and what ever the client wants done your there to do it.

E.) Be patient and stick to word of mouth, usually good customers refer to good customers because usually good people stick with there "KIND"

Guys there is no standard in this business, I realized its not always about pricing but customizing, all in one, customer service, respect, reliable, and trust. If a customer is gonna find someone that will do it for a few bucks less just laugh and realize they weren't helping your business anyway and were you really getting other side jobs or extra's from them? If they find someone that will do it half price just laugh and wait for a phone call and a sorry.

The quality of the customer is what the quality of your business is.

[Sammy]

I think some of you guys should stop crying like little girls about Low ballers.

Guys there is no standard in this business,

The quality of the customer is what the quality of your business is.

Good points.

[lawnman_scott]

Good point. I never get why people get so bent out of shape over losing a customer. It happens, always has and always will. Ever heard the old saying "life isnt fair"?

[White Gardens]

I took my first customer loss pretty hard a couple of years ago. That is when I was starting out and it was a nice bank, and loved the exposure.

Since then I've only lost a couple, but realized it's all part of business. If I gain 2 customers for everyone I lost I would be happy. (luckily it's way better than that).

I've never experienced the full package issue, I try to do everything. I don't do lawn chemicals, so I sub it out if I need to and the customers have no problems with that.

I have experienced the low-baller customers, and have been more than happy when they dropped me. I really didn't like dealing with them and explaining why I charge what I do.

[topsites]

If a few dollars is that big of a deal...
They could have asked me first, why, I may have given in.
And I may not have, but ...

If they just run off and call someone else, there might be other underlying issues?
This one would be a case where I might review some of my methods.
Same if someone just walked up to them and offered to do it for less,
if that's all it took, thou the issue might lie with the customer, too.

But I agree, it's just not that big of a deal.

And this next may hurt but it's not meant like that, it's meant as a way of showing why...
Because there will always be the fly-by-nighters and it takes time until consumers no longer consider us one of them.

What is there to prove to the consumer that the new lawn guy will be around?
Say in 4-5-8 years...
They don't want to have to switch service providers all the dang time either.
Maybe some do :p
But I'd think most don't.

So, it takes time.

[ambersLawnmowing]

Thank you I was going to start a thread called the drama section, just for people like this that are big wine baggs. Suck it up, I lost 2 this year but gained 5. I wasnt even going to cry about the ones i lost, Good more family time, was my feeling. I almost hate coming on here and reading half of these posts, If it is about lowballers or the new echo bed redefiner, or a what should i charge post i dont even bother opening it anymore. Guys need to suck it up and take the "Business" part of things also. It is called competition, it happens in every business...,. Just my 2 cents.... watch out my 2 cents is in the form of a check and it may bounce, because of all the lowballers around here stealing my work....LOL

[Runner]

I think some of you guys should stop crying like little girls about Low ballers. If you lost a customer..

A.) Good because its shows the customer isn't good and would of dragged your business & you are one step closer to a better customer.

B.) It tells you the customer is a low baller himself.

C.) Maybe you charge insanely and do a medicore job

D.) Maybe you should be the man that offers a full package like snow plowing, fertilizing, etc and what ever the client wants done your there to do it.

E.) Be patient and stick to word of mouth, usually good customers refer to good customers because usually good people stick with there "KIND"

Guys there is no standard in this business, I realized its not always about pricing but customizing, all in one, customer service, respect, reliable, and trust. If a customer is gonna find someone that will do it for a few bucks less just laugh and realize they weren't helping your business anyway and were you really getting other side jobs or extra's from them? If they find someone that will do it half price just laugh and wait for a phone call and a sorry.

The quality of the customer is what the quality of your business is.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with some of these points, here.
First, point A.) Just because a customer shops for a price does NOT make the customer "unworthy" of being a customer, and surely doesn't mean they would drag the business down. Many good people shop for prices for services - including me. Very few people call one electrician for a price. Or one painter, mechanic, roofer, or tree service and just jump on the service without other prices. Over time, you have to shop around...Look at the insurance business.
Point B.) see VALID points brought up by me in point A.

Point C.) Perhaps so,...but there are several services who do great work...and at a reasonable cost, and STILL get price shopped. Some companies are outfitted better or are in better positions to handle different types of work than others. Here is an example: Lawnguy A does a job that takes him half the day, charges $300, and nets about $240 (let's say). He loses the job to an outfit (Lawnguy B) that comes in with 4 guys, are in and out of there in 45 to 60 minutes, and do the place for $200. Who is making the most money in the long run? If you think it is the guy that is pocketing $240, that is the wrong answer. Lawnguy B's labor costed him 45 to 60 dollars for that stop (at $15 per man hour - the cost of an $8/hr worker). The difference? Lawnguy A cuts 30 accounts a week. Lawnguy B cuts 330, because he runs 2 to 3 crews. If he makes 10 bucks on a stop, he is ahead of the game. Imagine that...doing 300 accounts - and netting 10 bucks apiece. Not a bad take for 1 week. Now....why is this guy (Lawnguy B) even on this lace to begin with? Because his crew drives right by this location on their way back to the shop from doing a large commercial they spend half a day on. This stop is there to basically cover some of the cost of the travel. So see,...sometimes what APPEARS to be a lowball, isn't always a lowball. Another example? It all depends on how the service is geared. I can NOT go and take down a large poplar tree and haul it off for the amount that a tree service can. A guy with a push mower, while he can do decent on postage stamp sized lawns, can NOT cut 4 to 5 acres for the same price I can.
Which brings us to point D.)
It doesn't matter if you offer all these services AND do dog walking and baby sitting. If the logistics aren't feasible, and if you don't have the right systems in place, you can not compete with those who do. you may do WELL at all of your ala carte operations, but there are times and conditions which can limit this. the kid that paints fences, shovels drives, cleans bird baths, weeds gardens, and mows lawns - again, can not mow 4 acres for the same price as someone else...especially if the customer is 10 miles away.
Point E.) ...this one I'll agree with. This is your best sales method.

[joshua]

runner i have to disagree with you on Point C. even if the bigger company has lower overhead you should never leave money on the table. if that same company bids lets say $3 less per cut just to get the work, they're losing money. $3 at 330 lawns a week is $990 a week. now at 28 cuts a year ( my avg. per year ) they left $27,720 on the table. I know the arguement about gaining market share, but that doesn't work in our industry. there will always be guys coming and going. the real problem is when it comes time to raise prices its like pulling teeth. you think your customers care that gas was $4 a gallon last year? they don't they had to pay it also. they don't care that you have to pay your own ss tax and maicare. they want someone to come cut there grass a cheap price and do a decent job. there isn't enough people who want to pay more for a service thats better than the competion.

[mdlwn1]

I think some of you guys should stop crying like little girls about Low ballers. If you lost a customer..

A.) Good because its shows the customer isn't good and would of dragged your business & you are one step closer to a better customer.

B.) It tells you the customer is a low baller himself.

C.) Maybe you charge insanely and do a medicore job

D.) Maybe you should be the man that offers a full package like snow plowing, fertilizing, etc and what ever the client wants done your there to do it.

E.) Be patient and stick to word of mouth, usually good customers refer to good customers because usually good people stick with there "KIND"

Guys there is no standard in this business, I realized its not always about pricing but customizing, all in one, customer service, respect, reliable, and trust. If a customer is gonna find someone that will do it for a few bucks less just laugh and realize they weren't helping your business anyway and were you really getting other side jobs or extra's from them? If they find someone that will do it half price just laugh and wait for a phone call and a sorry.

The quality of the customer is what the quality of your business is.

Thank you brotha

I have never lost a customer to a lowballer. If you do..it's because in some way or another the customer does not percieve value in you. There are 2 types of low ballers. 1. the obvious ones. 2.the guys on this site that complain about low ballers not realizing that they are one and what it takes to support a REAL thriving business system.

[mdlwn1]

Runner..I think both myself and the original poster were more making a broad generalization that asumes the reader already knows what you have just posted. But now that I think about.....I'ts more likely that many here do not....anyway..very well said.

[mdlwn1]

"there isn't enough people who want to pay more for a service thats better than the competion."

I was gonna respond to this untill I decided picking my nose would be more productive.

[punt66]

"there isn't enough people who want to pay more for a service thats better than the competion."

I was gonna respond to this untill I decided picking my nose would be more productive.

hahaha i felt that way from post #1.

[soloscaperman]

Thank you brotha

I have never lost a customer to a lowballer. If you do..it's because in some way or another the customer does not percieve value in you. There are 2 types of low ballers. 1. the obvious ones. 2.the guys on this site that complain about low ballers not realizing that they are one and what it takes to support a REAL thriving business system.



Same here man, finally some people get it!!

It's like having a girlfriend. I seem to have the same customers, friends, girlfriend and family members that favor and stay with me for years and years. if your loosing customers more then others you might be the problem, sorry. You gotta build a relationship because that's something that no landscaper can low ball at.

[jimithing31]

Same here man, finally some people get it!!

It's like having a girlfriend. I seem to have the same customers, friends, girlfriend and family members that favor and stay with me for years and years. if your loosing customers more then others you might be the problem, sorry. You gotta build a relationship because that's something that no landscaper can low ball at.


Sorry but I strongly disagree with this one. Relationship does not mean crap to 90% of customers. We are nothing more than the grass cutter. You can talk to them every week. Exchange christmas cards, bring their trash cans up. bla bla bla.... If some guy comes along and offers to do their lawn cheaper than you and they are tight on cash, or even not. They may just think doomsday is coming and they are next on the list.... Guess what ...

We've been replaced. They will lie through their teeth to you and give you some stupid excuse as to why (anything but price)

We are just the guy who cuts the grass when it comes down to it....

[jimithing31]

That said... I could give a crap less if I lose someone to a lowballer... If they are that cheap to drop me over $5 OR $10. I DON'T WANT THEM. And the scab that is running his "JOB" instead of business will be out of business sooner or later and people will call back and I will raise their price. Kindly explaining to them what happens to "lowballers" when they can't turn a profit, and why they just stopped showing up:):drinkup: