My Experience Today

[countrycool1975]

This morning I got a call from what appeared to be a new customer. The lady went on and on telling me how she found me in the Shopper Guide and that she wanted me to give her an estimate on doing her yard. I wrote the directions down to her house. When I reached the location the first thing in my mind was Bingo. This person's home was on one of the main strips in town and it was located by a university that had heavy traffic to and from. Well she met me as I was walking toward the front door. Then all of a sudden she asked me to walk along the side of the house with her. The conversation was no longer about doing her lawn it was now removing the leaves, flower petals, and bulbs that had fallen on the ground from under her shrubs and bushes. Not to mention she wanted the leaves bagged up. So after looking at what she wanted done I gave her a quote of 220.00... She asked me how soon could I start and my reply was Friday morning when I get off from work, and so she said that she would call me back to confirm everything for Friday. I just knew that I had set the hook in the fishes mouth. The more and more I thought about that yard the more I want to start the next morning( tomorrow Wednesday). I called and told her that I could come the next morning. Her reply to me was that she couldn't't afford me and that she normally pay by the hour. So me being thoughtful, I ask just how much are you talking about and that I was willing to Wheel and Deal. Her reply to me was 10.00 per hour. I kindly told her that I couldn't do it. Would you all have done the same thing or would you have taken the job?:confused I wonder would I have gotten more exposure because of her location and that she was a member of the City Counsel if I had taken the job. Also when discussing the job I told her that I could blow the leaves out with my blower her response to me was that she wanted it raked and that she was real anal about her yard. So I then asked well do you want the grass cut,her reply was that her husband does that and she wanted the debris removed before he cuts it.

[G&G Maintenace]

Walk away from it with your head up high... $10hr....what a joke

[4.3mudder]

Well, if she is that particular then she needs to get her azz out there and do it how she wants, I would have passed in a heartbeat. She should have told you after you gave her the quote that she couldn't afford you instead of leaving you out on a limb waiting.

[Baywatch]

Run!!!! You don't want anything to do with her or her cheap friends..

[MJS]

oooohhhh brrrr. . . Last year someone called and asked about lawncare - same situation, in the end, they didn't really want lawncare; they wanted. . . a painter. Yep, a housepainter. Wanted to know if I would be willing to paint for $7 an hour.
A polite "no thanks" and "goodbye". :hammerhead:

[topsites]

So, did you learn anything?

[newtostone]

My mower charges me $7 per hour and I sure as heck don't like the number 3.

[capelawncare.com]

Tell her you you dont break any laws, so you dont need police protection, if a fire happens at your house, you have a hose, and from now on, you'll be maintaining the street in front of your house.

Hand her a check for 100 bucks and tell her this is payment in full for this years taxes.
She might get the hint....

[Dave_005]

LMAO !!! for $10 an hr i would just tell her to have some kid do it. and wish her luck...

[glaciator]

Some people just do not understand what it takes to do actual work!

[KGR landscapeing]

Some people just do not understand what it takes to do actual work!

I see you just joind so welcome And ur in for a treat because everybody here here has tons of ******s they work for. And back to the original poster are you serious 10 an hour i would of laughd said thank you for your time click

[Big Red Ferris]

runn away shes a low baller her self cheap and if she wants it her way well get out and do it

[JosephLawnCare]

You should have taken the job.........and made it last for 22 hours!!!

[topsites]

There has got to be a better way...
This, I think, is exactly what a somewhat fair portion of LS, myself included, could use working on.

No hell, I mean I can't tolerate no garbage like that either, granted.
But a rude answer is not good, either.

Yes, from our point of view it's instant yin-yang there you go and thank you.
And I ain't bending over backwards and letting them have their way with me.
But for most customers, they just didn't expect to be treated this way.

And it hurts us, as an Industry, when taken from their point of view our image suffers.

[lifetree]

you should have taken the job.........and made it last for 22 hours!!!

... Lmao ... !!

[punt66]

... Lmao ... !!

yea 22 hours for $10hr or 22hrs for $60hr. Still doesnt work.

[DuallyVette]

I would have to ask her what the **** went through her mind... that told her it was OK to call me and waste my time.

[borwicks]

you cant even hire temps for that. I would tell her to find someone else.

[Shuter]

Walk away. As soon as a customer starts talking about not being able to afford my services, I go the other way. I do not price any work with any room to lower the price. I give the price that I need to continue being in business. Sometimes I may be able to offer a different price by breaking a job up into different segments or use a different product, but other than that it is better to find another job than to struggle with work and not make any money.

[Runner]

I would have took it. 10 dollars is 10 dollars. It is 10 dollars more than I would have had without doing it. I would tell her I'd be happy to take the 10 dollars per hour, and let her know there IS one small stipulation. I would need 6 dollars per hour to cover my taxes and social security, 7 dollars an hour to cover my equipment wear and tear, 4 dollars an hour to cover my fuel expense, 5 dollars per hour to cover my transport costs and truck usage, 10 dollars per hour to cover both my administrative and shop expenses 4 dollars per hour to cover my medical, 1 dollar an hour to cover my insurance, and 5 dollars per hour toward retirement. Then I would ask her if SHE could afford to drive to someone's house, run her own equipment, and pay all her related expenses for 10 bucks an hour.

[beegreenlandcare]

I think u need to work on your "screening process" a little more so you don't have to waste time w/ stupid people like this:dizzy:

[sslopok]

I don't even get out of bed for $10.00/per hour and I am a teacher :).
sslopok