Had to fire a customer

[DitchDr]

One of my customers was starting to be a real pain. I picked him up as a new customer a few weeks ago, The price I quoted him on his lawn is for the CONTRACT price. and he knew that, and agred to it. I did his lawn came back the next week, and he tells me Not to do it today he is sick and does not want to hear the mower run. I ask him if he singed the contract yet. Of course he tells me no. Ok no big deal I will pick it up next time I service the account.

Wait a week drop by. Grass is now ankle tall. I knock on the door, since I have no contract in hand I am not going to unload my gear. No answer, I leave him a note on the door saying i was there. Stop by the next day ( got finished early) hes home answers the door and says he wants to wait till next week. I tell him the charge will be double due to the grass all ready being so high. He goes on crying about how with the economy down I should be ashamed of my self for saying that.

Mind now he has yet to sign the contract. I tell him the bottom line is the contract is not singed, I have stopped by more then once to service the account, and the height of the lawn will cause more wear on my equipment. He does not care. I tell him I am sorry but i wish to no longer do business with him, and wish him luck in finding a lawn service to fill his needs.

I have a feeling next time it is going to be cut it will be by me, but the HOA will be paying for it, and taking it out on him.

[4.3mudder]

Well, you win some and lose some, there's always a bad apple on the family tree

[dave k]

[QUOTE=DitchDr;2942636]One of my customers was starting to be a real pain. I picked him up as a new customer a few weeks ago, The price I quoted him on his lawn is for the CONTRACT price. and he knew that, and agred to it. I did his lawn came back the next week, and he tells me Not to do it today he is sick and does not want to hear the mower run. I ask him if he singed the contract yet. Of course he tells me no. Ok no big deal I will pick it up next time I service the account.

Wait a week drop by. Grass is now ankle tall. I knock on the door, since I have no contract in hand I am not going to unload my gear. No answer, I leave him a note on the door saying i was there. Stop by the next day ( got finished early) hes home answers the door and says he wants to wait till next week. I tell him the charge will be double due to the grass all ready being so high. He goes on crying about how with the economy down I should be ashamed of my self for saying that.

Been there done that last year, everytime I was in the area cutting he would come out look at his yard and wave me off, got sick and tierd having to double cut it to make it look good, I dropped him. You did the right thing!

[mnglocker]

Smart move.

[topsites]

I think the key here is that you did what you could, and the matter was handled politely,
so we do what we can but when it does get to a point sometimes, just have to let it go.

[PROMOWER08]

you did the right thing i have people doing that to me all the time i finally just said the heck with it cause it cost us more to double cut then a regular mow

[lauchlan mcconnell]

I have 180 customers ( all have no contracts ) I tell them the rules when first we meet . they all get mowed in 10-14day periods
i keep mowing them and leaving a invoice if they are not there . only burn about $200 a year in bad debts which is not bad considering you would blow triple that going backwards and forwards to see if they want it done
Mowing grass down under

[topsites]

I have 180 customers ( all have no contracts ) I tell them the rules when first we meet .

Yes and that's all fine and dandy, but what about when they don't follow our rules?
What happens then?

[ExtExc]

drop them, and write it off as a loss?

[mowerdude777]

Good move to drop him

[borwicks]

Good move. If he really wanted your service he would have signed the contract. You dont want or need a customer like that.

[xxl]

Good for you i would have done the same

[GrassesGuy]

Ask for money upfront these days and you will never lose.

[kipper]

Ditch Dr. What part of Charleston you in? And what part are you having this problem? I am in Summerville and the thought of a contract for some folks to have their lawn serviced is kind of an odd thing for them. I cut some folks that are awesome about payment and I have had to warn the others that I am not a bank.

Kip

[phil_peek]

My brother and I used to work together til he was an idiot 1 too many times, but anyway, I had one do that to him when I was not there and my brother gave in and mowed it for regular price when the grass was twice as tall. he said he want over it twice and it took him forever. I was ticked! He never made that mistake again. Anyway, glad you didnt back down, helps our business out. God Bless!

[DitchDr]

Ditch Dr. What part of Charleston you in? And what part are you having this problem? I am in Summerville and the thought of a contract for some folks to have their lawn serviced is kind of an odd thing for them. I cut some folks that are awesome about payment and I have had to warn the others that I am not a bank.

Kip

Im in North Charleston/Oak Brook/ Ladson.

Most of my work is in Archdale, Indifo Fields, Appian, White Hall, Kings Grant, Wescott, and Windsor Hill.



Problem was with a customer in Archdale. Will give you his address if ya want lol.. Rode by there yesterday saw some guy with a push mower working his butt off to get through that jungle.