Think I poured salt on some open nerves

[DitchDr]

So yesterday I made a post on CL in the labor/move forum.

It was pretty simple, just advising home owners to be careful using "discount" lawn services. On how if they get injured on the home owners property that they may sue. If they break something chances are they don't carry insurance so the home owner will be out of luck. How many use illegal labor. Pretty much just advising them of how the few dollars they are saving could come back to bite them in the end..

Man talk about a back lash. I have gotten 31 emails calling me everything from a dishonest idiot, to a bi*ch, to a ***, and so on. Even had one tell me he lost 4 account because of my post..

I did get 5 or 6 emails from legit companies thanking me for the post, and how we need to stick together.


I did not post a single bit about company info, nor did I ask for any business in my post, I did get 2 emails of people wanting me to come by for a estimate.

[Bull Moose]

My experience had less to do with a lawn care company or landscaper but it still supports your point.

I needed some electrical work done in my home as the previous owners left things unfixed and managed to split circuits enough to risk burning the house down. I asked my tax guy and he recommended me to a friend of his.

The guy seemed decent enough and appeared to know what he was doing. Problem was that for an 8 or so hour job it took him almost 5 months to complete it. No receipt, no warranty, no apologies.

His excuse when I confronted him on the lack of follow through and professionalism? What do you expect for this price?

In retrospect I wish I had paid more for a reputable, insured, responsible, professional electrician. Going forward I won't make that mistake again regardless of the area of my needs.

[Grass Happens]

That's a good idea! I like it, a lot. Like a PSA, for cheep-o homeowners or the uninformed.

[KCfireman]

Shoot, I had a buddy of mine who topped out at 128 accounts and he never had insurance. Ever.

[Toy2]

You did the right thing, glad someone has a set.........but again, people are stupid and its always the lowest bid.........

[Runner]

Where was this original thread?

[Grass Happens]

Could you post a copy of your ad? and maybe some of the hate mail?

[JDiepstra]

Boy that's a real shocker that you are getting called every name in the book by guys who are running illigit businesses. All they are doing by acting foolishly is proving you are right.

[DLAWNS]

That's awesome...good for you!:clapping:

[georgiagrass]

Good effort. We can all hope that customers care.

[topsites]

I'm not trying to be judgmental here but I'm afraid there could be a whole lot more doing to it than that, to clean up CL...

Because, and again I am not faulting anyone, but it did dawn on me...
The reason why I never use CL to post my ad is because the calls I get :cry:
But that wasn't the end of it.
Later, it dawned on me why there was such a large volume of them types of calls.
I realized it wasn't the consumer's fault, I realized THIS is what CL promotes!

Is it CL's fault, no, ours, no, but also not the consumer's.

I just think CL is FULL of that, so full.
They've been on the news because PIMPS are advertising their sex SLAVES
(and yes in America, and yes I said SLAVES) under the Romance section
as "Escorts" or some such BS.
That's how bad it is, CL is FULL of riff raff, I'm surprised dope dealers don't advertise illegal drugs in there (then again maybe they do)

And I am not saying you or anyone else who has ever posted there,
or that anyone or everyone else who posts there is riff raff,
nor am I saying that we have to accept it, but I do wonder what good it does?

Oh it's pretty bad.
Anyhow...

[Marek]

Good for you ! We all need to stick togather on this . These guys are pushing the prices below what they were 15 yrs ago around here. Most of what we see are latino guys with an old dump with bald tires , no DOT numbers , whats left of a trailer and a belt drive walk behind or a home owner zero turn.They dont need to charge waht we do since they dont pay taxes or have insurance and uncle Obama is paying thier health care and giving them food stamps.Whats not to love about this country? When illeagals have it easier than those who have been here and payed thier taxes, these guys have it better than our own children will. I would rather see Bobby Joe down the street mowing grass for a little less than what I charge because he lost his job and needs to support his family.

[mnglocker]

Could you post a copy of your ad? and maybe some of the hate mail?

w3Rd yo. :cool2:

I feel the need to repost it.

[TheMadOne]

I posted on CL and I'm sure I'll get hate mail from the "less than intelligent" crowd :hammerhead:, but so what?!! If they loose work because they are not conducting business like a professional that's their fault not mine. Last time I looked about every insurance agent/company out there would be happy to sell them insurance so they could get their accounts back. It's not like it's an exclusive club!

Post here: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/hss/1149463935.html

Lawn Cutting / Mowing Services (Greenfield & Surrounding)
Reply to: serv-vsh3g-1149463935@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-05-01, 2:17PM EDT


Reliable, Professional & Insured lawn mowing/cutting services, Adult operator. Commercial professional equipment, operated in a responsible professional manner. Mow Hawks Lawn Mowing Services, available to do just a single lawn mowing service on "will call" basis, as requested or seasonal regular cuttings for residential or commercial properties. Services for mowing include regular trim, mow, & blower/cleanup. If you don't call Mow Hawks, at least call a professional & insured contractor to protect yourself from possible liability issues from an uninsured contractor running potentially dangerous power equipment on your property under your hire! Thank You!

* Location: Greenfield & Surrounding
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests



PostingID: 1149463935

As for having insurance all of the IAFF brothers on my department who are in business carry some form of liability insurance for their businesses as they want to protect the future they have worked hard to build for themselves & their family. Nothing sucks like having a judgment/garnishment attached to your paycheck, your retirement, as well as all of your investments & savings cleaned out! :nono:

[hvphotog]

If those complaining have given their company names you should post them in your next posting to let the public now who doesnt carry insurance.. :usflag:




So yesterday I made a post on CL in the labor/move forum.

It was pretty simple, just advising home owners to be careful using "discount" lawn services. On how if they get injured on the home owners property that they may sue. If they break something chances are they don't carry insurance so the home owner will be out of luck. How many use illegal labor. Pretty much just advising them of how the few dollars they are saving could come back to bite them in the end..

Man talk about a back lash. I have gotten 31 emails calling me everything from a dishonest idiot, to a bi*ch, to a ***, and so on. Even had one tell me he lost 4 account because of my post..

I did get 5 or 6 emails from legit companies thanking me for the post, and how we need to stick together.


I did not post a single bit about company info, nor did I ask for any business in my post, I did get 2 emails of people wanting me to come by for a estimate.

[DitchDr]

Ok yall asked for it, here are 2 that are pretty funny.

#1
Take your ****** up legal diatribe and stick it in your pussy.

**** you *******.

I wouldn't hire you to pick up squirrel **** in my yard, much less cut my grass.

Trying to justify your outrageous prices with your bull **** scared my away.

I hired the kid down the street and paid her $50 just because you're a dikhed

My reply:
I could really care less if you hired me to mow your lawn or pick up squirrel **** as you put it. I could care even less if you hire 30 mexicans to come gang **** you in your front yard. Its your house do what you want. If my prices are to high dont pay them

#2
Get a LIFE *****!!!

My Reply
Get INSURANCE *****

His reply
Got it all fagboy! I just like it when fags like you try to hold down other people by putting fear into homeowners.Thats not the way to sell yourself dumbass.

My Reply
Hold others down by informing home owners on how to protect them selves? It must be nice in that little world you live in. If you have insurance, business license, and pay taxes I dont see what your upset about. But seeing as how you jump to the name calling, and insults right off the bat, it just proves other wise.

I have yet to hear back for them.

I did not use my business email addy so I am not to worried lol.

[DitchDr]

Here is the post i put on CL.

Did you know that many of the so called " discount lawn services" are unlicensed, uninsured, and do not pay taxes?

Whats this mean to you?

Lets say the " Discount Lawn Service" you hired throws a rock through your new storm door. Who's gonna pay for it? I will bet you it wont be the guy who is cutting you grass for 20 bucks using the push mower he carries in the back of his car.



Lets say you hire a " discount lawn service" and while weed eating around something they trip and break a arm or leg. Guess who is gonna sue you!!



So you hire a " discount lawn service" who has done good at his little business. next thing you know you dont see him anymore, but every week you see a different group of illegals working in your lawn, now dont that make you feel warm and fuzzy, not knowing the people who are at your house?


The list can go on and on.

Before you hire that "discount" lawn service think about it, is the 5 dollars less a week worth the risk of going to court? Worth the risk of having someone destroy your home? The risk of someone mistreating your lawn?


Do I own a lawn service? Yes I do, I am not using this to advertise me, just as a PSA to honest hard working people who need lawn service

[kipper]

Ditch Dr,

How is your business going? We just picked up pretty heavy with some tree business but will be out of it in about two weeks. It looks like we will finally get some rain soon though.

[DitchDr]

its going steady. I have 20 contracts I do weekly. I picked up a pretty big mulching job for this week. 22 yards of mulch, that will be a nice boost to get that L44 gravley I want. I am glad the rain is coming. I cut back on my 7 day rotation on most of the lawns. I dont feel cutting the grass just beacuse I have the contract is fair to the home owner. Right now I am at every 1.5 to 2 weeks on most. Since this is my part time gig I am pretty happy with the results.

[kipper]

Yeah, we have been jugling our schedule too. 22 yrds? thats a pretty good amount. We did 16 yrds about three weeks ago. 4 hours using my tractor. Who do you buy your mulch from? I buy mine from LLoyds. Let me know if you want some help with the mulch, I will cut you a good deal.

[93Chevy]

legal diatribe

LOL. Pretty fancy word for a lowballer. Wonder where he learned that, sure wasn't cutting grass. Maybe I'm in the wrong biz...:rolleyes:

[DitchDr]

LOL. Pretty fancy word for a lowballer. Wonder where he learned that, sure wasn't cutting grass. Maybe I'm in the wrong biz...:rolleyes:


My mother is a attorney and I had to call her to find out what it ment lol.

[DitchDr]

Yeah, we have been jugling our schedule too. 22 yrds? thats a pretty good amount. We did 16 yrds about three weeks ago. 4 hours using my tractor. Who do you buy your mulch from? I buy mine from LLoyds. Let me know if you want some help with the mulch, I will cut you a good deal.


I buy most of it from Southern Landscape Supply on Ashley Phosphate rd.

hes giving it to me for 23 a yard on red cedar. Other places wanted 29 to 32 on the contractors price.

I do have 75 bails of straw to put in my mother in laws lawn next week. Its pro bono work you can have it ya want lol.


The house with the 22 yards is one I mow as well. Figure a 3/4 are lot good size house on it and most of the back yard is done with a trimmer or push mower cause of the flower beds.

[kipper]

I have dealt with SLS before, some pretty good guys they bailed me out on a sunday one time. Just a little too expensive to keep coming back to. I pay 22.50 for dyed cypress. Are you sure they are selling you cedar? I looked for cedar in bulk for a customer about a month ago and no one dealt with it.

You can have the pinestraw !! I hate that stuff... :)

Let me know if you want help spreading the mulch with the tractor, I usually get 200.00 per day running it and it beats shoveling mulch.

[DitchDr]

Your right it is Cypress, had cedar on my brain since last night. Wife wants to line the closet at the closet at the house with cedar planks.

[kipper]

Yeah, cedar is nice. We got some driftwood out of the Ashley river that is cedar, really nice after we pressure washed it. The thought is that cedar keeps the bugs out.

[KGR landscapeing]

Guys no good deed goes unpunished. its like telling a girl her Boy friend is cheating on her. she wont believe you and she will scream at you. then the guy will get all mad. Ur still the bad guy even though you did the right thing. it sucks to be the good guy.

[hvphotog]

The first one, is that a home owner? lol i am posting on CL today just to see what kind of responses i get... do you put it in services offered area?




Ok yall asked for it, here are 2 that are pretty funny.

#1
Take your ****** up legal diatribe and stick it in your pussy.

**** you *******.

I wouldn't hire you to pick up squirrel **** in my yard, much less cut my grass.

Trying to justify your outrageous prices with your bull **** scared my away.

I hired the kid down the street and paid her $50 just because you're a dikhed

My reply:
I could really care less if you hired me to mow your lawn or pick up squirrel **** as you put it. I could care even less if you hire 30 mexicans to come gang **** you in your front yard. Its your house do what you want. If my prices are to high dont pay them

#2
Get a LIFE *****!!!

My Reply
Get INSURANCE *****

His reply
Got it all fagboy! I just like it when fags like you try to hold down other people by putting fear into homeowners.Thats not the way to sell yourself dumbass.

My Reply
Hold others down by informing home owners on how to protect them selves? It must be nice in that little world you live in. If you have insurance, business license, and pay taxes I dont see what your upset about. But seeing as how you jump to the name calling, and insults right off the bat, it just proves other wise.

I have yet to hear back for them.

I did not use my business email addy so I am not to worried lol.

[Sammy]

Is this guy a Lowballer ?

off duty firefighter lawn care free estimates, senior discounts , can provide refrences. you tell me what your budget can afford. Gauranteee cheapest rates. Call Jeff 317 289 xxxx

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/hss/1154497905.html

[ITL]

DitchDr

You stated the truth. Your post to CL was real and unpleasant for those who are not playing by the rules: paying taxes, using legal workers, and having insurance. Those not playing by the rule do not like the truth to be available to the unknowing customers, so they make personal attacks to your email.

I would not waste my time responding to them. If you take the time be pleasant and do not drop to their level name calling, foul language, other. If you need to respond, you could nicely ask the negative responders if the information you posted is incorrect or why they would not want the correct information to be available to the customers. The customers should know so they can make the best decision for them.

Thanks
Wayne