Customers like this are nuts...

[65hoss]

I had a phone call from my contact at a church I maintain asking me to call. When I got him on the phone he was questioning me on why I never sent him a bill for my last cut. I explained that the same day I cut for the last time last December he brought me a check. He went on to tell me that was my Christmas present and I knew that and he expected a bill to be sent to him immediately. Also, wanted to make sure I was still going to maintain their property. This was about 3 weeks ago. Sure is nice to have people mad at you for not charging them. haha.

Today I got a check in the mail from one of my long time customers. I left her a bill about a week ago. She mails me a check and written on my statement is a note to me saying it was time for a pay raise. She regrets not being able to raise it even more, but she raised it $5 per cut. Instructed me to bill her from now on at the new rate.

I post this to bring up the point that you can be picky about who you do work for. It will pay off. Leave the junk customers to someone else. Take care of your good customers and ALWAYS return phone calls in a timely manner. Do what you say your going to do and be reliable. There are people out there that value your work, time and effort.

[jeffyr]

Good going Hoss !
Is everybody in Tenn. so generous ?

jeffyr

[mxrdrvr3]

wtg hoss wish they all were like that:D

[Runner]

If you end up getting another check from the church, give it right back to them. It will come back to you 100 fold! 100 fold!!!;)

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

65hoss,

I thought I was the only one that happened to! :p
One of my ressies called me the other day and ASKED me to increase the price from $190/mow to 215! Geez, lemme think about this a min.....OK fine.

[rodfather]

Good goin' Eric..I'm happy for ya!

You're right...treat 'em right and you'll do okay. What goes around comes around,, huh?

[Brickman]

I too have had a few customers tell me I was too cheap. After I "fixed" the problem they never told me that again.
It is nice to hear that once in a while, instead of the usual b----ing about the price.

You know when they tell you that, you must be doing some thing right in the way of taking good care of them.

[MuskTurfKing]

That's great Hoss, what goes around truly does come around, treat your customers good!

Hank

[lawnstudent]

Hoss,

you are truly someone I want to emulate. Congrates!

jim

[anythinglawns]

three of my customers have given me a raise without asking. All three are long time customers.
One has sent me a Christmas card for the last 3 years with $20.00 in it. It must be people in TN as that is where I operate.

[chariot]

Tennesse is great! I got a $5 pay increase last year on one of my accounts, it was not even asked for either.

[Brickman]

I have two customers that set their own price. And that is always $5 to $10 more than I would have asked. The one gives me a cash bonus most every week, and the other one gives me a $100 at christmas time. They are demanding as to how they want their yards down, but the pay is good. And the work is there as long as I do good work.

[johnhenry]

Hoss that shows that you have a true passion for the job you do. You should be proud of yourself buddy.When someone always ask me why my properties are so different it not the toys we use or manpower. It about the passion. If you luv what you are doing and take pride in your work it will show. My hats off to you

[awm]

good deal hoss. i think it also shows that they know u are giving them your best.

[walker-talker]

I had a new customer last year that I mowed for once. I charged her $35 and she gave me a $15 bonus. A week later she called and said that she could no afford my services anylonger....go figure.

MATT

[65hoss]

Originally posted by walker-talker
I had a new customer last year that I mowed for once. I charged her $35 and she gave me a $15 bonus. A week later she called and said that she could no afford my services anylonger....go figure.

MATT

Now that would be hard to swallow. Some people are hard to figure out.

[Nebraska]

Hoss,

You are definitely doing things right.... When that happens it's proof that you are working for good people.

The same thing happened for the first time with snow removal for us this winter 4 different customers added $15 each for their snow and said "bill me this rate from this point on"

This spring the same 4 added $10 to their bill and two of the four came out and "tipped" me another $10 and said have lunch on me....

Just the other day a guy came out and gave a $50 bill to one of my employees and said thanks for the great job. Amazingly enough the employee gave me the $50 Bill some 6 hours later.... I gave my the employee $25 cash right there on the spot as well as a raise! It definitely does pay to screen your prospects...
For those reasons I love this business because I know we provide a service that people appreciate.... These things happen without any kickbacks, no "nudy" bars F1/4 350!; only thankyou cards!