How much can you try before it's aggravating?

[Ryall Landscaping]

Ok. First off, I hope this is the appropriate section.

Now. I had started door-to-door advertising w/ my partner about 2 weeks ago, and then went on vacation about a week and a half ago. I had a few people who seemed very interested in some different things, and I told them I'd give them a call about things after coming back from vacation. They seemed perfectly fine with that.

So, I get back from vacation and give these people a call. Sure enough, I get their voicemails. So one I had established a price with beforehand. This customer was a nice middle-aged woman and I left her a voicemail about when she wanted us to come, but she didn't call me back. So today (2-3 days later) I called back at a different times in the hope that she'd be home. She picked up and we discussed about when to come, and decided on Friday, or if the weather is bad, Saturday.

Now the other guy I did not previously give a price to. I called him back after returning home and my partner gave him a call and left him a message about meeting with him to talk about it and give him an estimate. 2-3 days later I called him again and left another message telling him the estimate and to give me a call and how I was happy to talk it over a bit if that seemed unfair (it's odd work IMO). Its been a few days now and he never called me back.

So my question is this: How much can you call a customer, and try to get ahold of them before its aggravating for them? Where is the line between trying to get a job, and letting it go?

Thanks for those of you who took the time to read that. I appreciate it.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

Go with your gut.

[Ryall Landscaping]

Go with your gut.

That's what I've been doing so far. I'm just a kid in high school trying to make some cash flow on the side. I'm not a professional by any means.

What would you do? The guy had a quite large job to do and didn't seem to be cheap, so I gave him what I thought was a fair price (fair bit lower than any competitors). I don't want to scare him away, but I could really use the job.

[just4funthen]

you said you were in high school still? Dont take this the wrong way but some of the people you went to and talked with my think your "just a kid". I bet your hard working and do a good job but you need to prove that. Take a few pictures of a past job, heck do your own place and brag about it. Show new customers what your able to do. Want to improve a bit, then drive around and find other lanscape guys and take not of the address, come back when they are done and look for thier mistakes. What do you like/dislike about it? what would you do differently? Im just tring to think outside of the box for you! Email me if you want!!

[Ryall Landscaping]

you said you were in high school still? Dont take this the wrong way but some of the people you went to and talked with my think your "just a kid". I bet your hard working and do a good job but you need to prove that. Take a few pictures of a past job, heck do your own place and brag about it. Show new customers what your able to do. Want to improve a bit, then drive around and find other lanscape guys and take not of the address, come back when they are done and look for thier mistakes. What do you like/dislike about it? what would you do differently? Im just tring to think outside of the box for you! Email me if you want!!

I understand that I'm looked down upon because of my age, and can understand why (In fact, part of it probably is true. I'm not insured, licensed, and I don't have the experience of my competition). However, being that I haven't had any accounts yet, I can't prove anything. I have to have someone take a chance on me.. I have a few jobs this weekend I think.

I HAVE, however, agreed with my partner that we would do everything 100% perfect, and that we would be going for quality work, not just a quick buck, in the hopes that we could maintain some customers and maybe get some new ones.

[just4funthen]

That is the right attitude to have. So what is it you were doing? Landscaping or mowing or both?

[Ryall Landscaping]

That is the right attitude to have. So what is it you were doing? Landscaping or mowing or both?

Well..Honestly we're willing to anything reasonable. Fairly flexible on that.

Mowing, trimming, edging, mulching, gutter cleaning, even "small" tree removal...Kind of a little of everything

[bohiaa]

I'm thinking that your NOT much of a salesman..

Strike while the iorn is HOT...

[LouisianaLawnboy]

That's what I've been doing so far. I'm just a kid in high school trying to make some cash flow on the side. I'm not a professional by any means.

What would you do? The guy had a quite large job to do and didn't seem to be cheap, so I gave him what I thought was a fair price (fair bit lower than any competitors). I don't want to scare him away, but I could really use the job.

Call with a different phone number and see if he answers. Or you can call about 3 times with no answer or return call, after that I'd think he wouldn't be interested.

Don't let anyone hate on you because of your age.

[Ryall Landscaping]

I'm thinking that your NOT much of a salesman..

Strike while the iorn is HOT...

Actually, I consider myself the salesman type. I am extremely good at talking with people, as well as selling a product or service. I plan on owning my own business when I'm older (perhaps landscaping? who knows)

I simply am trying to see how long you guys pursue a customer before you decide that he simply isn't interested.

Call with a different phone number and see if he answers. Or you can call about 3 times with no answer or return call, after that I'd think he wouldn't be interested.

Don't let anyone hate on you because of your age.

Ok. Thanks. I'll try a 3rd time maybe tonight or tomorrow night then and then see what happens.

And I never do :)

[just4funthen]

Attack the old ladies! They love young men to do work around the place!! Ask people when the best time to call would be and make sure you call then.

[bohiaa]

[QUOTE=Ryall Landscaping;3049781]Actually, I consider myself the salesman type. I am extremely good at talking with people, as well as selling a product or service. I plan on owning my own business when I'm older (perhaps landscaping? who knows)

I simply am trying to see how long you guys pursue a customer before you decide that he simply isn't interested.


I let the product /service sell it self. as you know " or should" you can tell with in the 1st 20 secoands. some people " myself " know the personality of a person with in the 1st 30 secoands of meeting them.

you may want to spend some time in college. there are several classes that can teach you this. and as you know. there are only so many personalitys in the world....
It always amazed me when a person " useually a teen " would say you dont even know me..... LMAO... if you already know the personality you dont need to know the person.

Me, I dont presue a person. here's the price WE can do it for. that's that.
NO we dont come down.....
dont like it, get some one else.

[AI Inc]

Has it been raining a lot there? Sometimes during bouts of heavy rain , the guy who was begging you to come out last week will not even return your call untill the sun shines again.

[Ryall Landscaping]

Attack the old ladies! They love young men to do work around the place!! Ask people when the best time to call would be and make sure you call then.

That's a good point as well. I'll try to focus on a good time to call the person as well. It seems most customers so far have answered more at night as they aren't working.


I let the product /service sell it self. as you know " or should" you can tell with in the 1st 20 secoands. some people " myself " know the personality of a person with in the 1st 30 secoands of meeting them.

you may want to spend some time in college. there are several classes that can teach you this. and as you know. there are only so many personalitys in the world....
It always amazed me when a person " useually a teen " would say you dont even know me..... LMAO... if you already know the personality you dont need to know the person.

Me, I dont presue a person. here's the price WE can do it for. that's that.
NO we dont come down.....
dont like it, get some one else.

While that's true, and I do try to sell my services based on quality, I simply need the work. I've been advertising door-to-door and with flyers, and need to get some steady jobs. While some of you guys who have been in it for years can not worry about the guy who wants you to do the $400 job and isn't calling you, I can't. He's one of my few customers right now as I'm just getting started.


On a separate note, I am fairly stiff on my pricing. I do have an extremely low overhead, but am trying to use that in my advantage. I can charge prices fairly lower than a bigger company (rightfully so, as I'm not a professional) and still make a very good profit.
Has it been raining a lot there? Sometimes during bouts of heavy rain , the guy who was begging you to come out last week will not even return your call untill the sun shines again.

Yeah, there has been a lot of rain lately actually. I didn't think of that. Good point!

Good news: I talked to the customer today and I guess she never received my phone call after all. So I gave her an estimate in person and she said her husband would call me back :)

[Prolawnservice]

Keep calling till you get an answer, if you want the work. Most sales people stop calling after three calls, most customers buy after 5 calls.

[Mow Right]

Keep calling till you get an answer, if you want the work. Most sales people stop calling after three calls, most customers buy after 5 calls.

I have done quite a bit of door to door advertising and have picked up over 50 customers just this year from it. Don't stop calling until they tell you no, then call them next year. If you get phrases like, "I'll have to talk with my wife", then call them next week.

Here is some advise. First of all you need some way to price jobs, for mowing, I suggest make an hourly rate then do the best job guessing how long it takes. Make your pricing systematic and consistant. Don't say phrases like "is this fair" or "what is it worth to you", because that shows you don't know what your doing. You need to come up with your price on the spot too. Make that customer an offer, for example, spring special is that your first mowing is free.

Like another guy said earlier, sell while the iron is hot. Give them a little push (like the offer), and get them on the spot. Don't be a wimpy, "I don't want to pressure them" salesman. Obviously you don't want have cancels do to buyers remorse either, if they can't afford it then they will cancel later on, so be aware of that. Otherwise, push, call, whatever you have to do.

Sorry to ramble, hope that helps.

$.02

[xooloo]

I usually specify in the message that we need to know either way, because you are busy and scheduling is very important. (for example, say that you have a couple other jobs in the neighborhood and those customers are waiting for a date of their job, but you talked to this guy first so you need to hear from him first.