Customers complaining about price increase!

[rider1000]

I can't believe customers complaining about a minimal $1-2 price increase on their lawn service. The bad thing is, these are my higher end properties, $300-400,000 homes. I wanted to raise price last year, but I didn't. So with the price of fuel being so high this year, I had no choice. One person I kept below my minimum last year because I did a landscaping project for him, but this year I raised him $2 a mow and he called me this morning complaining that he couldn't afford $140 a month, but he can afford to take 3 trips a year with 4 family members to Hawaii? go figure. Part of the problem is other companies stopping, and quoting prices for mowing without even being called. I just tell them - they get what they pay for. You know the service I can give you, if that's what you want, then that's what you can expect. I know we've all ran in to this, just wanted to vent!!!

[AVRECON]

Drop his A$$ like a bad habit. This is EXACTLY why this WILL be my last season in this biz. Tired of messing around with folks who want to negociate every price I give to them. I really want to just flat out tell them if they want quality then I'm their man if not then call the stupid a$$ who doesn't know s%$@ about what they are doing!
Y'all Have a Nice Day!!!!!

[Twotoros]

There is a lot of dumping going on here this year. My freinds in the biz (most in it for 10-20 years) are losing customers left and right for very small increases in the 1-2$ range. No losses for me as I did not raise $ because of this fear. On the other side of the coin the new guys and cheaters are gaining ground with their pre-1990 prices. I don't know if this will ever stop. It is certainly been a buyers market here for 7 years or more now. One buddy lost a customer he had for 20 years for 2.5% which is what he has raised for all his accounts each season for six years now. That is more than fair I would say. I myself live in fear that that job at 7/11 may soon be filled by me.:dizzy:

[LawnLad]

Regardless of what type of home a customer lives in - everyone is looking for value. More so today than in years past when their bill folds were fat from the stock market with paper gains.

Customers are much quicker to jump on price issues. This means as contractors, professionals, and their service providers - we have to give them value for their dollars spent.

How many people stop to think about the actual cost to the customer of hiring a contrator to do their work? A $10,000 install job will actually cost the customer closer to $15,000 in gross wages since they buy with post tax dollars.

With rising costs (insurance, fuel, labor related costs) it will be difficult to pass this cost increase directly onto the customer. We will have to find ways to tighten our belts and become more efficient to keep our profit margins in tact.

Is is frustrating to have a customer make an issue about pricing, but I think it's going to become more of a daily reality than anyone of us would want.

[TGCummings]

I think this is just a bad year for increases. With the things that are looming, and the sluggish recovery in the economy, try to maintain the same pricing level as long as you can (particularly on customers that already meet your necessary profit levels). We all need to tighten our belts right now, even the customers, so keep that in mind.

I know it's frustrating, but there's just a whole lot going on in the world right now and lawn care happens to be one of those things that are deemed 'luxury'. Stay the course as best you can.

Avrecon -- ten years in the business and this is your last? What will you be moving on to?

[Sean Adams]

Lawn Lad nailed it....read his post again. As a business owner it is your responsibility to "go with the economic flow"...finding ways to be more efficient, cut costs, and still maintain a high quality level is just another chance to stick out from the rest....and stay in business. Sometimes frustrating, but true.

Sean Adams

[proline32]

Lawn lad is correct on this issue, I've had a few dump me over $5.00 increases and cite "they can't afford it". I then try to remind them that it is only $20.00 per month total increase and that they really need to look at how much it will cost themselves to do the lawn themselves, I try to remind them that thier time is worth much more than $20.00 lousy bucks, And if they decide to look for other options that is fine.... But I try to stress the value that I offer them and try to get them off the $$ issue. It is funny though that some of these ladies will scoff at your price of $30.00, they go pay 25.00 to have thier nails done no problem.(Go Figure) We do need to find ways to keep cost down, recently I informed customers that I am discontinuing our cell phone service, to save about 1100 bucks a year in cost, they can call me at home instead. I moved to a cheaper shop to save rent, and I am doing a lot more of my own repair work instead of letting my small engine shop get the work. Also, I have decided to go strictly to mulching of lawns to reduce any time I can. It is funny how very wealthy people will scoff the loudest at a price. When someone tells you they will think it over you can pretty much tell you won't be seeing them again.

[SLS]

It may be because there is a SERIOUS increase of new people getting into the business???

In my area there is a bunch of this going on.

One 'newbie' ran an ad in the neighborhood papers that said:

"We will beat anyone's price by 20% for cuts over $25.00". :eek:

Another 'newbie' has a hand-scrawled sign up on the busiest intersection of our neighborhood that says:

"We will beat anyone's prices...and a good job too!"
(Will he beat the guy who has already knocked 20% off the going rate?)

Hmmm, let's see...

$40 an acre less 20% is $32.00. Now let's beat that '20% off 'guys price too...

I can hear the homeowner now:
"Oh boy! Last year I was paying $40 and now I'm paying $28! Only in America!"

I was offered a bid on 3 residentials that are owned by the same lady [1 acre lots-all in a row]. She is related to one of my regular clients whom I have mowed her acre for 3 years now. Being that this is the case I shot her a bid of $37 per acre ($40-$50 an acre is common here). Even with a 'glowing recomendation' from her relative about my excellent work, dependability, insurance, etc,....she passed for someone who will do those 3 acres for $25 each....on an old Murray rider. This is not the first time I've encountered this and I have a feeling I haven't heard the last from her. If I do her quote will immediately increase. :D

Most in this area are cutting at the same prices that were in effect 5-10 years ago (average) just to hang on to their clients and now some 'newbies' want to drive the prices back into the 1970's era.

Fuel, food, housing, ect, have consistantly risen over the years and 'lawn care' is continually trapped in a "time machine"...going backwards. :cry:

With this going on it is no wonder that people who get a 'price increase' balk!

At this rate 'lawn care' will be FREE by the year 2020.

In the future I see 80 year old women pushmowing their lawns in the 90 degree heat because LCO's went the way of the dinosaur...what's the point if you can't turn a profit?

I can't wait. :rolleyes:

[LawnLad]

Wealthy customers have money in their pockets because they watch their pennies. Particularly old money. I work in an old money neighborhood and it’s an interesting study of personalities and priorities from one customer to the next and from neighbor to neighbor. You really have to meet the needs of each individual customer.

I have one customer who lives in a gorgeous Shaker Heights stone home built in the 1920’s ($650,000 plus home) with a beautiful creeping bent lawn. He loves the work we do on his lawn, but he won’t let us touch his beds because he says he can’t afford it. He’ll do the work. I almost dropped him since he wasn’t keeping up with the beds. We’ve reached an understanding and everything is okay now… but his priorities are different than what I might have expected from the get go.

There are those residential customers that have landscape service as a line item in their budget (necessary to have) and those that pay for landscaping with discretionary dollars – considered a luxury item. With either approach to budgeting, or somewhere in between, everyone is cutting back. I have many customers that spend between $10,000 and $35,000 a year on landscape maintenance alone… and they are looking for ways to cut back. Landscape maintenance service is necessary, but they may cut back on mulching or flowers or pruning, etc.

People who have money are those that generally delay gratification by not running out and buying all of today’s pleasures. They save money for tomorrow and a rainy day. I have to respect people who can set limits and know what their priorities are. I hope I can just convince them that I need to be in their budget since I give them value for their dollars spent/invested in their landscape.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Most in this area are cutting at the same prices that were in effect 5-10 years ago (average) just to hang on to their clients and now some 'newbies' want to drive the prices back into the 1970's era.

That's exactly it. I want to start into the biz part time this year, but it's not working because even though I have real low overhead, my reasonable prices (Just bid $60 for 2 acres) were still too high! LCO's around here are going for anywhere from $30 to $60 an acre. Big gap! I guess the $60 ones are just doing small stuff in town and never done an acre, and just averaging it I guess... but my $30 an acre is trimming every other time, which around here it's not too bad if you only trim once every other week, but it would break me before I even got started at this rate. I think I'll try to get lawns but probably just try to hire on with a local LCO. That way I don't have the overhead, and don't have to mess with F#$%$#% customers!

[toby]

Customers are more concerned about price than quality. Just lower your standards for the cheap ones & spend 5 min less per prop. The won't notice.

[MuskTurfKing]

So toby, I'm guessing you get $2.00 a week for that lawn pic you posted in the striping thread? :D

I never sacrifice quality.

Hank

[Shadetree Ltd]

With the economy hovering were it is (British Columbia is in the dumps right now as well) there are MANY MANY guys with pickups and lawnmowers, and lets face it almost anybody can push a lawnmower. In their mind they can cut grass for peanuts but take home enough cash to survive until their industry or another job related to their past employment opens back up. Our industry is filled with inexperienced, unskilled so called enteprenuers that make it difficult for those that are trying to properly run a succesfull business. You must be able to sell yourself or you will not survive, your experience, references, professionalism and proper liscensing & insurance and other tangibles will dictate what your market value is.
The fundamental problem with our industry as a whole is that even the experienced guys say just take your overhead, costs and desired profit margin and go out and give estimates. Nobody is realizing that we are pricing ourselves out of work, there is a price that the market would be able to bear if we all were on the same page, but unfortunately we are not. If all of us valued our time appropriately, nobody would be charging some of these lowball prices and the market would pay a reasonable average price. Just look at all the other trades on the market plumbing, electricians, carpenters and so on.

Scott

[Twotoros]

YA. My beautiful four-color doorhangers are no match fot the guy with a scrap of paper with his phone # on it. Mine looks great and he gets the job. Boy am I a dumby or what. I have run into people who don't even have a phone # for their lawnboy. I suppose that to tighten my belt I should also purchase a 4-bit note pad for estimates and biz cards.:angry: :( :cry:

[AVRECON]

Avrecon -- ten years in the business and this is your last? What will you be moving on to?

On to mortgage finance. Have one offer now, but have a few more companies to talk to.
You guys think you got comp? Come to my town, it'll make your head swim. I've seen at least 25 new SCRUBS that I have never seen before. My town only has about 60,000 folks in it. I've had friends in the biz that live elswhere to come here and say, "Dayum, and I thought I had comp where I am."
You just wouldn't believe it. I will try to keep the remaining accounts that I have. I have come to the conclusion that I can make alot more $$$ with a pencil and a telephone than I ever will with a lawnmower.
I'm frustrated, pissed and DONE!:blob2:

Oh yeah, those 25 new SCRUBS that I've seen. That was late yesterday afternoon and today. That doesn't include all the others I've seen the last month and a half.

[Toroguy]

Your area sounds pretty cut-throat AVRECON. Is there a nearby area you could explore?

Ive read in some of your previous posts about your hatred for the scrub. A change of scenery may do you some good?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Its funny how you had to elicit your own questions to respond to, this place can be cold at times.

[Twotoros]

I'll put my pathetic town ( pop. 60,000) up against anybody. I would come in at with least a bronze medal! At least 150 cutters now and I would bet fifty at the most are legit. Out of these there are only four big boys. The rest are solos or two man teams. A lot of moonlighters. Come try my prices out.

[Toroguy]

Twotoros,

If your cutting grass and a fly bothers you what is the most effective way to "de-wing" the S.O.B?

Ive been having a rough time with it.

Thanks,

[SLS]

http://bigrifle2.home.att.net/mowered.gif

http://bigrifle2.home.att.net/working.jpg

Look familiar? :(

[AVRECON]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Twotoros
I'll put my pathetic town ( pop. 60,000) up against anybody. I would come in at with least a bronze medal! At least 150 cutters now and I would bet fifty at the most are legit. Out of these there are only four big boys. The rest are solos or two man teams. A lot of moonlighters. Come try my prices out. [/QUO

Are we in the same town?
The few big boys here work on volume. I have talked to some of the owners. And they have told me on commercial accounts, not to expect to make a profit on each one, but that it takes several to make it.
Now that doesn't make ANY sense to me. Why do a $100 job for $50?
When I first got into this biz, my plan was to build a good reputation and do quality work, hire some college guys to help out and I was gonna go back to school myself. I thought that after a few years I would have a pretty good business. Well it is extremly hard to compete agains't so many other cutters. Espescially when the majority don't have the insurance and pay taxes on what they make. I DON"T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITH THAT, PERIOD!!!
You guys know the deal, You just cannot compete with folks that have full time jobs and then do lawn care on the side. See these guys think if they make $25 bucks an hour that they are makin money. They don't STOP and realize that they have equipment that needs to pay for itself along with the other cost involved, fuel, oil, general upkeep of equipment, etc. And every year theres a new batch with the new trucks and new equipment. If anyone asked me about getting into the biz in my town, I would tell them.
1. Do it part time
2. Get your applicators license.
3. Don't pay ANY taxes and ALWAYS have the checks cashed, never put them into any account.
I'll tell you guys something else. If I won the lottery for a few mil. I would put them all outta business. I would lowball the hell outta work. I would place full page ads in the news paper offering half price mowing and landscape projects. I'd do this for 2 years just to watchem fall like rain. And laugh at'em all when they come begging for mercy. And then I'd say "I'm just doing what all of you have been doing for the last few years"

Hell with it, I'll let'em have all of it, LOL!

[bobbygedd]

now im confused. in another thread, i had 500 of u guys tell me that more competition would not effect yur business, now u r all saying the oposite. im confused, or, maybe u guys are....

[AVRECON]

If competion is so good, why is Walmart the most profittable company in america? Its because they have put everyone else outta business.

[lamblawnscaping]

finished last season with about 90 customers

about 45 of them are back this year

made them sign contracts, pay in advance, and pay for a minimum # of mows

that was a price increase and about half did not come back

oh well, the good half did

[Albemarle Lawn]

The interest expense to borrow $500K or the return you earn on $500K at 7.5% (average mortgage) is $37,500 per year or about $103 per day, every day, 365 days per year.

It is sickening to hear people who own $500K houses complain about a WEEKLY cost of $50.00 to maintain the lawn.

K.B.

[Twotoros]

Avercon, I have the same dream: win the lotto and do lawns for 25 cents each and drive all out of biz. Of course If I won I would bail before you can say, " Could you mow it a little shorter this week . It is growing two inches a day!"
3 or 4 of us here are thinking of setting up a sting and collect biz cards, names and numbers and then check the state website to see who is licensed. Then turn over the info the proper lazy beuarocrats. Cruel. Is it? I have been in it 17 years and planned to do it 15 more but I can't live on 1986 prices . I consider my prices at 1998 levels now. In 2017 it will be impossible. I suppose someone will call me a rat now but I never got to be a hall monitor in grade school so I have to see your pass from now on.:)

[Brickman]

$1100 a year for cell phone bill???? LUCKY you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only $60 for 2 acres??? Man I guess you guys got it bad. Around here I wouldn't touch it for less than $200, and then I would feel I was shafting myself every time I went to mow.

We do have a ton of competition/scrubs here as well. One thing fun to do when the new phone books come out and look in the newspaper once in a while, is look for how many names are new from last year, and even more fun is to see how many names from last year are missing.
Where they make life miserable is in the residential and small commercial. One thing that I have never been able to figure out is why commercial prop. owners would accept a bid from a school kid. I have been beat out by just that on a commercial. It was the kid of a friend of a friend. One of those deals. You KNOW he didn't have any insurance, so what did that prop. owner think if some thing were to happen??? Who would know.
I don't plan on raising prices this year for mowing. I am set OK on that point. But will have to tighten the belt. Already did that by not paying the guy working for me as much as I paid the loser working last year. Next year a lot of aerating prices will go up. By as much as $10 or more.

[TGCummings]

Don't believe it for a second. This is a huge industry and plenty of folks are making plenty good money despite the fact that all of us are in markets saturated with fly-by-night operations (or, as you call 'em, scrubs).

But here's the secret (don't tell anyone): Every service market suffers the same. There's always someone who'll paint your house, fix your pipes, or change the starter in your vehicle for way under professional wages!

But these industries survive. Professional painters, plumbers, and mechanics thrive. So do professionals in lawn care. And you know that Avrecon, you're just tired of the fight. But that's okay, too.

Undoubtedly, you'll make good doing your next thing. If you're the kind of person who enjoys the great indoors, you'll probably thrive. But there's money here, too. Despite the "competition". ;)

[proline32]

Hey brickman, my cell phone bill was based on last years total bill... and this year I would of guessed that it would of increased to about $1800 by years end. I just don't see the point of spending it on phone cost when I can take the money and upgrade equipment to be more productive. I can feel for guys who spend way more than I do on phone cost.


I love that picture of the car with the lawnmower in the back:D

Looks like a couple of them around here, Lately I have seen alot more of them, and what is getting me is that they are working on small commercial properties( go figure) It;s not good to worry about scrubs, it takes your mind off more productive things like getting more quality work.

If you see someone that looks like an under the table guy, stop and ask him what his business name is... If he states that "he just does this part time and doesn't have a license" report his ass to your state Dept of revenue, all you need to do is give them his license plate number. That will take care of a scub real quik.

[GarPA]

just a couple of points from a relatively new and non-scrub legit operator.....am I'm not having trouble getting good clients...yes some of them whine occasianally but when I show up with the white truck, white trailer, formal proposals and billing examples, tell them clearly when payment is expected, and show them a portfolio of pictures of my work...they tone down a little...then they call some yahoo who is a little cheaper or alot cheaper, and I still get more than 50% hit ratio.

my wife busts her butt in an insurance company, works 15 hours a week non compensated overtime . She had an outstanding performance evaluation...guess what her % of yearly raise was???....1.4 %!!!! that doesn't cover the increased costs in food alone....and employees are being told this in every industry in the country...so thats part of why they are the way they are...and the people in the 500k house are house poor for the most part...in debt up to their ying yangs

someone a few months ago here posted an excellent comment and it stuck with me....don't be just a guy who mows their grass....rather be the person who they can't do without to maintain their propoerty....I have found theres a big difference..

20 years ago my dad was a truck driver...even then there were 'scab' drivers that would drive truck for less than half of what he was making as a Teamster....there will always be scrubs, scabs, whores or whatever else you want to call them....if you stoop to their level...well you know what will happen.....just my opinion...

[Brickman]

Hey proline the point I was making about the cell phone is that you are lucky for it to be so low. Mine is way worse than that. And I agree that if you can do with out then by all means use the money for other things. Like in my case, I could dump the cell phone and use the money from that to pay taxes.

As for saying that all people working with out a license are scrubs isn't quite true. Here in WY I cannot get a license. From either the city or the state. They flat out don't have one for guys that are doing only maint. As soon as you try liquid fert or weed control, tree trimming, or new instalation of any kind then you can get one. But nothing is available for maint. only. One place I can save a little bit of $$.

Around here we do see cars with lawn mowers and trimmers hanging out of the trunk. The first 2 weeks that I was in the business (only worked saturday) I had to do that as well. I had bought a used truck from a friend out of state and it hadn't showed up yet. Back then I only had about $500 worth of homeowner equipment. Now it is around $15,000 of commercial equipment, and a 2000 F 250 PS truck.
This just shows that scrubs can change their stripes and become a big boy.

[SLS]

Previously posted by me:


"....This is not the first time I've encountered this and I have a feeling I haven't heard the last from her. If I do her quote will immediately increase.


Well, that didn't take long. Dude couldn't keep up because of all the rain and warm temps so she called me back. Lawns were getting out of hand and she was tired of the excuses. I snagged 'em (all 3) at $40 a pop. Did them all today with 'doubles' onthe Lazer Z and she loved the stripes. :)

Bring on the Murray riders! :D

[higherpower]

I had been in business for 8 years and never raised my prices. This year I bagan to consider to raise my prices because the gas prices were going out of control. I told one of my customes, who had been my customer for 8 years, that I wanted to raise his monthly fee by $20 dallors because of the gas situation. He told me He was sorry he had not given me a raise and that he himslef should have done that without me bringing it up! That was grea. Than I told another customer who had been with me 6 years about raising his price $5 per cut and he went a little crazy! However, he was paying $145 per cut which took me about 3 1/2 hours to complet. He told me it was unskilled labor and I was getting to much already. He went ahead and gave me the extra $5 but later cut back on the number per cuts per month. I decided to hold off on raising prices for awhile.

[Premo Services]

[/i] Originally posted by higherpower [/i]
Than I told another customer who had been with me 6 years about raising his price $5 per cut and he went a little crazy! However, he was paying $145 per cut which took me about 3 1/2 hours to complet. He told me it was unskilled labor and I was getting to much already. He went ahead and gave me the extra $5 but later cut back on the number per cuts per month. I decided to hold off on raising prices for awhile.

I would have droped this jerk before the sun went down on the day he said to reduce the number of cuts per month. He is in fact runnin your business. This just doesn't cut it. When I first started I was scared as he!! to raise my prices, for fear of loosing the valued customer, and held off fo a few years. I worried all winter and in the spring of the next year, raised the prices. I lost only one customer. the others didn't even mntion the increase to me, and they seemed to be happy with my services. I had one customer, and every time I came there to cut he would have some excuse that I should wait till next week. This went on for a couple months. I realized that I was spending a lot more time doing cuttng and trimming, so I talked to him and told him of the problems, and because of the increased time, the charge for every two weeks would be doubled. he flipped, said that I wasn't saving him any money. I gathered my thoughts while he was cursing at me and simply said that I wasn't in this business to help make him richer. You simply cannot let your customers run your business. I have started raising the prices by a couple dollars a cut every year on half the customers, and next year on the other half of customers. I have not lost one due to a price increase until this year, and it was over 1.00 a week. She called threatining me about that she was checking my prices before she went for bids. I sent a letter stating of need to raise 1.00 a cut, and she has some one else doing the cutting, I heard for a cheaper price than mine, hey if she is happy, I am tickled to death.

higherpower
I am not slamming you in any way. This is my opinion. I own my own business and no one will run it for me, not even my wife.:eek: :D

[SLS]

Premo Services:

I too had the same problem. I had an encounter with little ol' lady (brand new customer) who would rush out and say "wait until next week" as I was cutting the one across the street from her (a weekly account). From the looks of her property I thought she was not 'well off' (fixed income?), felt sorry for her, and bid it LOW thinking it would help her out a little. I explained that I was giving her a LOW bid as long she allowed me to mow it while I was mowing across the street...good for her, and good for me. She was happy with this arrangment to the point of saying "God bless you for helping out a little old lady". This was the begining of a new season and her lawn (weed patch) had not been cut for the first time yet.

After the second week in a row I knew there was trouble brewing. When she did on the 3rd week I knew she was trying to 'save a dime'- and using ME to do so. So, on the 4th week, (remember that this was heavy-growth spring time) I finished the lawn across the street from her and started loading my trailer and she sent her day-sitter lady over to ask if I was going to mow her lawn today?

I looked at the 2 foot high grass and bermuda-covered sidewalk and drive, chuckled, and said "No way".

When the day-sitter lady asked "why not?" I explained that I could not afford to spend all day in a lawn, tearing up my equipment, in order to save Mrs. XYZ money.

Then she came clean. She sighed and said "I go through this every summer with lawn people. I have explained this to Mrs. XYZ over and over again, but you must understand..., it's 'her way or the highway'....and I don't understand why she does this as she has more money than you can shake a stick at!"

I said: "So 'the highway' it is". :D

It was another 2 weeks before her lawn finally got cut...and it looked like someone brought a flail mower in to do it. Beautiful!

She always glares at me out her window as I lay beautiful stripes right across the street from her 'hay field'...hehehe!

What kills me is that she was able to trot across the street to tell me not to mow her lawn-but she sent the day-sitter over to do her 'dirty work'..."God bless you" indeed! :eek:

DO NOT ALLOW THE CUSTOMER TO DICTATE ANY ASPECT OF YOUR BUSINESS! We are not in the business to save people money. They WILL take advantage of you. Who doesn't like to save a buck?

[Runner]

Gee, we don't have that many scrubs running around town with mowers hanging out of the trunks. We don't even have that many scrubs with mowers in the backs of pickup trucks. As a matter of fact, WE don't even have that many people running around town with walkbehinds on the backs of trailers. Why is this? BECAUSE THIS TOWN IS FULL OF A BUNCH OF HIGH PRICED SCRUBS!!!!!!! That's right! With GM having laid off tens of thousands of people just from this town alone, (that's right, TENS of thousands - no exageration) we have everybody and their brother running Lazers! Fisher body (frame plant) closed down some years ago. Then, areas of the truck plant closed down. Then, AC was next to go. Now, Buick is gone. AND, we have just been told that Delphi and Delco-Remi (Major GM suppliers) are being bought by a Japanese firm. Now, how do I come up with the term "high priced scrubs"? That's because everyone around here is using LAZERS! You see more Lazers than any and ALL other mowers put together. To give you an idea, our local Exmark dealer has sold WELL over 200 Lazers in this town so far this season. Now, that is on top of all the others that were sold previously. It's getting bad! Those shoprats who ARE laid off and now into the biz are competing with those shoprats who are STILL WORKING and doing it part time on the side. These guys are real decieving in appearance, because while they have a nice new Chevy Silverado to pull their 16 ft. tandem with their nice new Lazer on it, on a FRACTION of these guys are legit. And it's only going to get worse. I myself was thinking of getting into something a little more skilled that's an untapped market, like maybe shed and fence painting.

[SLS]

Dang Runner, that sounds like a real problem! I hate to hear it for you. It sounds like the 'price war' could get bad...real bad. :(


"To give you an idea, our local Exmark dealer has sold WELL over 200 Lazers in this town so far this season.....I myself was thinking of getting into something a little more skilled that's an untapped market, like maybe shed and fence painting.


It sounds like Lazer Z repair/maintence may be a lucretive business soon in your area. 200 is A LOT of machines! :eek:

[strickdad]

oooooooo how many times have i said this before, a great deal of the people that are living in these high dollar homes are living from hand to mouth.. by charging them a little more you may be getting the hand further away from the mouth..

[Scag48]

Scrubs are B.S.! I may not have alot of jobs, but I sure don't underbid them. I advertise my ass off but nothing happens. This is just B.S. There aren't any real landscape contractors in town. Maybe if I head down the installation road... I just don't understand why people are so cheap! Maybe we could educate people to get them to say "No, I will not pay you $20 an acre to mow, that is too low. I'm going to hire someone who knows what they are doing." Wouldn't that be nice? Well, I guess I'm dreaming again. I'm just hoping the local scrub's Murray breaks down. I don't know about you guys, but I'm targeting lawns that the other guys won't touch. They won't get onto an 1 1/2 acre lawn because their P.O.S. Murrays take to damn long. So while I have the only commercial rider in town, I'm gonna give some smackdown in the large property maintenance. Besides, riding is more fun anyway! :D Peace out and kick grass everyone!

[KirbysLawn]

I posted this last year but a local company mows 2 homes of friends of mine, one is 10 acres the other is 7 acres...all at the great price of $10 an acre, mow trim, blow. Going into their 2 season....many other new services from last year are MIA...

[Brickman]

$10 an acre is insane. Unless they are doing the ENTIRE 10 or 7 acre lot in one hour, there is no way under the sun they are even breaking even, let alone showing a profit.

There are tons of scrubs around Cheyenne too. The ones I like the best are the ones that go to school, so don't start mowing until some time in June, and then quit in August to go back to school. Why even start a biz and then do that. It makes the rest of us look bad. :rolleyes: