Wish I had a camera with me yesterday

[AVRECON]

You guys wouldn't believe what I saw comming into town yesterday, LOL! I was on a 4 lane highway, and saw 2 guys on crapsman riding mowers comming into town, riding down the shoulder of the highway. The first guy was pulling a small trailer with a push mower and trimmers I suppose. The only thing I could see real good was the ten speed bike that was sitting on top of everything else, LOL! And the other guy was picking up the rear on his crapsman mower. Soon as I saw this I thought of you guys and the earlier thread. I was like "Damn, wish I had a camera so I could take a pic for the guys on Lawnsite".

[Twotoros]

Sounds like a scouting team for the S.S.A.L.M. army ( Scurbs,Scabs and Anybody with a Lawn Mower)

[The Lawn Choupique]

You just have to admire guys like that. They are doing things the hard way to put food on table for their familes. I am sure that if they had a choice they would have the $150,000 worth of equipment that everyone else has. I for one think that they should be congradulated for working hard and carrying their own weight. America could use more people like them who understand what a work ethic is. America was founded by people just like them.

[wojo23323]

Most likely they will spend their $10 earnings on a bag of crack. I've seen that type around here in S.E. Va.

[Esby]

With a nice generalization like that you should be able to tell us just how much crack you can get for $10.

[stslawncare]

whats wrong with crapsman tractors!!! lol, i dont trust mine enough to go out on the shoulder of a 4 lane road, id be to embarassed if it decided to die

[wojo23323]

Originally posted by Esby
With a nice generalization like that you should be able to tell us just how much crack you can get for $10.

That was a generalization or a stereotype. But, most people who do not have transportaion either can't get a license because of a criminal offense or spend their money on other things that are more important to them besides transportation. As for the amount of crack you can buy for $10, I don't know, since I am in the US Navy and I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. That is my opinion, and you know what opinions are like.

[toby]

.

[Twotoros]

I do not admire anyone like that. If it can't be done right- don't do it at all. Defending this kind of practice, which gives the whole biz a black eye, is wrong. Around here the state patrol would have those guys in the back of their car for reckless endangerment. What fools. The only thing they will do with the twenty bucks take for that day is buy some booze. Why do you think they don't drive a truck - maybe no drivers license, huh?:angry:

Stop defending scrubs. Please.

[david griggs]

geez, there just trying to make some $$. how do you know what their going to spend it on? im sure you've never spent your $$ on booze. dont be a snob.

[Toroguy]

That is a great story AVRECON. I think its time for an exterminator. What is going on in your area?

Im not sure where you guys come up with the booze or substance abuse analogies? Maybe they are just trying to get by. People who I have known with problems didn't work to support habits...they stole.

I must frown on these riding down the road on a mower crews, they will not last in my opinion-certainly the mowers will not last.

[Rooster]

Esby,

Glad your back posting,

Missed ya!

Rick

[KirbysLawn]

Oh boy, here we go again..:(

[Jusmowin]

Hey Wojo, Ive seen quite a few scrubs on the side of the road . BTW, Im glad to see a few more people from our area on here.

[darryl gesner]

Well I can beat that. I have a trailer for my bicycle. It's made of tubular steel, has a 3/4 inch marine plywood floor and easily carries 200 pounds...and, it's fluorescent orange, so you can't miss it. I can fit my 21 inch mower, trimmer and gas in it no problem. It even has an integrated rain cover and safety flag. And, I can transport my whole family of 4 (with me on the bike). I'd be glad to dig up the manufacturer information and post it here if anyone is interested.

[MikeLT1Z28]

i had these two highschoolers come into my neighborhood today as i was in the car in front of the house. driving daddy's tahoe Z71 (or daddy bought it) with a nice trailer actually. on the trailer... some kind of older looking rear engine mower (no ztr), 3 21"s. the kid driving looked like chucky from the rugrats. bright red out of control hair and freckles and glasses! they stopped in front of the biggest crap yard around and looked at it for a min then headed down the street (eyeballing my stuff in the driveway on the trailer too). i looped around the neighborhood and they came off a stop sign pretty fast, hit a dip and all 3 21's bounced about a foot high on the trailer, in perfect unison. i picked my son up from daycare in another part of town and darned if i didn't see them over there too!

[awm]

their everywhere i tellu. lets jest call de sherif an put a stop to theis.mabe the day will come when a kid cant make some spendin,
with his dads lawnmower.but i hope not.i sure did my share of it.
to each his own.

[Toroguy]

Darryl,

Im interested in one of your trailers. I want it to be Blue tho. And, will my training wheels on my bike cause a problem with it?

My Mom sez I can stay out late tonight.

[Runner]

Originally posted by darryl gesner
Well I can beat that. I have a trailer for my bicycle. It's made of tubular steel, it's fluorescent orange, so you can't miss it. I can fit my 21 inch mower, trimmer and gas in it no problem.
Oh, so YOU'RE that guy!!!:D Can someone please dig up that picture? (All of us older members know the one I'm talking about);)

[darryl gesner]

Toroguy - Yes, I believe you can get one in blue and no, I don't think your training wheels will interfere. You need good brakes and tires though. You can check them out at www.blueskycyclecarts.com or call them in Bend, OR at 541-383-7109. Gotta warn you though, they're not cheap. Be sure to get the sun/rain canopy to keep your equipment dry.

[cheapcuts]

You mean they had no truck at least I m starting with a truck. After this summer I will get a trailer and a sign for it.

[dlandscaping]

There is a huge vietnamese family in my area. They now all have chevy 1500 trucks the cheapo ones and toro 2cycle prolines. They have all stihl blowers and trimmers. They work 11hr (not kidding) days 7 days a week. The family members take over shifts throughout the day. Now they all have toro 44"gears and toro 21s with a trailer. They are "lowballers" but no one bothers them. They are trying to make it on their own in this country trying to learn english and they have become very good at mowing grass. I know they are hurting the biz and now have over half my city but we still have lots of work. I talked to one and he said he was in a prison camp back home and will do anything to make a good life here. Am i defending them yes they do honest work for honest pay.

[darryl gesner]

Just so you guys know, I don't haul my mower around in my bike trailer, but I could.

Toroguy, I should have mentioned. You may want to look into the wide and long model. It's 27 1/2 wide and 48 inches long. I sure you could fit your toro in it. And, maybe it's time to take your training wheels off.

[cheapcuts]

They can get it done cheap. Good for them . That is what this country is about. Some of the guys in my area charge a fortune to just mow lawns. Come off it anyone can mow a stupid lawn. I have seen prices as high as 30 bucks just to mow 7000 fot lot. These guys must make over 200 bucks a day. Sounds like greed to me. I will clean upif I price them for twenty or less. I could get 6 or more of these done in a day no problem. I'm looking do get 25+ lawns by this summer and then expand next season some. If you got to use a tricycle to get started what is wrong with that. Sounds like some of you have a problem with compitition .

[Barkleymut]

I usually charge about $35 to $40 for a 7K lawn. Have you guys who are defending scrubs been paying taxes, accountant fees, insurance, etc.? I could care less what any of you do but I would hate to be the guy who gets sued and has no insurance. Or the guy who gets audited and has been depositing lots of cash in the bank account.

[BigJim]

We actually have a bicycle mower in the city here,I saw him tonight,he was stuck on the railway track trying to pull his bike and trailer over,lucky the train had just gone through.He has an enclosed trailer with his mower and weedeater inside,gas can on the outside and its signwritten with all the things he does.He lives over one side of the city and I've seen him mowing over 10 miles from where he lives.Cant be much profit in it cause he's been mowing as long as I have,and it must take several hours to get between jobs the distance he travels.Still God loves a trier........

[Brickman]

Cheapcuts does not believe us when we talk about taxes, insurance,accountant fees, good quality equipment. Advertizing, now there is a big one. Day to day expenses, etc. He also has no clue how much $ it takes to operate. Another thing he has never thought about is replacement costs for his equipment. What if a mower were to totally crater, and he has to buy a new one. Or get stolen. His income will be completely used up in buying fuel and lunch, with nothing left for other stuff.

The rest of us are not in this business for our health!!!

Enough said.

[AielLandscaping]

theres a homeless fellow in my area who found a bicycle somewhere and a lawnmower... crapsman would be a step up for him, but i've seen him cutting lawns anyhow... he mows the house across from mine from time to time and makes a huge mess... i don't know or care what he spends his money on, but i can see that he's willing to work for what he wants... his mower makes him spend 2-3 hours on a house that's less then 3000 sqft and he doesn't edge or anything just mow. someone like that might make a good employee... maybe...

[parkwest]

Originally posted by cheapcuts
They can get it done cheap. Good for them . That is what this country is about. Some of the guys in my area charge a fortune to just mow lawns. Come off it anyone can mow a stupid lawn. I have seen prices as high as 30 bucks just to mow 7000 fot lot. These guys must make over 200 bucks a day. Sounds like greed to me. I will clean upif I price them for twenty or less. I could get 6 or more of these done in a day no problem. I'm looking do get 25+ lawns by this summer and then expand next season some. If you got to use a tricycle to get started what is wrong with that. Sounds like some of you have a problem with compitition .
Welcome to lawnsite, neighbor.

Question:
If everyone else is charging $30/ cut, and business failure rate is 90% over a 5 year period, why do you think you can charge $20/cut and make it in this business? Please post your market plan to share with the rest of us ignorant business owners your secret.

[darryl gesner]

Brickman - Speak for yourself. I AM in this for my health. Fresh air, plenty of exercise, no boss to report to. I feel much better and less stressed out since leaving my desk job as a project manager for an environmental consulting firm. And I even have fun. That's healthy, I say. I agree with everything else you said though. I just "lowballed a 1/2 acre residential at $50 per cut bi-weekly cut.

[BobbyBcuttin]

20 dollers a cut are you crazy if i only made 20 dollers a hour i should just drive to 1 house a hour and hand them 5 bucks because if your legal you will be loseing money at that rate. 200 bucks a day thats a joke i'm solo and did 2,700 dollers this week.Afraid of competion haha i'm the competion I've taken three large accounts from one local company for a total of 650.00 dollars more than what they were getting and rumors has it there going under wonder why 14 acre apartment complex for 450 a week i've been doing it for a year and a half for 850 a week some of you guys on here don't have a clue for the one's that do my hat goes of to you. Thanks for listening to me vent but had to get it off my chest. Bobby Bradley

[Brickman]

OK Darryl Gesenr I stand corrected. I am not in this business for my health. I too like being out side, fresh air and all, but am working to buy more toys, and to be able to live comfortably. :cool:

Unless you own all the properties you maintain, you are NOT your own boss. I have almost 100 of them a month. The customers are the ones that sign our paychecks. Summer time I have between 40 and 50 every week. Plus sprinkler repairs. :rolleyes: