Winterazation

[PI&L]

What are you guys charging for an average Res. winterazation and an average Com.(like a gas station). I know it varies from state to state.

[hoskm01]

50 bucks. If the gas station wasnt any bigger or take any longer... same price. Some of our HOA's (though its on annual contract) are worth 1500 each.

[hoskm01]

And we only do winter I zations, no winter A zations.

[cgbaseball23]

For average residential, we charge 170 at the beginning of the year, half for BF testing/inspection/opening/etc. and half for winterizing. So basically 85 is what we charge for just the blowout, which is the norm around here.
For an avg commercial lot and HOA we do 200 for the year, 100 for the blowout, depending on the size and what have you.

[AI Inc]

Im at $78 for a resi, $90 for a small comm like a gas station size.

[Hanau]

$125 resi, $145 comm.

[CANADIAN MIKE]

$85 CDN for 9 zones or less, $95 for 10 zones or more:canadaflag:

[LushGreenLawn]

100 blowout, 50 to start and inspect in the spring.
Posted via Mobile Device

[PI&L]

$85 for Resd. and we are just getting into Com. but thinking $75 depending on size.

[Wet_Boots]

Amp it up for commercial.

[zman9119]

significantly more.

[greenmonster304]

what is your justification for charging more for a commercial if it is the same size as a residential?

[zman9119]

I was meaning significantly more that what everyone else had listed so far.

[Mike Leary]

There is no $ number to winterize, it's how long it takes.

[hoskm01]

I wish we could get some of those numbers up here. Sheesh. Or even Danas numbers. But hes got the name to back it. We dont...yet.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I'm strictly residential. $50 minimum (8 stations or less).

[WalkGood]

Pennysaver ads from non-irrigators will be out now.... $30 for 6 zone resi. Also signs tacked onto poles at intersections $25.

[Mike Leary]

Also signs tacked onto poles at intersections $25.

Written in crayon, I assume. :rolleyes:

[WalkGood]

They use a good magic marker, wide tip.

I've seen them "printed" on 8 1/2" x 11" heavy paper, likely done on the computer down at the library.

[Mike Leary]

"Have shop-vac, will winterize."

[M L Thomas]

One of our local low ballers uses a small AC like you might have at home, he lifts it in & out of his van

He even plugs it into the homeowners outlet and uses their power to run the motor:laugh:

[Mike Leary]

That crap does not have even close to the CFM needed to properly evacuate a system. We took over one of those where it took the LBs two hours to"winterize". With our 125, 15 minutes, we made money and they saved money.

[Exact Rototilling]

Going rate around here is $30 to $40 to start for residential. This is from outfits that are actually sprinkler Co. that do back flow certification. I just saw a plastic roadside sign that said "we will beat anyone's price for blow outs" .......:hammerhead:....:nono:

I don't do any sprinkler maintenance currently but I did aircraft hydraulics in a past life. I really see no point in offer any sprinkler maintenance at these prices.

[Mike Leary]

I really see no point in offering any sprinkler maintenance at these prices.

I agree; how can you do a reasonable job, include travel, compressor and fuel and still make money?:dizzy:

[AI Inc]

I did 1 today for $50 cash , as a thank you for the customer getting me his next door neighbor ( father in law) as a new customer.

[Mike Leary]

I did 1 today for $50 cash , as a thank you for the customer getting me his next door neighbor ( father in law) as a new customer.

Suck-up.....

[AI Inc]

Yes I am , its in a hood where I already do 16 , wasnt letting anybody else get that 1.

[DanaMac]

A lot of these homes in tight subdivisions, I can show up and be gone in 20 minutes, and 2-3 minutes to the next house. $50 I would still be making money. But I'd rather charge more. No point in taking risk in owning a business if you're not going to make good money. Too many late nights and headaches for me to not make money.

[AI Inc]

No point in taking risk in owning a business if you're not going to make good money. Too many late nights and headaches for me to not make money.

You need to hilight this for boots, he thinks employees who go home at 4 should be making what the company owner makes.

[AI Inc]

So Dana , have ya tried towing the 100 with the ranger yet?

[Mike Leary]

Too many late nights and headaches for me to not make money.

I never worked evenings; up at 4.00am and weekends? Yup.

[DanaMac]

So Dana , have ya tried towing the 100 with the ranger yet?

Yup. Works good, a little sluggish up hills, but not bad. Heavy due to the whole slide in topper unit.
And the slide out tray works frickin great for the hose.

[mitchgo]

I need new tires for my f150. Convincing my boss otherwise is the hard part.

last year I slid sooo much with the compressor behind me. I actually became comfortable when the antilocks kicked in

[Mike Leary]

I need new tires for my f150. Convincing my boss otherwise is the hard part.

last year I slid sooo much with the compressor behind me. I actually became comfortable when the antilocks kicked in

Tell your piker boss to winterize a little earlier or buy you a 150 fwd rig. My 150 4-by tows our 125 easy, it does have the V-8, though. Sure is fun backing up a tow-behind: something one will not learn on the internet. I taught my guys to put the tail gate down when backing up.

[AI Inc]

I need new tires for my f150. Convincing my boss otherwise is the hard part.

last year I slid sooo much with the compressor behind me. I actually became comfortable when the antilocks kicked in

What yr Ford? Ealier yrs the anti locks were more like anti stop

[Mike Leary]

What yr Ford? Ealier yrs the anti locks were more like anti stop

My '98 had that version.

[AI Inc]

Yeah , thats when it was bad . Mine was a 97, had a better chance of stopping it saying " whoooo" like talking to a horse then by stepping on the brake.

[Mike Leary]

Came close to taking out a bike guy when he cut in front of me and I locked it up. Those are dangerous brakes.

[AI Inc]

I never gave em much thought till one day sitting on the couch with a woman I know. We were talking about cars and she mentioned her Mustang Cobra. Then she sai" I loved that car best car I ever owned , except the brakes totaly sucked" , it was a 97. Thats when I realized , ok , its not me.

[greenmonster304]

I need new tires for my f150. Convincing my boss otherwise is the hard part.

last year I slid sooo much with the compressor behind me. I actually became comfortable when the antilocks kicked in

I worked for a cheap D bag that didn't want to put new tires on my work truck then one day I almost crashed in the rain and I drove the truck back to the shop and told him I am not driving it until he puts new tires on. He put them on the next day. it sucked that that is what I had to do to drive a safe vehicle at work.

[Mike Leary]

I never gave em much thought till one day sitting on the couch with a woman I know. We were talking about cars and she mentioned her Mustang Cobra. Then she sai" I loved that car best car I ever owned , except the brakes totaly sucked" , it was a 97. Thats when I realized , ok , its not me.

::::::Looks upward, avoids eye contact, pretends to understand:::::::

[AI Inc]

Point being , all late 90,s Ford brakes sucked.

[Mike Leary]

I've still got my '98 and drive it like a little old lady would.

[AI Inc]

I seem to get just under 200k out of all mine . 97 retired to a farm with 186 on it. 01 now has 183 and Ill use it to plow this winter then sell it. Has been running like a champ , still does.

[Mike Leary]

I don't know your age range, but getting 200K out of a working rig was unheard of until just a few years ago. My 150 v-8 burns some oil, has 270k, I've replaced the alternator, nothing else except brakes and tires. Best trucks I've ever had. :clapping:

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I don't know your age range, but getting 200K out of a working rig was unheard of until just a few years ago. My 150 v-8 burns some oil, has 270k, I've replaced the alternator, nothing else except brakes and tires. Best trucks I've ever had. :clapping:

I've got a '93 F150 outside. Has 228k on it, no major repairs, A/C and power locks/windows all still work. Used it to tow a mini track hoe a month ago. What I wouldn't give to have this be the norm and not the anomaly. Maybe I need to give up on GM's...

[Mike Leary]

Maybe I need to give up on GM's...

Nope. The high rollers that tow heavy trailers we've met, swear by the Chev diesel w/ Allison. It depends on the load you're hauling around.

[DanaMac]

Point being , all late 90,s Ford brakes sucked.

One of the work trucks is, you guessed it, a '97 F150, with about 230k miles. Brakes are POS. Have to replace every year. We've replaced a few things here and there. It was also hit by a drunk driver while my tech was driving.

I also have a '96 GMC 1500 with about 210k miles. Thing is a money pit and is going up for sale after blow outs, or is going to the trash pit. Tech #2 uses it for blowouts instead of the van.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I also have a '96 GMC 1500 with about 210k miles. Thing is a money pit and is going up for sale after blow outs, or is going to the trash pit. Tech #2 uses it for blowouts instead of the van.

I hear ya. I lost the motor in my 98 K1500 this last winter at 140k. Then I lost the intake manifold on my 99 Suburban (145k) - to the tune of $1,600 in repairs two weeks later, only to lose a valve seat in my Suburban's motor only 4 months after that (due to GM having cut costs by using too little platinum in the catalytic converters - and enabling them to melt) - at a spirit-crushing expense of $2,200. So my wife's car cost me over $4k in repairs/maintenance this year. :hammerhead:

Perhaps if I get past that older generation of GM's I'll feel better, but I'm pretty gunshy at this point. Gave up and bought an F350 to replace the Chevy...

[DanaMac]

'96 GMC
Bought in '98
replaced transmission - twice
fuel pump - three times - in the tank
turn signal switch
radiator
water pump
alternator
idler or tension pulley
giant gash in the side from an employee
right now the AC does not work
power steering is weak
driver door is misaligned - bad hinges
heck I can't remember everything I've replaced on the POS

Oh yeah - LOVE my Nissan Titan and my previous Toyotas
Don't think I'll buy a big three truck again for my good truck
Only for beating up work truck

[Hanau]

Don't think I'll buy a big three truck again for my good truck


Might as well, you already paid for em.

[DanaMac]

Might as well, you already paid for em.

ain't gonna pay em twice.

[mitchgo]

I worked for a cheap D bag that didn't want to put new tires on my work truck then one day I almost crashed in the rain and I drove the truck back to the shop and told him I am not driving it until he puts new tires on. He put them on the next day. it sucked that that is what I had to do to drive a safe vehicle at work.

My truck is 05', and I'm just getting past the 35k mark on it. Earlier I already had to replace the breaks and rotors for about $600. I'm sure if I pushed my boss more he would do it.

[DanaMac]

Back to the OP's question.
Here is a listing in today's local craigslist


sprinker blow out for 25 dollars if u get me 4 COSTUMERS YOURS IS FREE!!!! .i can fix any sprinkler system call today for a apoiment.

and another from the same folks. Hello spelling and grammar police

Looking for a Residental job for Sprinkler Blowouts. Dont wait for the last minute to get it done do it now before it snows ! to avoid damage to your system. I charge 25 dollars per job!! call me now ill do same day blow out!.... i will fix any sprinkler sistem for cheap too.
call today...

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Back to the OP's question.
Here is a listing in today's local craigslist


sprinker blow out for 25 dollars if u get me 4 COSTUMERS YOURS IS FREE!!!! .i can fix any sprinkler system call today for a apoiment.

And yet, in spite of his obvious and embarrassing ignorance, his phone will ring off the hook with Walmart flunkies who still haven't come to terms with the realization that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

[Mike Leary]

Your sig sucks, especially the cowbell cowboy.

[DanaMac]

And yet, in spite of his obvious and embarrassing ignorance, his phone will ring off the hook with Walmart flunkies who still haven't come to terms with the realization that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

exactly. I'll let him work twice as hard and make and less than half of what I charge. Folks don't understand that real companies have to carry liability insurance, workers' comp insurance if they have employees, pay for decent equipment and vehicles, etc, etc, etc. We all know the drill. Some just don't get it.

I am going to charge a very high premium in the spring for freeze repairs. Even more if someone else "blew it out for $25".

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Your sig sucks, especially the cowbell cowboy.

What? That's classic SNL! One of the few decent skits out there!

I fixed it for you, though.

[ARGOS]

The sig does require a lot of extra scrolling. The first time I see the sig great. The second time, ok. Now that I have had to see it multiple times it is old.

But hey. We talked about this and the Blue Oyster cow bell before.

BTW cow bell video: http://www.funnyhub.com/videos/pages/snl-more-cowbell.html

[AI Inc]

I don't know your age range, but getting 200K out of a working rig was unheard of until just a few years ago. My 150 v-8 burns some oil, has 270k, I've replaced the alternator, nothing else except brakes and tires. Best trucks I've ever had. :clapping:

Your correct there. Yes Ive heard stories of people busting 300, but at 160 they usualy were not worth fixing anymore. Or had so many issues ya just hated the damn things. The 01 350 has a few issues, tach dosnt work anymore , ac will not hold a charge thats about it. 2 things in my eyes not worth fixing since I realy dont need a tach and it gets very little summer use.

[AI Inc]

driver door is misaligned - bad hinges




That is from employees leaving the door open while at jobsites. Let me guess ya have to kinda lft it a little to close it?

[Wet_Boots]

That's a fairly simple fix, once you remove the old hinge pin. New pins and bushings and done.

[AI Inc]

I don't know your age range, but getting 200K out of a working rig was unheard of until just a few years ago. My 150 v-8 burns some oil, has 270k, I've replaced the alternator, nothing else except brakes and tires. Best trucks I've ever had. :clapping:

BTW Mike , Im 47 , going on 25.

[DanaMac]

That is from employees leaving the door open while at jobsites. Let me guess ya have to kinda lft it a little to close it?

It started out as my personal and work vehicle. started sagging before employees even got to it. Happens due to opening and closing way too many times in a day for 10 years. Probably has 25-30 years worth of opening and closing due to all the service calls I go to.

Replaced pins and bushings. Did not help much.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Old mechanic's trick: open the door and put a jack underneath the outside edge and use the jack to "correct" the sag. Saw it done and thought the guy was nuts... but it worked and stayed right.

[DanaMac]

Old mechanic's trick: open the door and put a jack underneath the outside edge and use the jack to "correct" the sag. Saw it done and thought the guy was nuts... but it worked and stayed right.

Probably crunch the door. Then there is a giant gash, and a crunched door. I'll try to sell for a couple Gs this winter. And then just put the money on my GFs finger :)

[Mike Leary]

And then just put the money on my GFs finger :)

You mean it's time? :waving:

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Probably crunch the door. Then there is a giant gash, and a crunched door.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[DanaMac]

You mean it's time? :waving:

Been time for years. 19+ years and no ring or wedding bells yet. We've gone looking recently. May come back from New Zealand in February and be hitched.

[hoskm01]

Been time for years. 19+ years and no ring or wedding bells yet. We've gone looking recently. May come back from New Zealand in February and be hitched.
Good work, Man. Still looking forward to meeting her one of these days.

[Stuttering Stan]

Been time for years. 19+ years and no ring or wedding bells yet. We've gone looking recently. May come back from New Zealand in February and be hitched.
Way to go. Is she dropping hints or is this your idea? Tax benefits are well worth it.

[DuallyVette]

It started out as my personal and work vehicle. started sagging before employees even got to it. Happens due to opening and closing way too many times in a day for 10 years. Probably has 25-30 years worth of opening and closing due to all the service calls I go to.

Replaced pins and bushings. Did not help much.

The bushings and hinge pins are just a very weak link on those trucks. My 1996 gmc 3500HD has had the pins in the drivers door replaced 3 times in 70,000 miles. The last pins/bushings have held up to the 90,000 miles mark now.

[DanaMac]

Way to go. Is she dropping hints or is this your idea? Tax benefits are well worth it.

We just occasionally talk about it. joke about it. Both of our ideas.

[greenmonster304]

The bushings and hinge pins are just a very weak link on those trucks. My 1996 gmc 3500HD has had the pins in the drivers door replaced 3 times in 70,000 miles. The last pins/bushings have held up to the 90,000 miles mark now.

it doesnt help that the doors on that era truck are about a foot wider that the ones before and after it.

[Wet_Boots]

Not to injure the trade of our mechanic friends, but you can usually google up a picture tutorial of repairs like door hinge pin replacement.

[mitchgo]

We just occasionally talk about it. joke about it. Both of our ideas.

sigh....

My gf talks/jokes about it all the time and were at our two yrs!

I'm not ready at all!

[Mike Leary]

We just occasionally talk about it. joke about it. Both of our ideas.

I'll be the best man for 50 bucks.

[AI Inc]

Boots will play the part of the bride for $100

[Wet_Boots]

Boots will play the part of the bride for $100I'm worth more than a hundred

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:jHlXd46G4w63hM:http://www.thesiteguy.com/nfclan/Bubba.jpg

[AI Inc]

Ok, $100 down and ya can get ya teeth fixed first.

[BSME]

$25 OBO! At least you can call OR text...

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/fgs/1407773927.html

[Mike Leary]

$25 OBO! At least you can call OR text...

:hammerhead::hammerhead::hammerhead: Those guys are hard up!

[Wet_Boots]

Please call them and when they arrive at the deserted house you chose, knock them out, and ditch their truck and compressor in the nearest ravine. :)

[BSME]

Please call them and when they arrive at the deserted house you chose, knock them out, and ditch their truck and compressor in the nearest ravine. :)

I don't know... they might be prepared. When you google the email they gave you can find this ad from a few months ago.


"Trustworthy Teenagers for cheap labor
3+ Boy scouts seeking work for fundraising are capabile of many things Including
♦Landscaping
♦Minor repairs & cleaning around homes
♦Simple to moderate Computer repairs
all for an affordable rate
call alex 313-319-4501
or matt 734-788-3227 "

Either way... everything Detroit's going through topped off with a Tigers epic failure... now the boyscouts are trying to run companies out of town

[Wet_Boots]

I don't remember being a lowball piker hack as one of the Scout commandments.

[Mike Leary]

capabile

They missed out on the spelling merit badge. :hammerhead:

[DanaMac]

I saw a funny today. Well, there are the ever present small signs that other guys put up at street corners advertising blowouts.

Today I saw a guy at a corner with a sign about 5'x3' said:
Sprinkler
Blowouts
622-xxxx

Waving it around. Looked like the homeless guys that the check cashing guys hire to work some corners with signs. Not the guy looking homeless, just the same concept.

Oh and my third job had a dead deer that a mountain lion deposited on the front lawn, all ravaged apart. Birds were picking at it until a clean up crew came to take it away.

[AI Inc]

Dana , do you see Mt Lions ofton, or ever?

[DanaMac]

Dana , do you see Mt Lions ofton, or ever?

I have never seen one in the wild. But we have lots of them here. Seen a few bears, a couple near my house. One tech has taken video of bears with phone while working.

At the house yesterday with the dead deer from the cat, I had to crawl part way under the deck to open a drain for the copper. I had the customer stand out there on the back deck in case there was a cat under the deck. She looked at me like i was nuts, but did anyway.

[unit28]

At the house yesterday with the dead deer from the cat, I had to crawl part way under the deck to open a drain for the copper. I had the customer stand out there on the back deck in case there was a cat under the deck. She looked at me like i was nuts, but did anyway.

well........
A few things are in you're favor. Irrigation and BPAT training.
You are a BPAT right?

I doubt the wild animal is dangerous to humans{so far, so good}

1. the animal still has some wild food to eat

2. rabid animals are hydrophobic, aim the rotors in there before going in.

3. in BPAT training you should have been taught about confined spaces and the things that can get you killed. although I'm not sure if a life line would keep you from being eaten alive.

[M L Thomas]

Now here is a thread that has it all -
Winterizations
Low ballers
Pikers
Trucks
Trucks
Trucks
How to string a girl along for almost 20 years
Boy Scouts
Homeless people
Dead animals
Predators
9 pages and most of the reply's are off topic
Somebody work a hooker in here and we dam near will have the perfect thread

[M L Thomas]

Correction

10 Pages

[WalkGood]

One tech has taken video of bears with phone while working.



Google "Bear on phone" and you'll see some very disturbing images. :eek: Hopefully this is the type of "bear" your guy saw (probably a much darker color) !!!



http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vP3IH36eE0Q/SgDq8u41iNI/AAAAAAAABoU/7sARxBou0PE/s400/500_Bear_on_phone.jpg

:rolleyes:

[DanaMac]

Now here is a thread that has it all -

How to string a girl along for almost 20 years


Oh man that is brutal........ who would do such a thing? :)

Whatchoo mean stringing her along. Totally committed to her. Neither one of us believes too much in marriage.

[DanaMac]

How many of you get customers wanting you to do repairs at the time you blow out the system? Not freeze related, but replacing a head, or fixing a drip line, or whatever. They think they are going to save money having us do it at that time. First off, I tell them no, I will charge you accordingly and you will not save money. And second, we do not stock the vehicles with inventory when blowing out systems. We carry a handful of heads and nozzles, and some bonnet/poppet kits, and copper repair stuff. But that's it.

[Mike Leary]

Same with us, we've got a pricey compressor in tow and a set schedule.

[DanaMac]

we've got a pricey compressor

I wouldn't call it pricey. Cute and shiny, but you can do better. :)

[Mike Leary]

I wouldn't call it pricey. Cute and shiny, but you can do better. :)

There are a couple of guys that use those; takes forever. We have a 125:

grimmerschmidt.com

[DanaMac]

There are a couple of guys that use those; takes forever. We have a 125:

grimmerschmidt.com

TomTom was telling me about a guy using one the other day. Had a generator in the truck to run it.

I know what you pull. Same here. GS 100.

[Mike Leary]

I know what you pull. Same here. GS 100.

The fact we can adjust the pressure has been great. Nice avatar.

[Mike Leary]

We got a hell of a deal from the rental outlet for the 125, my guys would forget to re-adjust the pressure after blowing small systems @ 40 psi and when someone rented it to use a jackhammer it worked not. They finally got sick of it and pretty much gave it to us.

[greenmonster304]

Now here is a thread that has it all -
Winterizations
Low ballers
Pikers
Trucks
Trucks
Trucks
How to string a girl along for almost 20 years
Boy Scouts
Homeless people
Dead animals
Predators
9 pages and most of the reply's are off topic
Somebody work a hooker in here and we dam near will have the perfect thread

stay on topic

[Mike Leary]

Seems like there is a atmospheric anomaly.::::: the crew is on it::::::

[WalkGood]

How many of you get customers wanting you to do repairs at the time you blow out the system? Not freeze related, but replacing a head, or fixing a drip line, or whatever.

Last fall, a chain of fast food joints that had money left over in their budget wanted to use it up with sprinkler repairs that they had NOT wanted done during the regular spring/summer season. Wanted them done during blowout visit (which was pre-paid as a combo startup/blowout price in Spring). They were trying to avoid paying a new service call charge. BUT ..... they did not want to spend a lot at any single store on the Fall repairs.

Major PITA. No telling if one stop would be 30 minutes or 2 hours. Had to check entire system first (kinda like a Spring startup), make any repairs up to a limit, then do the blow out.

I would not leave with them any details about additional repairs needed. Just kept that info myself for future service calls.

Oh, then when this years startups were done and they had the remaining repairs needed, they complained "why weren't those things repaired last fall"?

[Exact Rototilling]

I just saw a sign yesterday for $10 blow outs. :laugh::hammerhead:

Makes me wonder if it is some sort of joke or someone is getting punked by one of their buds. :rolleyes:

We have had a hard freeze here last few days over night. Down to the mid teens and low 20's.

[1idejim]

Seems like there is a atmospheric anomaly.::::: the crew is on it::::::

is that the dish for the twinkie?

[DanaMac]

I received this email from a customer, forwarded from her HOA. She had no plans to stop using us though. I also take care of 6 or 7 rentals for her.

Hello xxxxxx Neighbors,

Wanted to let you know that I just re-contracted with our snow plow service
for this winter. The service agreement is basically the same.

Xxx, the contractor, asked me to let the neighborhood know that he has a
special offer going for HOAs he services for sprinkler system blowouts. He
will charge $30 per house-one house or however many in the neighborhood needthis service. This is an individually contracted service and as HOA Pres I'mjust relaying information. Xxx's number is xxx-xxxx if you are interested.
He plans to start blowouts around October 12th, but can start earlier if
requested. He plans to end the service about November 20th.

Hope everyone has had a smooth transition from summer and an enjoyable
September so far. Looks to be a wet winter on the way!

My response:
Thanks for the forward. I know you mentioned you were not planning on using this guy, but I felt that I wanted to explain a little.

My regular rate for blowing out a system, is $65 for any system with 10 zones or less. Each additional zone is $5 ( you get a better rate than that though).
When we go to any house in the spring to do any service, we charge $65 for the first half hour (we charge you a little less). That is our minimum charge.
And when we are doing fall blow outs we are pulling an extra piece of equipment that costs between $3000-$6000 plus insurance, licensing, maintenance, etc.
I was charging $45 per home in 1997, and this guy wants to charge $30? He has no clue of his costs, or he doesn't have any insurance or workers' comp insurance, or is some fly by night company. Or just doesn't care to make the company a profit. If I had to charge $30, or even $40, I would close my business. Too many late nights and headaches and busted knuckles to not make any money.
There are guys like him all over craigslist.com charging $25-$40. Some of them are weekend warriors doing it for beer money.
And your personal system is 30+ stations, paying my employee, plus travel time, plus fuel, etc., I would LOSE money at $30.

I'm not complaining at you by any means, more complaining that this guy gives a bad overview of our industry.
My company must be doing something right, because we'll have over 900 blow outs this year.

Anyway, I'm glad we got all of yours done early. This freeze has damaged a lot of systems.

[Exact Rototilling]

I received this email from a customer, forwarded from her HOA. She had no plans to stop using us though. I also take care of 6 or 7 rentals for her.

Hello xxxxxx Neighbors,

Wanted to let you know that I just re-contracted with our snow plow service
for this winter. The service agreement is basically the same.

Xxx, the contractor, asked me to let the neighborhood know that he has a
special offer going for HOAs he services for sprinkler system blowouts. He
will charge $30 per house-one house or however many in the neighborhood needthis service. This is an individually contracted service and as HOA Pres I'mjust relaying information. Xxx's number is xxx-xxxx if you are interested.
He plans to start blowouts around October 12th, but can start earlier if
requested. He plans to end the service about November 20th.

Hope everyone has had a smooth transition from summer and an enjoyable
September so far. Looks to be a wet winter on the way!

My response:
Thanks for the forward. I know you mentioned you were not planning on using this guy, but I felt that I wanted to explain a little.

My regular rate for blowing out a system, is $65 for any system with 10 zones or less. Each additional zone is $5 ( you get a better rate than that though).
When we go to any house in the spring to do any service, we charge $65 for the first half hour (we charge you a little less). That is our minimum charge.
And when we are doing fall blow outs we are pulling an extra piece of equipment that costs between $3000-$6000 plus insurance, licensing, maintenance, etc.
I was charging $45 per home in 1997, and this guy wants to charge $30? He has no clue of his costs, or he doesn't have any insurance or workers' comp insurance, or is some fly by night company. Or just doesn't care to make the company a profit. If I had to charge $30, or even $40, I would close my business. Too many late nights and headaches and busted knuckles to not make any money.
There are guys like him all over craigslist.com charging $25-$40. Some of them are weekend warriors doing it for beer money.
And your personal system is 30+ stations, paying my employee, plus travel time, plus fuel, etc., I would LOSE money at $30.

I'm not complaining at you by any means, more complaining that this guy gives a bad overview of our industry.
My company must be doing something right, because we'll have over 900 blow outs this year.

Anyway, I'm glad we got all of yours done early. This freeze has damaged a lot of systems.
I like your reply. You are conveying the value in your service over company cheapo.

What concern me most about this business is not all the lowballers out there working for cheap but the customers who suffer from the "Profit Nazi Syndrome".

They don't understand legitimate business overhead and just want lower prices thinking we should be grateful to turn a few bucks because the economy is bad.