I just don't understand it...

[Lawn-Scapes]

When I'm cutting in a neighborhood for a few years... doing great work for all to see and some knucklehead down the street hires another LCO.

WTF is that all about????

I know they have seen me at these other houses that I maintain (they probably have waved to me couple of times over the years too!)... Are they stupid, ignorant or what? Maybe they think I'm toooo busy?

This irritates me more than anything else in this business.

I JUST DON"T GET PEOPLE SOMETIMES!!!!

Just had to vent a little...

[Dennis E.]

Sure makes a guy wonder,huh?
I've been bold before and asked a couple times. Not WTF though.;)
Some thought I might be too expensive for them. Some thought I might not want any more accounts!(Go figure)
Some did not like the way I maintained the properties that were close by. (I mow higher than some like,the grass burns in a hurry here when it's cut short)In that instance I'm glad they didn't ask!

Shake it off and vent,it's good for ya'.;)

[wmsland]

Last I heard it was still a free country. Just because they choose to hire someone other than you doesn't make them ignorant or stupid.

[Lawn-Scapes]

YEAH YEAH YEAH... That's why I put in the "or what".

Thanks for your POV

[yardboyltd]

I can understand your anger in matters like that. However, I do think it's a bit conceded to think that you should be hired over the other guy. Perhaps you do great, meticolous work, still they evidently had a reason. The professional thing to do is to be confident in your work, because if you do great work, I wouldn't worry about the guys down the street... There's thousands of accounts out there, why get angy over these, all they did was wave. That's not a binding promise.

[BLL]

i understand where you are coming from completely. We al know a wave isnt a bnding agreement but most people woudl at least be liek "well that one guy down the street does good work lets give hima call since he is already in teh 'hood" even if you didnt get the job you woudl stil think they woudl at least mention somethign about it to you right?

[Ssouth]

Whenever I get a new customer in a neigborhood I always try to make a point to talk to owners of the adjacent properties. I ask what day they normally cut on so that I may be able to service on the same day. I also tell them if they ever need a one time service ( vaction or etc...) that I will be happy to help them out. I've got a couple of accounts just from letting them know that I'm available to do their yard or anyone else in the area. Most of the time they tell me they do it their self but if they ever need me they will call. I normally don't do one time jobs, but have found if they are adjacent to an annual account they can be lucractive. Having said this, I hate it when someone else comes around my acounts, when I know I can do a better job than them. Maybe try to service these account on a saturday when the neighbors will be home so you can speak to them personally.

Good Luck,

Ssouth

[Runner]

The best I can figure, is that it's someone that knows someone, or it's the LCO that does the place where they work. Don't worry, usually sooner or later, they give you a try.;)

[Currier]

That situation used to irritate me like crazy! Then there is the ones that you are giving a SWEET deal too because they are one in a group and all reffered by a regular wheeler and dealer customer. I had one get really mad at me because I didn't show up on a saturday to aerate. Called and cancelled. Acted all mad and offended...can't wait untill they call again (and I'm too busy) so they find out what they really should have been paying from the start! (off topic, I know just resent the heck out of these grubbers that think they own you for 25 bucks)

[Likestomow]

Maybe you could distribute a flyer explaining why your service is better than others.

[Jason Pallas]

Better yet - just storm over there, pound on the guy's door and ask him "what's up?".
When he says "what are you talking about?" Just say "You know damm well what I'm talking 'bout - now what's up!?!?".
and then demand that he tell you why he hired someone else when he knew that you worked down the street.
After he explains his reasons, just tell him "that's not a good reason at all (no matter what his reason is)" and proceed to tell him "alright, here's the deal, I'm gonna cut your lawn and that's it - so go back inside old man and sit down and watch the Price is Right. When I'm done, I'll knock the door, you bring me a soda and pay me and then I'll be back next week for more of the same."

You gotta be assertive in this business.

[bobbygedd]

i agree with jason, and i would also tell him i like coors light, have some next week, or ill slap the **** out of u

[Grasshog]

I understand the hurt in your pride. It's happened too myself once are three times. Id like to think Runner has the right answer.



DANG FRINDS OF THE FAMILY

[SLIMDAWG1]

YEAH MAN I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YA MEAN. IF YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT YOU MAY CHARGE TOO MUCH.I DON'T CARE IF I CHARGE 5 DOLLARS I'M GONNA DO A DAMN GOOD JOB.I DO SOME ACCOUNTS IN THIS ONE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR 3 YEARS AND DO A GREAT JOB.I DO **** THAT OTHER GUYS WOULD NOT THINK OF DOING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS,BUT STILL OTHER NEIGHBORS CALL MANY OTHER GUYS.MY YARDS STILL LOOK THE BEST. THEY'LL EVENTUALLY COME AROUND.

[Shadetree Ltd]

Simply to be different. Because the other LCO had a better marketing approach. Price. It should not matter, if your work looks better than the rest. If they want the best then they will call you, if for one of the many reasons mentionds above they might call somebody else.

Scott

[JimLewis]

I totally understand your frustration but you only have the right to be frustrated if you

1) have your company name and number in big visible letters on your trucks

2) You or your crews look sharp (well, as much as possible for someone who mows lawns. That is, well groomed, fairly well dressed, etc.)

3) You regularly flyer those houses

4) You do very good work

5) You are dependable and there every week at the same time

etc....

These are just some of the things people will look for in a company. If you don't have #2, 4 and 5, you can automatically count those who are looking for that kind of a company out.

If you don't do #1, then some people won't call because they feel that if you don't have this you must not want people to call very badly.

If you dont do #3, you may just be losing out to someone else who is. A lot of acccounts are landed by someone who just happens to be laying flyers at exactly the right time.

etc.....

I could go on and on with stuff like this. But point is, you gotta try to do all this and more if you are going to expect everyone to want to use you.
Another thing to keep in mind is there are many reasons people hire a contractor. Maybe the new LCO is a friend, relative, or friend of a friend or relative. Maybe the new LCO was a referral from a friend at work. Maybe the other LCO is just cheaper and they got an idea from their neighbors what you charged and decided it was too much. There are a miriad of reasons they might hire someone else that may not have anything at all to do with you.

[SLS]

Man, just blow it off and forget about it.

I do 6 lawns on my street alone and the old lady just 2 doors down has had a different crew in her lawn each time it has been mowed since the season began. It's been like a "revolving door" for LCO's over there. Her old guy (who did it for years) got out of the biz and apparently she is 'shopping' around. I've seen some nice cuts and I've seen some horrible ones too since this started.

Why hasn't she contacted me??? I don't know...and could really care less as her yard plain sucks...full of trees and gullys...and my primary machine is a 60" Lazer. I hope she never calls me to ask about that 'lawn' of hers. :D

But, even if she had the smoothest lawn on the block I would not worry about why she has not contacted me. The other 6 neighbors have kept me on for 3 years now and have never complained about anything...ever. So, whatever her reason is for being 'shy', I can rest assured that it has nothing to do with the quality of my work, my dependability, or my prices.

Maybe she liked the 'old' neighbors and wishes that they hadn't moved away...maybe she is upset that we had 15 ragged trees removed from our property since we moved in...maybe she's just mad because since I've moved here I have really improved my zoysia lawn (it was terribly neglected before I got my mit's on it) and it really shines next to her limb-filled, ravine afflicted pit of a lawn...or maybe she is taking advantage of all the "The first cut free" LCO's in the local paper....I dunno..and don't care. Whatever.....

Like I said, blow it off and continue making your lawns look great, keeping your clients smiling, and growing your business. That is all that matters.

[Soupy]

Jason, I have not laughed so hard in a long time. I did just get home from closeing the neighborhood bar down (which I don't do alot) But that was hillarious.

SLS, I don't mind if a neighbor of a client don't call, but a neighbor of mine, that is just not right. Even if I didn't want the Lawn, They don't know that, so why are they not calling. I have a good friend that just built a house on a lake and he is contracted by the builder to Sod front yards of all new homes in the area. He told me that his own neighbor has Scott's fertilizing when they know damm well that he is the man that takes care of the whole development site. He thinks that's just a slap in the face. He also agrees that they are not obligated to hire him. But at least let him bid on it, and then decide. The only way I would be understanding of a neighbor not calling me is if they have a relitive/friend in the biz. Which in your case is not true, because she is going threw LCO'S like crazy. I'm not trying to slam you, but I would ask her WTF is up.

Just my $0.02 worth...But like I said earlier I had a few to drink tonight..So if I rambeled to much or mispelled alot of words...then please pardon me.

Soupy

[Tony Harrell]

Jason, you're the man! I want to hire you to market my business! I'm usually on here between 5-6 am and sometimes these posts really get me laughing, ready for the day!

[tremor]

As strange as this might sound, it's the number 1 reason why you CAN'T be hired by some people, whether they like you & your work or not.

THEY HATE ONE OF THE CLIENTS YOU ALLREADY SERVICE ON THE STREET.

Human nature is funny that way. But it is a fact. Contempt, envy, jealosy, greed, property dispute, extramarital affair, on the job competetive issue, political or religeous affiliation, national/ethnic origin, size of home, brand of car....you get the picture.

Steve

[John Allin]

Here we view it as that there are only two reasons to lose a sale....

We can't do what the customer wants.....

or....

We got outsold.

[TotalLawn]

Get off your high horse!!
I like competition. You never know, it may be a fellow LS member that is doing it now. Either way, if they DON'T do a good job just think of all the other neighbors that see your work compaired to theirs and will call you instead of them (if your work is in fact superior to theirs).

Just my opinion.

[1MajorTom]

THEY HATE ONE OF THE CLIENTS YOU ALLREADY SERVICE ON THE STREET.

Yep, I believe Steve is right.
I know because it has happened to us.
We picked up two new customers last year in an area we were aleady servicing. We were surprised to find out that the next door neighbor to one of the new customers we acquired was also looking for lawn service. But she did not pick us.
We later found out that she didn't like her neighbors, was a miserable lady, and even came out to yell at us while we were cutting her neighbors lawn. She kept saying we were turning around in her yard, but we weren't!

So yeah I do believe people can be 'kooky' like this. If they don't like their neighbor(s), I can see how they will not give their neighbors "satisfaction" of using the same lawn service as them.

[naturescape]

Last I heard it was still a free country. Just because they choose to hire someone other than you doesn't make them ignorant or stupid.

But because this is a "free country" does not mean that everyone in this country is intelligent. I cannot believe the morons I encounter every single day. The majority of people want their lawn cut too short. Why, can't they see the difference between their browned out lawn and my green ones? Maybe people like brown lawns. Hey, I've got it!! I think I'll change the name of my business to "Sick, Unhealthy, Too-short Brown Lawns, Inc." Boy, I'll bet the phone would ring off the hook!

I feel like throwing my arms up in the air sometimes too.

[Ground Master]

Perhaps this "knucklehead" hired his friend? Or maybe his brother? or maybe from a referral? .......it has been known to happen

[Lawn-Scapes]

Perhaps and hopefully.. one (or some) of you are right. I will do my best to find out what's up...

Nothing to do with being on a high horse and everything to do with pride in my work.

[SLS]

Soupy sez to me:

"I'm not trying to slam you, but I would ask her WTF is up."

No offence taken here, Soupy. :)

While I understand the draw of of a good mystery, I do feel that whatever her problem is about approaching me is just that..."her problem".

Whatever it is I know that it has nothing to do with me or anything I've done.

Be that as it may, I would rather just concentrate on my business...and stay out of hers. ;)

Lord knows that I have no problem seeing other LCO's in my neighborhood...as there are a ton of them anyway. Most of them seem to be a friendly bunch too...smiling and waving as we pass on the road and striking up conversation at the gas station. I guess we all know that there is "plenty of pie to go around" in my area...thank goodness! Heck, I'm having my best month yet -BY FAR!...and I hope that all the "competition" in my area are too. :D

The only people (that I know about) that are after my accounts are the upstarts and it seems kinda wierd to me for a person to flyer a mailbox or door when the lawn is freshly cut...with 60" stripes! That's why I assume that they are "upstarts". If they are not-then "shame on them"! Oh well, life goes on... :laugh:

Party on, Soupy! :)

[MikeLT1Z28]

i agree, it may be a friend of theirs just starting out that needed the business. i think there is plenty of grass to go around... err., that didn't come out right. ;)

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Tom- Tell the knucklehead you'll do his yard for $5. Then you'll have a monopoly in the hood!!! I think this has happened to everyone at least once. This peckerhead that lives across the street from a account I do comes up to me every spring wanting a price to do his front yard. Takes 5 mins. with a push mower. Tell him my minimum is $30 but since I'm already in the hood I'll cut you a break and do it for $20. His response is the guy last year did it for $10. My response is you better give him a call then.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[Lawn-Scapes]

This neighborhood is only 20 houses large with only 1 way in and out of it. I maintain 4 of them.. 2 on each side of the street as you enter the hood. You cannot miss me or my work.. That's why I'm wondering what's up.

I would have 5 but I was having a problem collecting $$.. so I dropped him. He has been through 3 services in 3 years.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

How's this for a way to meet this guy and chat with him. Block the road with your truck and trailer. This way he's got to talk with you. You probably have a good idea when this guy gets off of work. Pass out business cards to all the other nieghbors before you move your stuff out of the street. Maybe this guy is intimadated by the quality of your work and thinks your price would be out of his price range.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[jeffex]

TREMOR has hit the nail on the head!!!! I have a very tight route geographically. This can cause a new gripe. Jealousy can cause one customer to think you are doing a better job one one of the neighbors lawns than thiers. I use this to my advantage though to tell them how I can make thiers even better. I had a lady p me off this year like that. I do pressure washing for her son and she has several of my business cards that list both mowing and pressue washing. I mow all her neighbors but her excuse when she finally hired a lawn guy was "I didn't know you cut lawns". Turns out she likes her lawn burt down to the nibs and I won't cut like that. She found a hack who would.