should i drop this customer?

[lawnmowerman29]

I have one customer that is 45 min. away, 45 min. back. I have doing their lawn since i started so i think i owe it to them to stick it out. But here is the problem, they installed sod at their new house, didnt ask me if i could do it, and it is the worst looking sod i have ever seen it has at least 2" of thatch and it has been mowed only 5 times since installed. My gravely 260z just sinks into the ground , at 3" it just scalps the yard, so i mow at 4.5" and the blade of grass is still only about 2" tall. The husband tells me after i mow "you better cut it shorter or dont come as often, i cant even tell it has been mowed" being the biggest jerk he can be. What would you do? If i mow it shorter it will look like sh$t and the sod probably will not survive a heat wave.

[Scotlawncare]

either raise his rates or drop him due to the pain in the butt factor. you don't keed your business name on a yard like that.

Scot

[ADMowing]

Personally, I'd keep mowing it at 4.5. It will keep it maintained (looking level and even) and keep weeds from seeding. It's okay during a drought and heat wave if the grass looks a little high. It is better than it getting burnt out. The taller grass shelters the root system and cutting it on a consistent basis will inhibit weed growth. This is just what I would do. Some of our customers want us to mow lower, but we try to educate them during dry and hot seasons not to mow it lower for the sake of their lawns' life!!

If the customer is paying well and you feel you should stick with them, I'd stay with them and just mow high until you get some rain and/or cooler weather.

My 2 cents.....:)

[lawnmowerman29]

I did educate the customer but he is the type of guy that doesnt want to pay someone do to something he can do, actual quote from his wife. He said he did not care how the grass looks as long as it is short, i am talking 2" short, if i did that all he would have is dead brown thatch.

[Turfdude]

Most everyone feels some attachment toward their first clients. I still have a few I've been doing for many years, but now just drive by accounts that are very similar because there is no $$ in them. Sounds to me that this particular client is not appreciative of your work ethic, diligence and working relationship.

The time has come to give them a month's notice to find another contractor. Explain to them that the travel time to and from their account is no longer economically feasible (unless you have others in that area - then you're kinda screwed). Stay professional to the end if you can, but by all means - you'll be able to fill the void w/ 3 accounts and triple your money or more. I say 3 accounts because you lose at least one visit in travel each way plus the time spent at the account.

You'll be much happier in the end$$$$.

Bob

P.S. I still have a few old blue hairs left. As long as they don't complian too much - I'll keep 'em till they move or expire.

[Brickman]

Bye bye. Its been nice knowing you.

[lawnmowerman29]

The problem is this guy is maybee 38 years old and is capable of doing it himself he is just too lazy. Plus it is the only account i have in that city, used to do her sisters till she bounced me a check and never paid up.

[proline32]

I think you would be asking for trouble cutting it lower, you sound as if you personally do not feel comfortable doing it lower and you are driving a long way just to do it, I myself have dropped customers because they wanted the lawn cut lower, if it looks good I will But most yards here can't be mowed lower than 2.5 inches and that is where I stand, I try to educate the customer about cutting to low and even show them yards that are cut low and you can see how brown they are while mine are green.. Maybe you should just drop this guy and get better accounts closer to you.

[I MOW ALONE]

first of all i would dump him but if you feel that you should keep the account then i would scalp it like he wants you to and then when he ask,s you what happened why is the grass so brown and burn,t you just tell him that,s what you wanted that,s what you got

[marley]

RAISE THE PRICE SO YOUR ARE GETTING PAID WELL. WHEN HE COMPLAINS TELL HIM ABOUT ALL THE OTHER LAWN CARE COMPANYS IN THE PHONE BOOK OR ALL THE NICE MOWERS AT WALL MART HE CAN RIP AROUND ON.

[KirbysLawn]

It sounds like he needs a new lawn guy.

But, if you want to keep it and he wants it mowed a certin way then hey, give him what he wants. I would draft a simple letter stating you will mow it at his requested height. I would have him sign agreeing that you are not responsible for the lawn when it turns brown from getting torched. As soon as he signs it cut it shorter, then next week cut it shorter until it's at the height that makes him happy.

Once it dies, your point will be made, he will have a lawn at the height he asked for, and you can stop mowing the lawn and move on...grinning all the while.

What kind of grass is it?

[65hoss]

I'm with Ray, if you want to keep it then do it how the customer wants it. If not, then drop him. If you do it his way just cover your butt with a letter.

[ADMowing]

After reading more of your posts here and seeing that the customer is not considering your experience in this area, I agree with Kirbyslawn. If you want to continue, make him sign a statement about the height. That way you CYA. Otherwise, I'm hearing LOTS of frustration from you regarding this customer. We drop customers who insist on being hardheaded about bad lawn care. Their lawn is an example of our work and a dead lawn is not good advertising. Also, considering the long drive, is it really worth it? I think that is what you have to ask yourself. Is this customer really worth the long drive and aggravation???

Probably not.

[KerryB]

I am with Kirbyslawn on this one as well. If he doesnt sign it then give him the 30days notice. If he does sign it then cut it like he wants but give him 30 days notice, because you wouldnt want your name on that lawn. If he agrees with you after you explain it and give him the letter to sign then everything is back to your way of thinking. I also think you should show him the problem with is newly installed lawn.

[bobbygedd]

u owe him absolutely nothing, first customer or not. i cant think of any way i could justify an hour and a half travel time for one lawn. if yur not makin money on the job, drop him today, right now.

[HOMER]

Gotta go gotta go gotta go go go!

I wouldn't give him 30 days......how bout a 30 cent phone call letting him know your not coming anymore.

The beauty of being self employed is you have to ability to pick and choose who you want to deal with. When it becomes too much like a clock punchin' job then move on.

45 minutes is too long for one customer. Commercial job that paid very good maybe, residential with an irate, know it all, lazy a$$ man of the house?

NO WAY!

Remember:IF YOU DREAD IT, SHED IT!

[lawnmowerman29]

I don't have a contract with this guy just a handshake. I thought about the letter idea but got to thinking i can get more yards done closer to home than spend 3 hours for 50$, i just dont think it is worth it anymore, especially since he is being a jerk about the height. If i mow it any lower i can garantee he will have nothing left but the dirt under the thatch. Remember my mower is set at 4.5" and leaving only 2" of actual grass. measured from the thatch line up.

[scottb]

Drop them refer them to look at someone a little more local,and your done. You have tried he want listen so let him do it his self. Rember if you dont need the hassle the Customer is not always right. Besides you have stated that it is out of your way.

[Brickman]

I am with HOMER. Call him and tell him that you can't afford to go that far any more, refer him if you can and move on.

I had a 4 or 5 year customer call me today and tell me that her son moved back in with her, and so she won't need me to be mowing any more have a nice day good bye. I thought wow that was short and sweet. Big deal, I have TOO much work to do now. I have already put in 59 hours this week in 4 days (due to Monday being Memorial day).

[Bob Minney]

I didnt read a reason to keep them except your feeling of loyalty. Would they do the same for you? Seems to me they treat you like $#!t. Give them a refferal and say goodbye.

[SLS]

A 1.5 hour commute (plus another 1.5 hours mowing time) to service a PITA client for only $50....hmmm.....

I don't even know why you have to ask.

Figure your expenses and taxes and deduct them from that $50 and then divide by three...then you will know what to do.

If it were me that dude would have been history...a long, long time ago! :D

[GrassMaster]

Hello:

I agree with SLS on this one & Probably most of the Others T00?

He's not Giving you a Chance to do the Extra Work (Sod Job) Where the Real Money is!$$$$$ Ca Ching!!!!

He's trying to get you to Cut it Shorter, so you don't have to Come as Much?

He's Practically telling you he doesn't care about you at all? Giving your Work to others, Telling you to Cut it Shorter? Do you think he Hassled the Sod Installers that Much?

I Bet you a Cold Beer the Sod Installers Wouldn't even think of Cutting Grass, That's Probably why they Did a Crappy Job?

1.5 hours Travel Time, LOL I bet you could save money & Increase Your Profit Margins if you didn't do him at all & Paid $25 each time toward cutting his Grass! :)

In 1.5 hours even in the South you could easily make $50 Bucks & Not worry about all that Wear & Tear on your Truck, Heart & Soul.

If you have Plenty of Other Work, Don't Worry there is Plenty of PITA's just 5 or 10 minutes away? :)

Just drop him, He would do the same to you.

Remember No Matter What the Job is or How Much it Pays, if it Comes Home with you, it Ain't Worth it? Life is To Short!

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

I can relate to the loyality issue. I've dumped some accounts after 10 years of service. Trust me, after you dump him and don't have to make that "road trip", you'll forget all about him. Good luck.

LAWNS AND MOWER