6 weeks without cutting

[dancom]

I have been in the biz. for three years now. I live in the St Louis area. I have about 50 commercial accounts and about 60 residential. any way we have had a minor draught. about 5 weeks with no rain before that all spring with lots of rain. any way I have a restaurant that I cut (owners use to have lawn service) about 7 weeks ago they called me and ask me not to cut until they called me. Well today they called me (7 weeks since last cut) and want their grass cut right away (it has been raining pretty good for about a week and a half) all of my other accounts have been having me cut every week a few every two weeks my question is would you guys make this account a priority or make them wait until you are in their area again which will be about three days from now. I am not sure I want to keep this account what do you all think

Thanks
Dan

[TurfGuyTX]

Unless they are paying a premium, I'd tell them they'd have to wait until I was in the area. Otherwise, they may be in the habit of stretching mowings drought or no drought. Good luck.

[SLS]

Make it easy on yourself.

This particular account opted to call you when they were ready...thus making it easy on themselves (saving $$$).

You should do the same.

Just my .02 cents.

[Bob Minney]

If you have time do it-adjust price accordingly. If they squawk point out that weekly service = weekly price and others have stayed with program.

[rodfather]

I think SLS hit that nail on the head.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Being from St. Louis, The "drought" has not had much effect on me.

Like the others have said do it when you are near, they opted it that way.

Wher in ST Louis you be?

[dr grass]

id tell them to wait. than if you get out there and its 10 feet tall and you have to go over it 30 times, id charge accordingly for that also.


Shep

[m&m]

do unto others as they would do unto you......

if they made you wait, well ......tell them they have to wait...you have other customers that are with the program and they are standing in line waiting their turn.........do what ya gotta do

[dancom]

Thanks everyone. i have already decided to make them wait. i just wanted someone elses imput. the grass is not real tall but it is a large piece of property about 1 1/2 acres. the grass is probualy 6-8 inches tall. these people owned a lawn service b4 they opened the resturant you would think they would know better. maybe thats why they got out. :D

[mowngrow]

if i went six weeks without cutting a property then i would have already replaced it with something else. you cant make money by being on stand-by. i would get there when i could.
do you have a contract? were you getting paid for the six weeks?

[Brickman]

Every body has a good response. Make em wait, and then charge them at least double for allowing the grass to get so high. When they b@#%h explain that they should not have waited so long.

[Tony Harrell]

Sometimes, when we bounce thoughts off each other, we answer our own questions. Your last sentence answered your own question. Or, you could change the name of your biz to STAND-BY LAWN SERVICE, not really an option huh? If they were in the biz, they should understand that you can't just drop everything to do their property.

[jrblawncare]

I'am with everyone else here, make 'em wait...We have been in the same boat here as well....If you are in charge of keeping the beds in order you can always find something to do every 7 - 10 days even if your not cutting the whole account.....weeding.....round - up...trim up the edges...watering...clean up annuals & perennials....you get the idea.

[crawdad]

I tell customers that it's easy to get off my schedule, takes just a phone call, harder to get back on, as I stay busy with my schedule. I still can't get over the fact that people think I sit by the phone, waiting for their call.
"Hello, this is .....You can come mow today, the weather is supposed to be nice..."
Crawdad

[65hoss]

I agree with the others, make them wait. But I disagree about charging them more after you cut it. You better tell them up front it will more. Don't cut it and then surprise them. You probably will not get paid the extra. Settle that before you start. Do your explaining up front.

[eggy]

One thing about waiting that long to cut commercial is you will be picking up six weeks worth of trash from the lawn...........this is why commercial gets cut at least every 2 weeks around here in dry times....

[jocko1104]

STAND-BY-LAWN-SERVICE! LOl Thats rich.

[Albemarle Lawn]

If your lawn is dormant call Door Mat, we'll be right over at your convenience.

Most lawns cut for $15.95 or best offer.

KB