customer want is cut lower

[glenjr10]

I went to cut one of my customer's lawn, and she came out to ask me to do some things. One of her requests were to cut it shorter, so that it would look even with her neighbors yard who will be cut on Saturday. I did as she asked, but found that odd. I wondered if yall change your height of cut, or just make the customer accept the height that it is cut at?

[awm]

heck yea ,cut it how she wants it. but warn her ahead of time it mite look crummy later.so its on her,even tho she wont accept responcibility. itll be your fault.just the nature of the buisiness.

[Bluesteel]

People ask, “So what’s it like being your own boss?”

I laugh, “My own boss? Shoot, now I have 73 bosses. The only luxury, is that that I get to choose everyone of them.”

You just heard from your boss. Ignore it or contend with them and you risk getting transferred to the “alternative career enhancement program.”

You can point out that the grass may actually grow faster if you cut it shorter. Or that its hard on grass when the heat of summer comes and the plants have spent their time growing leaves instead of roots. But you HAVE to word it in such a way that you’re making a professional suggestion and not fighting with them.

[Clay]

Sorry, only one chef in my kitchen! :-)

[bob]

I had an older customer whose lawn I was cutiing at 3.5". She ask me to cut it lower, so I cut it at 3". That still wasn't low enough for her, so I cut it at 2.5" and left a big mess. I did this for about 3 weeks , and she then accused me of scalping her lawn an denied ever requesting the lawn to be cut at a lower setting. I'm glad I got rid of her.

[mike9497]

3 inches and no lower

[jeff_0]

my mowers are set at 2.5 and i've never had any complains.. one person did want it a inch lower last season...

[glenjr10]

thanks for the replys

i cut it last week at 2", and that was too high.

I dropped the front end of my deck down to 1.5 ", and left the back end the same. i will see what she thought of.

i was wondering if you would cut it again at that same height, and then go back to the normal setting that i use?

[turfcare]

I get that constantly here! Most want theirs cut at 2.5. Some even want theirs cut at 2.0! Crazy! I cut mine at 3.75 to 4.0.

[Gravely_Man]

I explain to the customer the many reasons for not cutting below 3.0 inches. I will not go lower then that.


Gravely_Man

[lawncare3]

If it's the 48" fixed deck I cahrge them because it takes me more time. If I am using the 21"er then I do it for free ( all @ once height change)

[glenjr10]

I went back to do my weekly service for my customer, and she came out and requested that I mow it lower. After warning that I normally cut my yards at 2", I told her that i would lower it down to 1" and cut it. (I know this is something that I should have not done, cutting about 2.5" off). She told me to cut it as low as i could. Did this, and boy did I burn the yard. I am going to take pictures tomorrow, and I will post them I am hoping that this proves that cutting grass low, is not the best thing. Long grass give you more room for error, so you can have a better look.

My question to y'all is if this customer continues to ask me to cut it that low, should I drop her, or flat out tell her that I do not want to ruin my company image, damage my equipment, or increase the price. My normal height on my machine is 2" which should increase to 2.5" during the summer, and that this is the lowest that I can cut it at?

[Richard Martin]

I'm sorry Ma'am, but I would have to take the mower back to the shop and get the wrenches out if you want it cut lower than 2-3/4 inches. Then I would have to take it back and set it back to a higher setting when I'm done".

The grass is growing like crazy here right now. An elderly customer's son told her to tell me to cut it lower. She told him that my mowers won't go any lower. Now that is a trained customer.

[xpnd]

Lawns are cut at the appropriate height based on the rate of growth. Rate of growth is determined by the amount of water or more importantly excessive irrigation that is applied to the lawn. If we have a new customer that is trying to create the Florida Everglades the mowers will be set higher each week until it hit 4-5 inches. For those customers that accept that researchers at Texas A & M know more about turf management than they do and follow their (A & M's) water conservation guidelines I provide, we maintain the lawn at 2" or less.

[Tharrell]

We all know what height is best for the lawn but we have to do what the customer wants or move on. All of my customers (so far) don't question my methods because I educate them on the different problems with cutting it short and all. I don't see that continuing forever though. I have one older woman (I love her) that has the biggest trees I've ever seen in her yard. Every time I go there, I have to pick up sticks and often times limbs too. That's the only one I have right now that I would absolutely refuse to cut it any shorter. Also, there are tons of roots coming up everywhere. She ALWAYS gives me more money than I asked for because I do such a good job on her mediocre property, and I'm reliable.

[SWD]

I had never had that happen to me - and as far as the height goes - it is turfgrass and application specific.
Height of cuts at my various sites vary from .5" to all the way up to 5".
As far as water conservation in Texas is concerned, I have had several extremely interesting discussions with A&M people about turfgrass maintenance guidelines.
As a result, I have reduced my useage of the diagnostic lab until they replaced the director of the lab - finally. As far as the water conservation guidelines - they are just that - guidelines.

[Premo Services]

Originally posted by Richard Martin
I'm sorry Ma'am, but I would have to take the mower back to the shop and get the wrenches out if you want it cut lower than 2-3/4 inches. Then I would have to take it back and set it back to a higher setting when I'm done".

The grass is growing like crazy here right now. An elderly customer's son told her to tell me to cut it lower. She told him that my mowers won't go any lower. Now that is a trained customer.

1000 % agreed!!!
I don't get any more requests to cut lower, but when I did, I told them that I would have to go to shop and lower and that would take time, which meant mo money. You know they couldn't deal with that.:D There was only a few and a couple I quit doing, the other has been happy with his lush thick lawn since I told him it would cost more to do it that way.:cool:

[Gravely_Man]

glenjr10, I would suggest that you my that decision yourself. I if you can afford to possible lose a customer then that should say it all. Best of luck to you in your decision.


Gravely_Man

[LawnGuy73]

We'll change hieghts but it all depends on the property

[Green Pastures]

NO

I cut the grass to a height that is healthy for the type of grass and the time of year.

I will not cut to a customer's specifications and then be responsible for the look and health of the lawn, if they want me to be responsible they will learn to trust my judgement or find another contractor. I tell them this UP FRONT before any contract is negotiated, AND a statement about it is included in the contract.

I always tell the doubters, do you want your lawn to look "even" and "like" your neighbors, or do you want your lawn to look better than your neighbors? This get's them every time, play on their pride.......

85% of homeowners that I have come in contact with cut their grass to short. My whole block of friends and neighbors have seen the light. They all come to me and ask for advice cuz they see how good my lawn looks. Invaribly they always have the hardest time swallowing the part when I tell them to raise up the deck of their mower. My neighbors think I fertilize the snot out of my lawn, I MIGHT fertilize 2 times a year......MIGHT. I'm cutting my lawn at 3 1/2" right now. They all have expected to hear some fertilizing secret I must know, when I tell them to start by simply raising the deck of their mower and give their lawn a month to fill in. They have all been amazed at the results.

Cut where you know is right, or get a new customer.