This is my opinion on SCRUBS

[osc]

I am a full-timer and I understand what happens in the marketplace when lowballers get some attention. However, to broadly brush over everyone out there who only puts in X number of hours and call him/her a scrub is wrong. <br>Frankly Scarlet, it's no one's damn business what anyone else charges or how long they work, if you want to get like that about it.<br>And for you gr8one, I've seen some part-timers run a pretty nice operation and get top dollar for their work. Some of them have great equipment, nice truck, trailor etc. and keep their machines so clean that it makes me feel ashamed.<br>You see the thing is they have all they can handle at that stage in life. <p>As far as part-time people getting in our way well, if they can do a better job than my company at a better price while having all the insurances and liscensure, worker's comp, etc., then they deserve the business no matter how many hours they work per week at it.<br>But that's just it, no commercial account is going to let someone on their property without these documents.<br>So who is affraid of the part-timer's? Guys who do a lot of residential work under the table themselves. It's usually not too hard to convince homeowners that a contractor needs insurance and to be legit.<br>If you are legit and have all the necessary documentation, your pricing will reflect it and you are not a scrub in my book no matter what else you do for a living.

[Lazer]

I thought scrubs were what my wife wears to work as a nurse.<p>Actually, if you look at the Pesticide application forum, you'll find nobody willing or knowledgeable to respond to most of those posts.<p>Based on that, I'd say 99% of this board are scrubs.

[Charles]

Lazer you take your pesticide license and shine it up real good..........

[Evan528]

i think Lawrence stone was the one who originally used the word &quot;scrub&quot; to describe the landscapers with craftsman equipment and lowballing because they are not legit buissnesses. Everyone starting copying him and it has gotten out of hand. I too am sick of hearing thAT WORD AROUND HERE!

[Lazer]

I'll take my W-2 and shine it up real good, too! :)

[Charles]

I couldnt help it Lazer. Its monday night:)

[Starling Lawn]

i`ve seen the term `scrub` on here,it doesn`t bother me.some guys label part timers as such.i`m do this part time ,and i`ve been doing this for 18 yrs.you have to know a person`s situation.i sold my business due to losing my wife due to cancer.i had to pay the bills.so before a label is attatched,think of the circumstances.just because i do this part time doesn`t mean i don`t have the knowledge.sorry to ramble.its the quality of work,the amount of knowledge,not the amount of time or equipment.<br>dave

[turfquip]

<br>Sorry, but you may hear it a few more times. <p>Word is that an &quot;Are You a Scrub?&quot; self administered test is in development by a consortium of heavy hitters and will appear soon at a certain web site near you. You can speculate among yourselves as to where controversial material like this would be published. <p>For the time being let's keep it a secret and hope that for now at least, very few people read this thread.<p>Your friend,<p>Ed<p>Opposing viewpoints; hatred filled responses not welcome<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: turfquip dot com

[Keith]

I guess if you worked primarily with hedges, you'd be a shrub.

[yardsmith]

Charles, you crack me up (again)!<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[AB Lawn Care]

I too am sick of hearing this word.It is getting to be a real insult!If you look it up in the dictonary you will actually see that it is an insult!Here is what the dictonary says<p>any person,animal,or thing smaller than usual,or considered inferior. <p>Is this an insult?I think so.Some may not.But keep in mind when you use that word you may offend or hurt others.This is a place to help others.I'm not saying that this word should not be used I just though everyone should know what it means!I hope this will clear up the meaning of the word &quot;scrub&quot;.<p>----------<br>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care

[osc]

Lazer:<br>Not all lawn care businesses do chemical apps.<br>I obtained my liscence in Ohio and I still don't know enough to give advice.<br>Maybe I'm a scrub.

[Albert]

Lazer,<p>If I may, what's the big deal with a Pesticide license? Anyone willing to do a little bit of study, and put the appropriate time in can possess one. here in Florida they make you jump through a few hoops that take three years. There are a finite number of chemicals and likewise a finite # of combinations. Entemology, toxicology and awareness of field conditions are your basic tools. Nothing too complicated. I would guess that the reason many don't know or care to know more is that they hire others to do that work for them. To be honest I don't blame them. some of that stuff is pretty toxic!<p>Anyway the word Scrub is pretty derogatory and should apply to others...<p>Thanks,<br>Albert

[Lazer]

Thank-you for your excuses why you cannot and/or are not willing to respond to a fellow poster.<p>

[eggy]

I dont want no scrub a scrub is a guy that cant get no love from me hangin around in his best freinds ride....ohhh this isnt the mtv website???? Loosen up boys....we cut grass for a living.....

[Richard Martin]

Here's my take on this all-too-important (not!) issue. I participate on the Landscapers forum on AOL in addition to this one. We have used the word SCAB instead of scrub for a couple of years over there. Here's a quick test to see if you might be a scab as we at AOL describe one:<p>1: Do you have insurance on your vehicles?<br>2: Do you have insurance on your machines?<br>3: Do you have business liability insurance?<br>4: Are you licensed to do business?<br>5: Do you pay taxes on all money received (including cash)?<br>6: When bidding a job do you always give a fair market bid (answer no to this one if you underprice just to get a job)?<p>If you answered YES to all of these questions than you are &lt;i&gt;probably&lt;/i&gt; a professional. If you answered no to one question then you know what you need to remedy. If you answered no to two or more than you are probably a scab/scrub. <br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Richard Martin

[TGCummings]

1. Yes.<br>2. No, but my agent is working up a quote.<br>3. No, but my agent is working up a quote.<br>4. Yes.<br>5. Yes.<br>6. No, but I will correct that post-haste.<p>Am I learning? ;)<p>-TGC

[MRPLOW]

What does having insurance on your equipment have anything to do with being a scrub? This is just a personal descion by most people, with no correct answer.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:<p>Who cares what one is called, this #2 input just makes it worse for the future of this forum.<p>If I was in pre school I would go tell the teacher. LOL, She would stop this nonsense!<p>I was one for a short period of time, so what difference does it make? <p>I think if you check into it, most people started out as one.<p>Sticks & Stones will break my Bones, But Names will Never Hurt Me!<p>Deal with it & get on with your lives.<p>www.scrub.com <p>Eat your heart out, loose sleep, kill those puters letting those tears fall on your keyboard (shorting them out)& put a sledge hammer to yo mouse finger.<p>I could do a featured NEW SCRUB of the week, that's way over 20 years of scrubs off this site according to some peoples figures. Maybe do an interview & see what their secrets are?<p>I sure wish I could have been the Millieum SCRUB. It's really not fair to me & others.<p>I will probably own that domain name before long. Guess what then?????<p>LOL, it shows what a stupid SCRUB I am, I'll get www.lawn-scrub.com. If you use the dash it automatically gets you a higher search engine ranking. SCRUBS need all the help that they can get.<p>If you are not sure if you are a scrub or if you tired of being a scrub. Just contact me & I will give you a price on consultation.<p>Your SCRUBS guide to SUCCESS, LOVE GrassMaster!<p>Do something different pump some #1 in this forum & maybe it will push out all this #2.<p>Sure hope the next time a trade mag does article on this forum & if it's about SCRUBS. I hope they include me. I could get rich off this SCRUB stuff.<p>GOD will sort them out in the end!!!!!<p>----------<br>GrassMaster - Home: www.lawnservicing.com<br>My Start Up Page www.lawnservicing.com/startup/

[Charles]

Scrub this

[SKDCO]

in responce to Mr. Martin,<br>1.yes<br>2.yes<br>3.yes<br>4.yes<br>5.yes<br>6.no<br>but I also do most of my mowing (and that IS what we are talking about) Wednesday,Thursday,Friday and Saturday A.M.and in those 3 1/2 day my company takes care of 40 customers both residential and commercial. i'm not saying we are the best or the fastest but ALL of my customers were referrals.I try to do things well and make a decent living so does that make me a SCRUB???

[Richard Martin]

MRPLOW wrote:<p>{What does having insurance on your equipment have anything to do with being a scrub?}<p>Who's going to replace your brand-new $10k ZTR when someone rides off with it when you're not looking? Or, what happens if you're in an auto accident with an unisured motorist and your machines are run over by tractor trailer? A professional would never allow his/her machines to be uninsured. Are we starting a new category now? Something inbetween a pro and a scab? <p>

[Lance720]

How did scrub turn into scab mr Martin. Am I to believe that you pay your help union wages?

[Richard Martin]

Lance720 wrote:<p>{How did scrub turn into scab mr Martin.}<p>Go back and read my original post. <br>

[southside]

Over here a scrub would be known as a <br>&quot;cowboy operator&quot;.<p>Karl<br>

[geogunn]

as for mr. martin's six questions for self examination of how do you rate on the scale of SCABS/scrubs...<p>I'd say there are quite a few of us that did pretty well at numbers 1 through 4.<p>as for all of us that answered &quot;YES&quot; to number 5 and 6, in the context of &quot;always reported income for taxes, even the cash&quot; and &quot;never, ever priced low to get the job, not ever&quot;....<p>well...I doubt there are too many of us left standing.<p>GEO

[SKDCO]

I invoice my customers monthly so cash is not an option. As for giving a low bid just to get the job, I use my own formula to caculate pricing and if I get the bid great if not then I obviously was either too high and priced myself out or too low and the customer thought I was not going to do the correctly or to their satisfaction.Plus I never ask the customer to look at another company's bid!So how would I know if I under bidding. I hope that I'm still standing. <p><br>&lt;font size=&quot;1&quot;&gt;Edited by: SKDCO<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: SKDCO

[Richard Martin]

SKDCO wrote:<p>{So how would I know if I under bidding.}<p>You do not need to see the competition's bids to underbid. You would work up your bid as you normally do and then lower your price. Wha-la, you have under bid the job. Yes, some people do this.

[SKDCO]

IF I DON'T GET THE JOB FOR WHATEVER REASON, I LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.....MORE TIME TO FISH HA!HA!

[Ground Rules]

I guess I'm a Scrub by some definitions. Then again call me what you like. Part-time in NH here. Doing so becasue it fits my lifestyle and need to provide for family. I love the work and building strong relationships with customers. I will turn full time once my threshold has been reached. All my customers have been recommendations and call backs becase nobody else would even return their calls. Do I lowball? I don't know and don't care. I perform exceptional work at a price I think I'm worth and still provide a small profit. At only 8 accounts in one month of doing business I am satisfied for now. I'll do what I need to do to #1 please customers beyond their expectations and #2 make money.

[SKDCO]

SOUNDS LIKE GROUND RULES HAS THE BEST ATTITUDE.WE SHOULD ALL FOLLOW HIS WAY OF THINKING

[BRET]

JUST A OPINION HERE , BUT ALL THAT TALK ABOUT BEING A SCRUB OR NOT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE RESENTING THE CHANGING ROLE IN LAWN CARE. IVE CUT GRASS FOR 13 YEARS AND ALOT HAS HAPPEN TO MYSELF AND ATTITUDE. I SPENT TIME IN THE MILITARY ANMD HEARD THE SAME JUNK ABOUT PROMOTIONS BASED ON RACE AND OTHER ISSUES. MY SOLUTION WAS TO APPLY MYSELF AND NOT WORRY ABOUT OTHERS. I WAS IN THE MOST ELITE OF THE ARMY FORCES ( SPECIAL OPERATIONS ) I WENT TO MORE SCHOOLS THEN ANYONE ON MY TEAM BECAUSE I WANTED THE POWER OF LEARNING. DURING THE GULF WAR I SAVED A FEW INFANTRY GUYS LIVES. BUT IN GERMANY THESE GUYS RESENTED US BECAUSE WE GOT BETTER TREATMENT. I NEVER LET THAT ATTITUDE OF INTOLERANCE TO MY TEAM STOP ME FROM OPERATING ON THEM. ENOUGH OF MILITARY TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT IN EVERY CAREER WE FACE PROBLEMS. I STARTED AS A LABORER IN LAWN WORK AND ADVANCED TO A OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR ONE OF THE BIG BOYS. GOT TIRED OF THAT AND STARTED MY OWN COMPANY. AS FOR BEING A SCRUB I WOULD SAY EVERY ONE IS STARTING AT THE SAME POINT. WE LEARN AND GO ON FROM THERE. I HAVE A COMPANY THAT DOES LAWN CARE TREE WORK AND LIMITED LANDSCAPE INSTALL. WE DO AROUND $ 350,000. A YEAR. IM LUCKY IF I SEE $ 10,000 OF THAT MONEY.I WISH THAT I WAS A SOLE OPERATOR . MY FIRST YEAR BY MYSELF I MADE $ 70,000. HAVE GROWN IN SIZE ONLY. THE WORKERS COMP AND OTHER BILLS EAT YOU UP. BUT I HAVE A WONDERFUL STORY TO TELL. MAKING FUN OF SOMEONE YOU USES EQUIPMENT LESS THAN PRO QUALITY JUST MAKES US LOOK UNPROFESSIONAL. I STARTED OUT OF A FAMILY CAR. THIS YEAR I WILL ADD TRUCK 5 AND 6 ON. BECAUSE I HAVE GOOD THINGS NOW DOESNT MAKE ME A SCRUB OR LESS OF ONE.I DONT KNOW ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET AS WE ONLY DO COMMERCIAL. TEN PROPERTYS GROSS OVER $ 30,000 A MONTH. BUT MY BILLS FOR LABOR AND EMPLOYEES RUN 25. SO SOMEONE MAKING 5 A MONTH CAN SAY THEY ARE DOING AS GOOD. BUT ITS ALL IN WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. I LIKE TO DO THE REHAB WORK AND ARBOR CARE. I CLIMB TREES EVERY DAY AND MAKE MORE MONEY THAN CUTTING GRASS BUT OUR W.C. RATE IS HIGHER. I JUST ENJOY BEING IN THE FIELD EACH DAY . ANYONE IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA WHOS LOOKING FOR A FRIEND IN THE LAWN BUSINESS IM HERE. TURFETC@BELLSOUTH.NET