What would you say....

[KenH]

Mother of a good customer wanted 2 3 year old hemlocks replaced, which had died in a screen row. Existing plants were about 7' tall and pretty wide. Told her I would pick up 6-7'ers to replace the dead. Brought them in, planted, left. Phone call 3 days later, does not like 1 because it is not WIDE enough. I politely explained it is going to be difficult to try to find ones that wide (matching 3 year old plants), not to mention if I DO find something, having to pull the existing one out.(Which as you know is not going to be easy---no machine was used.) Of course, older people think anything you say is just an excuse not to do the work...doe s not understand why I cant bring in 10'ers without a machine. "Just get 4 or 5 of your friends" she says. She wants me to look around to see what I can find.

The kicker is the only reason I took this job because she is the mom of an existing, and Im just trying to finish up the season...... Just wanted to vent a little. Now I have this on my back.:dizzy: :dizzy:

[olderthandirt]

No problem
here's what I would do. Price in the machine, delivery, removal which should be easier with a machine. and your profit. And that will be her cost for the 10s. Don't have to explain why the price went up except to tell her thats the diff between 6-7 and 10s. If she goes for it you made your $$$ if she doesn't then problem solved. DO not work for FAMILY OR FRIENDS!!!!


Mac

[KenH]

Thanks. Ill work those numbers up. See, this customer was neither family nor friend. Just the mom of an existing customer.

[Groundcover Solutions]

I agree with mac, just jack the price up to the point where it makes it worth your time if not more than that. if she go's for it then good for you and if not then you have not lost anything. I used to do this when i would do power-washing, I hated to do decks so i would always Price extremely high and if i got the job then i got paid great if not then i did not worry about it. Just my 2 cents

[Sean Adams]

How important is this existing customer? I'm not saying mistreat the mother, but you know darn well that you need paid for what you do....then again, sometimes it is part of the business, putting up with some PITA's.

[olderthandirt]

Originally posted by KenH
Thanks. Ill work those numbers up. See, this customer was neither family nor friend. Just the mom of an existing customer.


Then that would make her just another potential client, She should recieve the same bid as any other potential client would. No more & no less.


Mac

[MWM]

I have had clients that thought we have access to vast nurseries with plants that can match any plant on their property. Sometimes you just have to let them find the plant they want then go from there. I have only done this once or twice but there are definitely people out there that will not be satisfied no matter how hard you try. It's enjoyable when they cannot find what they thought would be a easy find.

[westernmdlawn]

Sean Adams: Just received your Lawn and Landscape Maintenance Business Startup Kit in the mail the other day. Just wanted to say that I read it cover to cover twice, and have it sitting on the shelf for referrence - It is very well put together and am thoroughly impressed. Thanks so much. Brian DeVore

[Strongmd]

I've been avoiding hemlocks altogether because of the Wooly Adelgid insect that is sweeping new england.

[jwholden]

Could you tell her to wait until after the spring growth and they will 'blend' fine. If she is not happy then give you a call.

If I show up at a jobsite with the same size plant, but many different sizes, I prune them all to around the same size. Could you prune her existing hemlocks a little shorter, in a way she wouldn't notice, to make everything blend better.

Just a little brainstorming.

[NCSULandscaper]

Explain that the new plants will grow and soon will match the growth of the other shrubs. There are several ways that you can boost the growth rate of a few shrubs to catch up with existing ones, or you can stunt the growth of the existing shrubs so the new ones can catch up.

[KenH]

Thanks guys.

I usually dont plant Tsuga either for the reason mentioned above, but these were in the middle of a soon to be hedge.

I am going to tell her to wait until spring, even for the simple fact that there is not much left out there even if it were to be replaced.

If her concern was the height, I would not have even posted....but the width I really cannot control.

[John Gamba]

Originally posted by KenH

.


If her concern was the height, I would not have even posted....but the width I really cannot control. [/B]

Ken
In the future try to tell or inform the custumer that some things are going to take time to fill in like the heges they are taking out did when they where planted.

Also try to feel your custumer out and fine out what they are expecting the finished job to look like.

When i'm driving around i take pics of bushes or heages to show the custumer what they will look like when there in the ground. This way they get a good idea before you start digging. In this case she would have said ( I what them wider) you would have told her what you are saying now and avoided this problem.

I wish you all the luck on this one.
John

[KenH]

Thanks John-----Part of the problem was I A$$umed the width would be a commen sense issue on the part of the customer. She did mention a concern before planting on the height of the plant, which is why I matched that with the 6-7'ers.

Its amazing, Ill be venturing into my 21st season, and customers still amaze me.

[John Gamba]

I know!!
And tell her that 4 to 5 friends cost 250 an hour and the machine is cheaper.
Good luck bud.
John

[Grassmechanic]

Originally posted by jwholden
Could you tell her to wait until after the spring growth and they will 'blend' fine. If she is not happy then give you a call.

If I show up at a jobsite with the same size plant, but many different sizes, I prune them all to around the same size. Could you prune her existing hemlocks a little shorter, in a way she wouldn't notice, to make everything blend better.

Just a little brainstorming. Good idea!