fiesty old lady made my day by verbally abusing me

[lawncarepros2004]

I am currently under contract at a 9 home duplex culdesac development for weekly maintenance. I only mow the front yards of these homes. Some have zeroscape in the back or a small 100 to 200sqft lawn. Anyway one of the homeowners comes out while i am fertilizing the front yard the other day and wants me to mow her back lawn and just bill her. I had mowed the yard in back before she moved in for the builder so i knew all about it. Her lawn is maybe 200sqft (4 passes with 21"). This women is probably 90 years old. I tell her sure, that'll be 15 a week. At this she says "$15 for three (bad, bad word) passes" . I cracked a smile and told her i had to make a living. She says " i had to make a living once too, but i never stole form anybody" . i then told her to enjoy mowing it herself.....and she said she would. This old timer made my day. If only i were single......i could use a gal with spunk like that. I had been forwarned about the women hitting the bars in the early morning and coming home by noon loaded. tear into boys...................tell me i am highball scum and that i should do it for $7 or less. Anyway she made my day and makes me smile everytime i see her.

[txlawnking]

What a potty mouthed old lady... Or did you dramatize her respose for the Lawnsite audience??LOL

[ElephantNest]

She would have really freaked out on me then, because I have a $25.00 minimum. Over $5.00 per pass. LOL

[lawncarepros2004]

would not have told the story if she didn't say that. wouldn't be funny would it. she'd be just another cheapskate not worth mentionioning. and yes she goes out drinking every morning. these people are out there. true story

[jbell113]

Crap I have a thirty dollar minimum and thats considered low on this site

[HOOLIE]

Them old ladies sure are feisty. The ONLY time I ever cursed at a customer, it was this 80-some year old widow. Never, ever happy with any aspect of our work. Honestly, I don't even remember what the situation was, but she came out and let loose with one profanity after another, so I told her she was F-ing crazy and loaded up the truck and left in the middle of mowing her lawn. Then she called my boss and let loose on him. Then he told her she was F-ing crazy and cancelled her dumb arse.

[lawncarepros2004]

yep i have the min fee as well but i already do the front yards already so with front and back it would have met my minimum

[fubunics]

Most sane people would have said the same thing to you that she did when you gave her that price for '2' minutes of your time. You're already there mowing!?!

[Shuter]

$15. is cheap. I have a $30.00 min just to show up and drop the gate.

[42homers]

2 minutes of work cost me $15. 00 one day. I had to ask a guy to weld a part together for me........less than 2 minutes actually...........his minimum was $15.00 and I had to pay it. He didn't sweat a drop or use any energy for that money.

But I guess welders should be higher paid........they have invested in equipment and have the skills to do the job right........make it look good.........and they take pride in their work.

[all degree]

I would have done it for free. Seriously. You cant measure the amount of gratitude you get from doing that. Money is not everything you should use some of your time and skill to help people.

[GeeVee]

Years ago I had picked up a new client in the neighborhood where I had maybe seven or eight others. The crew was using W/B's on that route.

Route changes happen and I wind up in there with a big ZT. (Lesco outfront).

Very first cutting, I can see her in the (each) window as I am making my around-the-house and around-the-outer- perimter passes. Because I hated having someone bore a hole in me by staring at me every inch of the way, I ran her around her house as I was cutting the "field" areas of each section. She got a bunch of excercise before I was done. A pass in the front, down the side yard which was already done due to the fact that it only takes two passes cover, but two passes in the back and then back and forth. Even faked going to the back and 180 to the front. I was toying with her to a certain extent, but the turf was cut in less than fifteen minutes. (usually eight minute cut)

She comes out to the truck as I am loading, she was a per cut. She says she wiould be hiring someone else right away.

I ask Why?

"Where are the other guys? You come in here with that huge machine, do a crappy job not cutting it as well or as low as the other guys and are gone before the other guys would have had the front done. Who are you? I don't even know you."

"I own the company that employs the other two men and all the equipment, I make changes to the routes as needed to ensure efficiency and profitability. I will be servicing this route now, and my utiltiy man will be along in ten minutes to trim and blow this off."

"When he's done, I'll give him this check, but don't come back."

Why?

"You aren't working hard enough to earn my money, way I figure it, you did my lawn in fifteen minutes, and you're making $60 per hour. I didn't make sixty dollars a WEEK until 1965."

Since we were standing at the trailer........

I point to the ultimate behemoth and reply.

"I just paid nine grand in cash for this machine, this whole van, trailer, other mowers, equipment and supplies, you're looking at 45 k."

"45 thousand dollars? I only paid 32k for my house in 1971. (Riverfront, today worth 500k). You're crazy."

I'm fairly certain one of us was crazy.......

BTW. I calibrate cutting height with the large mower and the 36" in a turf area by making side by side passes, not on the pavement. The weight of the machine has to be factored when matching cutting heights.

[BALDEAGLE]

Originally posted by all degree
I would have done it for free. Seriously. You cant measure the amount of gratitude you get from doing that. Money is not everything you should use some of your time and skill to help people.

I CAN MEASURE the amount of gratitude you get from doing that...
ZERO...ZILCH...NADDA...NONE...0 !!! GRATITUDE WILL NOT PAY MY BILLS...TRY CALLING YOUR UTILITY COMPANIES THIS MONTH AND TELLING THEM THAT YOUR REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE, BUT DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!OH YEA, AND DON'T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR BRILLIANT THEORY ABOUT HOW MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING...I'M SURE THEY'LL AGREE,WHILE THEY ARE PULLING THE PLUG ON YOUR DUMB A$$!

[SouthernFried]

I think we've found this li'l old lady's brother.

[Fareway Lawncare]

You should have done it for $7 if you're already there & it takes 2 minutes.....Your Loss. W/no drive time breaks down to over $200 hr..

[blair smock]

I always try and help people if I can, I Helped another LCO out yesterday with a spare tire for his trailer, he was on the side witha flat. I did not know him but he nought me a new tire and it was on my door step, last night at 7pm. he kept my spare on his trailer. Nice guy-

Last week across from one of my customers comm acct- their was a small fender bender, glass everywhere infront of my customers drive, cars plowing through it, so I put my broom on my echo split shate and cleared a path, Next thing I know I had the building supervisor screaming at me because I did not clean it all up,, I said no problem - $75.00 added to my weekly rate -I would be glad to sweep his parking lot, he promptly told me you guys are a dime a dozen. I guess I should have stayed on my z and kept on cutting. I will nxt time. BWS :)

[HighGrass]

There's always Halloween:angry:

[Remsen1]

So far, whenever I try to explain my pricing and why I charge the same for less time with better equipment as I would for more time with lesser equipment, it goes in one ear and out the other. Why is it so hard for some people to realize that a $X yard is an $X yard regardless of how long it takes ME to do it? The attitude of "you didn't work hard enough" is common BS attitude with old people. They are right, I try not to work hard whenever possible, I've invested in equipment that helps me get more done in a day while feeling less tired. I'm getting the attitude that if they don't understand this on my first try of explaining it, I say "see ya!". I'm not going to stand and blab for half an hour over the price for a $25 yard when I've got allot of other work to do. I'm going to start asking them if they want me to bill for a consultation before I get into a debate over price.

[CoastalEmpire]

Dude you didn't take like 2 minutes to do that lawn? 7$ for four passes? What, 2-3 minutes? I would have been all over that. When I finished I would have said "gimmie my money bi*ch".

[txlawnking]

Originally posted by GeeVee
Years ago I had picked up a new client in the neighborhood where I had maybe seven or eight others. The crew was using W/B's on that route.

Route changes happen and I wind up in there with a big ZT. (Lesco outfront).

Very first cutting, I can see her in the (each) window as I am making my around-the-house and around-the-outer- perimter passes. Because I hated having someone bore a hole in me by staring at me every inch of the way, I ran her around her house as I was cutting the "field" areas of each section. She got a bunch of excercise before I was done. A pass in the front, down the side yard which was already done due to the fact that it only takes two passes cover, but two passes in the back and then back and forth. Even faked going to the back and 180 to the front. I was toying with her to a certain extent, but the turf was cut in less than fifteen minutes. (usually eight minute cut)

She comes out to the truck as I am loading, she was a per cut. She says she wiould be hiring someone else right away.

I ask Why?

"Where are the other guys? You come in here with that huge machine, do a crappy job not cutting it as well or as low as the other guys and are gone before the other guys would have had the front done. Who are you? I don't even know you."

"I own the company that employs the other two men and all the equipment, I make changes to the routes as needed to ensure efficiency and profitability. I will be servicing this route now, and my utiltiy man will be along in ten minutes to trim and blow this off."

"When he's done, I'll give him this check, but don't come back."

Why?

"You aren't working hard enough to earn my money, way I figure it, you did my lawn in fifteen minutes, and you're making $60 per hour. I didn't make sixty dollars a WEEK until 1965."

Since we were standing at the trailer........

I point to the ultimate behemoth and reply.

"I just paid nine grand in cash for this machine, this whole van, trailer, other mowers, equipment and supplies, you're looking at 45 k."

"45 thousand dollars? I only paid 32k for my house in 1971. (Riverfront, today worth 500k). You're crazy."

I'm fairly certain one of us was crazy.......

BTW. I calibrate cutting height with the large mower and the 36" in a turf area by making side by side passes, not on the pavement. The weight of the machine has to be factored when matching cutting heights.



WOW.... I know exactly what this feels like... Only I was a 12 yr old kid when this elderly couple told me the same thing... and the really sad part was, that I mowed their 12k sq. ft. property for $25.. with a 30" rider... It would take me about 2 1/2 hrs to do the place, and the old varmits squaked that I was ripping them off cuz' I was done too quick!!!! I sure you can guess what happened when they TOLD me they were going to reduce my pay to $15.... I told them to get bent...Actually the words were more colorful than that:o If some one said it to me now....:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[CuttersCove]

"You aren't working hard enough to earn my money, way I figure it, you did my lawn in fifteen minutes, and you're making $60 per hour. I didn't make sixty dollars a WEEK until 1965."---------

This is the part where customers and business owners differ. For some reason, God only knows, customers think what you charge per hour is what you have for a paycheck. The word "overhead" is just not in their vocabulary.

[DennisF]

Originally posted by CuttersCove
"You aren't working hard enough to earn my money, way I figure it, you did my lawn in fifteen minutes, and you're making $60 per hour. I didn't make sixty dollars a WEEK until 1965."---------

This is the part where customers and business owners differ. For some reason, God only knows, customers think what you charge per hour is what you have for a paycheck. The word "overhead" is just not in their vocabulary.

Ditto...Nearly every customer I have thinks that I pocket every dollar I collect from them. You would think that some of them would realize that there are overhead costs involved.

One old guy that I have told me "it takes 10 cents worth of gas to mow my lawn and you charge me $22". When I told him that my cost to mow his lawn was about $11 he called me a BS liar. Then I showed him the receipt for the Hustler, Stihl equipment, etc. He shut his mouth after seeing the cost of equipment. Then I told him what I pay for liability insurance. He was speechless after I started proving to him what it costs to mow a lawn. Now he's one of the best customers I have. He even adds a small tip each month.

[dvmcmrhp52]

Originally posted by Shuter
$15. is cheap. I have a $30.00 min just to show up and drop the gate.





Don't ya just love it.
$30 bucks for 4 passes with a 21".
OK.

[SunSwept]

I know that most have stated that they have a minimum charge but if the old lady made me feel that good I think that I could have said something like "OK old woman ... one thief to another ... this one is on me."

And before anyone says anything about it ... I have a 90 year old woman for a client who entertains me like no one else. Her husband was a Medal of Honor recipient and she has met every president since Truman. If only I could just sit and listen to her for a couple of hours. The charge? What little there is I donate to a scholarship fund at my kid's high school.

I'm not asking anyone of you to do this. But, to me, it is sometimes just more than money. Sometimes.

[CoastalEmpire]

What war was he in?

[lawncarepros2004]

business is business......and charity starts at home. i'll give anyone who wants to do it for free the address. you'll feel great about helping some drunkard, disrespecting old hag and i'll feel all fuzzy, like a great humanitarian for passing on a referral. 40k in eguipment and i should work for free. where will i draw the line? maybe one day of free work a week. i'll mow the church, hospital, aunt selma's, cop shop, little league field, etc............................

[lawncarepros2004]

Originally posted by CoastalEmpire
Dude you didn't take like 2 minutes to do that lawn? 7$ for four passes? What, 2-3 minutes? I would have been all over that. When I finished I would have said "gimmie my money bi*ch". i am sure 7 would have been too much. $1.50 would be fair or a seven ounce coke.

[qualitylandscaping]

i'm still wondering how f'ing made it through the lang. filter:p

[TROTTMAN]

Yeah y'all but he was already there, so its not like he had to make the trip. Its almost like free money lol. If I am already there my $25 min. goes away. If I can do it in 5-10 minutes then I'll take less. Now I won't leave and show up for less though.

[GeeVee]

Most everyone got my point, thanks. I was making real good dough on the ones I was doing on the circle (small island), she came to us a year before and we really were just as fast with the w/b's, just different with the big rider and two men.

I lost nothing with her.

However, I wasn't obligated to an additional cutomer any more either. Sometimes additional workload does not significantly increase the bottom line.

You have to pass up work occassinally even if it completes a cloverleaf or is "gravy" work.

I would say this as well. You can't make a meal- out of a peanut.

[Stephen M.]

Originally posted by all degree
I would have done it for free. Seriously. You cant measure the amount of gratitude you get from doing that. Money is not everything you should use some of your time and skill to help people.

What? Are you serious?

I'm a businessman and this is how I support 3 employees and the wife and I are working bosses. Free work doesn't pay the wages, the bills, my wage. Money is everything and my business doesn't run without it.

I too work in a developement where the average lawn is 1,000 to 2,000 sf. We do the common areas and the new lots until they sell. I get requests all the time for mowing, but I'm always told that $30 is too high. I tried $25 and found it wasn't worth the effort for the return. These people always say, "while you're here, could you..." They don't understand that I have employee shop time to pay for.

[CoastalEmpire]

I feel sorry for U

[tiedeman]

Originally posted by lawncarepros2004
I am currently under contract at a 9 home duplex culdesac development for weekly maintenance. I only mow the front yards of these homes. Some have zeroscape in the back or a small 100 to 200sqft lawn. Anyway one of the homeowners comes out while i am fertilizing the front yard the other day and wants me to mow her back lawn and just bill her. I had mowed the yard in back before she moved in for the builder so i knew all about it. Her lawn is maybe 200sqft (4 passes with 21"). This women is probably 90 years old. I tell her sure, that'll be 15 a week. At this she says "$15 for three ******* passes" . I cracked a smile and told her i had to make a living. She says " i had to make a living once too, but i never stole form anybody" . i then told her to enjoy mowing it herself.....and she said she would. This old timer made my day. If only i were single......i could use a gal with spunk like that. I had been forwarned about the women hitting the bars in the early morning and coming home by noon loaded. tear into boys...................tell me i am highball scum and that i should do it for $7 or less. Anyway she made my day and makes me smile everytime i see her.

too funny

[Ray & Karen]

Maybe she should just buy a goat.

[richard coffman]

mabe the goat will listen to her.

[CoastalGreenscapes]

Gee.. our minimum is $35. I would offer to spray it with RoundUp for her so she wouldn't have to worry about it.

[arborist-28]

amzing the tight people ya run into always tryin to get something for nothing ...c

[yrdandgardenhandyman]

I would have done it for free. Seriously. You cant measure the amount of gratitude you get from doing that. Money is not everything you should use some of your time and skill to help people.


And what should he do when the rest of the old ladies come out and want theirs done for free too? payup

[Shuter]

I agree with Coastal. Just to show up and drop the gate is a min. charge, no matter how small the cut is.

[YardPro]

old people, especially women are always a pain in the ass.
we have a retirement area here at the only golf course on the island. Pine Knoll Shores.
alot of retired notrherners. CHEAPOS. The area is "natural" with very fer homes landscaped, and even fewer of the ones that are landscaped are done well.

They think in terms of thier income. They remember when they were thirty years old, they were only making $10.00/hr, and that was good money.............
most of them worked for someone else, and have no clou what overhead is.

We avoid working in that area. We have a few ex business owners that we do work for that are fine with the costs, but generally, we would rather NOT have the business that comes from that area. It's not worth the aggrivation.

[LwnMnWoody]

2 minutes of work cost me $15. 00 one day. I had to ask a guy to weld a part together for me........less than 2 minutes actually...........his minimum was $15.00 and I had to pay it. He didn't sweat a drop or use any energy for that money.

But I guess welders should be higher paid........they have invested in equipment and have the skills to do the job right........make it look good.........and they take pride in their work.


Ditto Brother!

I was charged $52 to replace 2 fuses on my Chariot in one instance and $82 to drill 2 holes and put in 2 bolts. What I charge is what I charge and therefore, not negotiable. Sure they may get someone else to do the job but this is always my question to someone who asks me about what they should charge: "What is your time worth, TO YOU?"

[SCAG POWER]

Lets see $30.00 dollar min, just to drop the gate. If i sense that it will be a one time cut then it doubles up from there. You don't like it get some one else.I have no time to waste just standing around looking busy. payup

[grass-scapes]

I had a woman here I was under contract with....spent 2.25 months working...she had just paid the third month when I received a call. Seems she had gone to another LCO that was working 2 doors up and asked for a quote on her property. they gave her a price and she told them my price. They told her that I was charging too much. She called, cancelled and said find some other sucker. Now.....This yard has lots of pruning maintenance, a gate for the back that a 21 inch will BARELY fit into. Tons of leaves etc. The other LCO quit when the leaves started coming down. She is a friend of another client and he said she is looking again. LOL I told her I would return if she paid up what she owes from the contract.

Keep in mind she cancelled the day before I was going to aerate the yard and it didn't hurt me for her to cancel so I didn't push it. She is 90 years old.

I made money on that lawn while I did it but wouldn't have made as much had I gone through the aeration or the leaf season.

I think its just the age....but it is funny she cant get anyone to mow it now. Id like to know who that other LCO is....Probably a scrub if they quit before the end of the season, or the woman thought they were trying to rip her off too.

LOL....People kill me

[tiedeman]

if she would have come back to me I would have told her, "Find some other sucker that wants to mow your lawn for that cheap."