Using fertilizer as a "revenge" factor???

[LwnmwrMan22]

Anyone ever have a customer that you might accidently overapply some fertilizer, to get "even" with a customer that is either a PITA, or somehow else stuck it to you?

I've got one account and some fertilizer that got wet, so it's going to be clumpy. I'll have to open the holes up a little extra to get it through the PG, thinking I might let this guy mow his yard ever 3-4 days instead of the every 7-10 he's doing right now.

[Tscape]

That would be wrong. That would be unprofessional. Business is business, don't take things personally. It leads to bad decisions.

[jajwrigh]

That would be wrong. That would be unprofessional. Business is business, don't take things personally. It leads to bad decisions.


I couldn't agree more! Don't let emotions get into the way of your work!

[Lawnchoice]

I would agree !

Drive by the house each time and laugh at the thought of pounding the lawn with N and watching the customer suffer..........but don't do it for real!


Lawnchoice

[work_it]

Not only that but you may end up burning up the lawn. Then with a simple soil sample he could easily have you orderd by a judge to do a lawn renovation. If you think you don't like him now just wait until you have to work for him for free. Now that would suck.

[olderthandirt]

Anyone ever have a customer that you might accidently overapply some fertilizer, to get "even" with a customer that is either a PITA, or somehow else stuck it to you?

I've got one account and some fertilizer that got wet, so it's going to be clumpy. I'll have to open the holes up a little extra to get it through the PG, thinking I might let this guy mow his yard ever 3-4 days instead of the every 7-10 he's doing right now.

Never done it Yet, but if the need arose it might be a viable option. I mean your not putting round up on it. Your helping it grow :angel: If the pita has to mow a few more times well thats the way the grass grows :D

Mac

[TSM]

personally, for me, if the customer is that much of a pita...i just cancel them rather than apply my 'profit' to his lawn

[Tvov]

I would agree !

Drive by the house each time and laugh at the thought of pounding the lawn with N and watching the customer suffer..........but don't do it for real!


Lawnchoice


Very much agree with this, I do it often.

[qps]

personally, for me, if the customer is that much of a pita...i just cancel them rather than apply my 'profit' to his lawn


I agree...sometimes ..... YOU have to FIRE your customers...

[bushtrimmer]

I guess that wouldn't be much different than a certain spray company we all know putting down urea on yards.
I bet they are laughing their ass off thinking of grass cutters trying to cut that on a weekly basis.

[LwnmwrMan22]

I look at it like the CL guys do, make it green... MAKE IT GREEN!!!


There was a story on the radio here, where two brothers, Mark and Willard had an ongoing bass fishing contest down in Arkansas. Whenever they would have the chance, they'd be out fishing, trying to out fish each other.

Well, whenever Mark would have to go out of town for whatever reason, Willard would take care of his house for him. Mow his grass, water the pets, etc. Willard got the smart idea of fertilizing the yard everytime he took care of the place, usually once every other week.

Now Mark hardly has time to go fishing anymore, because he's always out mowing the grass.

Sounds to me like Willard works for TG/CL :dizzy:

[Green Dreams]

It ain't right, but I've done it. I try to find out first who cuts the grass. If its them, uh oh. I was told that Lesco settings were G for Grow, I for idiot, K for Kolor and M for Mow.

[James Cormier]

It ain't right, but I've done it. I try to find out first who cuts the grass. If its them, uh oh. I was told that Lesco settings were G for Grow, I for idiot, K for Kolor and M for Mow.

lol, thats funny.

I did know a guy that made a whole bunch of water ballons ( filled with round up ) and tossed them on a lawn at night. To a customer that never paid.

He keep on doing it for weeks,

I had some one stiff me for a month of plowing once, So for the next few storms I just put back as much snow as I took out for the storms he didnt pay for. I tried to stack most of it near the garage door, ya know, so it was close for him to shovel.

I know it was wrong, but boy did I feel good


I dont do that stuff anymore. :p

[grassguy_]

LMAO, James you bust me up! The next Nor'easter you get this winter takes some pics when you do that one again, that would be awsome to see!

[LwnmwrMan22]

lol, thats funny.

I did know a guy that made a whole bunch of water ballons ( filled with round up ) and tossed them on a lawn at night. To a customer that never paid.

He keep on doing it for weeks,

I had some one stiff me for a month of plowing once, So for the next few storms I just put back as much snow as I took out for the storms he didnt pay for. I tried to stack most of it near the garage door, ya know, so it was close for him to shovel.

I know it was wrong, but boy did I feel good


I dont do that stuff anymore. :p

I plowed a buddy's driveway in one time, about 15" high and deep, but at least at the end of the driveway. Anyways, it was supposed to be his day off, and the wife was already supposed to be at work, and there was only one set of tracks in the snow in the driveway, so I figured he'd not gotten up yet to blow out the drive.

Anyways, long story short, it was HIM that had gone to work, gotten called in early, and the wife was still at home. Anyways, she had no idea how to run the snowblower, and had tried to drive SLOWLY over the hump at the end of the drive, therefore hanging the car up on the hump and not getting to work. She got fired.

It was the last thing I did after plowing for 30 hours, so when I finally woke up 8 hours later, I checked my messages and holy smokes, did I get it. My buddy thought it was VERY hilarious, but the wife never talked to me again.

They ended up divorced after 19 months anyways, so it's all for the better.

[Coffeecraver]

I see you need a code of Ethics

Here you go

CODE OF ETHICS
To conduct business in an honest and ethical manner.
To be environmentally responsible.
To be a leader in the community as a representative of the nursery industry.
To share knowledge with fellow nurserymen and to respect other members in the industry.
To be fair and truthful to employees, suppliers, and customers.
To abide by the regulations of the American association of nurserymen Standards for nursery Stock.

[olderthandirt]

I see you need a code of Ethics

Here you go

CODE OF ETHICS
To conduct business in an honest and ethical manner.
To be environmentally responsible.
To be a leader in the community as a representative of the nursery industry.
To share knowledge with fellow nurserymen and to respect other members in the industry.
To be fair and truthful to employees, suppliers, and customers.
To abide by the regulations of the American association of nurserymen Standards for nursery Stock.

Here you go

Code of the real world
#1 coduct business and get paid upon completion with out having to chase you money
#2 report the neighbor for dumping his old oil down the storm sewer
#3# be the highest paid member of the nursery industry
#4 share your knowledge so that all the other nurserymen can underbid you and put you out of business
#5 Tell your employees what you make and what a small % they are being paid and the customers also in order to help you go out of business sooner
#6 abide by the regulations of the American association of nurserymen Standards for nursery Stock and report to the unemployment office to start to receive benefits.

Mac

[Tvov]

Here you go

Code of the real world


Mac


LOL

(whoops, have to make my message longer)

[coastallandscapesolutions]

I can't even think that we might have sprayed Drive 75 on a centipede lawn...... :rolleyes: ... once......... :angel:

[Coffeecraver]

Code of the real world

Im thankful I don't live in that world

[Ric]

Code of the real world

Im thankful I don't live in that world


Coffeecraver

The Nursery business has a totally different attitude than the Maintenance business. If Your competitor is better than you in the Nursery business, he is respected. In maintenance he is called an Idiot.

Now the reason for this attitude difference is Nursery people sell to each other or the same customers and face the same disease problems. They also tend to be better educated in horticulture.

[olderthandirt]

Whether your talking retail or grower your a bunch a cut throat business men out to make there money! Oh if a certain disease hits a certain variety of plants you might get together and discuss a way to stop its spread or more than likely if one of you so called Nurserymen finds the cure he might just keep it a secret till he's made his money off the others suffering. And the attitude for this is the same attitude that drives all business, its the almighty dollar! Sorry Guys I don't buy the self serving attitude I know to many growers and distributors and there all in it for the money!

Mac

[Ric]

Whether your talking retail or grower your a bunch a cut throat business men out to make there money! Oh if a certain disease hits a certain variety of plants you might get together and discuss a way to stop its spread or more than likely if one of you so called Nurserymen finds the cure he might just keep it a secret till he's made his money off the others suffering. And the attitude for this is the same attitude that drives all business, its the almighty dollar! Sorry Guys I don't buy the self serving attitude I know to many growers and distributors and there all in it for the money!

Mac


olderthandirt

Business is Business, But the difference is Nurserymen and Growers don't start out with a Station wagon and a Murry "21". Nor does their competition.

Sorry you feel that way, Yes there are cut throats in every business. Men are worst gossips than women ever were.

[olderthandirt]

olderthandirt

Business is Business, But the difference is Nurserymen and Growers don't start out with a Station wagon and a Murry "21". Nor does their competition.

Sorry you feel that way, Yes there are cut throats in every business. Men are worst gossips than women ever were.

Ric, I understand your point now. But not all of us are 20 yrs old and been in business for 8 of those. I never started with a station wagon and a 21" Murray
and I don't consider anyone that does as my competition. But I do know that it takes capital to run a business and giving away secrets that took yrs to discover will not leave you with alot of it. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mac

[Ric]

Ric, I understand your point now. But not all of us are 20 yrs old and been in business for 8 of those. I never started with a station wagon and a 21" Murray
and I don't consider anyone that does as my competition. But I do know that it takes capital to run a business and giving away secrets that took yrs to discover will not leave you with alot of it. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mac


olderthandirt

Sure, I have given out plenty of Information on this forum over the years. But I only tell what everyone should already Know. I don't tell all and That what we call Proprietary information. Education Costs why give it away.

[olderthandirt]

Oh if a certain disease hits a certain variety of plants you might get together and discuss a way to stop its spread or more than likely if one of you so called Nurserymen finds the cure he might just keep it a secret till he's made his money off the others suffering.

This is the same as all other professions

Sure, I have given out plenty of Information on this forum over the years. But I only tell what everyone should already Know. I don't tell all and That what we call Proprietary information. Education Costs why give it away.

That was my whole point so how come you feel

The Nursery business has a totally different attitude than the Maintenance business. If Your competitor is better than you in the Nursery business, he is respected. In maintenance he is called an Idiot.

Now the reason for this attitude difference is Nursery people sell to each other or the same customers and face the same disease problems. They also tend to be better educated in horticulture.
Today 05:28 AM

It sounds as if you have no respect for anyone in the maintenace side of the business and feel that only "nursery men" have the awnsers.

Mac

[Ric]

It sounds as if you have no respect for anyone in the maintenace side of the business and feel that only "nursery men" have the awnsers.

Mac

Mac

Don't put words in my mouth. I started in this business with a 12 hp 38" crapsman just like many others on this site did. I was retired and working for pin money. But a wonderful divorce gave the Finical ability to go back to work for the rest of my life.

In 1996 I decided to start taking some course at the local Voc-Tec. By 2002 I had a college degree in Horticulture. Check my profile I was 62 years old when I got that degree. If I can do it anyone can do it.

Now working with plants everyday and trying to grow them is an education in itself. Nursery grower will know more about certain plants than maintenance people. By the same token Maintenance people will have insight on certain plants that Nursery Grower don't.

There is too Much out there to learn about this business to dis-respect anyone working Intelligently in this industry has to offer.

What I dis-respect is the guy that knows every part number on his mower but not the name of the grass he is cutting. I also Dis-respect those who have no desire to learn the industry.

[olderthandirt]

Ric you are a wise man that speaks the truth. I apologize if you thought I was putting words in your mouth but I felt that you were trying to disrepect the other operations of the green industry. Lets just leave it as mutual respect

Mac

[Ric]

Mac

We both have been around this and other forums to long to get bend out of shape over a few words.

[quiet]

Fertilizing is a significant profit center of the maintenance area. It can also be a significant source of your reputation; your knowledge and skill about what to apply and when to apply.

I see no point in giving away profits as revenge.

And I see no point in doing anything less than conducting business in an honorable and ethical manner. It takes time to build up a reputation. Why jeopardize your hard earned reputation on one customer that you just didn't see eye to eye with?