New competitor

[Scag48]

My cousin has just decided that he is going to join the lawn mowing industry. I know what you're thinkin', good for him. Yeah, that's fine, but he's making his business cards on my computer, telling me he's going to thrash me by charging real cheap and a whole bunch of other crap. He says he's using my computer because he doesn't have a program to do biz cards. I said too bad. He thinks he can start right now, nearly the end of the season here. He says he can do everything I do, plus more like weeding. I don't know how many of you weed flower beds and stuff but I don't have time because I work at night and it just wouldn't work. What do you guys think I should do? Let him run his biz at my house or tell him he can't do anything at my house. I mean, I don't want to help him at all because this is my first season and I don't have that many jobs and don't want to loose any more to anybody. He already stole my grandparents lawn from me, what next? I guess we'll see who gets thrashed next year, or even this year.

[Charles]

Don't aid the enemy in anyway.

[greenlawncare]

What I want to know is what's up with your grandparents? And what's up with your cousin? He's got a nerve competing with your clients in the first place, let alone competing with family - for family....and then to have a further nerve to ask the use of your business tools to help him screw you! Simple: slash his tires.

[Dennis]

SCAG<br>just relax!!!! the chance that he will keep up all the hard work is slim,you know yourself this work is not for every one.<br>sounds like he's just trying to get you mad.<br>help him all you can and wish him well,you are family.there are lots of lawns out there.

[Scag48]

Dennis-I know you mean well and you are right, this biz is not for everyone. He is a good worker but not hard enough to do what I do in a week (only 8 lawns and 1 21&quot; w/b). What I don't get is that he said in the spring when I told him I was mowing, he thought it what ******ed. Now he turns around and does it. I don't want to make him mad otherwise he will tell he mommy. My sis said he could use my computer to do his cards and fliers, I said no 2 days ago and he was here againg today. I think my grandparents wanted to fire me so he could get some money because he blows his money on some of the dumbest sh!t. I just don't get it!

[geogunn]

skag--I don't need to tell you but you got a problem. In the way this guy is dealing with you it's like you got a rogue brother-in-law. we're talking about the kind of guy you don't need to go deer hunting with. I wont go into specifics here, but if you don't undestand what I'm saying, ask someone that is older.<p>good luck and hang in there!<p>GEO

[yardsmith]

my advice is if he wants to start a biz then go for it. 1st off that includes GET YOUR OWN OFFICE YOU LAZY MOOCH! All advice on how to do anything should cease RIGHT NOW. Let him figure things by himself, & don't tell him about all the free advice here. This industry is not for fly-by-night kids who will change their mind every 3 days. Stay sure & steady; he will likely go gangbusters & work for free & say 'man this sucks, I don't like working this hard', or when his interest putters out, you'll still be going strong, like the tortoise & the hare.<br>Also tell your customers that &quot;someone&quot; may call to try & cutthroat prices to steal work from you. Tell them how low low price usually = low quality. Best advice is don't watch him, concentrate on bustin your butt & keepin things rolling for you.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[Scag48]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have heard alot about the &quot;cut-throat&quot; and have considered that being done to me. The other thing that really makes me mad is my biz name is Chelan Valley Mowing and he claims his is supposed to be Lake Chelan Mowing. He took half of my name! His biz card says in big letters at the top &quot;cheap prices&quot;. He's gonna turn out to be a lowballer for sure if he doesn't straighten up. He thinks he knows how to do everything right at the start. He tried to convince me that trimming and edging was the same thing. I don't mean harm to him but if he wants his biz he'll leave my accounts alone, stay off my computer, and figure stuff out the hard way, like I did. He only lives next door and could come over when I'm not at home and get into my billing and stuff. I'm sure my sis wouldn't mind showing him what I charge and stuff. If is here again on my computer or at my house trying to get anything to help him I'm going kick his @$$ out. Don't won't to make him too mad though. I knew what it was like startin' out. At least I wasn't doin' what he's doing.

[Guido]

SCAG48, I've been following your posts, laughed at times, but I'm proud of your dedication and think your going to do really good someday in the business. A couple of things from your first post on this thread.<p>1) THIS IS NOT A LAWN MOWING INDUSTRY!!!!<br>That statement put you apart from a professional that contributes to the GREEN INDUSTRY or the GROUNDS MAINTENANCE PROFESSION.<p>2) I also hope I don't insult you with this one, but I think a family psychiatrist wouldn't be a bad idea!! Something's wrong when Grandma fires her 13 year old grandson cause his cousin lowballed him!!! <p>Advise with your cousin: Your right, he doesn't have the right idea in business, especially if he put cheap prices on top of his business cards. If he had a little better sense I'd tell you to team up with him. If you can straighten him out some, I think you guys could do better together concentrating on the customers, then concentrating on beating each other. You have some issues though man!! Sorry! <p>Hope everything works out for you!!<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[snow]

hey scag- does your cousin also share that 21&quot; mower? along with your customers? first of all why do you act like this is a big deal. you don't even have your own mower, you have to borrow one! if you provided more services than just cutting w/ your toro you probably won't loose anyone. but since you only cut lawns and don't do any special services, why wouldn't they fire you and hire your cousin?<p>bryan

[Scag48]

Snow-I would offer more services if I had the money to buy the equipment. Not everyone has it the way you do. Oh, I think I need a new trimmer, I guess I'll go buy one. It's just not that easy for some of us. I don't offer just mowing, I offer trimming and will be doing vertical edging on some. My cousin doesn't offer any more than I do. I actually do more so I can't figure out why I got fired. I'm using my dad's mulching Toro instead of the other one that I borrowed. I don't understand why you don't think this is a big deal. Would you share your computer to help your competition? I know I wouldn't.

[snow]

first of all, you quote=&quot;Not everyone has it the way you do&quot;. First of all, i own all my equipment. you know how i get the money to buy new equipment, i save it. i have a savings account and i put 1/3 of my money into it. anyways, most of my equipment is used and in good shape. also you said this-&quot;I offer trimming and will be doing vertical edging &quot;. vertical trimming-that's another good term, along with &quot;lawn mowing industry&quot;. why don't you and your cousin do like what dave said, team up. i mean think of how easier it'll be. you can be the dynamic duo, the dream team. if you use a little common sense you might make it in the business world.<br>good luck,<p>bryan

[Greenkeepers]

Scag-<p>Tell your cousin to go to hell or quit complaining about it and team up with him it may just work. About offering services, if you can't afford a $85 trimmer from Home Depot then you need to rethink your pricing and/or line of work. Don't say &quot;but it's not commercial equipment&quot;. My answer: You have to start somewhere and an $85 trimmer is better than not offering the service. You said you have 8 lawns then you should be able to pay for that trimmer in a week???? <p>Mike<br>Greenkeepers

[Guido]

SCAG48,<p>8 Lawns @ HOPEFULLY AT LEAST $20 a piece is $160.00 You can get a straight shaft Homelite trimmer that I gurantee you will be able to use for at least a couple years at your pace, it works it does the job, and its better than a eager beaver or weedeater.<p>Now for your mower $160 a week for 3 more weeks = $480. You can buy a top of the line 22&quot; Crapsman with that, or maybe even better if you shop around at your dealers, and put the rest towards a blower.<p>NOW THATS 1 MONTH OUT OF 12 AND YOU HAVE A SETUP THAT YOU WILL OWN AND CAN BE A LITTLE MORE PROUD OF, AND WILL DO THE JOB A LITTLE BETTER FOR YOU.<p>Can you go without that income for 1 month out of the year?? You don't have any other expenses besides your $5-$10 worth of gas a month, so go for it!!!<p>I'd tell you to go work for someone else and get some experience before you venture into thiis biz on your own, but I know your doing this for college money thats why I'm trying to help. But I think you might be able to make a little more money working for someone else a couple hours a week, and learn how to operate the real equipment, and do a full service quality job. This will also make you independent. Don't tell me you think you RUN your business when your mom drives you around to your jobs all afternoon. DO YOUR OWN THING!!!<p><p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[Toddppm]

F- your cousin, what a Richard Cranium(Di@#Head). Take your info off the computer if you haven't already. I wouldn't help him a bit. Don't let any of your customers or anyone else know you're even associated with him if they don't know already. He'll go down in flames.

[Scag48]

Snow-Why do you have to be so negative to people? Just because I don't get 50 bucks a job doesn't mean you can thrash me. I save my money but I don't get all of it, making it almost impossible to buy equipment. I already have a Homelite trimmer but am looking into a blower or edger. I would buy used but nobody has anything for sale. My town population is 3,000 and there aren't very many people that want their lawn mowed. Guido- Don't really need a mower YET, but I wouldn't mind having one. I'm still shopping for a good used one but one hasn't come up. I won't buy anything Craftsman, too many bad experiences. I could go without income for 1 month easy. I don't have any overhead. I can't offer services year round, not enough to do. I can't shovel snow because of school. How else can I get around without someone driving me? If you think I'm 16, you're wrong.

[eslawns]

These guys are right. Forget your cousin. Take the money you earn and buy the tools for your work. I started in 95 with a $150 push mower from KMart and 1 lawn. Once your cousin steps on his johnson, hire him. Don't depend on family members or anyone else. It's YOUR business, YOUR responsibilty. <p>BTW, get a password for your computer. If that's not yours, put things that are on a floppy or Zip disk. Good luck.

[southside]

Have his legs broken.<p>Karl<br>

[Keith]

<br>Let me tell you a little story.<p>There once was this kid who got into the mowing industry. He didn't have alot of money, or a mower for that matter. But it didn't matter, he was motivated. He quickly became a force to be dealt with. He was taking lawns from the heavy hitters. (you know the type with there own mowers) He was on the move.<p>Then one day this sorry ass excuse for a cousin came in and started undercutting our friend. He even took his grandparents lawn. (damn that's hard core) But our friend didn't give up. He fought back. He told the whole town his cousin was distributing gay porn on the internet, and he has three monkeys locked in the basement. Things started changing. Customers began calling. He even got his grandparents lawn back. And he got a real good deal on his cousins mower after threating to rat him out about that pot plant growing in the back yard.<p>Your cousin is just trying to rattle your cage. He is probably a little older than you and knows what will piss you off and he is playing off of it. Don't worry about him.<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Keith

[little green guy]

hey scag i wouldn't worry to much about him. I've been in simulair situations before with friends and stuff because they see you making money and want a peice of it. They are usally done in a couple months cause they don't have what it takes and I usually buy there euqipment, take there accounts and then they usaully end up working for me for a while. Also I was partners with my cousin from the beging of fall 3 years ago till the end of the next spring, didn't work out and know he works in shoprite. Anyway if your situation is anything like mine I wouldn't worry about it I where you. good luck<p>PS- what's up wit ur grandparents????? damn

[jeffyr]

Scag48,<p>Come on buddy.....quit your whining. Go to work and make some money, to pay the bills, to go to work, to buy the equipment to pay the bills and go to work.....you get it !<br>Everyone is in the same boat, but to different extremes. Your problem of earning enough to by a shiny new &quot;commercial whatever&quot; is the same problem alot of the guys around here have: earning enough to keep their homes and families happy. <br>Now when its put in a perspective like that, I can only say....quit your whining buddy!!! It's not soooooo bad. Just take it 1 day at a time and don't sweat the small stuff. Deep cleansing breaths.<p>jeff

[Scag48]

Thanks for the info guys. This should help me get the advantage.

[jcoat]

a) He has a set!<br>b) Don't let him take advantage (BULL-BUTTER if he's going to use anything of yours... let him take care of his piss-poor business);<br>c) Keep him on a short leash... think about it, if he's going to do this, he may stoop to stealing or breaking your equipment;<br>d) If he were a smart individual (and it sounds like he is not), he'd hook up with you and you could get twice to three times the amount of business.<br>e) Don't waste your time with the loon...<br> Growing up I was naive, now I keep EVERYONE on a leash and no one takes advantage! I take care of the fam, and if anyone jacks with my stuff, they have two options the cops or goin' toes w/ me...<br>Just my two cents.

[BUSHMASTER]

I know this is a old post but i just came accross it ...
one question lost your grandparents........you charge your grand parents?????and hey if you want to charge them have them buy you a mower blower, and trimmer and just work it off.

[Edited by BUSHMASTER on 09-10-2000 at 12:52 AM]

[Toroguy]

Use common sense scag. Wake up. Your cousin has issues.

[cos]

I also apppoligize for bringing up an old post.

Listen Scag

You are young, and have the advantages now of building up equity now. You dont have expenses like we do. Work hard and don't worry about your cousin.

This is what you do-

Cut all your lawns and build up enough money to buy quality equipment. Use the advantages that you have now. Dont be stupid and blow the money that you make. Keep your night job also. When you get all the equipment that you want, then start to be smart with the equity that you have built up and put out fliers to the lawns that you know that you can handle with the equipment you have. Don't give prices out to people you know you can't handle, you soon in time will be cuttin them too. Build yourself up little by little (your young). Use all the money that you make from lawns to purchase equipment only, and the money from the other job for recreation. After you build on your business empire you won't have too many expenses and will be living like a king.

Oh, and put a lock on your bedroom door and don't give the key to anybody but your parents and tell them no
one is to enter my room.( hopefully thats where you will keep your computer).

Soon enough your cousin will be workin for you.

Don't Be Foolish and Best Wishes. Only you can put yourself out of business.

[cos]

Oh and keith, I almost hit the floor reading your post. :D