THIS MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!!

[mowerman90]

An ad in my local paper:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/viewphoto?u=1458426&a=10999043&p=38249349

Will you look at this. This type of stuff is what we have to deal with here in Central FL every day. This clown won't get any of my customers cause they know better. But what it does do is make people believe that we work for next to nothing. Anyone who puts an ad in the newspaper like this deserves to have all of his lawns sprinkled with roofing nails. I'd never do anything like that but I wish someone would. Of course he'll probably be out of business by the springtime so I shouldn't worry.

[thelawnguy]

You should learn how to post photos like this:

<img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1458426&a=10999043&p=38249349&Sequence=0">

You need to cut and paste the url of the photo not the whole page.

PS maybe his mama will whip up a real good dinner for 2???

[mowerman90]

Thanks Lawnguy, now I know!

[mowerconsultant]

is this guy out of his mind ?
for 10 bucks a shot, i would sub all your work to him, then take him up on his free dinner for 2. you should be able to get a free dinner for each contract you sub to him.
you could eat out for a while like that.
lol.....
wheres this guys free dinner at ?? mcdonalds ?

[KirbysLawn]

HEY!!! Next time you list my ad mark out my phone number!! http://www.unionturf.com/boid.gif

Dinner is at 7Eleven, 2 hot dogs and a soda.

[LoneStarLawn]

it says dinners are limited...first come first serve. He may have NO dinners to give out. Do ya'll cut every week there year round? It says he gets $10 a week for a year that's $520..How many times does he actually cut?

[Edited by LoneStarLawn on 01-16-2001 at 02:42 PM]

[Eng Mwr Guy]

The devil is frequerntly in the details. He may be offering a $10.00 per week 50 week per year contract or...who knows.

The lack of profits will get him/her in the end.

[lawrence stone]

If you notice in the picture he has his hands in his pants instead of on the handle of the mower.

Ed you guys suffer a lot of jock itch from wearing long pants in all heat and humidity?

[mowerman90]

Na, we just don't wear pants when it gets hot

[cst51]

The "dad gum" ad has a typo. What in God's creation is a "manicured law" I'm sure that the service this person offers is as cheesy as this ad. Stone, it COULD be jock itch, or just plain laziness. If they can't proofread before putting it in print they are some sorry suckas!!!!!!!
_____________________

cst51

[Runner]

For 10 bucks, he can cut my lawn anytime. As a matter of fact, I think I'll have him do it twice a week for 20! Is this guy near you? If he is, you could make some SERIOUS money off this dude! And he would be thanking you all the while for the work! Well, atleast until reality hits him. (about the 2nd or 3rd time he gets gas)

[LoneStarLawn]

Doesn't say anything about cutting per $10...deceptive advertising in my book...plus how big are the yards in Spring Hill...they may not be even close to 6000 sq ft.
Someone in their area should call them up to check it out.

[Edited by LoneStarLawn on 01-16-2001 at 03:47 PM]

[Currier]

We get people around here all the time advertising "mom-n-kid for you lawns mowed $7.00 other work $6.00 per hour...

Really makes you look good when you charge 25-30 a cut. But the way I see it is, The grub worms can have the grub worms. Quite often the cutomers that hire a service like that deserve what they get...and the people that offer that type of service get what they deserve.

I agree though that it really does professional services a disservice, and I think it reflects the negetive image that follows "the guy that cuts the grass."

[Eric ELM]

Hmmm, he did say for Springhill residents only right? I live by Springhill, so maybe I should give him a call. He didn't say which state, just Springhill. I guess he would have a long drive to work, to work up by Chicago. :)

[powerreel]

Grassboy musta went IPO!!!

[teamII]

we suffer from the same here in tenn. i have been doing this prt time for about three years and plan on some day going fulltime, but it angers me when i give someone a great bid on thier contract and then some (fly by night lawn service underprices me) but like was said before they will be out of business by mid summer then you reap the benefits of having to work someones lawn into your plan.

[1MajorTom]

Wouldn't he be shocked if he came online and saw his
ad? :)


Restaurant restrictions apply. I guess that means
McDonalds!

Jodi

[Twotoros]

If I lived closer I'd buy the roofing nails for you and spread them out too! How big is your own lawn - hire this fool. Also check and see if he is licensed.

[Vibe Ray]

ydht

[Edited by Vibe Ray on 01-16-2001 at 09:23 PM]

[HOMER]

I wonder if he's on call 24-7 and maybe has some college kids with 21" mowers running around?

[MJ]

I'd agree with deceptive advertising. That's 60'x100'. Doesn't seem very big area. My house and garage together are about that. Nothing says it gets cut every week - you just pay $10 every week on an annual contract. Then what is the average size for this neighborhood? Nothing even says you actually get trimming, edging etc each time either. McDonald's? I could probably find a cheaper place.


Mick

[awm]

I think vibe ray is right.He may have done ALL
his homework.If not, like you say he is gone soon
anyway.

[mowerman90]

Vibe Ray

We mow about 40 - 42 times per year here. My contracts are for 40 cuts for residential custs. Most, if not all of the lawns are more than 6000 sq ft. (typicaly 7000) That's what makes me so mad. I'll tell a cust my price is $55 per month and they'll pull out the paper and say this guy will do it for $40 per month and give him a free lunch, at which point I'll say that he knows what he's worth and turn to walk away. Spring Hill is a retirement community that every cheapskate in the world wants to retire to because there's people like the guy who placed the ad who will bow to their every wish. I just gets to me every now and again. Especially when I see posts that say that their average price is 25 - $35. I realize my costs are much lower here, but it still gets to me every now and again.

[Vibe Ray]

I have edited this so please reread! At least the end half.....
Alright, this guy is certainly asking fo $10.00 per week all year.... That's $520.00 a year, yet I don't think they cut year round in Florida either, so he's not doing too bad. He probably only cuts every other week as well. This also only applies to 6000 sq.ft.lawns which are small.
The restauraunt dinner for 2 is most probably a deal he worked out with an owner for the restauraunt to get known(advertisement), so I doubt he is paying for the dinner for 2. If you don't believe that then maybe it's a parent's or relative's or even friend's restauraunt. Not to mention it only applies to "Springhill" residents, which is probably right where he lives, which also cuts down on that dreaded driving time and driving gas and depending on his age, that dreaded vehicle insurance as well as the cost of a vehicle, so while he's not doing "great", he could possibly have a decent plan here.
You know that ad stands out as well, so people will probably give him the 1st call,thus a lot more business as well! Not to mention this great offer expires in 10 days! So customers fall for the trap early when they are still fair game because you guys probably haven't advertised yet.
Let's also assume you guys make maybe $400 a day X 6 days a week = $2,400 a week X maybe 40 cuts a year(weekly accounts) = $96,000 a year
For him to make that(96,000 divided by 52) = 1847 a week (because his weekly check is year round) meaning 185 accounts are needed a week divided by 6 days a week = 31 accounts are needed a day(remember these accounts are only 6,000 sq.ft.)for a total of around 4 1/4 acres a day which almost equals 75.00 an acre w/ trimming included..... Granted he will probably never achieve this, but this kinda what his rate is. If he works 8 hours a day that is about 38.50 an hour(driving time included) Don't forget also that he is getting paid this 38.50 an hour rate at 8 hours a day, 6 days a week all year long despite the fact that he takes a 3 month long vacation every year!!! For $96,000 a year it ain't bad....

Please don't think that I like lowballers, I hate 'em too. It's just that this plan has some far-fetched potential! He's managed to make it sound reasonable to customers yet still make money. Hell even you guys thinks it's cheap!!!

[LJ lawn]

has anyone actually called the guy and found out what's the deal?? with pricing like that i guess i won't be moving to florida to do lawns!

[mowerman90]

Vibe Ray,

I'm gonna call this guy and tell him he has real potential
to make the big bucks up in Slidel LA. Maybe that'll get him out of my territory LOL

[LoneStarLawn]

Do people not look at my posts? I caught the scam very early..and people are repeating what I said...Do people actually just post without reading other posts? I feel degraded..LOL

[LoneStarLawn]

This reminds me of an old ad that guranteed that fat would be washed down the drain when you use their soap....the soap itself was made from fat...

[Runner]

Degrading? Yeah! We can do that starting at just $9.95!

[TOSLC]

I have read post's before about receiving to many calls, and not being able to handle them. I myself had had this same problem.

Where am I going with this?

Why don't we all help out our fellow lawnsite member and give this guy a call. Thus jamming his phone line, keeping him from taking other calls, keeping him from working (or sleeping), and making him think twice about this ad. You might even see if he will accept a collect call. Ha! Ha! Ha!

[Vibe Ray]

Awww.... MowerMan, You are just jealous he came up with the idea before you!!! Yeah, I think I'llcome over by you and do that all for just $9.99 a week!!!

[Scape Sculptor]

Mowerman...I see were Vibe Ray is going with this. Is your $55/mo. X 12 mos. or 9 or 10? Also there is 4.33 weeks in a month. What are you charging per cut basis? I despies low ballers to, so bare with me. It could be a clever ad gimmick. Have any of you guys near him check this out further?

[Scape Sculptor]

If I put a ad out that I would mow your lawn for $15/week.
I'd probally get alot of response. And there are guys here mowing lawns at $15/cut believe it or not. They don't last long or turn over their customers faster.

15X52 would be $780 for the year. Would have to be a 12 month contract.

At $25/cut X 26 cuts on season basis would be $650.

I would be $130 more per year.In the customers mind they are only paying $15/

Maybe this is what this guy is thinking in his advertising.
Who knows somebody needs to check him out.

I know I would crap a brick if anyone would put a ad like that hear too.

[Charles]

Did Grasboy move to Florida?

[mowerman90]

Scape Sculpter

My basic Rate for 80 x 125 lots is $55 per month for weekly mowing Apr - Oct and bi-weekly from Nov - Mar with a 12 month contract. That works out to $16.50 per cut (40 cuts per year) and I'm sorry to say that that is really high where I live. Most of the scrubs (and many of the big commercial mowers) charge about $45 - 48 per month. Most of the scrubs charge $12 per cut without a contract. Jeeez, I'm getting more and more depressed about where I live.....

I realize that the moron who put the ad in the paper will probably get a ton of custs and I also realize he'll make money because most of the lawns are over 6000 Sq Ft. and I'm sure the catch is that he must get paid for 52 weeks. It just ticked me off that someone would put that in an ad because the custs are gonna throw it in my face next time I give a bid. I'll just tell'em that he knows what he's worth and walk away 'cause I don't want or need that type of cust.

[Scape Sculptor]

Mowman...Oh, I totally feel for ya. I know what your going through. It is so competitive hear in NE Ohio, so many lowballers. I get it thrown in my face all the time. They never seem to care how good of a job you do or how knowledgable or experienced you are. Just the price. I wanted to have a $25 min. last spring. I thought that was to low. Cause I know of guys getting $30-35 min. I was forced to drop to $20 just to get jobs. This one neiborhood I am trying to get a foot hold in, with $300-400,000 homes I have two. One at $25 for 13,000 sq ft. the other $28 for 19,000 sq ft. The guy that was doing them B4 was getting $22 per. He has quite a few in the hood. Several right in a role. I envy his equipment, the customers don't like his work or they can't count on him showing up. I even told the cust with the 19,000 that it should be at least $35-40 to cut his lawn. I often wonder if I should go that low just to get a neighborhood locked up like that. You know the worst part is, I was getting $20-25 25 years ago doing lawns with 2 lawn boy 21 inchers. That really makes me sick. wish I would of had 2 48" walk behinds then.
Life goes on...keep a stiff upper lip...Good luck, Dan

[mowerman90]

Scape Sculptor

What you've said makes me feel better because even though we're in different parts of the country. I guess cheapskates are everywhere. It's also funny to note that the people with the larger (1/2 acre & up) lots and $200,000 and up homes always seem to be the tighest. They're almost always the last to pay, holding their payment until the last day before the late fee kicks in. It's always the retired widow living on social security with 2 cats that pays you before she even gets the bill.

[Scape Sculptor]

Mowerman
So true, So true. Like I said keep your chin up, do a good job, and keep pluggin away. You will be fine and come out ahead in the long run.

[Michael Fronczak]

We had this happen here in NY. Ran add weekly service $ 9.99. The guy was a friend of a friend, he had like 4 pickups,2 open tralers, dump trailer, F600 dump, skidsteer, bunch of new mowers ect. I was always hearing he was buying this or that(property, horses, boat,ect), I said I know there's money in this business, BUTTT, somthing dosen't work.
Last spring his wife was arrested for embelezzing somthing like $ 750,000 from the law firm she worked at. By June he was out of business. I got an opportunity to look at the numbers he was doing $ 100,000 yr , he had two salaried employees that were getting I belive $ 25,000 Ea. By the time he made payroll he wouldn't of had enough to pay for anything else.
Bottom line it catches up with them.

[TJLC]

In florida you are paid the dfference between what you should make and what you do make, in sunshine.LOL

[Scape Sculptor]

It it that low all over Florida?

I hear Orlando has the 4th largest growth index in the country. Are this that low their as well?

[Eric Green]

"ARE THIS THAT LOW THEIR AS WELL" ...

[Runner]

All I know, is that I'm glad to up here where I am where it's going for 35-40 bucks a cut for a half acre lot.

[Scape Sculptor]

Eric...Just for you it was to be ARE THEY, don't be so petty.

[kutnkru]

See Scape thats the rtrouble... HuNt N pEcK workds everytime...LOL

Kris

[mowerman90]

Orlando and farther south of Central Fl the prices are a little higher. But, unfortunately, Central Fl is full of cheap people who pay as little as the market will bear. Ads like this guys make it an uphill strugle to raise prices. We keep trying, but as soon as some a-hole like this guy goes out of business there's another that moves here. Such is life.

[dhicks]

This guy needs to be run out of town. But I tell you this: I bet his lawn cuts are worth exactly no more than $10.00 if that. What a farce.

[Eric Green]

Mr. Sculptor....,sir....,Please accept my deepest and sincerest appology ! I Just needed to laugh! I promise It will happen again! And Mr. Kru or Miss Kru I don't HuNt N pEcK I pOsT!!!(all In good fun)

[Paradise Yard Service]

Mowman,

You have my deepest sympathies. I'm so sorry to see this stuff! It's an abomination! Of course you will continue to prosper, and this guy will have to raise prices soon or bail. When he's gone you will be around steadily making it and all his pissed off, unsatisfied customers (hey I thought you was supposed to edge my sidewalk, mow my weeds, and clean off my driveway and three car garage, and blow out the beds, and weed wack the California grass) will be calling the pro to remedy the sitch.
This has to be the worst case of 'Bait-N-Switch' I've seen. He's got to have an awfully fast mower, even then he would not get the manicured look the customer thinks they supposed to get ie. dull blades.
We've been in the business long enough now and can run a simple ad that says. 'Paradise Yard Service, Since 1985. Call Kevin or Sharon.' We don't advertise much (5 times in 16 years!) and when we do its for no more than a week as we get the desired response. Keep the prices/professionalism
up and you will do well.

Aloha, P.Y.S.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

LOL, this guy will not last long! That's a fact Jack!

In mid to late 80's I would not stop my truck for less than $25 & I didn't like doing it for that. I learned later that it needed to be $35. This was in a South Georgia town with plenty of people out of work too!

How do you make a profit if all you had to do was unload your Equipment & load it back up? Then collect the $10?

You might see what kind of equipment he has? It's possible you could get a good deal on it?

LOL, How many yards does he have to cut just to pay for the ad? One great thing is, people that do this will keep you in business. The people that hire him, you wouldn't want any way?

Hey, I would go find him & talk to him. Try to get him to change business name to Cheap Service, Bull Dog or Crap Cutts? LOL :-)

[Lazer Z Man]

Ok for ten bucks a lawn....how is he going to pay for that ad??? Plus the dinner is probely a can of Spam

[mmorgan]

O.K.
This is what you do if you have any competitive spirit in you. I know it is tough when you see adds like this one, but hear me out. DO NOT walk away when a potential customer throws this add or his price in your face. You must sell yourself as a person, a business, and as a professional. Most people beleive that you get what you pay for. You must make them see what they are getting by hiring you instead of Joe cut'em up! A word of caution though. do not bad mouth your competition! That will come back to haunt you. You must sell yourself. Give references to them. When your other customers tell them just how pleased they are with your service, odds are they will hire you.
If they don't, don't worry, this guy won't be around long. When he is done and they call you then you have them at your price. I have done this before on a few customers that were just a little rude on the first quote. By the mid-season when they are calling you, your schedule is mysteriously full, but you can make room for them. You will have to pay your men overtime, but you can take their business for 10% more than was originally bid. I only use that tactic though, if I really don't need the work. If you do this, it is a gamble, sometimes they bite and sometimes not.

Sorry for the great length. Bottom line is, don't walk away and let this guy take customers on price alone. Sell yourself and win!

Matthew

[mowerman90]

mmorgan

Don't get me wrong. This guy isn't taking any of "my" customers. To start with, I've seen too many of his type come and go. Secondly, I don't nessesarily want or need the type of customer that responds to his type of ad. I love it when people ask for referals, I simply go to my truck and bring them my workschedule (with names and phone numbers) and hand it to them and tell them to call anyone they like. At that point they usually ask where they should sign (the contract).

[mmorgan]

I think the thrill of the hunt so to speak is more fun than actually doing the work. Call me a jerk, but I like to make things hard for these low-ballers. I will work extra hard to sell myself to any new potential customers that have been in contact with these type of people. These people make pricing in this industry harder every day and that bugs me. Just a bur in my saddle i guess. Your frustration sounded very real and I almost sensed disappointment. Never let the bad guys get you!!