Phil Nilsson's Books

[Spencer]

I am thinking about buying some books for education purposes. I've performed a search and read various threads on books but not specific information to warrant making a decision. Most comments state his books suck or they were good, but had no comments on content, although I did find great comments on the Labor Time Data Handbook.

I would like to know if anyone bought any of the books I have cited below and whether or not you were satisfied with the content and if they were worth the investment. Specific comments to each book would be appreciated.

Phil Nilsson's Books:
Book #A-7 Labor Time Data Handbook $69.50
Book #B-1 Advertising And Marketing Your Services $42.50
Book #B-2 Pricing Your Services $39.50
Book #B-8 How To Write Effective Sales Letter $24.50
Book #C-1 Grounds Maintenance Manual $49.50
Book #C-2 Writing The Maintenance Specifications $34.50
Book #C-21 Maintenance Estimating Kit $32.50
Book #ET-4 Training In Pruning And Planting $34.50

[Eric ELM]

I'm not much help on this, because I have never bought any books on this. I would bet that if you read everypost in here that is informative and subscribe to all the free lawn magazines, that you will learn a whole lot more. You will be learning from the ones that actually are out there doing this for a living and all this information is FREE. :D

[1st impressions]

Spencer

Last year I bought 5 manuals from Phil Nilsson. I believe
I paid $111 with shipping.The more you buy the bigger the
discount. Of the titles you mentioned, I have the Labor
Time Data Handbook and the Grounds Maintenance Estimating
Kit. By far the best is the Labor Time Data Handbook. It
covers everything :lawn maintenance,landscaping,pruning,
snow removal, etc. I purchased these books because I
wanted to bid on larger condo/apartment properties. This
book definitely helped to get my numbers where they should
be to be competitive.
The Grounds Maintenance Estimating Kit is basically a smaller version of the other book. This book concentrates
only on grounds maintenance but does not include any new
info.
The other books I have basically speak of the importance
of knowing your costs and pricing accordingly. If you are new to the business they will be helpful. Much of it is common sense though sometimes it helps seeing it in writing.
The other books I have are Maximizing Profits In Mowing,
Selling to Commercial Customers, and The Art of Selling.
Hope this info helps.

[Spencer]

1st Impressions: You stated: "The Grounds Maintenance Estimating Kit is basically a smaller version of the other book." Does this mean you would not recommend spending money on both books because the material content in the Labor Time Data Handbook already covers the info in The Grounds Maintenance Estimating Kit? This is exactly the type of info I'm looking for. Thank you for your post.

[Shelton's Lawn]

I have the labor data handbook and the maximizing profits in mowing. The labor handbook is a very good guideline for knowing the times you should shoot for. It covers everything dealing with landscaping and maintenance. Good investment.

[kermit]

Most of the members of this forum can't spell. Are you going to look to them for financial and business information? I think I'd spend some money on people who's opinions you value. I'll spend the $75 to spend a day listening to vanderkoii or Phil,(by the way, wonder why he wasn't at Congress 2001?), rather than some guy who has no idea how to price his work. After 15 years I have found that most of us could use some EXPERT help. I still run into guys who think they are geniuses because they charge 2x material costs for planting. Remember you get what you pay for,(generally), so take free info for what it's worth.

[Hardy Enterprises]

Spencer,

I broke down about a year ago and bought the whole set. There were a few that I didn't really want, but when compared to the ones I wanted it was cheaper to buy the whole set. Their are people on this forum that will disagree with me and I am sure that there are other people that have books that are just as good, but I feel like the information that I have gain from his books is just as valueable as my mowers. Most anybody can run a lawnmower the people who will suceed in this business are the people who can run a business. I would have to disagree with Eric's statement about trade magazines and this site. I subscribe to approximately 10 traded magazines and have been at this site since it was called Lawnicure, which is getting close to being 2 years ago now. I feel like all three sources of information compliment each other, but none of them can replace the others. I have read about half of them so far and have found the information very useful. It is actully funny that this post came up today, I was writing a letter this morning to hopefully seal the deal on a large industrial site. I got stuck in writing the letter and picked up the stack of Phil's books wondering if there was a book that could help me. As I thumbed through them I found the book "How to Write Effective Sales Letters", that gave me some unique idea to spruce up my letter. You never know when you need a good reference book.

Jay

[1st impressions]

Spencer



My personal opinion is that the Grounds Maintenance book
is not necessary if all you need is info. on how long it takes to perform a particular task. Take your money and get
some of his other books.

[thelawnguy]

Originally posted by kermit
Most of the members of this forum can't spell

Stating from personal experience, its more a lack of keyboard skills than spelling aptitude.

[Charles]

There volumes of expert advice on this forum from sucessful experienced full time lawncare professionals on this forum. And just like Phils or someone elses books, some of it is useful to you and some of it is not. Phil is just a book writer and far as I know not a full time lawn care man. And you should have seen some of his spelling while he was on this forum. I believe the experts are people who have spent many years at their craft and are sucessful at it. I agree with lawnguy, its more typing skills and people just not taking the time to spell correctly. After reading many things Phil said on this forum I sure wouldn't want him to have the benefit of my money.

[lawrence stone]

General McAuliffe when asked to surrender Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge said it first when he answered "Nuts".

[Chip]

Spencer
I ordered five of his books last week. I hope to get them any day now. Don't stop your learning experiences here at lawnsite. There is a wealth of information to be learned from the members here. But I'm sure this is not the end of the learning train. I'll let you know what I think when the books come in. Remember not only will you be adding to your library you will also be able to write the expense off on your tax's.

[Greenman2ooo]

You had better be careful using some of the times listed by Phil Nilsson. If you follow those times like a bible, you will regret it. They should be used as a general guideline. Let your personal experience be your guide.

I generally use his figures to compare rates I have come up with myself for a specific site. I will tell you some of those production rates are impossible to achieve under anything but "ideal" conditions. If you use inaccurate numbers from the start, you may earn less than you would like hourly.

I wanted to have the book out of sheer curiousity. In hindsight, I feel it would have been more productive for me to measure my properties and time tasks to come up with my own data. Even if you buy the book, double check by comparing task times with your personal experience.

There are people of all skill levels that attend these forums. It is your job to figure out who is who. Make your business decisions accordingly. Years of experience alone don't make good advice. A good business sense and a little experience combined will go a long, long way.

[G & S LANDSCAPING SERVICE]

We have a set of books by phil,There is a lot of good information in them, Just hard to read sometimes, his style of writing is longwinded. Just my two cents worth.

[cantoo]

I missed the last show, didn't Phil get voted off the island for saying we were all losers?

[Charles]

Ya Cantoo he did. Phil shouldnt be getting all this free advertisment on our great forum after he acted like a Jack ass on this forum

[powerreel]

nasty rumor.. lets cut that out now before it gets out of hand.

Edited by Administrator

[Spencer]

powerreel:

You stated: "I really have to wonder if this isn't him starting this thread. All the book #'s and prices seems like we may have spotted the enemy!"

This is not Phil starting this thread. I got the book #'s and prices from his web site. I thought it would be useful information to provide in order for anyone who has purchased his books to respond and help me decide whether or not these particular books are worth the investment. I have no commercial experience and need to learn alot. I don't know the guy, but would be interested in buying his books if the lawn professionals on this forum have purchased them and stated they're worth the investment. It is a lot of money, but well spent if the material content will help me not to become a "SCRUB".

The info I have received on this forum has been great, I have learn alot already - but need more education. I need to have good reference material on hand to refer too. Just don't want to waste money needlessly - thought that was the reason we ask questions so we can obtain feedback from the more experience guys.

[awm]

My late uncle Horace knew more about making
money and buisiness than any one i know.
Couldn t spell a lick,not a lick.

[powerreel]

Way to change your typo, Phil. http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/3dmaw/mag39/
That's what you need for doing internet scams! This is just my honest opinion and might not mean a thing in the real world.

[turfquip]

Spencer,

This is Ed from turfquip.

I'm not entirely sure what message the last poster was attempting to convey but my advice would be to follow your instincts...however they may lead.

Let me also state up front that if you are using the EZ Order Book Form at Nilsson's web site at turfquip.com then I will receive a small stipend for you having done so. I thank you in advance if that is indeed the case.

As has been stated, there's tons of salient information and helpful tidbits to be gleaned from contributors here at LawnSite. But don't rely on it solely to make decisions which affect your livelyhood. Seek and secure multiple input sources.

Hey Spencer, it will be fun now to see who puffs up their chest and attacks me for being honest with you. Shouldn't take too long....




[Edited by turfquip dot com on 01-17-2001 at 09:12 PM]

[powerreel]

I'll reply and not thrash you for selling Phil's books, I'll just tip my hat at you for selling things on the internet. Frankly, I couldn't care who's books you sell, nor products, you need to entice me into your site. As for phil, who said alot of naughty things and assumed mutiple handles, not that I've done the same but I'm not tryin' to make a buck..,I think someone could find "better" books for someone in the feild to read, AKA Bill Fagan, or whoever...don't aid A-1 or Phil what's his name...Oh,yea- is Phil related to WILLY NELSON? ya know how us people hear cannnn't sPeLl?

[jaclawn]

Ok, I have not bought any of the books listed by the origional poster, I did buy his book on snowplowing. Here is my experience.

I had never heard of PN before he came to this site. I may have read some of his articles before, but his name never stuck with me.

I posted a thread on this site (in its infancy) about pricing structures for snow plowing services. I got some responses, as well as an email message from PN. He basically sent me an advertisement for his books, namely the snow plowing book.

I ordered the book from him. I sent him a check for the total amount, with my order form. I sent it to him, and did not hear back, or see any mail from him for a couple of weeks. After a few email messages, I was told that he just recieved my order that day. Funny thing is, as I later learned, the check was cashed a day or so before that. (Hmm... How could one cash a check that they didn't recieve yet?)

I sent more email messages inquring on the status of my book order, and was told that it was "in the mail", and that there had been a slight delay in shipment. After I recieved the book, the postmark was a day or two after the date that he told me it was "in the mail".

PN did send me a message stating that "book is free to you" because of the "delays" I experienced in shipping. I don't know what the whole story was.

I replied that no refund would be necessary, I only wanted the book.

So, I did recieve the book. It comb bound, less than 50 pages, one sided. I was a bit perturbed a bit by the white out on several of the pages. I would have at least expected it to be corrected before it was photo copied.

That being said, I feel that the book was worth the money. For the cost, ($40), I feel that I learned something that would make me at least that much money. Much of it os comm sense, things that I already knew, but I kept in mind that the book was written for the masses, and that others may not know these items. Even if I only learned one idea from that book that saved me from a breakdown, or one idea that landed me that one job, the book will have paid for itself.

I will keep my thoughts on PN's behavior on this site to myself

[Edited by jaclawn on 01-18-2001 at 08:35 AM]

[BigEd]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jaclawn



So, I did recieve the book. It comb bound, less than 50 pages, one sided. I was a bit perturbed a bit by the white out on several of the pages. I would have at least expected it to be corrected before it was photo copied.



ummm...and this is coming from a guy who said it was very non-professional to"pee in the bushes".I would rather take an emergency bathroom break than to sell a book like this.

[Spencer]

jaclawn: Thank you for your response. Good information. I don't like buying books without thumbing through them before I buy. This is why I started this thread - so I wouldn't get ripped off. I wanted to know if anyone else bought these books and if the material content was worth the price. I bought books from an individual on the net in the past and felt like I did not get my moneys worth.

Has anyone else who bought PN's books experience what jaclawn has described?

Also, I don't want to buy books with white-out, blank pages, etc. etc.....

[scottt]

I ordered two of his books, Maximizing Profits in Mowing and Selling to Commercial Customers. I also received the Art of Selling with a post-it that said free one for you and a certificate for $20 off my next order. Before I opened the books I was impressed with the service. However, after reading all the spelling errors, flipping past blank pages and even having to put pages in the right order I was very disappointed. I learned very little from the books. Like others have said it is mostly common sense stuff.

[Chip]

I got my books from Phil on Monday. I ordered Labor Time Data Handbook, Selling to Commercial Customers, Pricing Your Services, and The Snow Reemoval Business, He gave me a free one also,Grounds Maintenance Estimating Kit.
I didn't find any typos, they were put together well and filled with enough information to make it worth the price.
Of course there was common sense information I have been in business for 12 years i would hope I know a lot of what is in those books, but it did open my eyes to many things I have overlooked in estimating and maximizing profits. Overall I give them a thumbs up and would by more in the future.