The Most Outrageous Customer Ever...

[Branch manager]

Originally Posted by a plus bob

Planted a shrub for a lady yesterday (she picked the spot) when I got done she didn't like it I told her it looked fine.So we move it over to a spot she picked again.It was off centered need to move it over!Long story short it when back in original spot!Then she wanted landscape stone around it.So I put down stone she stands back and says it needs mulch we shovel up stone put down mulch you guessed it back to stone! I told her I wasn't going to shovel up the mulch and put stone over it.When I gave her the bill she hit the roof about price I told her it would have been cheaper to only do it once

Lots of people are their own worst enemies, and often outsmart themselves. Last week I had a client that I would admit isn't my favorite, walk me around the yard for 15 minutes, pointing at shrubs I didn't need to bother with. Would've taken about same time to touch them up....These people have more money than God, and are tighter than bark on a tree. Most people with money have it because they rarely let any of it go.

[jeffslawnservice]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRocker

Typical lazy, spoiled teen. Ahh, the 21st century!

Your kidding right? Because I have never seen an LCO move any lawn fixtures or play equipment. I worked for an LCO last summer (A full-time LCO not some scrub low-baller) and he would tell me not to waste time moving lawn fixtures.

[Stillwater]

Originally Posted by jeffslawnservice

Your kidding right? Because I have never seen an LCO move any lawn fixtures or play equipment. I worked for an LCO last summer (A full-time LCO not some scrub low-baller) and he would tell me not to waste time moving lawn fixtures.

A tramp could be considered a "fixture" not moved but trimed around, but various toys and lawn chairs are not fixtures.

That said why do you feel it is ok to not move small objects like balls bats squirt guns and the like?

[jeffslawnservice]

Originally Posted by Stillwater

A tramp could be considered a "fixture" not moved but trimed around, but various toys and lawn chairs are not fixtures.

That said why do you feel it is ok to not move small objects like balls bats squirt guns and the like?

No I'm not argueing that. I guess I worded my post wrong. I do not move large fixtures such as trampolines and play houses but, will move smaller objects such as toys and lawn chairs. I was just saying that I am a "21st Century teen" also and I personally don't think I am lazy and the member who he was refering to from what I have heared does good quality work. I guess I worded my post wrong. Sorry if anything is spelled wrong I can't use the spell check for some reason.

[RHooper]

Hey guys,
I've got a story to tell you, and, it is a true story, that actually happened to me a couple of years ago. I took on a new customer(I'll call him Smith) no offense to any Smiths ! He had seen my work elsewhere, and also knew I had a Walker Mower, so he hired me, but refused to sign a contract. He told me without a contract, he could fire me any time he wanted. Red flags flew for me right then, so I told him thanks, but no thanks, and headed for the truck. He stopped me, and agreed to signing my contract. After I had cut his lawn a few times with my Walker, he told me I could not use my Walker any more, because he said it was sucking up his topsoil, along with the grass clippings. The next week, I showed up and cut his lawn with my Toro Z Master, with the mulching kit installed. I did not see him while on the property. The following week, as I was firing up the Z on my landscaper truck, and getting ready to mow his yard, he ran out the front door, suffering from some kind of demonic possession or something, and went ballistic on me for using the Z, and not bagging. He then demanded that I cut his large yard with a self propelled push mower and bag all of it. I told him I would be glad to do so, but that his monthly fee would increase accordingly. Needless to say, he fired me again. His wife called me later that day, to find out why her yard was not cut that day. I explained the situation to her, and she said she would be in touch. The very next day, he calls me over to his house, signs a new contract for more money, and I'm doing the Walker Mower thing again. He hasn't said much to me at all, except hello, goodbye, and the lawn looks great. GO FIGURE ! Oh, by the way, he gave me a $ 50.00 Christmas Bonus last year, and the check was signed by his wife ! He makes me smile !

Rick

[americanlawn]

Hi Rick -- that was a good one. Walker mowers have an awesome cut. Why would anybody want "narrow mowing pattern" on a large lawn in the first place? To me it looks unprofessional. Go figure. At least his wife has common sense.

[DLAWNS]

Originally Posted by RHooper

Hey guys,
I've got a story to tell you, and, it is a true story, that actually happened to me a couple of years ago. I took on a new customer(I'll call him Smith) no offense to any Smiths ! He had seen my work elsewhere, and also knew I had a Walker Mower, so he hired me, but refused to sign a contract. He told me without a contract, he could fire me any time he wanted. Red flags flew for me right then, so I told him thanks, but no thanks, and headed for the truck. He stopped me, and agreed to signing my contract. After I had cut his lawn a few times with my Walker, he told me I could not use my Walker any more, because he said it was sucking up his topsoil, along with the grass clippings. The next week, I showed up and cut his lawn with my Toro Z Master, with the mulching kit installed. I did not see him while on the property. The following week, as I was firing up the Z on my landscaper truck, and getting ready to mow his yard, he ran out the front door, suffering from some kind of demonic possession or something, and went ballistic on me for using the Z, and not bagging. He then demanded that I cut his large yard with a self propelled push mower and bag all of it. I told him I would be glad to do so, but that his monthly fee would increase accordingly. Needless to say, he fired me again. His wife called me later that day, to find out why her yard was not cut that day. I explained the situation to her, and she said she would be in touch. The very next day, he calls me over to his house, signs a new contract for more money, and I'm doing the Walker Mower thing again. He hasn't said much to me at all, except hello, goodbye, and the lawn looks great. GO FIGURE ! Oh, by the way, he gave me a $ 50.00 Christmas Bonus last year, and the check was signed by his wife ! He makes me smile !

Rick

That's a great customer story!

[jasonnau]

Here's my story. I pick up a new customer who wants me to cut his girlfriend's home ($500,00 home, inground pool, ect..) She is definitely his trophy girlfriend - boob job and all. I bid it high, and would send him the bill at the furniture store he owned. He'd pay it. This went on for most of the summer. This woman would be at home in the pool almost every time we were there. Most of the times I talked to her she was either in a bikini or wearing a loose shirt with no bra. Lots of times I was there there would be different guys hanging out in the pool area with her. She would introduce them as her friends, yada yada yada. Well one day in late summer, the bill was getting a few weeks past due and I gave him a call. He said, well, I'll pay this bill, but from now on it's up to her. He paused for a moment, then said "Between you me and the lampost I caught her with a black guy". No offense to anyone if you're black, but, that's how it was stated to me. Funny thing is, I'd been seing the black guy for a couple of months, and another older white guy too. Sometimes it would be her, the black guy and the older white guy hanging out in the pool. So I talked to her, she said it was fine. Then when it came to the next invoice, she said that he would be paying the bill again. It flipped again the next month. Finally, it got so hard to figure out who was paying the bill that I just didn't bother getting in touch with her the next spring. I laughed like crazy when he told me he caught her with a black guy though, because I saw that same guy all through the season.

[jasonnau]

I've got one more too. It's quick though. Not a pain in the ass customer, but a little bit funny. I have an older customer who had a boulder in the front of the home that had "Walter & Betty" engraved on it. The bill is sent to Walter and Jody. One day, Jody asks me to please move the rock to the back under the deck. So, we did that. About two months later, the Walter & Betty Rock pops back out front all by itself, then the next week it's back under the deck. Hmmm, I think Betty must have stopped by for a quickie or something.

[americanlawn]

A few years ago, we filed small claims on a gal who owed for 2 lawn applications. The app's were done about 2 months apart, and each app was about $60. (keep in mind that we never lose in small claims)

The wife & I appeared in court, and so did the customer. We showed invoices, etc to the judge -- then he asked, "Lady, why didn't you pay these bills?" She replied, "I don't live at this house".

I told the judge that I was there on both occasions, and I even talked to her each time. But since I couldn't prove it, the judge dismissed the case, and we got screwed.

So all they have to say is they don't live there.

NOTE: the home was owned by her boyfriend, but the account was under her name.

Also, we schedule our small claims during the winter when we're not so busy.