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CraigPLC · #1 07-23-2012, 03:55 PM

I received a text "I'll take a Justa Cut please" and texting is part of my system, as I operate on last confirmation, so if a customer texts "Premium Straight" I will perform a premium straight cut week after week until I recieve another text saying "Stop" or another service is requested. But this text was not a customer because it appeared just as a phone number and not a customer name & location. So I texted them I need to quote before i perform a service.

I saw the location and While outside my normal service area, know the area is full of high end properties with .5-1-acre lots, so I drove the 20-minutes hoping it would be make break into those mini-mansions (5,000sq ft homes). I'm passing mini-mansion after mansion then there was a corn field and then I saw a mobile home park and sure enough there was the street.., GRRRRR.... Took one look and went home... I asked the guy before I went how big his yard was and he said he didn't know!

The guy texted me again and I told him, "Look, it takes me 20-minutes to get there, thus 20-minutes to get back, so even
though your lawn would take me 5-minutes, I would have to
charge you a minimum of $45. So if that alright I mow it
tomorrow." He texted me back... "Nevermind"... Lol yeah, that what I thought.
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MOturkey · #2 07-23-2012, 04:16 PM

Craig, technology and using complicated mathematical formulas to compute pricing might solve some problems, but certainly not all. Welcome to the real world!

CraigPLC · #3 07-23-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOturkey

Craig, technology and using complicated mathematical formulas to compute pricing might solve some problems, but certainly not all. Welcome to the real world!

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jrs.landscaping · #4 07-23-2012, 04:52 PM

Next time ask for the property address and look it up on Google Maps. I do this for estimates/bids out of our service area. If the property isn't worth my time, I didn't waste an hour of time/fuel to do a pointless evaluation of the property.

CraigPLC · #5 07-23-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs.landscaping

next time ask for the property address and look it up on google maps. I do this for estimates/bids out of our service area. If the property isn't worth my time, i didn't waste an hour of time/fuel to do a pointless evaluation of the property.

i hear that!!

93Chevy · #6 07-23-2012, 07:41 PM

It's not the customer's problem they're out of your service area. I don't see how you can turn this into their fault.

herler · #7 07-23-2012, 08:19 PM

Yeah that wasn't very nice because I just got done spending $12 on a light bulb that I didn't think was our fault, ran from the customer's house to the hardware store AND back to replace a flood lamp that had busted JUST in case it was our fault not that I thought it was but more because I didn't want to argue about it because I can't afford to lose any more customers, it is answers like the above that landed US in the dire straights we're in and take fair warning, those answers cost all of us when that guy doesn't call anymore, he won't just not call you he won't call us or anyone else and it takes many years but rest assured, 5 or 10 years goes by so fast and then one day you wake up so I'll give you a heads up, you don't want my problem.

I would have done it that one time at least, so even if they only wanted it done that one time you were already on location so take your loss but please, take care of the customer.

Jimslawncareservice · #8 07-23-2012, 08:29 PM

I find threads like this hilarious. You screw and blame the customer or potential customer.

Why offer texting for first time customer anyway. Always talk to them either face to face or on the phone at least. And you offer just mowing? And np trimming and blowing? I never would offer that. I would feel like a hack.

Hope you take this as a learning expierence. If you can't learn from this I would look for another line of work.
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