We'll finally, a one time mowing that is paying off.

[Ijustwantausername]

So I had a customer call about 2 months ago, sounded real nice on the phone as they explained their mower broke down and they couldn't mow until it was fixed, they wanted to know if I could give them an estimate. This was when it was averaging 100 degrees so I already had in my mind they would get the crazy price. I looked at it and priced it HIGH, as I didn't really need the work and it was a good bit off of any route I do. Lo and behold they took it!

Now I have mowed it a good 5-6 times and I'm getting ready to go out and hit it again. Spoke to the customer the other day and they said they would just use me til the fall. I might have to re-think my policy that refuses 1 or 2 time cuts because this has really worked out nice.

[calvinslawnservices]

I have one guy that I do one time cuts for 2 houses down from another account. It's more of an on call type thing, he has a 70's john deere that is on its last leg and has been broken down for the last few months, he refuses to take it to a shop. There are some good one time accounts, leads to snow plowing up here.

[944own]

I had a flat tire on a trailer last summer and broke down in front of this guys house. I asked him if I could leave my mower in his front yard till I got back from getting a tire. When I came back it was a one time cut. He called me one more time last year to cut it and I never heard from him again until this year he calls and it turned into a real easy weekly right on my route.

[leon2245]

I think he just asked what the work was worth to him, given the circumstances. He also mentioned it being outside his normal route & already having a full schedule. I can see charging a premium. I don't think the only ethical choice is turning it down, if he's not motivated to do it at his normal rates. The customer could have said no too.

Either way it sounds like it's working out for both parties, congrats!

[bohiaa]

Yea, We call these emergacncy calls...

Useually we charge 50.00 up front. and YES they turn out nicely....



thanks for post

[Glenn Lawn Care]

I always do one time jobs, weather its clean ups or just mowing and Iwas always turn them into full service accounts.

[lawnman24949]

Money is money as long as the lawn is close to the normal route.

[herler]

While it is true that not all experiences are good, I have also found that to get to the good I have to take whatever comes and thus it is inevitable I end up having some bad experiences, unfortunately to this day I have found no solution to weeding out the bad from the good upfront so I just take them all, then I do the best that I can with what I have.