The Green Industry's Resource Center

dcgreenspro · #1 09-27-2006, 11:47 PM

Was out giving an estimate yesterday..small patch job from sod that had died. talked to the guy for about am hour answereing all his questions. the last one was what was i going to do about his disease problem. I walked over and kicked a pile of clippings and showed him how the grass was already changing color. I told him to have his landscaper blow it off when he was done cutting and sharpen his blades. He then said he wanted me to do all the yard care (mowing, fert, renovations, etc.) But, i really didn;t want to take this client from the other guy. I am also $15 more expemsive per cut and he said that was fine. I just don't like doin things like this is all. What would you guys have done??

sheshovel · #2 09-27-2006, 11:58 PM

Almost all is fair in love and lawncare, take the job and don't worry about it. You were called out to give an est so that means the cust was looking to replace the guy anyway. Showing him his lawn was not suffering from disease but poor maintenance practices is part of your job as a business owner.

WildWest · #3 09-28-2006, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheshovel

Almost all is fair in love and lawncare, take the job and don't worry about it. You were called out to give an est so that means the cust was looking to replace the guy anyway. Showing him his lawn was not suffering from disease but poor maintenance practices is part of your job as a business owner.

I agree. We are ALL replaceable.... How EASILY replaceable is a different story!
Always try to be hard to replace.
Looks like the last guy was pretty easy to replace! His loss, your gain. That's just the way it is!

Tharrell · #4 09-28-2006, 05:52 AM

I don't get this attitude that we owe each other anything. Business is business. There are unprofessional ways to get business like following an LCO around and talking to his particular clients.
Just be honest and professional and always do the right thing.

YardPro · #5 09-28-2006, 06:55 AM

take the job at the hgher price and don't sweat it.

Splicer · #6 09-28-2006, 08:11 AM

Don't worry...Be happy...

topsites · #7 09-28-2006, 08:34 AM

You have two choices here:

- Do as they say and take a chance.
- Do as I say and RUN, that guy is likely trouble waiting to happen.

Either way is a bit iffy, you can't be too sure but ...
Here are the red flags I see:
- The guy wastes an hour of my time. Maybe I'm wrong, but did he just ride me? Besides, why all the questions?
- NEVER steal another Lco's work. And on that note, NEVER break your own rules.
- And last but not least, your gut feeling is telling you to get out of there...
It's just I get that same 'blah' feeling about it all, I wouldn't want it, either.

So I'm sorry, but I'd likely send a no-bid letter, or a polite refusal to accept the work.

WildWest · #8 09-28-2006, 09:25 AM

Remember, it's not like you're lowbaling to get the job!

DBL · #9 09-28-2006, 09:28 AM

business is business and if youre better than the other guy so be it

dcgreenspro · #10 09-28-2006, 09:32 AM

well, i was there for an hour because the guy had so many problems. He also just had trees and stumps ground. The lawn was a joke. Color was ok but was just torn to crap by the guy mowing. Not to mention: the spots he missed, the spots his mower actually cut, how eneven the cut was and how bad the discharge was. His fert was done by the same person who put down THREE grub treatments this year. Over the ENTIRE lawn. So, like i told the guy, i'd handle his fert just have you mower guy sharpen and mybe double cut next time. He just said he wanted me.