The Green Industry's Resource Center

ranger520 · #1 10-16-2002, 03:58 AM

I was in my driveway getting things ready to do some jobs tomarow when a ford ranger with a lawnboy 21" and a crapsman handheld blower pull up two doors down from my house and start cutting a nieghbors lawn. The guy had no trimmer and took him about 1 1/2 hours to do 12000ft2 of grass. You could just tell that it was a $20.00 special. How can one compete with this? he looked retired. Just had to vent.

Tony Harrell · #2 10-16-2002, 06:01 AM

You can't compete with that. Don't even try. Quality customers want quality cuts and service. You won't see many like that at a really nice home. Even the people that have used them get tired of them not showing up, cutting poorly etc... Just do your own thing and compete with US. Quality+service are your goals.

HOMER · #3 10-16-2002, 07:34 AM

You don't want to mow your neighbors lawn anyway..........get away from the "hood" to do your work.

ProMo · #4 10-16-2002, 07:46 AM

the scrub in my neihborhood finally got a truck after about 6 years of walking his 21" gotta be kind of proud of him, he used to work for a 12 pack now he dresses in clean clothes and smiles once in a while he must have raised his rates

65hoss · #5 10-16-2002, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HOMER
You don't want to mow your neighbors lawn anyway..........get away from the "hood" to do your work.

Homer is correct.

Hey Homer, where ya been?

ranger520 · #6 10-16-2002, 08:41 AM

I only take care of one customer in my hood, but it is still tough when you are loading your equiptment and some $20.00 special pulls up. I usually only do nieghbors when they are out of town and such. They will automatically call on me. I do use my closest nieghbors lawn for equiptment tests sometimes as he had irigation and I can always get a good test.

SLS · #7 10-16-2002, 08:58 AM

I do not think that the Cadillac dealership is worrying about what the Yugo dealership down the street is doing.

The only way to compete with a Yugo dealer is to become a Yugo dealer.

Brickman · #8 10-16-2002, 09:59 AM

SLS is right.

Once I got to the place that I had more work than I could handle these types no longer bothered me. I had to wonder why the owner did not take enough pride in their prop to ask for a good job to be done. But we have all seen some home ownered @#%* that you would look at and go WTF? So if they will do it them selves that way, you know they will never care if another guy does it too.

Gravely_Man · #9 10-16-2002, 12:17 PM

I agree with Homer 100%. Keep home and work totally separate. If you don't I could only imagine the calls can you just come over and get these few leaves that have fallen as we are having company tonight. Too much of a risk.

Gravely_Man

bobbygedd · #10 10-16-2002, 01:23 PM

on sunday, i watched out the window as the guy across the street attempted to cut his lawn. grass was high, he had the push mower on the lowest setting(duh) and it kept jamming up and stalling. all of a sudden, he throws the mower, and i see him heading across to my house. i thought he was gonna ask to borrow a cutter or trimmer, but, worse, he says id like to be on your schedule. i explain to him that it is not a good idea for either of us to do business, if things dont work out, its very awkward living across from eachother, and our kids play together. well, i think i made a mistake, i started doing his yard this week. we shall see....