For you guys that mow churches, you'll love this story!

[clydebusa]

It was once said,

"Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me"

[easy-lift guy]

It seems that your situation was destin to repeat its self. I do not understand why some people in this business expect things to not occure when everything is in place for history to repeat its self time and time again?. If the church you have been maintaining off and on for 15 years continues to work off the same rules with the same results, why are you complaining or what is your point?, seems to me you already know the results in advance and are just as responsible as the church that has hirered you in the first place. Once bitten twice shy, comes to mind, however I suspect you will be bitten many more times since nothing changes for the better for both yourself and your customers.
easy-lift guy

[Brules]

Just join the church.

[Scagguy]

Had a local church do that to me twice in 2 years. Nice account, high visability, etc. They called this spring and said one of their members would be taking over again. I reminded them of what happened the last time. ( weeds and beds were so bad it cost them more to use their guy after we spent approx 90 man hours cleaning it up. ). About a month ago they called and said they wanted us back. I raised the price 20%. They freaked out and said they would get back to me. They hired someone else for 2 weeks until he ran his Z into a members car. We've been taking care of it since then at @ a 20% premium. Maybe they'll learn this time.

[easy-lift guy]

Originally Posted by Scagguy

Had a local church do that to me twice in 2 years. Nice account, high visability, etc. They called this spring and said one of their members would be taking over again. I reminded them of what happened the last time. ( weeds and beds were so bad it cost them more to use their guy after we spent approx 90 man hours cleaning it up. ). About a month ago they called and said they wanted us back. I raised the price 20%. They freaked out and said they would get back to me. They hired someone else for 2 weeks until he ran his Z into a members car. We've been taking care of it since then at @ a 20% premium. Maybe they'll learn this time.

Good for you. When Churches realize and understand that your services rendered are from someone working as a professional the better off the church and it members will be.
easy-lift guy

[pseudosun]

Scagguy, awesome lesson for other workers. Maybe if someone gets that idea with me, like their family member taking over, i can let them know that "if" i come back, the price will be ____.

[LLandscaping]

We have been low balled on two churches. We did the installs and the maintenance for a few years. They could care less about you and are hard to deal with.

[4 seasons lawn&land]

why do churches not have to obtain proof of insurance, ER numbers, etc? Are they in some way exempt from liability?

[CITY PARK CUTTER]

Originally Posted by herler

So, you like it.

Hey, I play the game.

[Snyder's Lawn Inc]

Originally Posted by CITY PARK CUTTER

If there's one thing I've learned in business, especially the lawn business and doing work for churches...they are notorious, I mean NOTORIOUS for screwing you over and not batting an eye. I haven't lived the screw job once, oh no...I've lived it multiple times over my 15 years in the business. More times than one would think a church and it's managerial brethren would do to you. I've even brought it up to pastor that church folk are horrible at business relations and will screw up silly over money matters quicker than any other organization on earth, and he agrees with regret.

Most of my church screw overs take place when I've got the contract for mowing, everybody likes my quality and the sum I work for, it's all going great and then some wiseguy in the church thinks he can do it cheaper. He's privey to my bid, working on church properties or just asks a ton of questions from the church secretary, you can always find out. He doesn't claim to be better, oh no...it's usually about saving the church money or getting in some service hours. Nothing to do with quality upgrade. Always a guy that doesn't quite have the chops for properties of such magnititude as most of my churches are larger, pretty difficult chores. The average professional cutter would be challenged let's say. A novice would get overwhelmed, and all of 'em eventually do just that.

I've had a 9 acre church in south KC for over 13 years. Love the property, high visibility, looks good when maintained, everybody in the part of town sees it, I take personal pride in this one. It's not just another paycheck you might say. First of April, I get a call from pastor saying that one of the members of the church would like to take a go at this job, buy himself the equipment, and give back. Never done any cutting whatsoever more than his own lawn. Zero commercial experience. The church by-laws state that if one of the church members can do the job for less, he automatically gets to try. At least until failure. Which eventually happens. I explain to the pastor that this has happened on this property once before and the same result will happen once again. This is a tough property. He knew what I was stating was cold, hard fact...but had to give the contract to this guy. There goes $300 every other week of the season!

Well, yesterday I get a call from the pastor with hat in hand, "Our guy didn't work out...you think you can come by and take over like this experiment never happened?" He also stated that the guy told him early into it that he's in way over his head, looked easier from the street, but wanted to keep his word so he did it as long as he could stay afloat. Where have I heard that line before? Oh yeah...city park bidding! When will they learn? Answer: never. There's a reason they call us "professionals", ladies and gentlemen out there who are in power positions of the church. You want disappointing results, hire one of your own church members. They'll deliver poor quality, miss cuts, awful edging and trimming, rarely keep the blades sharp and maintain the equipment, and make you wonder why you ever said "yes" to this fool in the first place. Keep the pro who knows how to mow, trim, and blow and let the ninny begging for church work...let him push snow! I don't ever hear anyone begging for that job!!!!

Thats nothing I had this happen to me once Funny part the church member took over the lawn Sub me to service it He wanted show he was taking care of it and He used it as a right off for his business Think he found a way skip on his church dues