[Sauls1686]

Im wondering if im a complete -----....but when I get my "real rig" i want it to match. IE I want a black truck and trailer, with Echo trimmers, edgers, blowers , and either toro 21"s, and an Exmark Wb and ZT, or Honda 21"s and a Scag WB and ZT......Maybe its crazy and I know that u shoudl buy the equipment becuase of reliablity etc, but doesnt it help to have a rig that looks neat and uniform when ur driving in to a really nice development?

Hey im just a kid, I dunno anything thats why im asking.

 

[Pecker]

Nothing wrong with that. Just make sure whatever brand you go with is known for good performance across the board. Also, make sure you have reputable dealers. It would stink to be stuck with a bunch of eq. you can't get parts for. Even new stuff can break ya know. All my stuff matches - all JD. When I find something I like I stick with it. Good dealers and I've kinda grown partial to green and yellow; it lasts and lasts. And as far as it looking attractive, it does. But whats more important is how you maintain whatever you decide to buy. A rig full of mismatched equipment that is clean and well-maintained, is far more attractive than a matching equipment that looks all dirty, broken down, with torn up seats and dull blades, smoking and scaring little children and old ladies when it backfires. Even more important than that is the way you present yourself. Don't be a skank. Do your best to look clean and professional and be articulate when you speak to customers.

 

[lawnman_scott]

How long will you be at the account? if its big maybe 5 hours? I would be more concerned on how the grass looks than if your mowers are the same color, but thats just me.

 

[Sauls1686]

Look professional soaked in sweat and pants that are dyed green from grass?

Well I do try to dress uniform when i mow...(i also work at a nursery so i kinda borrowed their colors)

Thanks about the equipment. I just think it looks cool to see a trailer full of red...(i wish scag made 21" mine would DEFIDENTLY have all orange!)

As for JD--Ihavent heard good things about their commercial stuff and iv looked at them and dont like them. Sounds like u do.

 

[Bluesteel]

Image is important. But it seems like we're more concerned about it than the customer. Have to agree with lawnman_scott. Something else, don't talk to your dealer about your aesthetic preferences. They'll be less likely to make you a deal on the color-coordinated pieces of equipment.

It’s rare that one company makes the best equipment for a whole range of tasks. Never the less, sticking to one brand makes it more likely that expensive accessories and spare parts would be interchangeable.

 

[DUSTYCEDAR]

it is always good to look professional and have good equipment
but no one cares if the push mower matches the walk behind

u make the first impression when u met the customer.
dress well be courteous listen to what they want and do good work

 

[double e]

It's all right to want to match- we try to, to an exstent
A buddy of mine that has a lcb- sold me a 10 cubic wheel barrow fo 40 bucks (150 retail) just bc he wanted to have matching wheel barrows- Thats a little too much

 

[GLAN]

It's your business, how you want to represent yourself is your choice.


Look at UPS, FedEx. The US postal service. Heck even look at the Fire Department and Police.

 

[EagleLandscape]

Think of it this way. You can look all pretty (i like to having matching stuff too), but when it boils down to it, whatever you do, you are responsible for making that yard look its best for the next week. the customer will opnly see your truck for about 30 minutes, but they will see their yard the whole week.

 

[Green in Idaho]

Glan just made an excellent point.

There are outfits you recognize and know before you even reading their sign. And they are not always the heavy hitters.

A unified image makes it easy for the consumer to make a mental image of your biz. And when it comes time to call someone they already have YOUR image in their mind, so you make the short list. No one ever said consumers are rational. We buy based on what is easy, convenient, and takes the least thought. Just like fish: most food for least effort.

Repeatedly seeing the same image and one begins to think 'boy they do a lot of business in my neighborhood. I think I'll call them." It is easy to recognize them and it is easy to remember them. It's called mind-share.

A biz with ten different rigs, different colors and all looking different has a much tougher time getting that mind-share. And when they do it is often 'oh yea the outfit with a bunch of misfit rigs. I wonder how professional they are?"

A nice looking truck matching a nice trailer puts you miles ahead in the marketing department.

Someone with a blue Ford Explorer towing a white hodge podge utility trailer, probably hears "Do you mow lawns?" despite the fact they are towing a trailer full of mowers.... Wonder why?

Someone with a yellow truck, yellow trailer, and nice side panel sign probably has less of those type of questions... and more 'can you give me a bid?"

But that's all just speculation..

 

[Sauls1686]

K thanks. I have no clue why im even worried about it cause right now I dont look anywhere NEAR a LCS. A grand marquis with a snowmobile trailer? BUT im plannning ahead...............Also i have been told by guys not to buy a real expensive truck--to spend the money on the equipment...so im just gonna get somthing that looks decent--an older truck and get it repainted or somthing. (probably an older--86-93- F-250.)

 

[John Gamba]

Sauls This Coming Spring I'll Post A Pic For You, It Will Be A 95 f150 With Matching Trailer, Chrome Kit On the Truck, Chrome wheels All The Way around.
When you Look the Best You Get The Best. Don't Forget Flashy New Paint Goes A Long Way!
John

 

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Sauls1686
Im wondering if im a complete -----....but when I get my "real rig" i want it to match.

Since this will probably be my last rig before I retire (and beyond) , I did want it to match... I'm happy

 

[rkbrown]

I have a blacktruck and a black trailer. I bought the truck, a 2001 Ford F-250 Crew Cab PSD, in Oct of 2001 and they were flying off the lot with (at the time) very low interest rates. So I did not have much of a choice on color.

I bought my trailer to match the truck. As far as matching equipment, I don't really care...whatever gets the job done the best.

As far as personal appearance, I do not have uniforms yet. I wear dark blue pants and a tee shirt. I keep an extra tee shirt or polo shirt in the truck to give bids at the end of the day.

 

[Jimbo]

If the trailer is black I think anything goes with that so why does the truck need to match?
My truck is the same color as my shirts. (Forest green)
And my Mowers are the same color as my handhelds (Orange).

The only odd ball is a red pushmower. I thought about a paint job but it just not worth it.

Jimbo

 

[jlewis]

I have ared truck and thought about a red enclosed trailer. My wife said why? You don't like red! True - bought the truck used and got a great deal. My trailer is white and will be lettered to match my shirts. My t-shirts are ash grey with black lettering. Since lc is not my big thing - I will compare it to the tools I use often.

Drills are Dewalt as is my miter saw.
Circular saw Milwalkee makes the best.
Hammer drill is Bosch.
Nail guns are Porter Cable
Cordless nail guns are Paslodes

etc...

I agree with the statement of buying the best professional equipment regardless of the name. No one company excells in everything. Compromises can be made for service and sales satisfaction.

Joe

 

[dvmcmrhp52]

Make your work look good first,Once you have accomplished that then as you get the resources concern yourself with image.
image is important,but not as important as good quality work.

 

[Rick Jones]

Switchless, those aren't the dreaded pistol grips I see in your trailer are they? I thought you were loyal to the user-friendly H-Bar...

 

[Tvov]

Most of my customers rarely see my equipment, they are rarely home when we are working.

I worry about making sure my equipment is working, then getting the jobs done, THEN I might think about how the trucks look. In my experience, most customers simply don't care about how your equipment looks.

 

[jbrink01]

I don't think matching colors is important as clean. I have a black trailer and white DuraMax diesel. Trailer ties into black over rail bedliner and fender flares. Looks pretty good. Even though both are new they would look horrible if they did not get washed once or twice a week.

I had black and it's tough to keep looking clean, so went to white (+ the black one was a 1/2 ton gas Silverado).