do you try and make the lawn look pristine even if the customer never notices or do you rush through just to get to the next job? this is an ethical question of sorts. give me your answers.

randy.

Pretty good question. I'll do my standard on all my lawns, but for those who care about their lawn, i'll go the extra step. Those that tip (rarely) i'll make sure i show up that week even if it rains 5 out of the 6 days. I'll pick up that newspaper in the bushes, etc etc. Same can be said for those who pay on time.

 

We got some high end stuff that we Dbl Cut every time and make sure it looks Top notch
Then we got stuff that dosent matter we just cut it

 

We always try to make every lawn look its best. People see your truck out front, and I want them to associate my name with quality workmanship.

 

We always try to make every lawn look its best. People see your truck out front, and I want them to associate my name with quality workmanship.

but what if you service 12 customers a day and none of them care? that extra 5 minutes you spend on each lawn equals an hour each day wasted.

 

but what if you service 12 customers a day and none of them care? that extra 5 minutes you spend on each lawn equals an hour each day wasted.

If you gain 1 yard by doing excellent work, it more than pays for that extra time spent (not wasted). Just my opinion.

 

but what if you service 12 customers a day and none of them care? that extra 5 minutes you spend on each lawn equals an hour each day wasted.

what if they actually do notice the extra steps you take and they just don't fuss over it... or they're not the PITA types to complain week after week but they do know that you're cutting corners and find someone else when you least expect it? Remember, they can get 'hack' quality from a lowballer and expect a hack job.

you have 12 customers that DO care. I wouldn't risk 12 cuts a day 'assuming' they don't care.

 

Pretty good question. I'll do my standard on all my lawns, but for those who care about their lawn, i'll go the extra step. Those that tip (rarely) i'll make sure i show up that week even if it rains 5 out of the 6 days. I'll pick up that newspaper in the bushes, etc etc. Same can be said for those who pay on time.

I agree, Sometimes if I do a lawn that is really high and the customer doesn't care, I will still bag the big stuff, I hate leaving clumps of grass everywhere

 

Your question was certainly an eye opener for me, thanks, I will try harder now.

 

what if they actually do notice the extra steps you take and they just don't fuss over it... or they're not the PITA types to complain week after week but they do know that you're cutting corners and find someone else when you least expect it? Remember, they can get 'hack' quality from a lowballer and expect a hack job.

you have 12 customers that DO care. I wouldn't risk 12 cuts a day 'assuming' they don't care.

dont get me wrong, i do care what my customer's lawns look like. i was just wondering if what it looks like makes a difference to them. you know some people are looking for "price" and dont care what quality that price pays for just aslong as its cut.

 

sometimes i don't even care if they care!

 

I only know ONE way to maintain a lawn. Nothing in this world is perfect. I'm not finished, until i'm satisfied.

 

We always try to make every lawn look its best. People see your truck out front, and I want them to associate my name with quality workmanship.

Same for me. Now I just have to get decals on my truck.

 

sometimes i don't even care if they care!

You sound just like my uncle lol

 

We always try to make every lawn look its best. People see your truck out front, and I want them to associate my name with quality workmanship.

If you gain 1 yard by doing excellent work, it more than pays for that extra time spent (not wasted). Just my opinion.

Ditto to both of these comments. I never have people complain, and I never advertise -- always have much more work than I can handle. All my requests for more work come from those who see the work I've done on each task. The completed job is the best marketing brochure, flier, door-hanger or newspaper ad one can produce.

With the initial question, and some of the comments, it makes me wonder what happened to pride in doing quality work? There are often threads on LS (some even currently running) that speak to equipment being less than what is expected. And, the question in these threads, "Why did the manufacturer produce this kind of stuff?" or words to that effect. Why should the quality of work we leave from providing lawn service be any different?

 

I try to give them their money's worth...plus a little extra.

Not all of my customers want the gold-plated lawn care package.
But whatever level of care they choose, I try to see to it that they're satisfied with what they are getting.

 

I've only got one job like this left...the guy told me from the beginning "just hack it down" He lets it get a foot high and then calls me. No trimming, no edgeing no blowing..."just hack it down" One time I went and noticed he had shot round up all down the fence line!! I swear this guy must have been raised on a farm. I'm sure all his neighbors hate him. He doesn't care...so I don't. I sling dog crap all over his fence, his patio and his hot tub...he doesn't care...it looks like a hay field...he doesn't care...I leave an ocean of grass on his driveway and sidewalk...not one complaint. It takes me 15 minutes and pays 30 bucks so I still do it. My truck is unmarked and I'm in and out of there in 15 minutes so I'm not to worried about people attaching the quality of work to me...Hell, the neighbors are probably delighted to see me!!! I may drop him next year if I can just for the fact he dulls my blades. (He's always my last cut of the day)

 

I keep my accounts really near perfect, that way if I have a busy week I can just blow through them without any greif from the customers.

On my own property I have 7 lawns thats like 3 and 1/2 homes to take care of, I also have another property with close to 3 acers to cut. I find myself blowing through these due to lack of time.

 

i try do do my best at all my jobs. that said, i do not trim trash. i.e. i have a customer who removed a window unit a/c. he left it in the yard. the first week, i trimmed around it, the next i mowed around it but did not trim. perm features of the landscape, my job. trash, constuction debris, pet holes, these things i go around. if a dog gets into the garbage before i get there, il pick it up. if they refuse to put those free newspapers in the garbage, and there are two three of them, i normally pile them on the drive.
point being, some things i feel are part of my service, some are not

i always think, its a fool that goes to the barber and refuses to remove his hat.

p.s. i hate a hose laying on my grass, i pick em up but i hate it.
david

 

i always think, its a fool that goes to the barber and refuses to remove his hat.
p.s. i hate a hose laying on my grass, i pick em up but i hate it.
david

I love that saying. I'll have to remember that one. I believe there are certain things that we are suppose to do but we have to draw a line somewhere. I'm a firm believer in you can't polish a turd, if the property is a mess and they just want it cut. Fine by me.

 

First, I've found that customers don't recognize quality the way we do. Many have no comprehension of, or appreciation for striping. I take the time to do it, small talk with them later on - and find they're oblivious. I have other examples, but I'll forebear.

There's a minimum level of work that I'll do, no matter what the property. Rules, you might say, to keep from ever doing work so bad I'd lose the account. Aside from that low-end cutoff, my quality is all over the board. But I lean towards doing the fastest job I can. I have somewhat personal and candid relationships with most of my customers, and they talk to me when something's not to their liking... so I move fast as I can unless they have an issue.

I don't get many complaints - and when I do it's almost always one of two things:

-- Could you bag? (Ummm, not unless my profit margin is great.)
-- You trim awfully short. (Which I do... so deal with it.)

 

Ya one lady i have biggest pain in the world but she pays its not enough to kepp her but i just put my ear plugs in and hope shes not home. cause no matter what i tell her she never understands the plan. But my job As kevin the landscaper is to not be able to leave until i am happy. And normally thats long after the customer is happy. Some i do some leave a mess but like somebody said you cant polish a turd. so i dont park in front of that house i park a couple house over. To be honest the lady is lucky she gets her grass cut she wont be my customer for longer

 

First, I've found that customers don't recognize quality the way we do. Many have no comprehension of, or appreciation for striping. I take the time to do it, small talk with them later on - and find they're oblivious. I have other examples, but I'll forebear.

There's a minimum level of work that I'll do, no matter what the property. Rules, you might say, to keep from ever doing work so bad I'd lose the account. Aside from that low-end cutoff, my quality is all over the board. But I lean towards doing the fastest job I can. I have somewhat personal and candid relationships with most of my customers, and they talk to me when something's not to their liking... so I move fast as I can unless they have an issue.

I don't get many complaints - and when I do it's almost always one of two things:

-- Could you bag? (Ummm, not unless my profit margin is great.)
-- You trim awfully short. (Which I do... so deal with it.)

People forget to look at there contracts with me. They can go you clean the beds ya i can but its not in the contract which means you pay an arm and 6 legs for it. Or can you bag ya i can but youll pay a bagging fee and O i dont haul anything away its left on the property. Oh you dont have any place to dump it (thats where your wrong ill find some place) O well the charge to haul it away isnt cheap ma'am