[LwnmwrMan22]

Pertaining to my "Watch your back." thread, as well as some others.

The other contractor was told on Monday by Public Works that the local city is once again hiring my company, that he did not get the bid.

This contractor asked the representative from the city why they chose my bid over his. They said that I had lowered my price and he was more, and with no reason to change vendors, they hired me.

He then asked what it would take to get the bid from me, what price he would have to put in. The representative said that would not be fair, that both bids have been submitted and the decision has been made.

Today I got a call from the Public Works department giving me the heads up that this other contractor has now contacted the city council, blaming public works for shady dealings and once again slandering my company.

The city council member called the public works department and asked what was going on, and after their discussion the city council member realizes what's going on.

I guess I just don't understand how you don't just put your bid in and move on.

This morning I found out that I've lost a commercial account that I've had for 12+ years. It's in a market that's gone completely soft, and over the years I've lost the 10 other accounts I had in the area.

I went into this year fairly certain that I would no longer have the account, and sure enough, got the call today. This is not the first bid that I've lost. I did not grovel, beg or cry to the property that I should be the one to have it. I said thank you for the past business, and if anything should happen to the new contractor, or if they did not perform, that I would honor my bid for 12 months.

I guess not everyone operates the same way.

 

[nepatsfan]

That isn't right. What goes around comes around.

 

[evanbrendel]

atleast you did the rite thing unlike your competitor.

 

[bighaydenslawn]

Rude rude rude. I put bids in on some commercials this winter for the first time and I'm currently awaiting the results. Hope my competitors aren't that disrespectful to fellow lawn services!

 

[Mahoney3223]

your 14 and a bidding on commercial work??????? shoot me now

 

[LwnmwrMan22]

your 14 and a bidding on commercial work??????? shoot me now

Um, I think you posted in the wrong thread.

Who's 14?

 

[CircleC]

Thats nothing....wanna here shady I got an old boss I can tell you about. So shady I had to quit! Like they say..."What goes around comes around"

They will go broke and we can just laugh all the way to tha bank!

 

[MJS]

Um, I think you posted in the wrong thread.

Who's 14?

With the brilliant conclusion that you joined the site at age 8. . .

That stinks about the contract - I have outbid, and been outbid many times on commercial accounts, and I've never really had to deal with a poor sport. Lucky you.

 

[bighaydenslawn]

Just knew someone would have to ask about this. I have liability insurance under an actual mowing policy in the name of my father that I pay the bill for. The people understand this when I submit the bid, and they didn't turn me down on the spot. I've been all residential before now, who knows, I might not even get these commercials. I just thought they would be a good way to try to expand my small business, though I wanted to make sure I was insured and payed Uncle Sam before I went after it. Any more questions just ask.

 

[yardguy28]

yeah i have a question. how do you fit a 48" ztr and a 21 incher on a trailer that small, especially when it's only 36" wide???

your trailer is as long as my smallest trailer is wide.

 

[brucec32]

Just knew someone would have to ask about this. I have liability insurance under an actual mowing policy in the name of my father that I pay the bill for. The people understand this when I submit the bid, and they didn't turn me down on the spot. I've been all residential before now, who knows, I might not even get these commercials. I just thought they would be a good way to try to expand my small business, though I wanted to make sure I was insured and payed Uncle Sam before I went after it. Any more questions just ask.

Either this is playing with us or in an attempt to help your father has probably let you down. You likely don't have squat for insurance. Your agent who sold the policy is even worse if he knew about it.

When underwriting commercial policies the insurer is very concerned with WHO they are insuring. Experience, track record, judgement, all matter. Besides the myriad of possible exclusions due to age, legality of your working on-site, contract law, state laws forbidding 14 y/o's to operate the equipment, labor law concerning employment by minors, etc, it's unlikely any underwriter would knowingly choose to insure a 14 y/o.

An Adult obtaining insurance for a kid under the false premise that the parent is the one managing the business would be immediate grounds for denial of any claims. Therefore, no valid insurance exists. It's similar to an otherwise uninsurable habitual drunk driver getting his brother to obtain a car and insurance for him.

You might invest $200 in an insurance attorney to clarify this for you. You may not care if you have insurance as you likely have few assets. But I bet your customers would care.

 

[MJS]

your 14 and a bidding on commercial work??????? shoot me now

Ahahaha, I misread what you were referring to. . .

Now I get it. :laugh:

 

[GrassIsGreenerLawnCare]

and how do u drive your trailer around??? dont u have to be 16 to get a license?? ur lucky mom and dad drive u everywhere and buy u expensive equipment. i just dont get how u have 9 accounts and 1 commercial w/out a drivers license?? maybe laws are dif where u live

 

[bighaydenslawn]

Guys really didn't want to start anything, just wanted to clarify. I'm not going to spend forever explaining some kind of fancy cover-up, because there is no need and that's the fact. My family does not or has never been involved in lawn care; it is something I started last year. All equipment has been purchased myself, mom and dad haven't bought it as someone said. In response to the trailer thing, I pull that trailer with my big mower and fit everything else inside it. All of my lawns at this time are in the town in which I live. And on the insurance thing, I do not want to go into great detail but I have my own liability policy under my father's name that I pay for and tell commercials that it is in this paperwork. If you have any questions, you can ask, but please don't bash a little company just because you don't know anything about it.

And to LwnmrMan22, sorry for hijacking the thread. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[ALC-GregH]

Either this is playing with us or in an attempt to help your father has probably let you down. You likely don't have squat for insurance. Your agent who sold the policy is even worse if he knew about it.

When underwriting commercial policies the insurer is very concerned with WHO they are insuring. Experience, track record, judgement, all matter. Besides the myriad of possible exclusions due to age, legality of your working on-site, contract law, state laws forbidding 14 y/o's to operate the equipment, labor law concerning employment by minors, etc, it's unlikely any underwriter would knowingly choose to insure a 14 y/o.

An Adult obtaining insurance for a kid under the false premise that the parent is the one managing the business would be immediate grounds for denial of any claims. Therefore, no valid insurance exists. It's similar to an otherwise uninsurable habitual drunk driver getting his brother to obtain a car and insurance for him.

You might invest $200 in an insurance attorney to clarify this for you. You may not care if you have insurance as you likely have few assets. But I bet your customers would care.

Guys really didn't want to start anything, just wanted to clarify. I'm not going to spend forever explaining some kind of fancy cover-up, because there is no need and that's the fact. My family does not or has never been involved in lawn care; it is something I started last year. All equipment has been purchased myself, mom and dad haven't bought it as someone said. In response to the trailer thing, I pull that trailer with my big mower and fit everything else inside it. All of my lawns at this time are in the town in which I live. And on the insurance thing, I do not want to go into great detail but I have my own liability policy under my father's name that I pay for and tell commercials that it is in this paperwork. If you have any questions, you can ask, but please don't bash a little company just because you don't know anything about it.

And to LwnmrMan22, sorry for hijacking the thread. Hope everything works out for you.

Young man, I think your dad needs to re-evaluate what he's doing. As stated insurance companies are not going to insure a 14yr old to do commercial work. Your dad is sticking his neck out and doesn't even know it.

 

[yardguy28]

blah blah blah........

leave the kid alone. i think it's great he's got a small business going. if he's got insurance who cares how he got it, at least he's got it. it's a step ahead of the scrubs already.

 

[hackitdown]

blah blah blah........

leave the kid alone. i think it's great he's got a small business going. if he's got insurance who cares how he got it, at least he's got it. it's a step ahead of the scrubs already.

Exactly. He has been nothing but polite, and everyone is piling on like they have something at stake because of his insurance policy. If his insurance doesn't work, that is his problem. Nobody asked anything about insurance in this thread.

Keep pluggin' kid.

 

[Lazer Cut]

Some people should grow up... he's been honest and open no need to bash him. I agree leave him alone. He's not been bragging or anything just answered a thread. Bash me I'm 18 w/ 7 commercials and had two at 17... come on haters bash me go ahead... oh and I didn't have insurance in my name either. now I do though... nice to not worry about insurance its all paid for and I'm set for this year
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[bighaydenslawn]

Thanks yardguy, hackitdown, and lazer cut for helping me out. I appreciate it a lot. Best wishes to all of you for a prosperous 2010 mowing season.

 

[LwnmwrMan22]

bighayden -

The guys DO have a point. If it were me, I would have your parents contact YOUR insurance company and just do a follow through.

I appreciate a hijacked thread if good can come out of it. Either those guys are right, or they're not. IF they're NOT, then you can come back here and say "next time guys, keep your mouth shut on things you don't know of".

IF they're RIGHT, I'd hate to have something somewhat major happen and you have no coverage, and your parents have extreme legal issues.

I only speak of experience of having windows broken, a guy cutting a finger off in MY log splitter, a truck rolled.

As long as you're in the guidelines of your policy, you're okay and you're paying for coverage.

If you're NOT in the guidelines of your policy, then you and your parents are not only paying for something that's essentially worthless, but you'll end up having more troubles down the road.