[Landscraper1]

I have been maintaning a large property for years. Trugreen had been doing the fertilizing there. In 2008, they asked me to bid the fert for 2009 because they were very unhappy with all the weeds and crabgrass in the lawn. I won the bid and was about even with Trugreen on the price. Last year, everyone was very happy with the results of our lawn care. This year, I kept the price the same. Trugreen priced it at almost half. Yea, that's right, HALF of 2008's price.
I was told that Trugreen lost alot of customers and are being very aggressive in there pricing.
Let me know what you all think of this? Also, tell me how you think Trugreen can make money by doing this?

 

[IN2MOWN]

Trugreen lowballed??? GASP!!!!!!!!!


How do you think they have gotten so many customers?

Dont even try and compete with Tru-Green in regards to price.

 

[jasontimm]

In my area they started loosing large amount of customers, more than usual, they blamed it on the field guys and said they fired everyone. The following year they dropped 20% off thier already very low price, $45.00 dollars for a 35k lawn for example. The only customers that hire them now are ones that only look at price, and dont care about the quality of service. Thats fine, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

 

[LwnmwrMan22]

There's nothing to say.

If you were even with TG/CL's price, you priced it too low. If they cut THAT price, be happy.

If I get access to all of the account, meaning irrigation, mowing, cleanups, fertilizing, spraying, etc., I can sell my services.

If you're going to compete with TG on price, you can't.

If your customer thinks they're getting a job done for 1/2 price, they're getting 1/2 rate, literally.

 

[ringahding]

It's happening everwhere man! "What goes around comes around"....be patient....with fert. prices not going down anytime soon, keep doing what has worked for you thus far...this paticular property will call you back, when they see once again their getting crappy service...

 

[gardiner]

i don't do fertilizing yet but i have noticed is that the only property's that they take care of that looks decent are the property that have high traffic .
The property's with little to no traffic is the place getting all the sand /water. thats how they get away with lowballin

 

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

In my area they started loosing large amount of customers, more than usual, they blamed it on the field guys and said they fired everyone. The following year they dropped 20% off thier already very low price, $45.00 dollars for a 35k lawn for example. The only customers that hire them now are ones that only look at price, and dont care about the quality of service. Thats fine, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

Are you dead serious on the $45/35k? Cmon, really?
Thats like my min price for a postage stamp. 35k is well over 3 figures.

 

[Runner]

They do it all the time. the only difference with THIS instance is that they USUALLY do it within a month after they lose the place. They have a special department of sales people that that's all they do...call people they lost currently, and knock the price way down low to try to get that customer back. I have some GREAT stories from MY customers where they have tried doing that.

 

[kevinconrad]

I heard they pay there employes min. wage,it will catch up with them once again once they do lousy work again.

 

[ALC-GregH]

I heard they pay there employees min. wage. It will catch up with them once again once they do lousy work again.

lets not forget diluting the liquid mix they use so it will go farther. That's part of how they can drop their price so much, they also use less materials. So basically what they are doing is ruining the fert and squirt industry by not applying the correct amount of product all in a effort to keep a customer. Now the guy that does it the right way and has his pricing right will have a hard time getting work.

TG has money but it can only last so long before they will HAVE to bring their price back up or fold. At least once the consumer sees what they are doing. Now the consumer is going to look for another company to do the work and expect the price to be low.

 

[AOD]

I heard they pay there employes min. wage,it will catch up with them once again once they do lousy work again.

You pay peanuts you get monkeys.

I think TruGreen is going the way of Blockbuster. Are there still stories nowdays of their guys having major health problems from that stuff they spray?

 

[yardguy28]

Trugreen lowballed??? GASP!!!!!!!!!

How do you think they have gotten so many customers?

Dont even try and compete with Tru-Green in regards to price.

this is very true, not just with tru-green either. SOME (not all) of the larger companies in this industry do just that with services like mowing. they make there money from volume.

us solo operators can't do the volume the larger companies do so we can't afford to low ball. it's better to have 5 accounts that pay $10 each than to have 10 accounts that pay $5 each.

also the larger companies will low ball some services like mowing to get the landscaping which is what they really want. there is a company in my neck of the woods that won't touch a property if the client doesn't want the full package. they low ball the mowing part to get the rest.

 

[Landscraper1]

I have been maintaning a large property for years. Trugreen had been doing the fertilizing there. In 2008, they asked me to bid the fert for 2009 because they were very unhappy with all the weeds and crabgrass in the lawn. I won the bid and was about even with Trugreen on the price. Last year, everyone was very happy with the results of our lawn care. This year, I kept the price the same. Trugreen priced it at almost half. Yea, that's right, HALF of 2008's price.
I was told that Trugreen lost alot of customers and are being very aggressive in there pricing.
Let me know what you all think of this? Also, tell me how you think Trugreen can make money by doing this?

Update guys. I still got the contract for this job. They signed me up for 3yrs. The manager said that the board felt that my price was reasonable and they did not want Trugreen back. The vote was unanimous. Makes me feel good that some people are still willing to take quality over price.:cool2:

 

[ALC-GregH]

congratulation's on getting the job.

 

[Lawn Enforcer]

Are you dead serious on the $45/35k? Cmon, really?
Thats like my min price for a postage stamp. 35k is well over 3 figures.

Same here, my minimum is $30! And that's for anything up to 1,500 sq/ft. Of course I don't come 6 times a year like TG either...

 

[Tharrell]

They're just like the big "O" pest control company, matter of fact I think big "O" owned them at one time.
They are basically a revenue generator, they don't care as much for current customers as they do FUTURE customers.
I would say focus on quality, results can't be denied.

 

[Cboy7]

I urge all my customers to fire trugreen.