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#22 ·
Why not pass some of the savings in time off to the customer in a moderate price break. If you can mow a lawn twice as fast with better equip. then you could drop the price a few bucks and still make twice what you were making before. Faster production=more customers at less cost.
I believe the customer, who contributes to the purchase of new equip., should enjoy the benefit of hiring a pro who can not only do a good job, but can do a good job FAST.
Look at any successful business and they will not "show you the receipt" for their expensive equip., they will try to pass off the benefits of the new equip. to the customer.
One example, I bought a Sthil articulating hedge trimmer this year,and it has cut time in half for some hedge jobs. I now charge a little less for those jobs but I can fit in more of them. I benefit. The customer benefits.
I realize this doesn't have much to do with the original post, if the customer tries to tell you what to do then pack up and leave, but only to the replies.
 
#23 ·
Casey I think you missed the post about overhead...Though you have more expensive equipment to do the job quicker that doesn't mean that your price is now too high. Granted you can make more money now, but your overhead costs are now higher. The customer needs to realize that they are paying for a finished product no matter how long it takes to get there.
 
#24 ·
Pro-Lawn I say never slow down for anyone. If you can do a better job in half the time that it might take someone else to do it, then do it. There are good customers that understand that you're a professional and can get the job done more efficiently. Although I've had some customers complain that I "did it too fast", I've actually had customers appreciate the fact that I was in and out quickly and not spending the day making noise in their yard. Besides, the quicker you get done, the more money you make.
 
#26 ·
When the ROTO_ROTOR guy comes, he says $125.00 for up to 50 feet , after that it is $360.00.One hour of work, $3500.00 piece of equipment. Who is trying to save somebody else money. When I try to save somebody money I do it for FREE. If you can't afford a Cadilac don't test drive one.
 
#27 ·
Lonestar,
Do you think Mcdonald's charges more because they have expensive equip. and overhead? If you can increase productivity then share the benefit with the customer. Do more, charge less, make money.
Just because you're running a $$$$$ machine over some lawn doesn't mean you should gouge a customer. DO MORE-CHARGE LESS. You may even be able to lowball the scrubs.

"I show the receipt (for the expensive mower) to the customer"?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
 
#28 ·
Happens to me a few times a week. Usually from people 45 or older. I mow at (I think) 7 mph. Can't imagine how bad they'd complain if I had a Chopper.
 
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#29 ·
Casey, a lawnguy is not a huge corp. We don't run blue light specials and we don't have sales of the week. What motivation is there to try to improve your service by using the latest technology if that only means that you must now lower your price?

My philosophy is, do the best job with the best equipment for the job at the highest price I can get, for only the best customers.

Time is the commodity that we sell. If we are willing to take the risk (debt) to buy equipment that allows us to increase the amount of commodity that we have to sell, why short ourselves by charging less? By charging less we simply devalue the market and end up mowing twice as many lawns to make ends meet. Give me 5 $50.00 lawns over 10 $25.00 lawns anyday!
 
#30 ·
i had one lady fire me (glady) said my mowers were too big for her 1 acre yard she would rather have it push mowed with a 21" nothing larger.
 
#31 ·
Casey, the more you mow the faster the equipment wears out. The sooner your back to buy more equipment. And all along it was because you wanted to cut more and make less. Go figure???

Work smarter not harder.
 
#33 ·
casey- I don't quite get it. I spend more on equipment, and I charge less? lets look at the innovations in other areas of work and see if your logic pans out:

1 irrigation- do the guys with the trenchers charge more than the guys that dig them by hand? NO- they charge the same, and the trencher guy makes payments, the hand guy pays labor.
2 weed control- does the guy that has a $30,000 rig charge less than a guy with a 2 gallon or back pack-NO- the chemlawn guy brings in 1000-1400 per day, and makes payments, the backpack guy- maybe $500
3 landscape- the guys that plant trees by hand or by machine- who charges more- they charge the Same- who makes more? depends,
4- roofing- have roofers charged less since they went to air nailers? nope, it is still priced "per square" the air nailer is faster, ergo the roofer makes more
5- framers charge less with air nailer, decidedly not! they get more done in a day, make more
6- tile cutters chage more after buying a diamond wetsaw? nope- it is per square ft.
7- painters more using airless? nope- make more by charging per square ft
8 accountants and computers?
9 groceries and the scanner machine?
10 surveyers and laser levels?

CASEY- NONE of these prices went down! all adapted using technology but none lowered thier prices. I think an argument could be made that technology has slowed inflation on some fronts, but rarely have I heard my doctor say- "you're in luck- with my new $800,000 x-ray xz2000, I have done your xray in 1/4 the time, that'll be 1/4 the price please" yeah, RIGHT

Dave g
 
#34 ·
Dave G.
You are correct "technology has slowed inflation".
By not increasing prices at an inflationary rate all of the professions you mention have passed off the benefits of technology to their customers. They have, in effect lowered their prices, because they are using superior equip.. The benefits of technology, ie faster better mowers, can be shared with the customer with lower, less inflationary prices. The business owner benefits with faster production, more customers serviced, and greater profit. In theory this practice will also stamp out many non legit LCO's many of which do not have the benefit or experience with up to date top quality machinery.

WORK HARDER WORK SMARTER
 
#35 ·
Casey how can you compare apples to oranges? No one said gouge the customer either....just keep the same rate. Do you actually know if McDonald's got a better grill that actually cooked the burgers faster or the fries faster? They could have gotten a more expensive machine and still keep their prices the same. Heck they could have gotten cheaper meat...but the finished product is still the same so the cost can stay the same because the market will allow it. It is really not fair to compare the food industry with the green industry...find a better comparison...


Just because you do more does not mean that you had a higher profit either....
 
#36 ·
Lonestar,
Check dave G.'s comparisons two posts up, they are better examples, then read my reply underneath.

Formerly Casey.

If your interested in the name change check the "Take the lawncare plunge" thread on page 2.
 
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LoneStarLawn
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