[HANDYHELPERS]

I received a call today from a customer in a 500,000 dollar house that had received one of my doorhangers. Now his lot is 37,000 sq. ft. Now I am a new lco this year because I am adding this service to my existing business. I am putting out doorhangers with different prices in each neighbor hood to see what the pricing is like. This door hanger was the 1 with the lowest price 25.00. When the customer called and said he is checking me out and that the 25.00 must be the going rate because he has 3 other lcos to call with the same price. I did not try to sell the job because I don't want that job for that price it should have been at least 35.00 that's what 95 percent of the doorhangers I put out had as a price. That was the only call I expect from that neighborhood. To make a long story short, is how can anyone make any money with the prices this low? And don't say lowballers unless ypou are calling all lcos lowballers. Trying to stay positive through it all.
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[rain man]

I am not good at staying positive lol.

 

[rain man]

Ok, the season is close and I am not enjoying this waiting game.

We put out flyers this year and seen the same thing you describe. I noticed that the same people were bidding the same price in different type subdivisions without regard to degree of difficulty or time involved. In the areas where it looked like there was a race to get to the bottom we held off and just put out some samples to see what happens.

 

[360ci]

I get just as many phone calls mid season as I do at the start. Why? Because people cheapen out, then these 'operators' do a terrible job and people are phoning around for a REAL company to do the work. A lot of people think we offer a luxury, when in fact it's a service. Elderly and others who can't do the work themselves, or are too busy to do it but have to have cut grass in accordance with local laws are at a loss but to outsource the work. Same with businesses; They won't send a guy out to cut grass for an hour from his office in a suit just to stay in compliance.

People are looking for a way out, and when they can't convert their vehicle into a taxi, they seek other means to put what tools they have to work for them. I started on a whim a decade ago part time and am still part time only because I only take on so many clients a year. I advertise until I get my quota, then I stop. I still get calls even when I don't advertise (word of mouth) and that's 50% of my business, are all referrals. Advertise all you want at whatever price you want, $20, 25, 35. You have to make sure that you give the client what they pay for. I spend 30-40 minutes for a $30 yard and under 30min I charge 25. Even if it's small and only takes me 10minutes to cut and trim quickly, I'll spend the extra 5min or so and edge where I can just to make sure that they think they're getting their monies worth. I still pull in over $50/hr after expenses if you include travel time to the next stop. I won't go lower than that, but I make sure my work is hard to beat. It's the details that a lot of people care about these days, silly, yes, but they care about them nonetheless.

 

[Mahoney3223]

No kidding!! I just got off the phone with the president of the committee at a church I mow and guess what? I lost it! To some unlicensed rum dum teacher who does this part time with a frickin old time riding mower...I told the guy well this was expected to be honest because everyone is blaming the economy and hiring scrubs...and he says "well i don't expect it to work out but the other members want to give him a shot to save some money, can I call you back if it doesn't work out. And if we come back, is the price still good?" To which I replied Yes, you can call me back WHEN he fails and also NO the price will have increased. I hope you are happy with him....Now this place is a serious nitpicker so we'll see how long this lasts....sorry had to vent

 

[Richard Martin]

Just do the best you can and remember, not all areas will command the same price. What may seem low in one area may be too much in another. Around here most people think paying a guy $10 an hour to do lawn work is highway robbery.

 

[Tommyboy56]

Just like 360 said. Half way through the season the cheapos will realize they made a mistake and get a real company. It does suck though because you know it won't work out with this part time teacher guy and you have to work him back in your schedule. Every other year for the last 12 this guy would hire cheaper on me or get a neighborhood kid and I would take him in between. Last year I basically told him to F-off. It sucked because I do all his neighbors, but sometimes you have to make these people learn we do more than just push a mower over some grass.