[1MajorTom]

Jodi takes a call, says that I will be out in the morning to give an estimate. I knew as soon as I looked at the sheet with the info on it, this lady was going to waste my time.
I pull up, one lady comes out. I see two more peering through the front door. When I look over at them, they duck. I turn away, they peer back at me. Like I'm a circus attraction or something.
The lady wants recommendations on how to fix her lawn. She comes right out though and says she still plans on keeping her current grass cutter even though he scalps the lawn, and it burns every summer. Then she asks me if I will cut back her ivy.
I said, "this may sound harsh, but I have enough of my own grass customers to take care of. have your own grass cutter cut the ivy. If you were my grass customer, then I would take care of your ivy." She looks at me dumbfounded. Then I say, "Don't waste my time looking for ideas on how to fix your lawn, when the first step is to fire your current lawn provider."
Adios!
Now that the season started, I have tons of these kinds of stories, and Jodi's tired of hearing them.

Matt

 

[Norm Al]

you should have told her that you have a $500.00 show up fee,,,,,how would she like to pay?

 

[Runner]

lol And gee, you don't think you could grow grass on a SCALPED
wide open lawn? I mean, afterall, you KNOW it would be getting watered properly, and you KNOW that it would get proper care once it started germinating.....

 

[charlies]

i have an estimate for a lasy next tuesday for spring clean-up.

i did an estimate out there last year for the same thing, my brother did in the 2002 season. she literally lives in a forest neighborhood. all the leaves to go along with a forest, no where to dump them. my brother estimated $550 in 2002, i estimated $600 in 2003, i will probably estimate $600 again this year, she has never gone with us. what a waste this is going to be.

 

[lawnman_scott]

What I hate is when you go do a waste of time estimate, you think its over and done with. Then a year or two later they call again, and being in a populated area, I dont usually realize it till i am pulling up to the lawn.

 

[Kelly's Landscaping]

charlies

If I were you rather then waste your time I would call her up and bid 600 you already know what the place looks like nothing has changed. Why go out there for nothing shes not going to use you anyway so offend her over the phone and save your self some gas and get your dinner a little earlyer.

 

[65hoss]

...and these people breed.

 

[Vladslawn]

1MajorTom

I like your professional, no nonsensce, frank, and direct approach to this type of situation. Thanks for sharing the experience.

Regards,

Vlad

 

[charlies]

Originally posted by Kelly's Landscaping
charlies

If I were you rather then waste your time I would call her up and bid 600 you already know what the place looks like nothing has changed. Why go out there for nothing shes not going to use you anyway so offend her over the phone and save your self some gas and get your dinner a little earlyer.

you're right of course. maybe i'll remember that next year.

 

[bastalker]

Originally posted by charlies
you're right of course. maybe i'll remember that next year.

Your estimate isn't till next tuesday... Why would you want to wait till next year to take Kelly's advice???

You know its $600 tell her over the phone......

 

[charlies]

you're right too. but i have already set up the meeting, and i have a thing about cancelling. besides, just this one more time, it'll be kinda of funny, like deja'vu, and there's something just slightly off about her. my brother and i will have a good laugh over it later on when i'm telling him about it.

 

[bastalker]

Matt, I would have done pretty much what Norm said....No problem, I will charge ya x amount...It would have been twice as much as it was worth though.....

 

[sildoc]

You can tell these people when you walk up. When I get the sence My first question is how much do you think it is worth.
When an Ungodly low figure comes out I usually end up saying multiply that by 5 and we have a deal, all in while I am heading back to the truck.

 

[Del9175]

I had a similar problem. They called me three years in a row for an estimate on lawn care. The first two I went out and took a look and gave them my price. The third year I returned the call and explained that I have been there the previous years and just don't have the time this year. Both years that I did submit an estimate they hired people who were no longer in business the following year.

 

[bobbygedd]

that's the way to do it. you need be smart enough to know when you just can't win. and that was a no win situation.

 

[Pilgrims' Pride]

Why would you deal with this person year after year?
As someone above said, I'd just return the call.
Tell the customer that you have met with them year after year and remind them that they always used someone else.
Then say My price is whatever and tell them you need a signature if they want the work done.

Then again you could say you are already booked.