[GreenMachine102]

Well this morning I started cutting my largest residential property, as I do every Friday morning, the guy walks out and pays me my 80 dollars, and says I've got some other things I want you to do for me, he wants some tall weeds (milkweeds, etc.) to be cut down, and he also wants the front hedge trimmed(very large!), then he walks around back, and points at a light ( one of those large halogen fixtures, way up on the top eave of his house), he says, can you change that bulb, and I said ok (reluctantly ), and I said "where is the new bulb", he says he doesn't have one, and wants me to go to a store which sells them, and buy one! He didn't offer to pay me extra for anything, bushes,weeds, or light!!!!:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

I am so tired of rich a** holes, I am really in quite a bind because I am very close friends with his daughter, and his family, what to do??????????????:dizzy:

Also he wants his yard to be cut every 2 weeks, so the front yard I cut on 3, back on 4 because it is so tall that if I cut it on 3 it would be brown, and look dead, it clumps and looks terrible, so I mulch it and go over it a second time, to make it look decent!!!

SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH SOME PEOPLE!!??!???!???!!!!:dizzy:

 

[Remsen1]

Part of being a good business person is knowing when to say "no" and how to say "no".

I'd suggest telling him that he will pay more to have it cut every two weeks. For example if you're charging $60 per week now, tell him that it will cost $140 for two weeks. Explain that it is wear on your equipment, screws up your schedule takes longer, double cut etc.

Also you have to make it clear that you charge for extras. This is not to say that you should charge for every little thing, but when it starts adding to the amount of time that you're there absolutely must charge.

 

[seascape]

Im sure he doesnt expect you to do that extra work for free. I think you may misunderstand rich folks. He probally trusts your fees so he didnt bother asking prices. He may just want to give you extra work. Do it and put it on his bill. Be fair about it and ill be willing to bet youll see work like this often at his place.
mike

 

[Runner]

Whenever someone asks if you can do this or that, you just quite simply wait until all requests are done, and say. "Sure that's no problem, you're probably only looking at about $X.00 to do it. We can take CARE of that for you." Be quick with it, without hesitation. Just like it's routine. They will respect this. This is a BUSINESS, you are not the neighbor kid down the street doing odd jobs for the summer! Also, I would DEFinitely submit this on a bill. I believe he didn't expect you to do this for free, either.

 

[Green Pastures]

Originally posted by seascape
Im sure he doesnt expect you to do that extra work for free. I think you may misunderstand rich folks. He probally trusts your fees so he didnt bother asking prices. He may just want to give you extra work. Do it and put it on his bill. Be fair about it and ill be willing to bet youll see work like this often at his place.
mike

I agree. But I would not just "put it on his bill." Discuss a price first and get it confirmed in writing, then do the work.

I service a few rich folks and the question of "can you do this?" does not necessarily mean "can you do this for free?".

I say either yes I can, it'll be $X or no I can't, I'm sorry, you might try calling X.

 

[tiedeman]

you have to put your foot down. Just tell him that it will be this amount of money for each additional service. And if he wants the lawn ct every 2 weeks up the price and tell him that it will cost extra. If he complains nicey tell him that he needs to find another lawn care company then.

 

[ElephantNest]

Earn is daughter's ( and his) respect, and charge him. Not sure about you, but I'm not in this to make/keep friends. I understand your predicament, but charge charge charge!!!

 

[GLAN]

You want to have a future in lawn care?

Bill him for the extras

 

[Bluesteel]

Building on ‘Nest’s issue of respect, of course he (and everyone) should be charged for every service. That should be your point of view. Your attitude should be that it’s obvious, for granted, it’s like that for everyone, of course everyone knows I run a pay for service business, etc.

In reality, there are freeloaders. But if your attitude is as described above, then you’ll appear reasonable (when they’re not) and perfectly calm (when they get emotional). Because getting something for nothing is absolutely ridiculous to the point of being laughable. You will assume he’s going to pay, and not default to thinking he’s trying to freeload (which would make you develope a defensive attitude).

When that attitude REALLY becomes a part of you, it will show in your body language, on your countenance, and in your voice inflections. Positively or negatively, those non-verbal queues speak so loud that many times people can’t hear what you say. Then when someone puts you in this situation, your response will be smooth, commanding, and yet non-confrontational: “Would you like me to bill you, or do you wish to pay in advance?”

 

[TRex]

I am in construction I do it every day and service a few lawns every week one always leads to the other. I have had customers do the same thing. After I've done work and they gain my trust I keep track of my hours and mat. for odd and end jobs and charge more or less per hour depeding on the tools used and lots more where hights are involved and no I am not scared of them its just the risk is there.

You'll figure it out Good Luck

 

[A1 Grass]

Originally posted by Runner
Whenever someone asks if you can do this or that, you just quite simply wait until all requests are done, and say. "Sure that's no problem, you're probably only looking at about $X.00 to do it. ....

Exactly!

While he's pointing at things, you write them down, give him your written bid on the work, and if he accepts, have him sign and return it! If he says "that's too much" tell him you understand completely if he wants to get other bids.

 

[bobbygedd]

green, i see u r in maryland, it must be hot and humid there too. today we cut miles and miles of wet, hot, nasty grass and weeds. its so damn humid, even my beer is sweatin. u know what i said to my last customer today, as i was finishing blowing the walkway, and she was standing on the porch watchin us the whole time? i said , "hope u enjoyed the show granny, now pay up im sweatin my balls off. " this is what i do when they want extra stuff done, and the sentence doesnt start like this, "how much would it be to......". i listen to thier request, and tell them i can get to it monday, let me figure out what its gonna cost, ill have my secretary call u. this lets them know that there will be a charge, just incase they didnt know, and u dont have to do any fast calculating, under pressure, and get burned.

 

[MP350]

Your in business to make money,be fair and upfront as to cost. As to mowing every two weeks during growing season is tough,remember the way you leave the yard is your calling card in effect, the people watching you don't know that is what the customer wants and may pass you over for work based on the performance they have seen .

 

[dvmcmrhp52]

Some customers trust my billing and just accept that I will be fair while others need to be informed on cost first.You need to know your customers,BUT they all get charged if we do the work!

 

[smburgess]

I'm in agreement with some of the posts.

- You better wise up and start charging for your services.

- If a client asks you to provide a service, charge them of course.

- If a "regular" client ask for something extra to be done, and doesn't ask for a price, It gets done and I bill them. There is not a question about these things.

I just can't fathom that you would do the work not even expecting to charge the client. Amazing....

 

[Green in Idaho]

Let's see,,, for some past clients I've --

For one:
-helped them move
-assembled a lot of Tech furniture
-painted a garage floor
-had dinner with their doctor daughter

For an elderly lady:
-moved snow tires in and out for 10 seasons
-drained her waterbed
-enjoyed lots of baked goodies
-tolerated her dam dog

For another:
-House sitted
-Took their visiting friend fishing
-Picked up furniture with my truck

And I'm sure others I can't remember. And most for money on the clock but not all. I recall the fishing was free.... There are also occasional nice friendly gestures to go beyond their expectation.= customer loyalty.

I figured anything outdoors was fair game... indoor, well maybe...

A lot of people simply need services and are willing to PAY really well to make it an easy deal. IF they are a paying, I'm a playing!

An attitude of them being 'a-holes' is not too service oriented. IF they truly are such, then stop 'kissing their as' and walk away. Every day of work I've had for 22 years, customer service was involved and usually for affluent people. Never met any real __ , though. Maybe just a bad day... for one of the two.

 

[MacLawnCo]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
as i was finishing blowing the walkway, and she was standing on the porch watchin us the whole time? i said , "hope u enjoyed the show granny, now pay up im sweatin my balls off. "

Bobby, im crying you made me laugh so hard...thanks

 

[geogunn]

Originally posted by GreenMachine102
and I said "where is the new bulb", he says he doesn't have one, and wants me to go to a store which sells them, and buy one!

just ask him for the keys to his car and he'll get the picture.

GEO

 

[MOW ED]

Don't take this the wrong way because I do not know you or your business. I must ask are you a legit business that pays tax, has insurance ect. If so you have to bill like all the others have said. It is preferable to have a written estimate but we all have some people who we deal with by word of mouth.
This is a great opportunity to make some extra cash and he wants you to do the work, make sure its worth your time. You should already know what it takes to cover expenses.

Now if you are just a guy working for gas money its a different story. This guy may be taking advantage of your position and you have to decide what you are gonna do. If he knows that you are just doing this and you are not a legit business, he sort of has you by the shorts because you will have a hard time justifying a fair price. Like I said I do not know your situation and I am not assuming that you are not on the level, I am just trying to help with justifying a bill for your work. I know you have been in business for 4 years but you also stated that you are friends with the family. Nothing wrong with that as long as you aren't taken advantage of.

When you do work for someone you deserve fair compensation. His time is worth something and he has to pay you to save his time. Your time is converted to cash. Good Luck.

 

[Turfdude]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
i listen to thier request, and tell them i can get to it monday, let me figure out what its gonna cost, ill have my secretary call u. this lets them know that there will be a charge, just incase they didnt know, and u dont have to do any fast calculating, under pressure, and get burned.

Wow, a sensible reply that even I can agree with, especially taking one's time to properly calculate a bid.