[ztrguy]

This guy is going out of business. He has given me a list of people that he is no longer going to be mowing. What should I do?

Should I call the people and give an estimate?
Should I call and try to do it at the price it was being done by the other LCO?
Should I drop by their house w/ a card and estimate?

How would you go about doing this?

I don't really want to ask the guy how much he was charging these people. I don't want to bid too high or low either depending on how he bid them. I might scare them off.

All suggestions welcome of course

Thanks

 

[GLAN]

Take the list and give them estimates, at your rate. How do you know this guy was not 50% below you and could not make ends meet?

You get some, Great!!

You don't get some, fine


And there is no guarantee they will use you next year, remember that. So, don't sell yourself short

 

[dvmcmrhp52]

Drop cards or fliers by their houses.If they call quote YOUR price without worry of what they were paying before.You need to get your price not someone else's.Everyones pricing structure is different based on overhead,expectations of profit,personal circumstances etc.I can and do price lower than some in my area because I can.I run very lean and don't spend on equipment unless I can get a return on it within one year.That is MY business plan not someone else's and I expect others to have a different plan.Good luck,but don't be afraid to be a little aggressive,
thats what business is about to some extent.

 

[Mark P]

Must be missing something, he's going out of business, looks like he would be selling you his accounts on a mow % say 2 Months, are they under contract? Id have to set down with him and get the full picture, Never heard of any LCO around here that was going out of business that didn't sell them......Marks Mowing Service.................PS maybe thats his way you may just get some free accounts/ plus full service on many....Good Luck

 

[bobbygedd]

DONT do it at his rates, or under his terms. you are running your business, he ran his till it went under. been there done that. a few yrs back, this guy randomely picks my name out of the newspaper add. calls and asks if im interested in picking up his clients, hes quitting. i said sure. he asks if i would do them at his prices, and assured me he is charging "the going rate". so i agree. he gives all his clients my number. there were about 15 that i took on. he was not charging a legitimate fee for any of his services. it was short lived. now, if i had gone to each customer and given my price, and offered them good service, by a licensed and insured "turf specialist" ( i love saying that) , it may have worked out.

 

[Swampbeast]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
DONT do it at his rates, or under his terms. you are running your business, he ran his till it went under. been there done that. a few yrs back, this guy randomely picks my name out of the newspaper add. calls and asks if im interested in picking up his clients, hes quitting. i said sure. he asks if i would do them at his prices, and assured me he is charging "the going rate". so i agree. he gives all his clients my number. there were about 15 that i took on. he was not charging a legitimate fee for any of his services. it was short lived. now, if i had gone to each customer and given my price, and offered them good service, by a licensed and insured "turf specialist" ( i love saying that) , it may have worked out.

What Bobby just said. Exactly. Give them your price, if you get some, great, if not, oh well.

 

[ztrguy]

Thanks for the posts everyone. You guys helped out a lot. Guess what I found out. This guy was doing lawn service on the side. He's been doing it on and off for 10 or so years. And I see why he decided to quit. Most jobs would take 40 - 60 minutes to complete. You guessed it!!! He's charging $15 for most of them. Takes around 1 hour 40 minutes on one. How about $35? I'm sure everyone in their right mind would charge that? HAHA.....YEA RIGHT!!!! Anyways, just wanted to up date you guys. Thanks again for the advice. Glad I priced them myself before even asking or considering to do it at his price. Lesson learned.

Thanks!!!

 

[crawdad]

You've already figured it out, but I'm gonna say it anyhow. I say it to potential new customers who tell me the "other guy's" price.
"I don't let the guy who went out of business set my prices."
Hey, I think I found the sig line I've been looking for!
Crawdad