"can you cut it shorter and bag?"

[Von Bobbeh]

I have a new customer, he's a good customer aside from the fact that he balked at me mowing at 2.5" and mulching and wants it at 1.5" bagged. I tried to explain how cutting grass to low damages the plant and makes it more susceptible to weed infestation but he seems very set in his position. I personally HATE hacking grass shorting than 2" - none the less bagging it but it's a easy-to-mow yard only 2 miles from where I live so I'd be a fool to drop service, the guy appears to be very social and I'd love to get his yard to full potential I know I can get referals from it. Should I keep trying to convince him of the benefits of a taller lawn? or should I just remedy the problems with chemicals and de-thatching and make more money off his stubbornness? Or am I the crazy one? Do any of you guys mow shorter than 2.5"? I was under the impression 2.5" was a little short to begin with.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

I mow at 3", I had a customer tell me to cut it shorter. I told him why I shouldnt. He insisted, so I did it. He called me a week later and dropped me because of how it looked.

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[dpld]

Originally Posted by Von Bobbeh

I have a new customer, he's a good customer aside from the fact that he balked at me mowing at 2.5" and mulching and wants it at 1.5" bagged.

I tried to explain how cutting grass to low damages the plant and makes it more susceptible to weed infestation but he seems very set in his position.

I personally HATE hacking grass shorting than 2" - none the less bagging it but it's a easy-to-mow yard only 2 miles from where I live so I'd be a fool to drop service, the guy appears to be very social and I'd love to get his yard to full potential I know I can get referals from it.

Should I keep trying to convince him of the benefits of a taller lawn? or should I just remedy the problems with chemicals and de-thatching and make more money off his stubbornness?

Or am I the crazy one? Do any of you guys mow shorter than 2.5"? I was under the impression 2.5" was a little short to begin with.

i never cut below 3 inches.

customers are all @zzhats and if it were not for their money i would have no use for any of them.

[stevef1201]

The customer is NOT always right. If he is so insistent about this, tell 'my machine will not cut that low, I am sorry but you will have to find someone else who will destroy his machine to do that." then walk away. You may not do the lawn any longer, but when I did it I felt better. It's better to keep a reputation than it is too keep a customer

[Von Bobbeh]

We'll see how it goes. He might just end up being the first dropped customer of the year. I really wonder if these short lawn guys have a club or something? because there sure are a lot of them LOL.

[LawnBoy0311]

What type of grass is it? Some can be cut shorter than others. Typically its between 2.5"-3" for most of the country.

Don't let them tell you how to run a business....sometimes dropping them is best before they bad mouth you.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by Von Bobbeh

We'll see how it goes. He might just end up being the first dropped customer of the year. I really wonder if these short lawn guys have a club or something? because there sure are a lot of them LOL.

i had a old guy that would want me to scalp the lawn so it browned out and he did not have to mow it no more years ago.

i told him i would not subject my business having to be seen performing butchery
and looking like a incompetent hack.

[Von Bobbeh]

Well like you said customers are @sshats that don't know what they are doing, because if they did I wouldn't get a call would I?

I just posted 80 flyers today in a promising neighborhood at this rate I'll have over 1000 out by April which should give me a good start and this guy is gonna get dropped and he can take care of his own moss farm again.

[grass guru]

Tell him it will dull the mower blades much quicker, and you will have to charge an additional fee to keep the blades sharp. Mulching is more beneficial as it puts nitrogen back into the lawn and reduces the amount of fertilizer needed. Also tell him gou charge more to bag and haul, since you have to pay disposal fee, etc. Tell him it doesnt look professional. Tell him your biggest concern is his lawn, and its health and appearance, and you ethically and morally will not knowingly damage his lawn. That last one usually works every time.

[Steve]

If you are going to have to bag this, how much more time is it going to take and how will that effect the price you need to charge?