Spending a few bucks

[picframer]

I had to come home at lunch today to get an additional chipper for a crew, as I was driving to the job site I came up to the competition in front of me. As I looked at his wood chipper I thought, good lord, $50.00 would go a long way with that unit and I personally would be embarrassed to pull up to a clients lot with it. There is so much chipping and cutting work around it's nuts and there are only five of us in the city that offer commercial chippers, experienced and certified wood cutters and fully insured. Anyhow up around this bend is a gas station, I swear I should buy stock in an oil company we are spending around $140. a day in fuel alone, I say fuel as most of the gear is diesel but two trucks are gas, anyhow he pulls in as do I. I don't know the guy well but we all see each other around, as we are filling up he says so how's business I see your trucks pulling all kinds of toys, I don't like to brag so I said well the economy is what it is and we are doing what we can, his reply was yea this is the first job this year for me and my crew, I simply said great to be out working in the sun, interesting chipper you have there, sure looks like she could use a coat of paint. He replied yea well paint doesn't pay the bills and who cares it wouldn't work any better right??? Yours will look like that in two years, did you just buy that one you have on as it looks new? I said no it's not new bud, it's two years old and has 800 hours on it. That was pretty much the end of the conversation. Image sells and it doesn't cost any of us much, here is a pic I took while following him, not great as it's from my blackberry.

Attached Images

rustychipper.jpg (129.4 KB, 45 views)

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[CHEESE2009]

Lawn care business tips

I bet he could have that chipper looking half decent in no time. My first trailer looked like that, even I grinded it down, primer/painted it. I love keeping my tools looking fresh - I'm losing my mind this week as I'm dying to clean everything, but there is just so much to get done!

__________________
Keeper of Peace
Security Officer Cheese2009
Gopher Security Central (G.S.C)
4th Floor, office 112

[jklawncare]

same here..my equipment (the little i have) is always washed
and my car (that i cant even drive for 5 more days) is washed every week
and i put rubbing compound on it to make it look great..im looking at this trailer..and idont even know why im thinking about it
its a 5x8 trailer and he only wants 100 for it (nothing wrong its another company owner/helping me get started with good advice and good offers in return for work i cant manage on my own) but the paint is peeling.. ill just sand blast and paint..ill brb i gotta figure out the companies budget for this month!

[kdexpd]

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING! Spend $50 and make $100.

[Steve]

This is a great point.

It does make you wonder how customers pick up on how you care for your equipment. If they see run down equipment, will they they feel they are getting inferior quality work?

Conversely, will they feel they are getting superior work and getting their money's worth if they see well taken care of equipment?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

This is a great point.

It does make you wonder how customers pick up on how you care for your equipment. If they see run down equipment, will they they feel they are getting inferior quality work?

Conversely, will they feel they are getting superior work and getting their money's worth if they see well taken care of equipment?

I can't tell you how many jobs we have received simply due to uniforms and new looking equipment.

[Steve]

Do you think it goes beyond just getting the job and that with nicer equipment and uniforms, you can charge more?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

Do you think it goes beyond just getting the job and that with nicer equipment and uniforms, you can charge more?

We are not the cheapest game in town but I stick to my prices and people rave about our work which brings in a pile of business. The John Deere brand really sells for us also as people see it as quality gear.

[stevef1201]

I have seen guys with fancy trailers who seem to have lots of customers (the image got the customers) but do sh1tty work, and have lots them. To me. I also have a nice trailer, a new mower and a clean vehicle. The image is not everything. However I did get a referral to a rental agent from a guy who told me the he told her" this guys got new equipment, and seems to keep it up, he would someone to hire unlike (name deleted) who was always complaining of 'broken mower'." Have good looking equipment, keep it clean, and do a good job, the most important advice I can give

[Steve]

Steve,

Do you also wear some kind of uniform ? What's your view on that?