Dirty tricks competitors do

[Steve]

Recently we talked about a situation where one lawn care business owner had his equipment and signs stolen by a competitor. It made me think, what other situations have you run into or heard about on how competitors use dirty tricks to try and knock you out of the game. I figure the more we all know about it, the better we can all defend ourselves against it.

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[The Cleaning Doctor]

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I have a friend where a competitor stole and used a photo on his web site of work that my friend did. The funny thing is that this guy was so stupid that he did not notice the yard sign in the photo. Free advertising and easy to compete against on bidding. LOL

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[Steve]

Another thing we saw in the other post was competitors pouring things down into your vehicle gas tank.

[The Cleaning Doctor]

In my opinion, touching property WILL get you shot. Everyone thinks Texas is bad about shooting people. Well that's because you find out about it. Here they would probably never be found. LOL

Seriously though if someone does something destructive to the property of another, they deserve what they get. They used to hang you for stealing a horse with no trial. I may end up in jail but you are going to make it worth my while one way or another.

[picframer]

It is a very low blow, I have never had it happen nor have I herd of it around here.

I am of the opinion we need to error on the side of caution before we accuse a specific company until it is proven through the proper channels that it was in fact them. I have seen and read of companies that go off thinking they know who did something and it really came back to bite them hard and their whole plan backfired to the point they were far worse off.

[The Cleaning Doctor]

I totally agree with that Andy. I was more talking about catching them in the act.

[StartALawnCareBusiness]

Originally Posted by The Cleaning Doctor

Here they would probably never be found. LOL.

I had the opportunity to drive through Montana last year. I agree that a person would never be found...that's some wide open country up there.

[jasonw]

Originally Posted by Steve

Recently we talked about a situation where one lawn care business owner had his equipment and signs stolen by a competitor.

It made me think, what other situations have you run into or heard about on how competitors use dirty tricks to try and knock you out of the game.

I figure the more we all know about it, the better we can all defend ourselves against it.

Steve. I would hate to be the one to point this out but I saw no proof that a competitor stole the stuff from the post you mentioned. I just went back and scanned through it again and all I saw was he said he saw them on a van and reported the tag. This got the WTF response from me. I would be bumping that van all the way down the road and on the phone with 911. This could have simply been some kids being jerks.

[CHEESE2009]

I have weird things happen all the time.


Every morning, a crook takes my keys and puts them back in the house as soon as I'm ready to go. And I'm standing there checking my pockets, "where the heck are my keys?!"

They also hide my socks in the morning, my good socks...

Every time I get a drink and do a few lawns... My drink is less full when I go back to it!

When it rains, these pranksters open up my windows and let the rain poor in.

I swear to all of this........ :P






Nah, the only thing that happens is competitors start jotting down the addresses of your customers, happens all the time and they try to be discrete about it.

[jasonw]

LOL Its funny you mention that. Some jerk locked my keys in my truck in my drive way last summer and last week some guy jealous of the work I was getting poured water all over the levee trying to get me to put my truck in the water.