High Price? No Problem!

[SouthallMowing]

Today I got a phone call from a woman about 5 miles outside of my service area asking for an estimate. I nicely told her I'd take the job, but it's out of my service area. She wanted me to cut it ASAP. So I told her I can refer her to someone. She said that she can just push mow it if I can't do it. So by this time I'm wondering what is up with this. So I get there for the estimate. Nice plot of land. 2.34 acres to be exact. It's only going to be a 2 or 3 week job, once a week of course. Anyway, as I'm walking around I find nothing in the way besides a house for this. Awesome! Still don't really want to take the job. When I get to the outer edge of my service area my price is around $50. It's only another 5 minutes, so I'll give her an estimate and see what she says. So I tell her $80. (The whole next one to talk loses, comes into play here) There was a VERY long pause, and finally she says I'll ask my husband. Bam. I was thinking "He doesn't want to have to do it he doesn't care". So she says to go for it. I was happy and kinda mad at the same time. Dídn't want the job, but if she's going to throw her money away, why not toss it at me. Anyway, my question to you all is this...Has anyone ever jacked up the price cause they didn't want a job (that they could do)?

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thats not a high price. I just quoted 2/3 acre for $80 right next door to my other client. It does include some light weeding but thats only 5 minutes or so every week.

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South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
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[LawnBoy0311]

right now i cut a yard a little over a half acre for $80, its got quite a bit of trimming though. with what you explained sounds like it will go for around $175+ here.

But to answer your question- yes. I have done it a few times. I actually just did it 2 days ago. This lady called and wanted her bush trimmed up, and weed/mulch her garden. The garden was very small-it would only require about 10 cubic ft of mulch. The whole job would only take me maybe 30 or 45 minutes. I quoted $195. Thats a no brainer that its not worth the price. She emailed me back and wanted me to start today. I told her the earliest I can start is next week and I need 50% paid. She said payment wasnt a problem, but wanted it done asap and she would call me in a few days to let me know if she couldn't find anyone else. When she calls, my schedule will be filled next week. I quoted such a high price because this lady was being a HUGE PITA and I could tell she was going to inspect every minor detail of work. This job was not worth it to me.

[stevef1201]

I have 'jacked up' the price for jobs that I dont want, It is standard practice. If you dont get the job well you didnt want it anyhow, of you do get it you make good money. win win

[wat5150]

Sometimes when I read these posts I shake my head. It seems as though some people take clients and phone calls coming in for granted. Sure there are some lame clients but thats life, they are always going to be there no matter what you do for a job. We shouldnt take things(people calling for service,money coming in, extra jobs) for granted. I understand there are the crap jobs out there that we pass on if its just not worth it...I get that. What really makes me think is someone agreeing to go out and do the estimate, gets there and says the lawn is great, pretty straightforward and then tries to bid high so as to not get the job?!?!?!?!?!?!! Because you just really didnt want to?? Why are you doing this?? Why did you go to the estimate?? I mean this is @ss backwards business sense. I used to run a restaurant before I got into this. Its a cut throat industry(kind of like lawn care can be). Dont take the money and jobs for granted, someday they may not be there. remember that our economy is in the toilet, too many people struggling..And I read posts on here about Yeah I just didnt want to do it and well she would inspect every bit of my work...Really?? What do you expect of most people that are paying money for a service???? Sometimes they are demanding, sometimes too much so but we basically deal with it to get the check. I think some of you guys havent struggled before and just dont understand.

[xandrew245x]

Your not leaving very much profit margin for yourself and your business, I would have probably charged at least $120 for a job like that.

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by wat5150

Sometimes when I read these posts I shake my head. It seems as though some people take clients and phone calls coming in for granted. Sure there are some lame clients but thats life, they are always going to be there no matter what you do for a job. We shouldnt take things(people calling for service,money coming in, extra jobs) for granted. I understand there are the crap jobs out there that we pass on if its just not worth it...I get that. What really makes me think is someone agreeing to go out and do the estimate, gets there and says the lawn is great, pretty straightforward and then tries to bid high so as to not get the job?!?!?!?!?!?!! Because you just really didnt want to?? Why are you doing this?? Why did you go to the estimate?? I mean this is @ss backwards business sense. I used to run a restaurant before I got into this. Its a cut throat industry(kind of like lawn care can be). Dont take the money and jobs for granted, someday they may not be there. remember that our economy is in the toilet, too many people struggling..And I read posts on here about Yeah I just didnt want to do it and well she would inspect every bit of my work...Really?? What do you expect of most people that are paying money for a service???? Sometimes they are demanding, sometimes too much so but we basically deal with it to get the check. I think some of you guys havent struggled before and just dont understand.

Maybe if we all lived in the same area, we'd all be the same. But we don't. I live in an area that has mostly government work. This "bad economy" everyone talks about hasn't affected this area. I moved here 5 years ago with ford explorer and all my clothes in the back. I had NOTHING to my name. I just got back from Iraq, finished my 4 years in the Marine Corps, and had to start all over. At one point I had to sell off a few personal things just to make my car payment. I now have 1 house and just bought another piece of property in NC. So YOU want to talk about STRUGGLE? Come on bro, you never know whos on the other end of the computer when your typing. For all I know someone is in here worth millions and only doing lawn care for fun! I have a full time job, I do this for extra $$. Because getting off at 2pm from work and having nothing to do is no fun. Not to mention I need something to keep me busy and tired so I don't have to take meds to fall asleep. But...oh yeah...thats a whole other STRUGGLE. Now I feel bad because you came from the restaurant business, so I'll explain on bidding high. I had a client call and ask for a quote. It was out of my service area, but I figured hey, why not. So I went. I bid high because of the extra travel, and got it. Now its worth it to me to drive that little extra ways. Bottom line, I'm looking to make money. I'm not looking for a head ache-but my purple heart explains why I have them all the time...oh wait...thats ANOTHER STRUGGLE.

[wat5150]

Originally Posted by LawnBoy0311

Maybe if we all lived in the same area, we'd all be the same. But we don't. I live in an area that has mostly government work. This "bad economy" everyone talks about hasn't affected this area. I moved here 5 years ago with ford explorer and all my clothes in the back. I had NOTHING to my name. I just got back from Iraq, finished my 4 years in the Marine Corps, and had to start all over. At one point I had to sell off a few personal things just to make my car payment. I now have 1 house and just bought another piece of property in NC. So YOU want to talk about STRUGGLE? Come on bro, you never know whos on the other end of the computer when your typing. For all I know someone is in here worth millions and only doing lawn care for fun! I have a full time job, I do this for extra $$. Because getting off at 2pm from work and having nothing to do is no fun. Not to mention I need something to keep me busy and tired so I don't have to take meds to fall asleep. But...oh yeah...thats a whole other STRUGGLE. Now I feel bad because you came from the restaurant business, so I'll explain on bidding high. I had a client call and ask for a quote. It was out of my service area, but I figured hey, why not. So I went. I bid high because of the extra travel, and got it. Now its worth it to me to drive that little extra ways. Bottom line, I'm looking to make money. I'm not looking for a head ache-but my purple heart explains why I have them all the time...oh wait...thats ANOTHER STRUGGLE.

You miss my point. My point is that there seems to be a lot of taking things for granted. Oh and if you think because I have a customer service background(restaurant) and I dont know what bidding high is your mistaken, very much so. I read in a post that someone doesnt want to do work because the client will scrutinize them, Oh thats too bad, but its called life. I applaud your military background and Im thankful to all our past and present service people but I dont think it has much to do with what Im talking about. You are lucky you live in an area not affected by our economy. I think thats about 1% of the country. You picked a good spot. But people p!ssing and moaning about oh I cant drive 5 mins or I dont want any feedback from a customer is just lame. My opinion, obviously you dont agree but it is what it is.

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by wat5150

You miss my point. My point is that there seems to be a lot of taking things for granted. Oh and if you think because I have a customer service background(restaurant) and I dont know what bidding high is your mistaken, very much so. I read in a post that someone doesnt want to do work because the client will scrutinize them, Oh thats too bad, but its called life. I applaud your military background and Im thankful to all our past and present service people but I dont think it has much to do with what Im talking about. You are lucky you live in an area not affected by our economy. I think thats about 1% of the country. You picked a good spot. But people p!ssing and moaning about oh I cant drive 5 mins or I dont want any feedback from a customer is just lame. My opinion, obviously you dont agree but it is what it is.

I didn't miss your point at all. I understand what you meant. Having spent 8 years in customer service, I also understand that too. BUT, to deal with a potential BAD customer, is not something I would want to deal with. I don't want to deal with a complainer that wants me there everyday to tell me something else I did "wrong", although it was never agreed that I would provide that service. Or if they try to get freebies out of me, saying I never did what they wanted, although it was something else I never agreed to do. Weeding out bad customers is definatly part of my business, because I don't want people bad mouthing me or my company. I work too hard for that. This goes for bad payers too. Your not a customer if you don't pay on time. I don't think people take things for granted. They try to think too much into this business. If it's profitable, take it. Even if its a little out of your service area.

[SouthallMowing]

Dispite the negative comments and such on this... around here mowing an acre is $35.00 everyone charges that. It's almost SOP. I mowed it today. It was easy. She gave me a good tip too. Whoever said that it's bad to charge people extra, this is my comment to you... If they are stupid enough to go for it, then they deserve to be charged. Simple as that.