Advertising.

[treeman82]

I was looking through a local advertisement book today with a friend. One company in there was a landscraper that my friend does work for on occasion. The landscraper has a Morbark model 17, but no climber, and also no brain. Anywho, the landscraper was advertising for stump grinding, which my friend would be forced to do, and also for tree work; removals, pruning, etc. Another landscrape company nearby, who coincidentally took my old garage, he advertises for tree work as well, but no climber, and no chipper.

So we got into a discussion about how these companies can advertise for tree work and not be qualified to do so. Yeah, during normal conditions they can call up a climber, or sub it out. However, what happens when an ice storm rolls around and they are getting called to do work? All tree companies are going to be working for their regular clients first. Any chippers for rent or sale locally will be gone for a long time. Any climbers or ground personell with any skills whatsoever will be taken up by the good companies. So who does that leave the unqualified with?

My motto is, advertise what you are actually capable of doing yourself or in house.

Any thoughts?

 

[Guy Meilleur]

One co. bought a buch of eqpt and advertised as pro tree&landscape co. got job pruning 7 sugar maples, topped em all to death. Owner sued for unprofessional svc, co's insurer wound up out almost 50 grand settling.

Moral of story: Do not say you're a pro if you're not, no matter how much eqpt you got. the guy above can't get a job cutting grass in that town anymore.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I do a lot of sub contract work for a couple of guys that have little or no climbing skills. One guy is a landscaper who I met at the dump and he picks up all my wood from removals. Every once in a while he will get a big job and call me in. The other guy has had this company for about 4 years, and I have taught him more in 4 months than he has learned in all his years of experience. He basically carpet bombs neighborhoods with flyers and runs around doing bids. Which he usually tends to low ball because he doesnt fully under stand all that a job is going to entail. This is typical, today for instance he bid a big silver maple that was about half dead for $900.00. It took me and my groundie about 10 hours to get this thing on the ground. I told him first thing this morning, I would do the job but it will be more than my normal 20%. There have been more than a few times when I rolled in to a job and took one look at the tree and said, No way am I going to do this work for what he is gonna pay me. It kinda sucks some days, but I got my own service going now. Sub-contracting is good in that I dont have to run around all day doing bids, but I can make a heck of a lot more money than being a monkey for hire. I really wonder what this guy is gonna do when I finally have all my ducks in a row and am doing my own thing full time. There arnt a whole lot of climbers with any skill out here, and he has told me that he cant do the climbing on his own. Maybe he will stick to trimming small ornamentals and hedges.

Kenn:Monkey:

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've been ready to go to 20% firm myself. On crane jobs, I'm willing to subtract that off the bill. I've been averaging 15% pretty much, but gas ain't getting any cheaper!

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I have pretty much got these guys by the cajones. Either I do it for 20% or they dont get the job done.

Kenn

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yah, me too. I just wanna be nice.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Jerry Maguire.

This aint show friends, its show business, Show me the money

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Yooz guys bin givin away the store. You make removals way too cheap and easy money for those dummies.

Higher!! :blob6:

Much Higher!!! :blob5:

 

[MasterBlaster]

I like your lawyer fee idea, Guy!

Ahhh, EEE YAH!!!

 

[OutOnaLimb]

No kiddin Guy, I know you hate it, but Im a bad a$$ when it comes to removals. I have to keep tellin these guys, "just because I get it done so quick, doesnt mean you gotta bid it so low" I like my afternoons off to go fishin, or huntin here in about a month and a half. You dont have any problems with people killin deer, elk, and antelope do ya Guy?

Kenn