Customer keeps telling me to ask for more money.

[ForTheArborist]

{I didn't see many people that could say a word about this in the Management Forum, so I brought it here. I doubt doing so is a felony on any continent. Thanks though}

I've never encountered this in my business practice so far. I'm working on a nice estate taking out a few trees and some other tasks.

As far as how I've been handling business I've developed my prices for services around the average craigs list customer only as of yet. My prices are competitive on the chicken scratch level craigs list market. I've just got this particular customer through another customer instead of craigs list. It's his boss.

I keep giving him numbers for the services, and he keeps telling me to ask for more. "I'm going to pay you. Don't be scared to ask for more" he says. He actually scoffed about it in one instance. Usually my customers pee themselves when I tell them the truth about what these things cost, but this guy is insinuating something else all together.

What should I do with this guy? I could really use some extra money to expand my gear and service forte here. Should I just ask for the same price I get from everybody else, or should I round those digits up? How far up?

 

[tree MDS]

I think you should shut the garage door and tune up your poulan some more..alot more.

 

[treemandan]

It sounds like you should up your prices.

 

[treemandan]

I think you should shut the garage door and tune up your poulan some more..alot more.

Man, that was like a crack to the head, I felt it. You truly are a riot. Almost as good as Treeco I would say. The two of you together could bring anyone to his knees.

 

[tree MDS]

Man, that was like a crack to the head, I felt it. You truly are a riot. Almost as good as Treeco I would say. The two of you together could bring anyone to his knees.

Just trying to keep on my A game dano...winters coming!

 

[ForTheArborist]

It sounds like you should up your prices.

Just reconfigure the whole quote with better numbers, and see if he accepts, right?

 

[treemandan]

Just reconfigure the whole quote with better numbers, and see if he accepts, right?

Ok, I will be honest: I have no idea what you are talking about. If you are bidding on jobs from CL then I mourn for ya and if someone actually told you that you are too cheap then I would have to say you are.

what can you do? what do you have?

 

[treemandan]

I just bid on a monster half dead oak TD. 3 grand plus the stump. Guy just comes right out and says " that's to much! How about 1400?"
I got really pissed really fast. I have to get some pics of this crap, you guys will have to tell me whether or not you would take this on for a penny less than 28 hundred. I will get the pics.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Ok, I will be honest: I have no idea what you are talking about. If you are bidding on jobs from CL then I mourn for ya and if someone actually told you that you are too cheap then I would have to say you are.

what can you do? what do you have?

LOL, I know. It's a dud question, but last night it seemed more valid. I just figured it would be a sh*t bag thing to mess around with the numbers on him. Bad business practice just seems like murder to me.

He is saying to bring up the price, and I will try it on him. If he doesn't like it, he can just give me what I would have asked for in the first place or more even still. Somewhere in between.

I wasn't sure about all of this last night though.

This thread is done. I'm glad I could be of help here.

 

[lego1970]

On a personal note, I do a lot of the old peoples homes around my neighborhood for free, even though a couple of them have enough money to pay for tree service. I can't do one neighbor for free and in good faith charge the other neighbor just because they have money. So when asked or demanded that they pay me something, I always say "tips, cookies, beer, etc are always welcomed" and it works out ok. Don't get me wrong I loose out on gas money, dump fees, time and everything else but I can get a free meal everyday of the week, and their cooking is a heck of a lot better then mine.

So I guess if I was in your shoes, I would say something like this.

"I will honor my rate and or bid but I will take your business advice and on future customers, I'll try adjusting my rates a little higher" Then with a smile, say something like "Tips are always welcomed".

That way maybe he will give you a tip, or if he gets you other customers from his network of friends or workers, you will be justified in bumping your rates up while not making his friends or fellow workers feel like your trying to rip them off.

I don't know exactly how to answer your question but that's probably the approach I would take, unless somebody came up with a better idea.

 

[tree MDS]

I just bid on a monster half dead oak TD. 3 grand plus the stump. Guy just comes right out and says " that's to much! How about 1400?"
I got really pissed really fast. I have to get some pics of this crap, you guys will have to tell me whether or not you would take this on for a penny less than 28 hundred. I will get the pics.

It all depends on how nasty a crew you can put together and if it can be done in a day or not. Not trying to rile you up but things are indeed different with a bucket kicking around is all - I know, when I got the truck it changed the way I look at things, thats for sure. Wood is now child's play, assuming you can get to it that is.

 

[ForTheArborist]

I just bid on a monster half dead oak TD. 3 grand plus the stump. Guy just comes right out and says " that's to much! How about 1400?"
I got really pissed really fast. I have to get some pics of this crap, you guys will have to tell me whether or not you would take this on for a penny less than 28 hundred. I will get the pics.

They probably think that you have all of that equipment and crew just to show boat around town with, and they think it's nice to let you use it on their tree for a couple of meals and a weeks worth of rent at the YMCA.

My customers never think it takes money to keep those things in a company. They just assume I'm going to go out and pay for some more of those when they break down with the food money they gave me while I don't eat for week.

 

[KRP]

It sounds like the customer is doing you a favor by asking that the price reflects your ability. Go ahead and up your price and justify to the customer your reason, current labor rates, etc. Do a good job, get good pay, go home happy. I'm sure your customer will be happy too.

 

[ForTheArborist]

"I will honor my rate and or bid but I will take your business advice and on future customers, I'll try adjusting my rates a little higher" Then with a smile, say something like "Tips are always welcomed".

That way maybe he will give you a tip, or if he gets you other customers from his network of friends or workers, you will be justified in bumping your rates up while not making his friends or fellow workers feel like your trying to rip them off.

I don't know exactly how to answer your question but that's probably the approach I would take, unless somebody came up with a better idea.

This is the approach I was set to take with him at first. I'll probably mention this line of thinking some how so that at least he sees my best foot forward.

I want to make a good, solid impression, so I'm in line to get HIS references. That would be following a proper business strategy with ethics included for me.

 

[tree MDS]

Lets play think quick...

This is the approach I was set to take with him at first. I'll probably mention this line of thinking some how so that at least he sees my best foot forward.

I want to make a good, solid impression, so I'm in line to get HIS references. That would be following a proper business strategy with ethics included for me.

Ok, I'm a rabbit trying to make like a running bowline..theres the hole and the tree, what do I do??

 

[tree MDS]

Just as I thought.

 

[TDunk]

If the customer wants you to up your prices, then up your prices. I don't see the big issue here.

I've bid jobs before (mainly for older people) and they ask if that's enough. I just reply "I can make it higher if you want me to, just say the word" It doesn't happen but a time or two a year but......

 

[ForTheArborist]

Ok, I'm a rabbit trying to make like a running bowline..theres the hole and the tree, what do I do??

Stand there, and call my number. I could use the work.

 

[ForTheArborist]

If the customer wants you to up your prices, then up your prices. I don't see the big issue here.

I've bid jobs before (mainly for older people) and they ask if that's enough. I just reply "I can make it higher if you want me to, just say the word" It doesn't happen but a time or two a year but......

To me that is funny as h*ll. Money to me is like football and baseball scores.... I've never heard of any one offering more to another team. Though the thought of getting the win, and getting that much closer to the playoffs this year is wrapped on my finger like say a boa if you know what I mean.

 

[tree MDS]

Stand there, and call my number. I could use the work.

The rabbit goes up through the hole, around the tree and back down through the hole.

Just trying to help out buddy!