Do you look?

[Toddppm]

After writing up a proposal the other day I went to stick it in the door and low and behold there's one from Davey sticking out.












Of course I had to look, didn't seem to be anyone home.
I was right in line with their price but I was higher on the stump grinding , they were higher on the wood hauling.
This happens from time to time, I usually try to shove my estimate all the way into the door so others can't see it or put it in an envelope if I think others might be coming by.
Wood you have looked?
(No, I didn't change my price)

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

SNEAKY.!!!!!..MB give him the eyes you know what i mean

 

[MasterBlaster]

I woulda look, but what's worse are the people that would throw it away. Trust me, the're out there!

Oh yea...

 

[blue]

stick in ya pocket:angel:

 

[Toddppm]

Nah I wouldn't do that. Thought about it yeah

Although it's probably done to mine

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Iwould put it back but i might adjust my quote if i realy wanted the job

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I would have adjusted their quote.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Or at least smudged it a little.

 

[Dadatwins]

I have seen a few folks around here with a rental stump machine on the back of a car putting estimates in doors, especially after Isabel when just about every house had an uprooted tree and stump left. Guy even put one at my house while I was out working. Wife even threatened to hire him since it was taking me so long to get to my own tree. Gave a cheaper price than I would have too.

Never had much success with leaving estimates in a mailbox or door, much higher retention talking to homeowner in person about job.

 

[MasterBlaster]

It amazes me how much treeguys work against each other, or at least around here. If we would somehow team up and work in harmony with each other, jacklegs and lowballers would fade into the sunset.

And imagine the annual bar-b-que!!!

 

[Dadatwins]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
It amazes me how much treeguys work against each other, or at least around here.

Not only where you are lots of rivalry here too. Not as bad here as in N.Y. where I have seen two companies having a fistfight in the street over a job. Two licensed, insured arborist rolling in the front lawn of a prospective client, while the groundman were cheering them on. Police came and hauled everyone away.

 

[Ax-man]

I went on an estimate one time there must have been at least ten different estimates in one form or another attached to the front door, some in envelopes, business cards using clothes pins, door hangers. I just turned around and left, I couldn't see any point in leaving my price. I guess the Yellow Pages are good for something.

Would I have looked ? Really hard to say, depends on who I'm up against. If I did look, I would be more curious if their wording their proposals different than mine.

Would I change my price?? I doubt it.

Question??? Is this common to line item different phases of a tree job. I use a homemade type standard estimate sheet for the common stuff that has a lot of boxes checked for different phases with just a price at the bottom. The client doesn't know how much extra I'm charging for say removing the waste wood.

Larry

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Dadatwins
Two licensed, insured arborist rolling in the front lawn of a prospective client, while the groundman were cheering them on. Police came and hauled everyone away.

Man, I'd liked to have seen that!

 

[a_lopa]

i do free qoutes, but if they want them in writing its 20 bucks,there only generaly window shoppers best to cover my fuel time before they can stuff me around,whats wrong with a verbal qoute and a handshake?if they cant do that not worth working for.in general if someone says just do the job with no set figure ill be cheaper anyway!

 

[Toddppm]

Originally posted by Ax-man
I went on an estimate one time there must have been at least ten different estimates in one form or another attached to the front door, some in envelopes, business cards using clothes pins, door hangers. I just turned around and left, I couldn't see any point in leaving my price. I guess the Yellow Pages are good for something.

If someone has the nerve to tell me , oh I'm getting a bunch of bids I tell them up front I'm not interested we're not going to be the cheapest. Walked away from an appointment this week for the same reason, why waste my time and my proposal?



[QOUTE]Question??? Is this common to line item different phases of a tree job. I use a homemade type standard estimate sheet for the common stuff that has a lot of boxes checked for different phases with just a price at the bottom. The client doesn't know how much extra I'm charging for say removing the waste wood.

Larry [/QUOTE]

No, this guy just asked for separate prices for each thing, if they don't ask I lump it all together.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Don't put estimates in the mail box or touch anything near the mailbox unless you want to talk with the Postal Inspectors or the FBI. A person's PO box is considered government property.

Tom

 

[Menchhofer]

I come across other estimates quite often. Yes, I do look to see how they word the estimate and to look at the price.
If I want the job, I will adjust my estimate accordingly..........sometimes, if they seem to be doing honest tree care instead of butchering.

I do not like just leaving an estimate, I would prefer to talk with the homeowner in person.

More often though, I run into the competition in person which is fine.

I agree with the thought that we should all work together instead of trying to work against each other with low ball estimates.

I have never known an honest local person in the tree service industry. I have tried working with numerous persons in the past years and I have always been shafted for money due and or the services as promised.

I am sure though the guys here are different. I have only good thoughts of the guys here.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I would have at least looked, I mostly sub out to a lot of the other guys in town so I already know what thier prices are because I work off of a percentage, not an hourly rate. I do agree with Butch. Why cant we all just get along.

Kenn

 

[Dadatwins]

Originally posted by Tom Dunlap
Don't put estimates in the mail box or touch anything near the mailbox unless you want to talk with the Postal Inspectors or the FBI. A person's PO box is considered government property.

True fact, I use the slot under the boxes around here used for flyers and newspaper. Should have made that clear in my other post. If they don't have flyer slot then the front door. Truth is, I really don't like to leave estimates without talking to homeowners.

 

[Toddppm]

It would be ideal to talk to each one in person but most can't be around during the day and I don't work weekends unless it's rained during the week or it's an emergency. I would guess maybe 2/3rds of my estimates are left at the house withoout meeting them.
I usually do leave the estimate in the front door anymore because mailmen have taken it from the mailbox if I leave it in there sometimes.