How professional are you?

[pinemartin]

Just how professional is your business? The reason I ask is today my grounde and I were doing a prune job in the next town over when a local tree service truck drove by giving us the finger. This is something I would never do personally but it seemed second nature to him. Here is the question, if your company lost a bid would you harass the company that won the job or be professional and move on?

 

[Blakesmaster]

Just how professional is your business? The reason I ask is today my grounde and I were doing a prune job in the next town over when a local tree service truck drove by giving us the finger. This is something I would never do personally but it seemed second nature to him. Here is the question, if your company lost a bid would you harass the company that won the job or be professional and move on?

I would never do it unless it was in jest to a good buddy of mine but in my experience, tree guys are #######s. It comes with the territory. Some guys worked hard for big equipment and look down on the little guys. Little guys with less equipment think the big guys got it easy and so on. Truth is, we're all about as tough as they come in today's world and tend to get a little bit of an ego sometimes. What that boy did was unprofessional to say the least but I wouldn't let it get to you.

 

[treeclimber101]

Hopefully you sunk to his level and returned the favor , professional or not sometimes it's just worth it to have the last laugh .. And yes I am childish but sometimes that's how you need to deal with children..

 

[TreeClimber57]

Just how professional is your business? The reason I ask is today my grounde and I were doing a prune job in the next town over when a local tree service truck drove by giving us the finger. This is something I would never do personally but it seemed second nature to him. Here is the question, if your company lost a bid would you harass the company that won the job or be professional and move on?

Never would even consider it.

 

[emr]

Over the years I have met most of the competition around here. Without exception they were all very nice guys.... I just wouldnt let them touch my trees. Most of the times we all wave at each other and give a big smile.

 

[pdqdl]

The best way to respond to the finger!

I have the best way to handle someone giving me the finger: wave at them and laugh! Be sure to let them know that not only were they unable to make you angry, you found their gesture futile and entertaining.

People usually do that sort of thing to work out their aggressions or to get even with someone for their perceived injuries. They feel angry, so they want to make YOU feel angry, too. They want their pound of flesh!

When you wave and laugh at them, you have taken that feeling away from them. Now they are only frustrated at their inability to make you angry, and they must drive on down the road, simmering and stewing in their own juices. You, on the other hand, can keep working cheerfully, 'cause you KNOW you got their goat.

 

[pinemartin]

It didn't bother me at all, actually I find it quite funny unprofessional but funny. Work has been slow lately and we are traveling farther for jobs thus crossing into other companies territory so this I feel this is not going to be isolated incident.

 

[treeclimber101]

Or take the pound of flesh out of there :censored: or maybe the next time you see one of there trucks at the corner store maybe you just might have a small fender bender and accidently back into there truck , just sayin accidents happen..but I'm alittle broken ..

 

[treeseer]

I have the best way to handle someone giving me the finger: wave at them and laugh! Be sure to let them know that not only were they unable to make you angry, you found their gesture futile and entertaining.

People usually do that sort of thing to work out their aggressions or to get even with someone for their perceived injuries. They feel angry, so they want to make YOU feel angry, too. They want their pound of flesh!

When you wave and laugh at them, you have taken that feeling away from them. Now they are only frustrated at their inability to make you angry, and they must drive on down the road, simmering and stewing in their own juices. You, on the other hand, can keep working cheerfully, 'cause you KNOW you got their goat.

Great post--Love your enemies, cuz it really $%$^$s with their heads.

And who knows; it might change them

 

[mckeetree]

I have never harassed anybody personally. Over the past 23 years we have had a gas tank sugared, the air let out of our tires, the finger shot, tires cut, stuff stolen, been cussed out and threatened by competition.

 

[treemandan]

Why would they do that? You must know them I guess but I don't remember a whole lot of other tree guys giving me the finger when they drove by. In fact I was under the impression that was something we didn't do to each other unless it was a mutual joke or something.
I think if that line was breeched that you must have really ticked these guys off OR they are truly unproffesionall.
I would stop by their shop to see which it is and tell them " just smile and wave"

 

[capetrees]

Where's the gain in giving someone the finger? If they were in the company truck, they apparently were working and so were you. What happened to the old "keep up the good work" attitude? Always be careful of the ass you kick, it may one day be the ass you kiss. Usually, the people that ride around giving people the finger and such are the kids they hire for the summer or some waste product crack head hired to sweep the street when the workers are done. Just keep the memory of their face in your mind and when they come by for a job, you can laugh and say no.

 

[lego1970]

I always wave when I go by another tree company doing work. I've never had another tree company drive by and act like that. Mowing lawns is a different story. Most the times others will wave, but I have had a few drive by and shout crap at me or laugh at me because I'm using a regular craftsman riding lawn mower and cheap push mowers. Never really bothers me too much because my mowers, trailer, chainsaws, p/u truck is all paid for, in good clean shape, and does the job, however to be honest it gets to me a little.

 

[ForTheArborist]

I have never harassed anybody personally. Over the past 23 years we have had a gas tank sugared, the air let out of our tires, the finger shot, tires cut, stuff stolen, been cussed out and threatened by competition.

Buy a gun.

I don't carrry the gun, but I carry a little something besides my gym pass with me. Fellas have to find out the hard way that these peaceful, well to do guys might have something in there pocket and the last lashing to boot.

Seriously, if you let this crap rule yours and your neighbors world, you are going to end up with a coop of that sort telling you what is right and wrong, and it will be quite different than what you are used too.

Now as far as the finger game. I have a memory that is so good sometimes it spooks me.

 

[385XP]

Just how professional is your business? The reason I ask is today my grounde and I were doing a prune job in the next town over when a local tree service truck drove by giving us the finger. This is something I would never do personally but it seemed second nature to him. Here is the question, if your company lost a bid would you harass the company that won the job or be professional and move on?

I would not pay any attention to them there probably just jealous you got the job and they didn't. Some people take the competition to seriously. I figure if I'm friendly to everyone in the business i wont have enemy's .

 

[385XP]

Well after almost 25 years in the biz I can tell you that your will have enemies....that just how some people are. I had one guy that wanted to pick my brain about every piece of equipment he was interested in and did not understand my not being interested in sharing hard earned knowledge. Maybe that's my fault.....but hey.......

I had another fellow that wanted to form like a mini arborist association in our neck of the woods.....he topped and spiked climbed trim jobs and wasn't about to quit..........so I told him I wasn't interested and he wasn't a real happy camper.

I didnt mean give the secrets away i just ment friendly but no to friendly.

 

[Rftreeman]

I would just wait to see them at McDonald's one day then go in, kick their ass, take their cheese burger happy meal from them and leave with an evil grin on my face.....

















or, just ignore them all together....

 

[BakerTREE]

I really think your finger flippin' friend was just trying to help you out...trying to show you what needed some pruning. You must have missed a long limb at the top of the tree :monkey:

yeah. I really think that's all it was.

Honestly though, I usually enjoy seeing other tree guys around town -- unless they are at one of our clients' house...its still just a wave and a smile (and a thought of wanderment why they are at 'our' house... I take that a bit personally)
Good luck and be safe!

 

[WoodViking]

The other side

Just how professional is your business? The reason I ask is today my grounde and I were doing a prune job in the next town over when a local tree service truck drove by giving us the finger. This is something I would never do personally but it seemed second nature to him. Here is the question, if your company lost a bid would you harass the company that won the job or be professional and move on?

Seen from a customers point of view you might have answered why you got the job and he didn't. Maybe the customer knew that the local guy is a jerk!?

 

[groundsmgr]

Would not even think of it.