It Could Happen To You...

[af7850]

So, I get a call from a nice woman yesterday - she left a message on the company voicemail. I called her back and this is what she said:

1. She was referred by a local lawn equipment retailer
2. She wants us to prune her Red Maple, which is hanging over onto the walkway
3. She would like this done ASAP
4. I told her I'd look at it and give her a price, and she seemed unconerned by price

So, I drive by her house to take a look at it today, before our meeting tomorrow. Guess what?


...


The damn tree is only three and a half feet tall!!!

It is just a baby, and it is literally hanging over onto the walkway at about mid-thigh level.

SO, the big question - how would you handle this situation? :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[maxburton]

Go ahead and prune it for her. Explain that you usually don't do jobs like this but you want to follow through with the referral. Be really nice and she will tell her friend with the 120 foot poplar over the pool that died last year.

 

[BostonBull]

Offer to transplant it first and foremost, if that is possible. If not explain the ramifications of pruning a tree this young. If she wants it pruned try to talk her into doing it little by little. Maybe some small reduction snips now and in the fall and then again next spring.

Good luck keep us posted.

 

[Deebo]

I would have laughed really hard, then offer to transplant it. As maxburton said, your willingness to accomodate her could pay you back ten fold!

 

[arboristman]

Offer your services as a transplanter and have your tools with you.

right,simple as that.
not all the time are jobs large.
the small ones are just as important.
and if you get right to it,she will be happy and will recommend you to others.
and a good name is always more important than a few bucks.

 

[treeman82]

Last year this guy says to me at a meeting that he has a large dying tree in front of his house. He said that several people had come by to look at it, but it had never been done. I said that I'd check it out right away. Get there within a few hours... the thing is not even 8' tall. Only needed the shovel to get some of the soil off of the root ball. Cut it up, tossed it in the back of my truck. Never got paid. :angry2:

There are some really wierd people out there.

 

[af7850]

That was my thought...

Yeah, I would greatly prefer to transplant it. I don't think that I will be able to prune it to her liking, as it is so small that I can't really take very much off of it.

Anyway, I am considering to offer to transplant it, and if she doesn't want that, to prune it for a nominal charge. I like the idea of telling her that we don't usually do this, but are making an exception because of the referral.

Regardless, I am definitely looking at this from a "referral value" standpoint.

My only regret is that I don't have a pair of snips in the door of my personal car...

 

[9th year rookie]

Always surprises.

Maybe she just wanted someone to talk to.
Ever notice some people want to talk a lot more than others.

 

[hornett22]

i'd tell her..............

that you are not equiped for a job that large.you will need a crane and you are not insured.

on a serious note,my dad grew up at 13th and jefferson.nice to see a michigan guy on here.

 

[MonkeyDo]

You should definately recomend a transplant! Otherwise some years down the road her walkway will end up heaving.

An aside ... get the retar*s name that put it there in the first place!!
Could have fun with that.

 

[osb_mail]

What kind of red maple I am picturing a small jap. maple hanging over a sidewalk ? A homeowner that does not feel comfortable pruning there tree not because they don t have tools they might just lack the tree knowledge . I don t think all kinds of red maple are going to move a sidewalk or anything .You could just bust out some felco action on the tree .If it a larger red maple remember it is better to start training a young tree than correcting a old one .

 

[Dadatwins]

I also ask what kind of red maple? If it is an ornamental type it might be not be able to move with standard tools if it has been there a while. I had a call to prune a red maple that was an ornamental lace leaf, very expensive, lady would not let her gardener touch it. It was only 4' tall with a 4" dbh trunk, had been in front of her house for 20 years. Charged $25.00 for about 1/2 hours work including conversation and cleanup. Also picked up a $500.00 job across the street while I was there.

 

[burlman]

nortern rosewood

hey that lady must have a cousin in Ottawa, Canada. I was doing a display for the intl. wood collectors society, at the Ottawa wood show. This lady came to our table and was looking at all our samples of wood. The samples are 3in x 6in. anyway she asked if we had a sample of rosewood, which my associate did in his collection. the lady admired the color, then she asked what we would offer for a nice log. she had one growing in her backyard, and it had to come down, as it no longer bloomed any roses, and the tree????? was dying. Do they make a face mask to help you to keep a straight face, because I couldn;t hold back a giggle before setting her straight.