Lost two jobs tonight thank God!

[mic687]

Went to look at a couple of trees damaged in a storm for a previous client tonight. I get to the guy's house and I see this 80' elm split up the middle and one half broken again about 20' up. Both sides are hung up in some smaller red pines and there is a bunch of plants they don't want hurt underneath both sides. The second is a 60' spruce also hung up in some red pines 50' up. I tell the guy You need a bucket truck for the elm because it is to dangerous to climb and I don't own one, on the second tree no access for a truck but there is a large maple 20' away to tie in to although not the best case as in an emergency it is quite a swing. No room to drop either so they have to be brought downin chunks. I honestly was at a loss on what to do without a spider lift or something when he tells me another tree service bid 350.00 for each tree I said how much? I told him if he is comfortable with these guys take it because at that price I would have them come to my house ans remove those trees and I do this all the time. I don't understand how a hung up 60' spruce that is in a back yard that brush needs to be dragged 60yards as well as all the wood is only 350.00. I think I want to take a little time off and go see this removal it should be good and hey I might even learn something. Also lost the neighbor in back of this house to the same company he had called me back to see if I could do a little better on my price for his stuff no I can not and will not be nickle and dimed. On second thought my wife is always telling me you should have bid that higher so I guess I could always do a little better.uttahere2:
'

 

[flushcut]

The elm I would need to see some pictures I just can't see it in my mind. The spruce with a mini skid is doable for 350, that is about what I charge anyway. Also it doesn't sound all that badly hung up.

 

[deevo]

Went to look at a couple of trees damaged in a storm for a previous client tonight. I get to the guy's house and I see this 80' elm split up the middle and one half broken again about 20' up. Both sides are hung up in some smaller red pines and there is a bunch of plants they don't want hurt underneath both sides. The second is a 60' spruce also hung up in some red pines 50' up. I tell the guy You need a bucket truck for the elm because it is to dangerous to climb and I don't own one, on the second tree no access for a truck but there is a large maple 20' away to tie in to although not the best case as in an emergency it is quite a swing. No room to drop either so they have to be brought downin chunks. I honestly was at a loss on what to do without a spider lift or something when he tells me another tree service bid 350.00 for each tree I said how much? I told him if he is comfortable with these guys take it because at that price I would have them come to my house ans remove those trees and I do this all the time. I don't understand how a hung up 60' spruce that is in a back yard that brush needs to be dragged 60yards as well as all the wood is only 350.00. I think I want to take a little time off and go see this removal it should be good and hey I might even learn something. Also lost the neighbor in back of this house to the same company he had called me back to see if I could do a little better on my price for his stuff no I can not and will not be nickle and dimed. On second thought my wife is always telling me you should have bid that higher so I guess I could always do a little better.uttahere2:
'

I would say in the $1500-2000 range if I am reading what you are describing right. That's what we get for jobs like that. Can't get a crane in to get them out? Sounds like a good hike to get the brush to chipper as well! $350 would barely cover the chipping and wood removal on jobs we do.

 

[mckeetree]

The elm I would need to see some pictures I just can't see it in my mind. The spruce with a mini skid is doable for 350, that is about what I charge anyway. Also it doesn't sound all that badly hung up.

See folks, that's the kind of crap I'm talking about.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Funny - $350

These days, I don't remove trees bigger than about 25 feet tall in a front yard where they, or the parts can drop quickly and easily. And even those little ones seem worth $300 to $400 aside from stump grinding.

:msp_smile:

 

[mckeetree]

Funny - $350

These days, I don't remove trees bigger than about 25 feet tall in a front yard where they, or the parts can drop quickly and easily. And even those little ones seem worth $300 to $400 aside from stump grinding.

:msp_smile:

We just don't remove anything anymore for less than $300 and it has to be not much more than a shrub then. I got tired of working for nothing about 20 years ago so I made the decision not to do it anymore. Sure has paid off.

 

[teamtree]

I would not worry about it. The other day a customer told me what another guy was going to charge to cut a tree before I gave my estimate and I just turned around and started walking back to my truck. He said where are you going....and I had to tell him he was wasting my time. I told him it was a joke and did not want to compete with those companies. His wife was like 'what is the problem' and I told her. Now I have a job at a reasonable price.

A similar thing happened the other day, I bid at $2200 and another guy bid at $2350. The lady gave us the job and about an hour later called and said she found someone to do it for $1500. This was an emergency removal...one walnut uprooted hanging in another leaning towards house. This was Wednesday. I told her I would do it on Friday and if it rained I would be there Monday. Well this guy said he would do it on Saturday. I told the lady....I hope it does not rain because if it does he will not get to it until the next Saturday. Guess what...it rained Saturday...lol

 

[teamtree]

We just don't remove anything anymore for less than $300 and it has to be not much more than a shrub then. I got tired of working for nothing about 20 years ago so I made the decision not to do it anymore. Sure has paid off.

I am usually up front with my customers about not being the cheapest and if they want the cheapest price I tell them to call someone else. I then sell them on our company and the advantages of using us.

I agree with McKee Tree....you have to get serious about what you are charging and stick to it.

 

[mic687]

Thanks for the spport guys. The spruce breaks in to two leads about half way up and is hung up on either side of a red pine a real pia. I have pretty thick skin so when some one says it dosent sound that bad well I was there and I know I am a very good climber and I am not working or risking my life for that little money. I have alot of work right now so I don't need the job. I just don't see how guys stay in business charging that little.

 

[flushcut]

See folks, that's the kind of crap I'm talking about.

And what crap would that be?

 

[Toddppm]

when he tells me another tree service bid 350.00 for each tree I said how much? I told him if he is comfortable with these guys take it because at that price I would have them come to my house ans remove those trees and I do this all the time.'

Some people just can't recognize a good deal. I had a guy call for a couple broken branches to be removed last week and told him over the phone our minimum is $400, he got all upset and blurted out that he had one estimate for $80.00 and another for $60. And he was still calling around to get a better price!?

 

[flushcut]

Thanks for the spport guys. The spruce breaks in to two leads about half way up and is hung up on either side of a red pine a real pia. I have pretty thick skin so when some one says it dosent sound that bad well I was there and I know I am a very good climber and I am not working or risking my life for that little money. I have alot of work right now so I don't need the job. I just don't see how guys stay in business charging that little.

How about some pics? Video would be even better. From your fist description to me it did not sound that bad.

 

[mckeetree]

And what crap would that be?

Working too cheap.

 

[flushcut]

Working too cheap.

I am priced at what the market will bare around here, and it sucks. I still get under bid on hairy stuff.

 

[mckeetree]

I am priced at what the market will bare around here, and it sucks. I still get under bid on hairy stuff.

I see. That's terrible.

 

[Oak Savanna]

Had a guy call me about some removals about 3 weeks ago. I told him I would be down at the start of the following week to meet with him and see what he wants done. I call him to make sure he is home and to see if its ok that I pop over and check out the job. He tells me not to worry about it because his neighbour needs a tree cut down and they know some one who will do it for the firewood and that he is just going to get them to do his 3 removals beside the house and they can have all his wood for doing it! They are farmers and they have a chainsaw he says!!!!! I tell him no problem. I just get home tonight and sit down at the desk to do some paperwork and the phone rings, its the guy again and he wants me to come down and quote these 3 trees for him and the neighbours too. Didnt bother asking what happend to the farmers who "have a saw" and will do it for the firewood!!!!! Its one of those jobs where you can tell its gonna be a pain in the a$$ just by talking to him on the phone!!

 

[beastmaster]

A month or two ago I helped do some trees for this Company, I know he's not cheap. The homeowner went the cheap route first. He
was telling me these guys throw a line in a 75 ft Euc. next to his house, he said he ask, are you sure you know what your doing? 4 guys on the rope pulling as another made the cut. Under perfect conditions you only had a plus or minus 2ft between the house and block wall fence. No one in there right mind would try to drop the whole tree. He said it leaned the opposite way also. It started going back
pulling the pullers. They one by one let go as the tree fell on two neighbors houses. They pack up and left. He learned the hard way. You get what you pay for. Beastmaster

 

[Sunrise Guy]

See folks, that's the kind of crap I'm talking about.

I was just going to post that, EXACTLY! How the :censored: are we supposed to hang in there when morons underbid us by 75%????

 

[flushcut]

A month or two ago I helped do some trees for this Company, I know he's not cheap. The homeowner went the cheap route first. He
was telling me these guys throw a line in a 75 ft Euc. next to his house, he said he ask, are you sure you know what your doing? 4 guys on the rope pulling as another made the cut. Under perfect conditions you only had a plus or minus 2ft between the house and block wall fence. No one in there right mind would try to drop the whole tree. He said it leaned the opposite way also. It started going back
pulling the pullers. They one by one let go as the tree fell on two neighbors houses. They pack up and left. He learned the hard way. You get what you pay for. Beastmaster

That's kinda funny :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[teamtree]

A month or two ago I helped do some trees for this Company, I know he's not cheap. The homeowner went the cheap route first. He
was telling me these guys throw a line in a 75 ft Euc. next to his house, he said he ask, are you sure you know what your doing? 4 guys on the rope pulling as another made the cut. Under perfect conditions you only had a plus or minus 2ft between the house and block wall fence. No one in there right mind would try to drop the whole tree. He said it leaned the opposite way also. It started going back
pulling the pullers. They one by one let go as the tree fell on two neighbors houses. They pack up and left. He learned the hard way. You get what you pay for. Beastmaster

That is funny!....I don't care who you are.