More And More Companies Popping Up

[AllProTree]

I dont know about you guys but im located in Southern NH and i feel like there is a new guy or company popping up over night. There Undercutting and driving prices lower. Is this happening in any other areas or are guys just getting the tree fever around here. :msp_mad:

 

[KenJax Tree]

I dont know about you guys but im located in Southern NH and i feel like there is a new guy or company popping up over night. There Undercutting and driving prices lower. Is this happening in any other areas or are guys just getting the tree fever around here. :msp_mad:

Yup its happening in the suburbs of Detroit too, i see a newly lettered bucket truck just about everyday.

 

[056kid]

Aaaa free market capitalism.

 

[jrcat]

It is the same here in NY. Some kid gets a loan from grandpa and buys a ratty old bucket and a beat down chipper and a poulan wild thing and goes to work. I have to give them kudos for trying as many a company has been started from junk and an overly ambitious youngster. The quality of work and word of mouth will weed out the riff raff for the most part. Competition can be a good thing as it keeps people honest. Undercutting the competition never lasts long...a company cannot survive on cheap work and little money. Just my 2 cents

 

[802climber]

Everywhere..........

Maybe the key is not trying to be the cheapest bid anymore. Many customers (the ones who are smarter than "most" customers) will go with the medium bid.

Maybe, carry a photo book of "horror story" photos to be used sparingly.

I worked for a guy who had nice equipment, and bid competitively, like as cheap as a real tree service can go, and still lost many jobs to undercutters.

 

[joezilla11]

Pop

 

[joezilla11]

I'm just curious u think these are experienced guys who decided to go on their own and are competing to get out there, or u think most are just guys doing whatever just to make a cheap buck. It's a very technical trade but I've also seen the free climbing ladder guys at work so I guess your right that time will weed them out.

 

[Coen]

Competition

People in northern Michigan don't have many job opportunities. Their doing whatever they can to make ends meet. Mowing lawns, landscaping, tree work. I think I worked my new groundsman too hard today. I think he's been thinking about learning as much from me and then go on his own. I'm sure after today he's thinking tree work is too labor intensive.

 

[2dumb4words]

There must have been some kind of sale on door magnets around here. Ive seen a ton of new grass guys & tree services.

 

[beaver316]

In Houston, TX there are tons of 'tree services'
Our salesmen are the key. There are plenty jobs where any willie-fufu can do it. We teach our salesmen how to sell the job and sell themselves. They are very knowledgeable in the field and make our customers knowledgeable as well. Our prices are based on our abilities, reputation, convenience. We return our calls timely, our crews keep in touch with there customers, so their not waiting around all day for us to show up. There is a premium for the service our company provides and that's why the pay extra.
Our general rate now is $200-300/hr. That includes a 4-5man crew and no heavy equipment except 24' trailer.
It is also a numbers game. I don't want every job because sometimes the customer has a cheaper bid and i am unable to match it. But the more calls we run the better our % is of getting the jobs we do, for the prices we ask.

Hope that's any help