imagineero
Addicted to ArboristSite
A bit over a year ago, a customer told me that my prices were about the same as low-mid price tree companies, but that I was providing a better class of service and that I ought to put my prices up 15~20%. I was a bit afraid to do it at the time because the industry was floundering a little, it was winter and the economy wasn't so great. I was thinking that if I put my prices up, I'd win less work.
I thought about it for a while and ended up doing it. I was surprised that I still won pretty much the same number of jobs. The people who were going for me were picking me based on my perceived quality rather than my price, and I started getting referals to their friends who were also looking for quality tree work. You know the type; middle to upper middle class people who have a bit of money and not a lot of life experience. They don't really know how to assess the quality of any service (tree or otherwise) and don't have the time to. They're a bit scared of things going wrong, they just want the job done right. These are the type of people who have insurance for most things.
A year's gone by, and I think over that year I started seeing myself through their eyes a little too. It made me take myself more seriously about providing quality work, and because I priced it a bit higher I didn't have to watch the clock so much. I made more money working less days too, which meant I had a bit more time for enjoying my life. Right now, it's spring. Things start getting busy usually at this time of year, but its been a very slow spring so far for a lot of companies, even the bigger ones. I've still got quite enough work which I'm taking as a good sign. I guess it takes years to build up a reputation, but putting your prices up is a great way to start. Sure beats fighting your way to the bottom of the barrel.
I know some of you guys out there haven't put your prices up in years, but your costs have increased. In some cases, you're dropping your prices to stay competitive.
If you do good work, put your prices up today.
Shaun
I thought about it for a while and ended up doing it. I was surprised that I still won pretty much the same number of jobs. The people who were going for me were picking me based on my perceived quality rather than my price, and I started getting referals to their friends who were also looking for quality tree work. You know the type; middle to upper middle class people who have a bit of money and not a lot of life experience. They don't really know how to assess the quality of any service (tree or otherwise) and don't have the time to. They're a bit scared of things going wrong, they just want the job done right. These are the type of people who have insurance for most things.
A year's gone by, and I think over that year I started seeing myself through their eyes a little too. It made me take myself more seriously about providing quality work, and because I priced it a bit higher I didn't have to watch the clock so much. I made more money working less days too, which meant I had a bit more time for enjoying my life. Right now, it's spring. Things start getting busy usually at this time of year, but its been a very slow spring so far for a lot of companies, even the bigger ones. I've still got quite enough work which I'm taking as a good sign. I guess it takes years to build up a reputation, but putting your prices up is a great way to start. Sure beats fighting your way to the bottom of the barrel.
I know some of you guys out there haven't put your prices up in years, but your costs have increased. In some cases, you're dropping your prices to stay competitive.
If you do good work, put your prices up today.
Shaun
