Scheduling work and inflexible customers

[Slvrmple72]

I try to keep a fairly consistent schedule and communicate the best that I can to customers due to weather and all of the other surprises related to running your own small business but I am getting a little frustrated with the "attitude" as of late. The " I am doing you a favor by giving you this work but if you are not gonna come cut down my tree I guess I will have to call Joe Tree and have him do it... "

 

[pdqdl]

It's a mind-set that has value; learn to play it to your advantage. I always ask my customers if they are in a hurry, prior to quoting a price.

They want what they want, when they want it. Let them know that you can make them happy, and that will cost them some money. If they are willing to wait until you can schedule some other work near them, it will save them money because of the reduced road time; which will enable you to offer a slightly reduced fee. If they want to be bumped to the top of the list, let them know that comes with a fee, too.

 

[Nailsbeats]

It's a mind-set that has value; learn to play it to your advantage. I always ask my customers if they are in a hurry, prior to quoting a price.

They want what they want, when they want it. Let them know that you can make them happy, and that will cost them some money. If they are willing to wait until you can schedule some other work near them, it will save them money because of the reduced road time; which will enable you to offer a slightly reduced fee. If they want to be bumped to the top of the list, let them know that comes with a fee, too.

Agreed 100%. If you need and "Emergency" job then it will cost a bit more. Of course some will just call Joe Tree then and you are out of luck, but you can only do so much.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Eh, business is business. If you cannot give them what they need, then it's their right to go anywhere else. They may spend their dollars where they want for what work they do. Don't let it get to you. It's how the whole country works. :msp_thumbup:

I used to get ticked too, but then I realized I was being desperate. :bang:

 

[mattfr12]

Ya you will never keep them all. i loose a few every year due to them not being able to wait. i keep spending $$ on equipment to try and do it faster but it always happens.

 

[sgreanbeans]

It happens. I let them know up front how far out I am, and that is only scheduled contract work, that if we have a storm, all contact work goes on hold until storm work is complete and that inclimate weather will put us back even farther. I also let them know that if I am going to loose the job, due to time, let me know and I will see if I can adjust, sometimes I can, sometimes I cant. Also let them know that a good tree guy is always busy.

 

[the Aerialist]

If you aren't busy you aren't good ...

It happens. I let them know up front how far out I am, and that is only scheduled contract work, that if we have a storm, ... inclimate weather will put us back even farther... Also let them know that a good tree guy is always busy.

Even if I'm not busy (and that's not good) I'll tell them a week or two. I advise them that I give priority one to jobs where there is a clear and present danger to people or property so they could get bumped back. That's often weather related and I tell them that tree work depends on the weather as well.

If I can beat my time estimate I just tell them a slot has opened up and I can squeeze them in. I always leave the impression that I have a full work load and that I'm doing them a favor by taking on their job.

 

[802climber]

Stumbled upon this thread. Seems like there's always someone who will do the job sooner and for half the price...

 

[Oak Savanna]

Stumbled upon this thread. Seems like there's always someone who will do the job sooner and for half the price...

Yep cause they have no work. We had a tornado hit our area this summer. I was booked 8 weeks out before it hit and I am just getting to the jobs I quoted in July now. Still have lots of tornado clean up to do. I have people calling, e-mailing and even texting asking when I am gonna be there! We are working as much/fast/safe as we can. People will just have to wait. I kindly explain that this isn't Sally's hair salon and we cant just pencil you in for Tuesday at 10am. Emergency jobs pop up, jobs take longer than planned sometimes, customer adds in work while we are there and then there is the weather! I will quote a lot clearing job for a contractor and don't hear anything for a month or 2 then all of a sudden they call and say the permits are in place and I need that lot cleared right away so we can start digging for the foundation. Had a guy who just couldn't wait, calling every day, I said we will be there next week when I am in the area. Calls me the next day and says I found someone who will do it cheaper and right away so take me off your list. No problem sir! We did 3 jobs in one day last week all within a block of his house and his work still wasn't done!! If he didn't cancel we would have done it that day while we were working right by his house. Its never the people from the higher priced jobs that bother you but the little $200-$300 drive by limb removal or small prune jobs that drive you nuts and think that their little job is the most important! RETIRED PEOPLE ARE THE WORST!!! They wake up, look out the window and stare at that tree or limb all day everyday and call and call and call!!

 

[Ffmech17]

I had a small difficult job I bid what I thought was reasonable for what they needed done. Called to let them know I'd be out at the end of the week which was fine with them. I get a call shortly after asking if I can recommend a good roofer as they need to re roof after I'm done. I made a few phone calls to builder friends and give my customer the info I got. 20 minutes later I get a call from them saying they had someone else call them back with a bid $51 less than mine and they were going To come out the next day, all of a sudden the customer was in a hurry...

 

[802climber]

Yeah when they say someone else will do it for significantly less, it's hard to know what is significant to them...... $50, $500, $5000.................

 

[tidy]

Don't worry fellas I just got some points for our side in this game. I had an extremely annoying client (argumentative, disrespectful etc) and he is waiting for me to grind some stump as part of a removal job (I've been paid for the removal). My big grinder is currently out of action and I told him he would have to wait till its fixed (which I wont get around to doing anytime soon). The guy has been calling and emailing repeatedly trying to force me to grind the stumps asap - I'm about to tell him to go **** himself.

 

[gorman]

Don't worry fellas I just got some points for our side in this game. I had an extremely annoying client (argumentative, disrespectful etc) and he is waiting for me to grind some stump as part of a removal job (I've been paid for the removal). My big grinder is currently out of action and I told him he would have to wait till its fixed (which I wont get around to doing anytime soon). The guy has been calling and emailing repeatedly trying to force me to grind the stumps asap - I'm about to tell him to go **** himself.

You can pull the ol cable repair man gag and wait for him to not be home and leave a note on his door.