Sometimes, you try to be nice and all it gets you is-----

[BC WetCoast]

There's a sales trainer who advertises on the radio here by giving little sales tips. One of his tips, never let the buyer think you're desperate. Go into the sales meeting giving the impression with the confidence that you are independently wealthy.

If I go to a customer's house and they aren't home, I leave an estimate, follow up in a couple of days to see if they have any questions and maybe follow up in a week or two if it appears they may be interested.

The ones I get frustrated at are the "you gave me a quote 9 months ago, is that price still good?"

 

[StrataTree]

I don't even open my eyes if the phone rings one time after 10:00, if it rings and rings and rings, it better be a ----ing emergency. We don't offer 24- hr tree removal or PRUNING!?!?! Unless you got a tree on your house, then we can prune it out of your bedroom or living room... in the morning. ...but it's gonna cost ya!

 

[2treeornot2tree]

There's a sales trainer who advertises on the radio here by giving little sales tips. One of his tips, never let the buyer think you're desperate. Go into the sales meeting giving the impression with the confidence that you are independently wealthy.

If I go to a customer's house and they aren't home, I leave an estimate, follow up in a couple of days to see if they have any questions and maybe follow up in a week or two if it appears they may be interested.

The ones I get frustrated at are the "you gave me a quote 9 months ago, is that price still good?"

When someone asks me when i can do there job, most times i say it will be a week or two. Even if i am not busy. I normally follow up with i can probably squeeze you in sooner, which makes them feel like i am really making there job a priority.

On the bottom of my price sheets, i have a big bold line that states " prices are good for 30 days only" 9 months down the line, i can either change the price, or not. Most times i dont, unless i bid it cheap to get it.

To the op:

I dont ever call a customer that many times. I leave them a quote, i make a follow up call a day later to make sure they got and ask if they have any questions. If they dont call back, they dont call back. Sometimes you get a call from them two weeks later. Your not a huge priority to them.
Its funny how on jobs you feel real good about, you dont get, and the jobs you put a huge number on because you didnt want, you get. Its business.

 

[capetrees]

I'm horrible about call backs. Gotta get in the right mood to call back a potential customer and then I call them all back. Might be 5 days after they called initially. One call back and if they don't answer, a message is left. If they don't follow up, more time for me to relax. I'm not rich so I do have to work but I'm not going to kill myself to get every job. That would drive me insane. Somehow, the phone does ring and the work stays steady. Spring and fall it gets crazy though, way too many calls.

 

[imagineero]

You've already gotten so much good advice. +1 on losing the summer special. $325 for a half day? That's well into hack territory, especially if you're bringing a chipper. Maybe even more so if you're slashing into a trailer. The going rate in most places is a little over double that for qualified insured work.

Not everyone is a great salesman. I'm not the best, but I do pretty well and win most of the jobs I want. It's a dance, and I enjoy it. I even enjoy saying no to jobs I don't want. If you're not gifted when it comes to sales you may well be shooting yourself in the foot every time you talk to a potential client. I have a few buddies like that. One in particular, I just can't fathom. Best equipment, all well maintained, extremely knowledgeable, over 20 years experience, most honest guy you could ever meet, prices his work well, and works harder than anybody I've ever met. There's just something about the guy though, that's so abrasive. He really rubs people up the wrong way. He could win 5 times as much work by just passing people a card saying he is mute, and writing a price on it. If you're not winning a lot of quotes, then you might do better hiring someone on a commission basis who has that gift, and then you could concentrate on the tree work.

Shaun

 

[treemandan]

A few years ago a lady called me to look at a hazard tree that she was worried about, just as I was about to go look at it another treeguy called me and told me he just went over there in the pouring rain to find out the job had already been given to somebody else.

I called the lady, told her that I had looked at the tree and would take it down for 500 bucks which was about a 1/4 of the job's worth.

After a moment of awkward silence I admitted I was just ####ing with her but thanked her for allowing me go out in the pouring rain for nothing.


Then this lady called me about another mess so we made an appointment to meet. When I got there nobody was there, I called her, she said that her kids wanted to go golfing so she took them to the range.


Once I was really back-up, as the weeks went by I never got on this one job. I finally called the guy, he said not to bother and was mad. I told him I would do the job for free, I wasn't joking but he still didn't want me to do the job.

And of course we all have showed to do a job and found it was already done.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Got the job done. No big deal.

Apparently, the client is very busy, very much on the go, as a full-time RN. She answered the door, when I showed up in the AM, on the agreed day, and signed the proposal I brought along and acted as if nothing weird had happened. With some folks, they are so wrapped up in their own world that they simply don't think about protocol, returning calls, emails, etc. She also paid cash. It didn't hurt that she was very pretty, as well.

I believe in the saying, "Do it NOW!" I succeed in life because I take care of business as soon as things drop in my plate. I'm glad some of you get by letting things just coast along. Good for you. If I told clients that I'd get to them next week, or the week after, I wouldn't work. Simple as that.

Yeah, things ARE that bad in Austin. The kicker: For those of you who wrote that $325 for a half-day of pruning, two-man crew, borders on hack work, you need to stop on down here. I lose jobs at that price because I get :censored:ing underbid!

I appreciate feedback, for the most part, but some of you need to understand that different local work conditions call for different approaches to how you hustle gigs.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

You've already gotten so much good advice. +1 on losing the summer special. $325 for a half day? That's well into hack territory, especially if you're bringing a chipper. Maybe even more so if you're slashing into a trailer. The going rate in most places is a little over double that for qualified insured work.

Not everyone is a great salesman. I'm not the best, but I do pretty well and win most of the jobs I want. It's a dance, and I enjoy it. I even enjoy saying no to jobs I don't want. If you're not gifted when it comes to sales you may well be shooting yourself in the foot every time you talk to a potential client. I have a few buddies like that. One in particular, I just can't fathom. Best equipment, all well maintained, extremely knowledgeable, over 20 years experience, most honest guy you could ever meet, prices his work well, and works harder than anybody I've ever met. There's just something about the guy though, that's so abrasive. He really rubs people up the wrong way. He could win 5 times as much work by just passing people a card saying he is mute, and writing a price on it. If you're not winning a lot of quotes, then you might do better hiring someone on a commission basis who has that gift, and then you could concentrate on the tree work.

Shaun

I'm a great salesman. If I wasn't, given the Austin market as it stands, I'd be on the corner with a sign looking for handouts. The $325 is NOT "well into hack territory," down here: I get underbid a good deal of the time. When folks live twenty to a two bedroom rental house, some of those renters can afford to take home $25, tax-free, for a full day's work, and still enjoy their life-style, such as it is.

 

[ROPECLIMBER]

Sunrise Guy
Why are you compareing your work with the foriegn excange students living 20 to a two bedroom. You have a teachers certificate that is 50K starting pay at a decent public school. A graduate of Incarnate Word University, you are a specialist compete with the specialist.
650 day. for a CA a chipper and a ground man with insurance, and proper gear and safety training is on the verge of competing with them. If you track every dime, , dsl, blades,chains,pruning spray,advertising,web,maintence/repair, Tags,vehicle insurance,inspections,tires,batteries,City License,ISA Cert,CEU's,theft, give your helper(s) a job with a paycheck,at a decent living wage,
If we tolorate folkes living like a third world country and even condone it by our pay scale, and the prices we quote to support that pay, then we will continue living in a third world economy.
I admit the same job here or in Austin pays 2 times the wages in other parts of the country,but who's fault is that if not the small biz owners. I am the last for more beuracrasy but mabe we should use the laws that are here but un inforced, call the housing atthotity,call imagration on companies using them, call the city on the hacks, educate each person you come in contact with the value of proper tree care, about how few actual Certified Arborists There really are compared with the hundreds of tree companies listed, longterm care of the trees.
Customers have grown acustom to getting tree work (not proper tree care) for lawn maintenance prices, is it really fair to ask our helpers to do skilled hazardous work for the same wages they can get pushing a mower. This whole sense of do or die is a complete lack of trust in GOD, taken over by a frantic attempt to fend for ourselves, you have talked about people being self-absorbed, how is offering to pay qualified tree men and women less than a livable wage be anything but self-absorbed.
Unable to see the living conditions necessary to survive on such low wages, If the small biz owner callases over to these
then why shouldn't the general working middle class look away too, as long as they stay out of your niebhorhood at night right.
I very seldom come here because of the banter and not because I am to busy I am by nature anti social, and probably piss off more opportunities than most people get, but the way I see it is if you don't like it change it.
Believe me I live in San Antonio so I know repressed skilled labor. start comparing Apples to Apples by grade and do not assume that the client is comparing your fruit to other less qualified companies compost. use your teaching degree to educate the client what is best for thier trees in the long term and what they really need to spend on their trees and why,
my Rant for another 6 months or so.
Paul

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I'm a great salesman. If I wasn't, given the Austin market as it stands, I'd be on the corner with a sign looking for handouts. The $325 is NOT "well into hack territory," down here: I get underbid a good deal of the time. When folks live twenty to a two bedroom rental house, some of those renters can afford to take home $25, tax-free, for a full day's work, and still enjoy their life-style, such as it is.

It doesn't take a great salesman to sell half price tree work, and 325 for a climber and groundie is half price. A great salesman educates his customer and builds value so that the customer chooses the company based on quality, service, and value, not price.
Whhen I was 21 I sold cars for while I was in college. I used to complain to my sales manager that he wouldn't come down on the price enough, and was costing me sales. So onensaturday, he made me a deal: He picked out a Buick LeSabre and said, "I will sell that car for $5,000.00 under invoice if you can get someone to buy it."
Woohoo, done deal, right? Everyone whho came in the door I took right over to that car and told em I would sell it right now for 5,000 off invoice! Car was still there at the end of the night.
I hung my head and went to the manager, couldn't figure it out. He said, son, if you don't sell em on the car, the price doesn't matter. And if you don't sell em on yourself, the car doesn't matter. But if you do both of those, the price doesn't matter." He was a wise man, and that experience has stuck with me throughout the years.
If you run a 325 special and don't even meet with them, the only thing you have to compete with is price. But if you actually go out and get to know the customer and their needs, and educate them and show them how you can help, you won't have to worry about the price.

Good luck, Jeff

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Sunrise Guy
Why are you compareing your work with the foriegn excange students living 20 to a two bedroom. You have a teachers certificate that is 50K starting pay at a decent public school. A graduate of Incarnate Word University, you are a specialist compete with the specialist.
650 day. for a CA a chipper and a ground man with insurance, and proper gear and safety training is on the verge of competing with them. If you track every dime, , dsl, blades,chains,pruning spray,advertising,web,maintence/repair, Tags,vehicle insurance,inspections,tires,batteries,City License,ISA Cert,CEU's,theft, give your helper(s) a job with a paycheck,at a decent living wage,
If we tolorate folkes living like a third world country and even condone it by our pay scale, and the prices we quote to support that pay, then we will continue living in a third world economy.
I admit the same job here or in Austin pays 2 times the wages in other parts of the country,but who's fault is that if not the small biz owners. I am the last for more beuracrasy but mabe we should use the laws that are here but un inforced, call the housing atthotity,call imagration on companies using them, call the city on the hacks, educate each person you come in contact with the value of proper tree care, about how few actual Certified Arborists There really are compared with the hundreds of tree companies listed, longterm care of the trees.
Customers have grown acustom to getting tree work (not proper tree care) for lawn maintenance prices, is it really fair to ask our helpers to do skilled hazardous work for the same wages they can get pushing a mower. This whole sense of do or die is a complete lack of trust in GOD, taken over by a frantic attempt to fend for ourselves, you have talked about people being self-absorbed, how is offering to pay qualified tree men and women less than a livable wage be anything but self-absorbed.
Unable to see the living conditions necessary to survive on such low wages, If the small biz owner callases over to these
then why shouldn't the general working middle class look away too, as long as they stay out of your niebhorhood at night right.
I very seldom come here because of the banter and not because I am to busy I am by nature anti social, and probably piss off more opportunities than most people get, but the way I see it is if you don't like it change it.
Believe me I live in San Antonio so I know repressed skilled labor. start comparing Apples to Apples by grade and do not assume that the client is comparing your fruit to other less qualified companies compost. use your teaching degree to educate the client what is best for thier trees in the long term and what they really need to spend on their trees and why,
my Rant for another 6 months or so.
Paul

Blah, blah blah----Whatever, man. Forget my 25+ years in the biz. What do I know? I can't understand most of your gobbledygook, above, so let's just let it slide. The guys I referenced, who live twenty to a two bedroom house, are NOT foreign exchange students! If you live in SA, you should REALLY know what I'm talking about but, after reading and rereading your post, I'm honestly not sure what you know.

Have a nice day, man. Thanks for your reply, I guess.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

It doesn't take a great salesman to sell half price tree work, and 325 for a climber and groundie is half price. A great salesman educates his customer and builds value so that the customer chooses the company based on quality, service, and value, not price.
Whhen I was 21 I sold cars for while I was in college. I used to complain to my sales manager that he wouldn't come down on the price enough, and was costing me sales. So onensaturday, he made me a deal: He picked out a Buick LeSabre and said, "I will sell that car for $5,000.00 under invoice if you can get someone to buy it."
Woohoo, done deal, right? Everyone whho came in the door I took right over to that car and told em I would sell it right now for 5,000 off invoice! Car was still there at the end of the night.
I hung my head and went to the manager, couldn't figure it out. He said, son, if you don't sell em on the car, the price doesn't matter. And if you don't sell em on yourself, the car doesn't matter. But if you do both of those, the price doesn't matter." He was a wise man, and that experience has stuck with me throughout the years.
If you run a 325 special and don't even meet with them, the only thing you have to compete with is price. But if you actually go out and get to know the customer and their needs, and educate them and show them how you can help, you won't have to worry about the price.

Good luck, Jeff

I don't want to be rude, so I'm finished, with this thread. Have a great day!

 

[imagineero]

Is this the part where someone says 'I know you are but what am I?' Oh wait, we're not there yet. I'm calling it when the time is right though!

Don't listen to these fools sunrise guy. It's clear to me that you're a brilliant salesman and we could all learn a lot from your methods. You're a visionary; pricing your work by the half day is where it's at. For years, I've been quoting work by the job... Look at all the time I wasted! I think the price you charge is exactly what you're worth otstir:

Shaun

 

[Sunrise Guy]

ROPECLIMBER, please empty your mailbox.

AS is cuing me that your mailbox is full, so I can't send my reply to your pm.

Thanks!

 

[mckeetree]

I think the price you charge is exactly what you're worth otstir:

Shaun

I got a laugh today when one of my "competitors", Juan's First Choice Tree Care, told me in his broken English that he charges what he is worth. I replied "Yeah, Juan, you don't charge much and you are not worth much so I guess that would be a fairly accurate statement."

 

[ClimbMIT]

It was probably a mis-dial, happens all the time.

And since Sunrise called her back and is sleuthing out the numbers she is probably scared crapless by now. :msp_rolleyes:

I agree. Watch the movie "Swingers" and pay attention to Mike.

 

[ClimbMIT]

Sunrise Guy
Why are you compareing your work with the foriegn excange students living 20 to a two bedroom. You have a teachers certificate that is 50K starting pay at a decent public school. A graduate of Incarnate Word University, you are a specialist compete with the specialist.
650 day. for a CA a chipper and a ground man with insurance, and proper gear and safety training is on the verge of competing with them. If you track every dime, , dsl, blades,chains,pruning spray,advertising,web,maintence/repair, Tags,vehicle insurance,inspections,tires,batteries,City License,ISA Cert,CEU's,theft, give your helper(s) a job with a paycheck,at a decent living wage,
If we tolorate folkes living like a third world country and even condone it by our pay scale, and the prices we quote to support that pay, then we will continue living in a third world economy.
I admit the same job here or in Austin pays 2 times the wages in other parts of the country,but who's fault is that if not the small biz owners. I am the last for more beuracrasy but mabe we should use the laws that are here but un inforced, call the housing atthotity,call imagration on companies using them, call the city on the hacks, educate each person you come in contact with the value of proper tree care, about how few actual Certified Arborists There really are compared with the hundreds of tree companies listed, longterm care of the trees.
Customers have grown acustom to getting tree work (not proper tree care) for lawn maintenance prices, is it really fair to ask our helpers to do skilled hazardous work for the same wages they can get pushing a mower. This whole sense of do or die is a complete lack of trust in GOD, taken over by a frantic attempt to fend for ourselves, you have talked about people being self-absorbed, how is offering to pay qualified tree men and women less than a livable wage be anything but self-absorbed.
Unable to see the living conditions necessary to survive on such low wages, If the small biz owner callases over to these
then why shouldn't the general working middle class look away too, as long as they stay out of your niebhorhood at night right.
I very seldom come here because of the banter and not because I am to busy I am by nature anti social, and probably piss off more opportunities than most people get, but the way I see it is if you don't like it change it.
Believe me I live in San Antonio so I know repressed skilled labor. start comparing Apples to Apples by grade and do not assume that the client is comparing your fruit to other less qualified companies compost. use your teaching degree to educate the client what is best for thier trees in the long term and what they really need to spend on their trees and why,
my Rant for another 6 months or so.
Paul

Thanks for posting Paul. I think your spot on. I have been the low bidder for quite some time and it's hard to change that once your there. I am just surviving and I need to advertise, get better at selling, and remember to do as stated above. Not let people compare me with others that don't hold the credentials I have.

 

[ClimbMIT]

Blah, blah blah----Whatever, man. Forget my 25+ years in the biz. What do I know? I can't understand most of your gobbledygook, above, so let's just let it slide. The guys I referenced, who live twenty to a two bedroom house, are NOT foreign exchange students! If you live in SA, you should REALLY know what I'm talking about but, after reading and rereading your post, I'm honestly not sure what you know.

Have a nice day, man. Thanks for your reply, I guess.

Sunrise you started this thread complaining. Then other members posted a lot of good feedback even though some of it may have come across as rude. Forget arguing and try listening to what others have posted. Just because you have been in business 25 years doesn't mean you know it all. There is a lot of successful tree guys here because they still learn everyday posting and giving back by sharing what they have learned.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

I wish you success!
Mark

 

[treeclimber101]

I drunk texted a customer once and told him I was fingering his dogs ass right now thinking it was my neighbor that I was texting Since his stupod dog was over my house pissing on my tiger lillies , Low and behold after he responded 15minutes later at almost 2am he said well since I got ya on the line I gave my sister your number for a half dead spruce in her back yard ...... PS try to keep your fingers out of her ass LOL ! ####ing moonshine gets me every time ! :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[treeclimber101]

I think you should sell yourself as we will clear your roof for 325.00 #### that 4 hour #### , I could knock out some rooves??????? Plural for roof In 4 hours ....... And just tell em I will give 15/18 foot from the peak to the first branch ...... Man now my ####ing wheels in my head are spinning , I am gonna call all my customers on every number I can find at all hours day and night until I get some #### rolling ...... Tanksamillion sunrise !