The Technology Age...

[HoosierKid]

Times past

What are you going to do when they stop making pens?

 

[TimberMcPherson]

What are you going to do when they stop making pens?

I will upgrade using this app called a pencil.

 

[superjunior]

I'm so frickin old school.. I still climb with a taut line and use pen and paper for everything, just learned how to text.. I think a smart phone would just confuse me...

 

[imagineero]

I do keep a smartphone in the truck, but dont use it much. To be honest I mostly use it for bidding on stuff on ebay, or finding a place to have lunch. Occasionally I use it to download the regulations for the area I'm working in. I used to use the phone as a wireless router and carry a notebook for hooking up with, but never used it. I've had printers and scanners (up to A3) in other vehicles with big powerful notebooks and inverters for businesses before, mostly for CAD work on remote sites - thats computer aided design, not chainsaw addiction disorder. I just dont see technology 'adding' much to this industry. We cut down trees with chainsaws.

Shaun

 

[TreeAce]

I am a pen n paper guy right now. All bids are hand written on triplet paper with my logo and stuff. Top copy is color and for the customer. Next two are for my records and I have the option of using one as a reciept. Most people like a receipt, I always offer if they dont ask. I all works OK. However, I am giving much thought to an Ipad w/ wireless printer. I have some reasons. 1) My spelling is very poor ,although I can use my I4s smartphone to solve this. 2) I can take pictures and attach them making it easier to relay info of what I want done and how. Right now I am still on every job but thats gotta change some what eventually inorder to grow my business. The photos will have even more benifets I am sure. 3) This one is big for me, Being able to easily keep track of who I worked for and when. Going back years. Knowing how much I charged them last time is good to. A total data base of customers. Including the jobs I dont get. These can prove valuable i think. When the calls start flowing in it will make it easier to remember who the people are who tend to waste my time. There are a few. Mostly landlords.
There is more really but i think that covers enough to aid in this thread and give some food for thought. I all so am assuming there is a program or software that will do what I want the way I want it.
Drawbacks, It can break. The expense of the getting set up. And according to the guys at BestBuy, I will need a portable wifi "hotspot" in order to run printer anywhere I please (a must). This costs 50 a month. Does any one know if I could tether wifi from my smartphone? Another draw back is that i dont want to lug a printer around when I am out actually cutting trees. So if neighbor wants an estimate, I ethier hand write it, come back (not good), or mail/email the estimate. I think i can work through that stuff ok. And as far a receipt, good ole fashion pen n paper.

 

[imagineero]

you can use most nokia smartphones as a wireless router for 4 devices with 'joikuspot'. You have to pay for it, it's about $30 from memory. That lasts forever. I paid for my copy. There is a free trial version. It works well but chews up a lot of battery.

You can tether an iphone for free if you have the newer version of the operating system, but it's wired only which wont work for your printer.

I don't do my quotes in triplicate because I write so many details on my own copy that I don't want the customer to see - hazards, cubic yards of chip, access, number of staff and costs, chipping costs and time, species height dbh, my profit margin etc. The quote i give them only has the pricing of the job, and no details that a competitor could use to underbid me without spending time. I try to avoid giving written quotes in general until the job has been confirmed. I do give a written quote and copy of insurance prior to commencement of work.

Shaun

 

[TreeAce]

I hear ya about not liking to leave written estimates that can be used by customer to get someone to go lower. But it seems like just the "nature of the beast" with tree work. IDK, if I had to choose between leave one or not, I would have to go with leave it. People feel better about seeing your quote on paper. And alot of people who shop around dont say what others have bid they just want it in writting for there own comparisons. But some people sure the hell do pull those estis right out! Looky here....can you beat this price?? GGGrrrrr......maybe. Its BS for sure. Not sure I would wanna go with verbal qoute only until job is sold then givem written bid.......Anyone else do that?

 

[imagineero]

I hear ya about not liking to leave written estimates that can be used by customer to get someone to go lower. But it seems like just the "nature of the beast" with tree work. IDK, if I had to choose between leave one or not, I would have to go with leave it. People feel better about seeing your quote on paper. And alot of people who shop around dont say what others have bid they just want it in writting for there own comparisons. But some people sure the hell do pull those estis right out! Looky here....can you beat this price?? GGGrrrrr......maybe. Its BS for sure. Not sure I would wanna go with verbal qoute only until job is sold then givem written bid.......Anyone else do that?

it's part of my sell. I tell my customers straight off that I wont be the lowest bid, and explain why. I reccomend that they get a copy of any persons insurance (public liability and workers comp) and make sure that they are licensed. I also let them know that no reputable company will ask for a deposit, and that I only ask for payment once the work is completed. I also explain to them that we do a quality cleanup and don't damage their property. I think protecting customers from sharks is part of the job of every legitimate tree company, and worth spending a few minutes on, especially on large jobs.

In aus we unfortunately have some guys running around ripping people off - asking for deposits and not coming back, doing half the job then leaving etc. These guys are generally pushy types, door knockers who claim trees are dangerous, ask for big sums of cash up front and have no paperwork to back the business. names on cards and phone numbers rarely match up and good luck tracking them down.

I explain that I dont give written quotes but do give work contracts prior to starting the job detailing what work will be done, a copy of my insurance and licensing. This sorts the customers who are serious from those who are just shopping around. I dont feel that I've lost many jobs with this approach, and I think it has helped me win quite a few I might have otherwise lost. Every area is different though.

Shaun

 

[pdqdl]

...
Drawbacks, It can break. The expense of the getting set up. And according to the guys at BestBuy, I will need a portable wifi "hotspot" in order to run printer anywhere I please (a must). This costs 50 a month. Does any one know if I could tether wifi from my smartphone? Another draw back is that i dont want to lug a printer around when I am out actually cutting trees. So if neighbor wants an estimate, I ethier hand write it, come back (not good), or mail/email the estimate. I think i can work through that stuff ok. And as far a receipt, good ole fashion pen n paper.

Most wireless printers DON'T need a wifi hotspot. If your computer/ipad/wifi device can connect directly to the printer, no hotspot is required.

My laptop can get to my printer 3 ways: directly by wifi, through my wifi hotspot, or with the cable.

wifi is slow and a pain to use. I plug in the cable.

 

[pdqdl]

I hear ya about not liking to leave written estimates that can be used by customer to get someone to go lower. But it seems like just the "nature of the beast" with tree work. IDK, if I had to choose between leave one or not, I would have to go with leave it. People feel better about seeing your quote on paper. And alot of people who shop around dont say what others have bid they just want it in writting for there own comparisons. But some people sure the hell do pull those estis right out! Looky here....can you beat this price?? GGGrrrrr......maybe. Its BS for sure. Not sure I would wanna go with verbal qoute only until job is sold then givem written bid.......Anyone else do that?

Once upon a time I feared that my customers would compare my written quotes, but I got over that fear. How often does a customer show YOU someone else's quote?

I get customers that will tell me about some ridiculously low quote, but they never seem to cough up the proof when I ask for it. Over the years, I have seen a few of my competitors quotes, but mine are always neater and more professional than the lowballers.

I think most customers know that they get what they pay for. Those that don't, probably aren't going to be a good customer anyway.

 

[TreeAce]

Most wireless printers DON'T need a wife convenience. If your computer/ipad/wifi device can connect directly to the printer, no hotspot is required.

My laptop can get to my printer 3 ways: directly by wifi, through my wifi hotspot, or with the cable.

wifi is slow and a pain to use. I plug in the cable.

Thx for the info. I think an Ipad can only print via wireless? I really wanted an Ipad but maybe a laptop is the way to go? I would like to stay with an apple device because of my Iphone but maybe I am over estimating the conveniance factor there. I am not looking to spend 2k on a mac book either.