Time spent bidding jobs.

[OutOnaLimb]

I was just wondering how much time you guys spend each week bidding jobs. The guy I am sub contracting for now seems to spend every hour of the day devoted to "making bids" and is never on the job site with us. Which kinda sucks because it is just myself and a ground man. The last guy I worked for was with the crew all day every day. This is kinda getting frustration having to wait around on the job site for him to show up with the truck to pick up wood. Is the bidding really that competitive this time of year?

Kenn

 

[MasterBlaster]

I worked for a guy like that, once. Believe me, he ain't spending all day bidding jobs. He just doesn't wanna hang out/help. Thats his decision, being the owner and all. But he shouldn't leave you short-handed.

I bet a nickle you work for a daily rate, correct?

Can yur GM perform a rescue?

 

[NeTree]

I spend anywhere from 3 to 12 hours a week bidding. Around here, it IS that competitive, and I'm also bidding for more than one crew.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yea Erik, but Kenn says this guy spends ALL day EVERY day bidding jobs... yea, RIGHT!

I know the type!

 

[NeTree]

If he's only got the one crew, then there's something wrong alright.

 

[Stumper]

My "bidding" time approximates Eric's. I'm only bidding for one guy (though it has been mentioned that I do about as much as fast as some three man crews). Some days I can tender 3 bids in a half hour others I spend 2 hours making 3 bids.-Travel time and talkitiveness of the customers are factors. Of course there is some extra time spent on the phone to..... When everything is humming the way I prefer (which seems seldom ) I work 9-10 hours per day-6-7 hours at job sites and the other 3 are spent in travel time, hauling, bidding and equipment tweaking.

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by netree
I spend anywhere from 3 to 12 hours a week bidding.

Yep, I probably average about an hour a day. I set them up first thing in the morning or just before dark to get a full work day in. This winter I kept a spotlight on hand for evening bids.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Spotlight? Good idea!

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[Dadatwins]

Sounds like the guy is getting lost on purpose to me also. Especially if only bidding for 1 crew. I spend about 5 - 10 hours a week for part -time business. I also get alot of work from people right next door to where I am working cuts down travel time. If boss is leaving crew alone all the time though I would be worried about something going wrong. Can gm get you out of tree if hurt? Guys that try to run biz like that do not stay around very long, eventually crew will tire of it.

 

[treeslayer]

sounds like he's bidding alright, 1 $ at a time on the local strippers!

what a waste of production.

figure out the numbers, how much money y'all are losing/not making on account of his absenteism,
and like blaster says, who's coming to get you if the poop strikes the oscilater?
not managing time properly, coupled with excessive driving time,
could be part of it, but 40 hours?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by rborist1
During our busy season last year I was averaging 4-6 hrs of bidding each day, 8 hrs on Saturdays. Some days we were receiving over 40 phone calls a day. It was crazy for a couple of months.

What do you think your closing percentage was?

Did you start bidding higher because of the backlog?

 

[SilverBlue]

Within the estimates that are done what is the success rate?

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by SilverBlue
Within the estimates that are done what is the success rate?

Thats what JPS asked.

Thats a whicked avatar!!

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Yeah, thats pretty much what I thought, and you guys just confirmed it for me. This guy is pretty spastic and it seems like he is just chasing his tail most of the time. Aye Carumba!!!!! And when he is on the job he is in his truck on the phone. Go figure!!!

He pretty much just sub contracts out a climber at 20% of what the job is, which isnt much considering he bids every thing so low. He knows nothing about trees or tree work, and we went over the scenerio of aieral rescue several times, but it wouldnt do much good since he is never there any way. I cant count the times he has left me alone in a tree. Im gettin kinda tired of all this. Oh well, it is just a means to an end and I will be running my own show here shortly.

thanks.
Kenn

 

[OutOnaLimb]

OK, maybe it isnt a full 40 hrs, but I would bet dollars to donughts that he spends 30 hrs out of the week out goofing off. (I hope he doesnt get home and read this tonight.) Yesterday, I climbed and took down about a 60ft spruce tree in a back yard with only one ground man while he had to run and make 2 bids. Needles to say We had every thing down, done, cleaned up, and was waiting on him to show up with the truck so we could load the wood. I talked to him and he is saying that he lands between 25% and 33% of his bids even though he bids so ????ed low.

Kenn

 

[treeslayer]

sounds like all you need is a truck and some advertising!
heck, you are doing everything else.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by treeslayer
sounds like all you need is a truck and some advertising!
heck, you are doing everything else.

Ditto.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Like I said its all just a means to an end. I had my own tree company two years ago and had a big falling out with my business partner who is pretty much the same type of person that I am working for now. I have a Vermeer BC1000 and a 89' Asplundh man cab chip truck that is hung up in the court system as we speak. Im just waiting to settle with my old partner and then use that money to start over again.

Kenn

 

[NeTree]

Sounds like "OutOnaLimb" has more than just one meaning, eh?