Underbidding $&^%%$!!!

[Rftreeman]

Lol...mine even dumps! Uptown bubba!

What was that saw about the special olympics and arguing on the internet?

I must be a high glass bubba then, my truck has a chip dump on it.....wooohooo......

 

[ropensaddle]

I'm only addressing the REMOVAL aspect that has been complained about. You needn't be a trained / certified Arborist to cut, drop and chip a tree. If someone likes their tree and hires a Bubba to "top" it or prune it for peanuts, they get what they deserve. I'm only talking about the removal of trees.

Only see that's the whole problem that lures many out of work bubba's to their untimely death. How many bubba's are trained in the hazards of tree removal and have a copy of the standard to ensure a safe job? How many bring hard hats,chaps ,safety glasses know the proper way to start and carry a saw? It is a crime if they are non - licensed and they are nothing more than thieves.

 

[tree md]

To tell the truth, I could care less what the #### bubba's got, just bid the work accordingly. These freaking landscapers and out of work carpenters and whatever else you got running around out there for 100 bucks a day.

Freaking idiots!!!

BTW, this is my rant thread. If you don't like it you can get the #### off of my cloud!

 

[zopi]

I must be a high glass bubba then, my truck has a chip dump on it.....wooohooo......

Cue the Jeffersons theme...

I can't wait to see a a climber long slide down foe high tea and crumpets.

You can tell I am on vacation, otherwise, I would be too busy and tired to dink around on a forum...

 

[squad143]

How can some of you complain about being underbid by bubbas when you're on here bragging about making $100+ per hour to drop a friggin tree?

If Bubba is running a legit business.... then good for him. However, if a company has to pay a share to the gov. (taxes, workers comp., etc. etc. ) and Bubba is working for cash, then thats where the problem lies.

$100/hr may be what the company is charging, not what the owner is putting in his pocket after expenses.

Try selling that to a HO after charging $500 to drop a tree and chip it, all in under an hour.QUOTE]

Would the homeowner feel better if the same work was done after 5 days of work? How about 5 hours? Perhaps it was done in an hour because of the expertise and equipment that was brought to the site.

Most tree removals can be done by just about anyone with common sense, a pick up and a chainsaw. QUOTE]

Perhaps "most" of the trees you come across can be done this way. I get to see very few of these trees. I get called on the difficult ones and my rates reflect this. Some can be managed by a guy and a pickup and I have no problem bidding against him as long as the playing field is level.

 

[zopi]

BTW, this is my rant thread. If you don't like it you can get the #### off of my cloud!

Just makin sure yer tied in twice or gotta three point contact on the cloud...

Hmm...there is a new twist...cloud removal....gonna be tough getting the gaffs to stick...

 

[roostersgt]

Btw i can do the cake better usually cheaper after you consider their screw-ups that any bubba can. Why? Because I'm professional! I do many trees at or under 500 but to deploy all my gear and equipment insurance knowledge your going to pay my rate.

I fully understand, but to complain about not getting a smallish job that takes little skill or specialized equipment makes no sense to me. The average HO just wants his tree gone at the cheapest rate possible. If it's not a "hazard" tree, why pay for an expensive "hazard" rate removal? Some jobs are best left to the little guys who have little overhead. To complain about it does no good. Most tree companies around here do not pretend to know anything about pruning etc..., just removal. Again, it's hard to justify charging $500, or so, to remove a non-hazard tree in an hour, or less. As I stated before, I paid out of convenience. The guy earlier who was bragging about making $3200 for a couple of mornings work makes my point. Sometimes, people think truly competent people are arrogant, and/or just plain greedy. That's why I included my "reality check" point. I like my cake, icing included, but times are tough all over. Imagine trying to make it in the firewood business right now.

 

[squad143]

How can some of you complain about being underbid by bubbas when you're on here bragging about making $100+ per hour to drop a friggin tree?

If Bubba is running a legit business.... then good for him. However, if a company has to pay a share to the gov. (taxes, workers comp., etc. etc. ) and Bubba is working for cash, then thats where the problem lies.

$100/hr may be what the company is charging, not what the owner is putting in his pocket after expenses.

Try selling that to a HO after charging $500 to drop a tree and chip it, all in under an hour.

Would the homeowner feel better if the same work was done after 5 days of work? How about 5 hours? Perhaps it was done in an hour because of the expertise and equipment that was brought to the site.

Most tree removals can be done by just about anyone with common sense, a pick up and a chainsaw.

Perhaps "most" of the trees you come across can be done this way. I get to see very few of these trees. I get called on the difficult ones and my rates reflect this. Some can be managed by a guy and a pickup and I have no problem bidding against him as long as the playing field is level.

Seen an awful lot of trees dropped in yards and on the courses over the past 40 years and none took more than 3 hours and two guys.

That would be $450 please.

 

[tree md]

Just so you get this straight I never said this was a small or easy removal. The top and several limbs had to be rigged and lowered out of a good 100' pine and I thought I was going to have to block chunks down (with an arborist block if you don't know what I'm talking about). Now I figured out a way to get around the blocking but it still took me more time as I had to have groundies stack brush as a barrier as to not have the chunks roll off the steep embankment and onto the house instead of putting the brush where it needed to go. I also had to climb a risky dead tree and piece it out. All in all I ended up doing 4 trees that day and risking a grand in liability for $670... And no, that doesn't make me happy.

 

[tree md]

I fully understand, but to complain about not getting a smallish job that takes little skill or specialized equipment makes no sense to me. The average HO just wants his tree gone at the cheapest rate possible. If it's not a "hazard" tree, why pay for an expensive "hazard" rate removal? Some jobs are best left to the little guys who have little overhead. To complain about it does no good. Most tree companies around here do not pretend to know anything about pruning etc..., just removal. Again, it's hard to justify charging $500, or so, to remove a non-hazard tree in an hour, or less. As I stated before, I paid out of convenience. The guy earlier who was bragging about making $3200 for a couple of mornings work makes my point. Sometimes, people think truly competent people are arrogant, and/or just plain greedy. That's why I included my "reality check" point. I like my cake, icing included, but times are tough all over. Imagine trying to make it in the firewood business right now.

OK numb nuts, I have done 11 trees and cleared out a half acre lot with a skid steer for that money. All competitive bids. I earn every penny that I make. I guess I did sound a little arrogant but it was only because your smug ass was trying to tell me that I shouldn't make more than you did setting behind a cushy desk. Guess what, I hustle more and work harder than you ever have.

 

[ropensaddle]

I fully understand, but to complain about not getting a smallish job that takes little skill or specialized equipment makes no sense to me. The average HO just wants his tree gone at the cheapest rate possible. If it's not a "hazard" tree, why pay for an expensive "hazard" rate removal? Some jobs are best left to the little guys who have little overhead. To complain about it does no good. Most tree companies around here do not pretend to know anything about pruning etc..., just removal. Again, it's hard to justify charging $500, or so, to remove a non-hazard tree in an hour, or less. As I stated before, I paid out of convenience. The guy earlier who was bragging about making $3200 for a couple of mornings work makes my point. Sometimes, people think truly competent people are arrogant, and/or just plain greedy. That's why I included my "reality check" point. I like my cake, icing included, but times are tough all over. Imagine trying to make it in the firewood business right now.

I can imagine!

I remember a fellow much like your self he called me out to look at a tree a bubba already bid for 300:00. It was just put it on the ground and leave lay. He did not ask what I would do it for he just said it was bid at 300 and if I could do it for that it was my job! I looked at it It was a big tree after looking I told him yeah I can do it for that. He asked when lol I said right now and he looked very happy. I get out the big shot and shoot the top and set rope. I asked where his septic was and he says no where near so I pull the bucket out and hook up the twenty ton winch get a pull and bring out the 395 xp. I put a money notch in it to miss his fruit trees and a few yard ornaments and fell it. After I rolled up rope and put my gear up he gets cranky and said if I knew it was that easy I would of done it myself. I smiled and polightly said well sir that is why you paid for me Btw; if he asked me what I would charge, It would of been my minimum. I was there 30 minutes, so; one hour just me and my bucket 150.00. bubba can't compete if you give a real tree service a chance.

 

[roostersgt]

OK numb nuts, I have done 11 trees and cleared out a half acre lot with a skid steer for that money. All competitive bids. I earn every penny that I make. I guess I did sound a little arrogant but it was only because your smug ass was trying to tell me that I shouldn't make more than you did setting behind a cushy desk. Guess what, I hustle more and work harder than you ever have.

There you go with that name calling BS again. Never said you, or any other skilled tree guy wasn't worth the money under certain circumstances. Under those you described, you deserve to be compensated, at least what the prevailing specialist wage dictates. Sheesh, read a little before becoming offended and juvenile. The Bubbas did not bid on that job, did they??? Apples to apples.

 

[roostersgt]

I can imagine!

I remember a fellow much like your self he called me out to look at a tree a bubba already bid for 300:00. It was just put it on the ground and leave lay. He did not ask what I would do it for he just said it was bid at 300 and if I could do it for that it was my job! I looked at it It was a big tree after looking I told him yeah I can do it for that. He asked when lol I said right now and he looked very happy. I get out the big shot and shoot the top and set rope. I asked where his septic was and he says no where near so I pull the bucket out and hook up the twenty ton winch get a pull and bring out the 395 xp. I put a money notch in it to miss his fruit trees and a few yard ornaments and fell it. After I rolled up rope and put my gear up he gets cranky and said if I knew it was that easy I would of done it myself. I smiled and polightly said well sir that is why you paid for me Btw; if he asked me what I would charge, It would of been my minimum. I was there 30 minutes, so; one hour just me and my bucket 150.00. bubba can't compete if you give a real tree service a chance.

And that's why at the end of the day, you'll still be in business. Cleared easy money and on to the next job. Probably had a big day. Might have taken Bubba much longer. You're obviously more efficient.

 

[tree md]

There you go with that name calling BS again. Never said you, or any other skilled tree guy wasn't worth the money under certain circumstances. Under those you described, you deserve to be compensated, at least what the prevailing specialist wage dictates. Sheesh, read a little before becoming offended and juvenile. The Bubbas did not bid on that job, did they??? Apples to apples.

Well, If you want to play with the real treemen and tell them what they're worth you might want to grow a little thicker bark...

 

[roostersgt]

Well, If you want to play with the real treemen and tell them what they're worth you might want to grow a little thicker bark...

i prefer to converse with adults. Name calling is never called for on a website. In person, you can take your chances, but not on a computer. This thread needed a little perspective in my opinion, a reality check for some. Your attitude toward your work might be costing you some of the jobs you bid. Everyone likes to believe they're worth more than they are, including myself. I always appreciated sporadic "reality checks" when I was working in the trades. It makes / forces you to become more competitive and efficient. There's no shame in losing a smallish "no skill" job to a part time hack who's trying to make it through tough times. I've been there and done that. Complaining about it on a forum is unproductive. Hope I've helped in some small way.

 

[046]

been reading this thread and laughing my ass off.....

in a tornado damaged area like treemd is working... most every job is hazardous.
half fallen branches under tension ... you'd better know what you are doing.
stand in the wrong place when it all releases ... you are DEAD!

 

[roostersgt]

been reading this thread and laughing my ass off.....

in a tornado damaged area like treemd is working... most every job is hazardous.
half fallen branches under tension ... you'd better know what you are doing.
stand in the wrong place when it all releases ... you are DEAD!

In which case Darwinism is applied and the Buabbas are thinned from the herd. Removed from the gene pool and would no longer be bidding on jobs. Agreed. Special skills, equipment and proper pricing for special jobs.

 

[ropensaddle]

been reading this thread and laughing my ass off.....

in a tornado damaged area like treemd is working... most every job is hazardous.
half fallen branches under tension ... you'd better know what you are doing.
stand in the wrong place when it all releases ... you are DEAD!

Well don't forget rope has been working the f3 that hit a mile from my trailer for the last two months:rant:

 

[tree md]

i prefer to converse with adults. Name calling is never called for on a website. In person, you can take your chances, but not on a computer. This thread needed a little perspective in my opinion, a reality check for some. Your attitude toward your work might be costing you some of the jobs you bid. Everyone likes to believe they're worth more than they are, including myself. I always appreciated sporadic "reality checks" when I was working in the trades. It makes / forces you to become more competitive and efficient. There's no shame in losing a smallish "no skill" job to a part time hack who's trying to make it through tough times. I've been there and done that. Complaining about it on a forum is unproductive. Hope I've helped in some small way.

Actually, this was a thread for me to ##### a little bit and talk shop with some of my colleagues on here (some of whom I have known for 10 years and some I have worked with)... So do me a favor and give your perspective to someone who gives a ####... Maybe some of your firewood buddies. Personally, I could care less what your opinion is of me.

 

[046]

Yikes!!! that's getting too close for comfort ...

F3 Severe tornado 158-206 mph Roof and some walls torn off well constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in fores uprooted

Well don't forget rope has been working the f3 that hit a mile from my trailer for the last two months:rant: