This thread more aptly illustrates what is wrong with the entire USA and the whole world for that matter, rather than a statement on the abroculture industry. You are all feeling the threatening frustration that countless armies of displaced, outsourced and downsized work forces have felt. This very site teaches neophytes how to do tree work in a few evenings of reading. I have seen many comments on this and other threads where the “hack” is the guy without hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, ie. the guy with the pick-up truck and the yard sale home-lite.
Like it or not he IS your competition, so is the drunk and the guy that does it wrong even though he knows better. From what I’ve seen, many of you hold certifications that I will never have. Most of you have invested a large amount of time, effort and money in training, expensive equipment, and even college educations. Rightfully so, you want to see a reward for that investment. What you aren’t counting on however is what has happened to many of us in other industries and job sectors, there are just too many people chasing too few assets and opportunities on the planet. Many of us recently entering the tree business, bring with us a wealth of experience from previous careers that may actually give us (the hacks) a sales advantage, a cost advantage and even some real life experiences that put us ahead of established tree businesses.
I watch Nosak and I laugh. I think the guy has to be playing a part! There’s no way this is a real live human. If I came out of my house one afternoon and “saw for hire” was screaming at the top of his lungs, shouting down a challenging employee, I’d call a pow-wow and ask him how much it would cost if he left right now. Yet the meticulous guy out there with the attitude that he is going to give the customer what he needs for the price, while being courteous and safe even if he’s using a hand rake rather than a back pack blower? That’s the guy that’s not a hack.
In my area I recently cut entwined and sprawling live oak limbs from what seemed like miles of cable communication lines. It was a removal. After the pruning was done, I was looking forward to the next time on the job several days latter when I could just take the trees down. I pulled up only to find that the owner got frustrated with my “lack of progress”. Someone came along and gave a low ball offer to drop the remaining portion of the trees. Because it was such a big job, I’d given her a per hour option that she took knowing I’d make up for all of the climbing and pruning on the back end. I never considered the possibility that someone would come take the gravy portion of the job and make it look like they’d done more than me for the money!
No matter what your qualifications, you can and will be underbid and outsourced! Guard against it! Treat you customers’ right. Sell your professionalism. Show up when you say you will. Honor your quotes and promises both verbal and written. Don’t come back with extra charges, unless the customer agrees to the possibility first. Clean up your mess. Work quietly and safely! Stay educated. And keep posting tips and tricks of the trade on arborsite, it’s what gives me the edge!
. Have to wait to see what city lawn contracts i get this year. They gave a 3 month extension on what we had because they are changing the way their contract term is??? Looked at a t250 with cab 900 hrs $28000.00 Might be me in a few months, i don't know.
