What's the worst you've done to an idiot customer?

[lone wolf]

I'm guessing a pump? The tree was hollow, I did a bore cut for a crane pick and bored right into a brick sized piece of what seems like mortar mix, wrecked that chain, customer acted dumbfounded by it, the extra dumbfounded when I explained my chainsaws cannot cut anything other than wood!

I had it happen once !

 

[ZinTrees]

this is the first piece I hit, cut it perfectly in half with a nice sharp chain on the 500I like 3 cuts in once we got into the bigger wood, honestly thought it was wood but its clearly not since it wrecked my chain, guys on the ground all commented on how it didn't sound right while I was cutting, and its super freakin heavy, almost like a chunk of steel but no way I could have cut it if it was steel, im thinking mortar or grout mix?

yes thats an 881 in the background, yes we were climbing with it, yes it hit a LOT of concrete, and yes, I sent the 500 up and was filing chains as fast as I could so they would atleast try to cut, we went through about 10 chains before calling it quits and handing the guy the bill

 

[TNTreeHugger]

this is the first piece I hit, cut it perfectly in half with a nice sharp chain on the 500I like 3 cuts in once we got into the bigger wood, honestly thought it was wood but its clearly not since it wrecked my chain, guys on the ground all commented on how it didn't sound right while I was cutting, and its super freakin heavy, almost like a chunk of steel but no way I could have cut it if it was steel, im thinking mortar or grout mix?

yes thats an 881 in the background, yes we were climbing with it, yes it hit a LOT of concrete, and yes, I sent the 500 up and was filing chains as fast as I could so they would atleast try to cut, we went through about 10 chains before calling it quits and handing the guy the bill
View attachment 1174797

How old do you figure the tree was?
If I'm not mistaken about what I've read, it used to be common practice for arborists to recommend filling tree cavities with cement. Not so much any more though.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I googled cement filled trees and this thread came up:
https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/cement-filled-tree.36566/

 

[ZinTrees]

How old do you figure the tree was?
If I'm not mistaken about what I've read, it used to be common practice for arborists to recommend filling tree cavities with cement. Not so much any more though.

>150 years, maybe around 175

 

[GL0B0TREE]

Well.. I guess that I should start with my own story.

"Back in the day", which wasn't really that long ago, We were cutting down Ash trees in the GTA ( Toronto), that had been infected by the Asian Ash Beetle. Once we had a job set up, and the crew was working, I'd take my partner and walk the neighbourhood looking for work. We came across a 3 acre property that had at least 20 plus Ash trees on it, so we went up and banged on the door. Out comes this old guy.. older than Christ's diapers, and we proceed to dance.
It started out O.K... We realized that we'd have to explain stuff to him, and give him price and service options. It went well at first, then he proceeded to keep moving the goal posts. Every time he moved the "goal posts", we had to re-calculate the quote.
First it was a complete job.. Drop the trees, not damage the lawn, remove all brush, split the wood and pile it .. grind the stumps and sod. Then it was drop the trees, damage the lawn, remove all brush, and leave the stumps at 6 inches.. Etc.. etc.. etc.. We'd been there over an hour, and I'd had enough of his crap. I'm giving my partner the hand signs to just let it go, leave him a card and to call when he was serious about dealing with the issue. Randy wasn't having it.. He was determined to land the fish. And truthfully, what we were quoting him wasn't putting huge payday on our plate. We realized that, for a homeowner to suddenly have an unexpected bill for tree removal, for 20K to 30 K, was a bit of a kick, and it wasn't covered by insurance.
Usually, I've got a ton of patience, but, when I get to the end of my rope, yeah.. I can be a ****. The straw that broke the camels back, was when he looked at me and asked me "How long does it take to drop a tree?".. I couldn't believe it! I asked him what he would do with the trees once I dropped them. His answer was " Well, I've got a chainsaw, I'll just deal with it myself."..
Seriously, the guy was probably in his mid 70s'.. He had the look and build to him like he'd never dealt with anything heavier than a calculator. I asked him what kind of chainsaw.. Maybe I mis-judged him.. " Oh, it's a corded electric"
I'm giving Randy the hand signals to " let's get out of here." Nope.. Randy still wants to dance with this idiot.. Darn..
The tipping point was when he said.. " Show me how long it takes you to drop a tree. Maybe I'd be better off just to pay you by the hour to drop them." I bit my tongue, and pretended to walk around a bit, looking at the 20 plus trees, as if I was trying to make up a new quote for him. Inside, I was seething. I was , at this point, planning revenge.
There was one Ash tree near his driveway. A good 70 to 80 ft tall. He had a circular driveway in front of his house, and there was a decent gap between the house and the garage. His Mercedes was more towards the house, in the circular section of the driveway . I smiled and looked at him, and said " You know, that's fair.. I've never been paid just to drop them and go away.".
I walked over to the truck, and got out the Echo 590.. The look on Randy's eyes was priceless. I sparked it up, and lined up the big Ash.. Yup.. Drop it right, and it would miss the house, miss the garage, and seal his Mercedes in the driveway.
I could see Randy giving me the "no" sign, but at that point, I just didn't care.. at all.. Tossed the face cut in, popped out the chunk, and then flipped over to the felling cut. I got far enough into it, that I knew it was ready to go. As soon as I heard the first "snap , crackle , pop." I pulled the saw out of the cut. The old dude just kinda looked at me like " Well .. now what..?. I waved Randy over towards me, so that he'd be on my side of the tree, when it went down... leaving the homeowner on the house side of the tree.
I yelled at the homeowner.. " Ya might not wanna stand there!" You could hear the trunk starting to go. Not 30 seconds later, down she comes.. One of my better aims.. didn't hit the house.. didn't hit the garage.. didn't hit the Mercedes..
But.. here we were.. Me and Randy, standing on one side of this exploded Ash tree, and his sorry butt on the other.. His Mercedes wasn't leaving the driveway until that tree got removed. Sweet!!
Back to the truck, with the 590 in my hand, and Randy in hot pursuit.. We left like our butts were on fire. Homeowner was still in the driveway, with an open mouthed gape.. LMFAO
The old dude was still standing there in disbelief, as we bailed for the road.. Randy was like " He's gonna call the cops, we're gonna get sued!!." Nope".. I said.. He asked us to drop a tree, to "see how long it took." We didn't damage anything, we did as he requested for free, as in he wanted to see how long it took to drop a tree.
We never heard another word about it.. But, about three weeks later, we had the occasion to pass by that property on the way to another job.. There was some old Chinese guy up on a ladder, wearing flip flops, what looked like his wife and two kids on the ground who looked like they were maybe 12 to 14 years old, cleaning up what Dad had cut.. Gotta wonder what they quoted him.
But.. never heard another word about dropping a biggie across his driveway..

So.. What's the worst you've ever done to an idiot client??

Well what an interesting thread, I remember "back in the day" I remember lots that needed to be cleared I remember lots that didnt get cleared, not by me anyway. The old guys with fish hooks in their pockets, yea the farmers chewing on a blade of grass, liftin their hats and spitting out what seems like chewing tobacco slime...lol. Cheap as a pair of white cotton work gloves. Idiots never do well when dealing with Tree guys, seems we posess an immunity to stupidity, we have something the regular joe just dont have, balls. So a similar situation occured where the client wished to deal with the mess, he was adament that my "Big Blade" do the slicin'up of the logs, I was reluctant. See here we had a guy who had never heard of a throw ball, to be honest I don't even know if he even seen my throw ball. So hees a breakdown I basically ended up being paid 2800. to set two ropes for falling, then falling and slicin up the trunk wood, 4 hours in and out. But he figured the disgustingly full of deadwood tree, in order to be felled, required a Pull rope, we couldnt fall it freely due to "safety", so some poor ******* (me) would have to go up into the dirty tree and try and position a rope so as to serve us in the procedure. Now the house was right there and I didnt have any room for error, but he was so rude and not to mention a major pain in the ass, like I want you here today or I will call someone else kinda guy, rude about everything, so when he was diddling himself or whatever he was doing while I set that rope (first shot btw) about 15 minutes later had the rope anchored to my come along I then cut the pie and backcut her then flopped her over total 30minutes first one on the ground, same for the other one total 1 hour, meanwhile idiot diddler still in the closet i guess and Both monster dead Ash on the ground, I started slicin' fully sharp saw and an hour later I started on the other one, changed the chain five or six cuts in, hour or so later, done. So he comes out just b4 noon and just about **** a brick, it felt like lunchtime my gut was gumbling as usual and I was packin my gear and counting 50's .
yes he was humbled finally~the worst thing I did was i just failed to mention that I hadnt planned on climbing at all or that i was a really good shot, so i didnt reveal my secret powers (throwball action)and I may have even left out that my climbing gear may not even be needed, he agreed to 1400 per tree, but he really expected me to piece it all down, so the idiots need to pay extra for trying to pass their idiocy to a perfectly normal Man with plenty of expert Tree removal experience. People who especially feel empowered when they have made every effort to get the better of you, or undercut you or insult you, because they lack the nerve i believe that it is called Karma~remember tree guys can issue karma like circumstances if they wish~ so remember that very important fact and never say too much never ever allow some selfish, lazy clown to dictate to you how he would like to see the job done, thats not the way it worx, when in doubt we can choose the safest quickest method(to optimize profit), not always or we will work ourselves out of a job, but when required~issue karma.

 

[gthompson1245]

Remember, the customer is always right and manners cost nothing. Recommendation is the best sort of advertising. If you have to go knocking doors you give the wrong impression and they expect cheap. To the extent the job is not worth doing, if you have to haggle a price just walk away. It's just not professional

This thread should be titled “What’s the craziest tree thing you ever did on Meth”

 

[ZinTrees]

Remember, the customer is always right and manners cost nothing. Recommendation is the best sort of advertising. If you have to go knocking doors you give the wrong impression and they expect cheap. To the extent the job is not worth doing, if you have to haggle a price just walk away. It's just not professional

if the customer was always right, then who would be the professional?


food for thought

 

[TNTreeHugger]

if the customer was always right, then who would be the professional?


food for thought

Good point. Maybe that applies only to retail customers.

 

[OM617YOTA]

Sales is my day job, although biz to biz and not retail. The customer most definitely is NOT always right.

 

[belgian]

Gotta watch out for them treehuggers!

Tree removal here at this side of the pond has become a real challenge because every one in town thinks they are entitled to interfere with your business and how you have to handle trees on your property.

I inherited my folks house which had 5 considerable size red beech trees (fagus sylvatica purpurea) on the property fence line. They were really nice trees but they were almost on the property limit and right next to a public gas and electricity station, so there was a considerable risk for collateral damage in case of a storm. So I asked and got writtten permission from the local community hall to remove them and replace them with other green stuff (hedge or else) to mitigate the obvious risks.

When me and a professional arborist started the work, I almost had the complete neighbourhood verbally attacking me. Comments from people I have never met such as 'can you please stop your activities as the kids are crying over the cutting down of these nice trees and we don't know how to explain, I am going to call the police, or do you have a permit for such ? etc. were really firing me up. One crazy old cow who walked her dog in my area told me trees are very important and necessary and that she was going to raise hell with the regional forestry services to stop the works. When I asked her how many trees she had planted in her entire life, she took off with a red face.

I don't envy tree removal companies or arborists in this country who have to deal with Treehuggers all the time. "Mind your own business" has sadly become a saying of the past I reckon.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Tree removal here at this side of the pond has become a real challenge because every one in town thinks they are entitled to interfere with your business and how you have to handle trees on your property.

I inherited my folks house which had 5 considerable size red beech trees (sylvatica purpurea) on the property fence line. They were really nice trees but they were almost on the property limit and right next to a public gas and electricity station, so there was a considerable risk for collateral damage in case of a storm. So I asked and got writtten permission from the local community hall to remove them and replace them with other green stuff (hedge or else) to mitigate the obvious risks.

If the trees were "really nice" it seems pretty stupid to have them removed "in case of a storm." As I know arborists here has said so themselves... if we cut down every tree "just in case" there would be very few trees left.

If the trees were on your property, why did you have to get permission from "the local community hall" to have them removed and replaced?

When me and a professional arborist started the work, I almost had the complete neighbourhood verbally attacking me. Comments from people I have never met such as 'can you please stop your activities as the kids are crying over the cutting down of these nice trees and we don't know how to explain, I am going to call the police, or do you have a permit for such ? etc. were really firing me up. One crazy old cow who walked her dog in my area told me trees are very important and necessary and that she was going to raise hell with the regional forestry services to stop the works. When I asked her how many trees she had planted in her entire life, she took off with a red face.

Good for them! If more people did that there would be more trees.

I don't envy tree removal companies or arborists in this country who have to deal with Treehuggers all the time. "Mind your own business" has sadly become a saying of the past I reckon.

Unfortunately, yes, minding ones own business isn't a luxury we have any more. We, stewards of the land and watchdogs for the environment, have to spend much of our precious time watching what jerks are doing to pollute and destroy the environment.
A tree that is on "your" property, as you quickly learned, isn't only your concern.

 

[belgian]

If the trees were "really nice" it seems pretty stupid to have them removed "in case of a storm." As I know arborists here has said so themselves... if we cut down every tree "just in case" there would be very few trees left.

If the trees were on your property, why did you have to get permission from "the local community hall" to have them removed and replaced?

Trees were really nice indeed after so many years but planted entirely at the wrong place. There is a law out here that trees that grow big need to be planted at min. 6 ft from the property limit. If the neighbour complained I had to trim almost half of the trees. Our laws also tell you that if the circumference of the tree is bigger than 1m (3ft), you always need to ask permission to cut down a tree even if the tree is on your property.
So if the local community hall recognized the risk involved for a tree hitting a local gas distribution station during a storm, who are you to call me stupid ? I have planted more trees in my life than you probably ever will, so I don't need your arrogant tone of telling me why we cannot cut every tree down.

Good for them! If more people did that there would be more trees.

Your name says it all... Go plant some trees by yourself before judging other people. I don"t need no tree huggers to tell me what to do, especially when I have the backing of the community hall.

Unfortunately, yes, minding ones own business isn't a luxury we have any more. We, stewards of the land and watchdogs for the environment, have to spend much of our precious time watching what jerks are doing to pollute and destroy the environment.
A tree that is on "your" property, as you quickly learned, isn't only your concern

LOL. that may be true for public domain and state forests, but I reserve the right what to do with trees that I or my folks planted on my property. That's my take on it. Too bad for watchsdogs like yourself.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Trees were really nice indeed after so many years but planted entirely at the wrong place. There is a law out here that trees that grow big need to be planted at min. 6 ft from the property limit. If the neighbour complained I had to trim almost half of the trees.

"if the neighbor complained..." So, the neighbor didn't complain. Yet, for some unknown reason you decided to take down entire "nice trees" rather than trim them. Uh huh.

Our laws also tell you that if the circumference of the tree is bigger than 1m (3ft), you always need to ask permission to cut down a tree even if the tree is on your property.

Good law. Wish we had that around here. I know they do in some areas of TX.

So if the local community hall recognized the risk involved for a tree hitting a local gas distribution station during a storm, who are you to call me stupid ?

I didn't call you stupid - I said cutting down "nice trees "just in case" is stupid.

I have planted more trees in my life than you probably ever will, so I don't need your arrogant tone of telling me why we cannot cut every tree down.

How old are you? I'll bet I've been planting trees since before you were in nappies.

One crazy old cow who walked her dog in my area told me trees are very important and necessary and that she was going to raise hell with the regional forestry services to stop the works. When I asked her how many trees she had planted in her entire life, she took off with a red face.

Your name says it all... Go plant some trees by yourself before judging other people. I don"t need no tree huggers to tell me what to do,

Name calling and being judgmental seems to be your stock in trade.

LOL. that may be true for public domain and state forests, but I reserve the right what to do with trees that I or my folks planted on my property. That's my take on it. Too bad for watchsdogs like yourself.

Um, bad news for you.

If you had the right to do whatever you want with your trees you wouldn't have had to get permission from your community hall.... probably consisting of old cows, treehuggers, and watchdogs to protect trees from misguided people with chainsaws.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

@belgian
PS... You did quote me and call me out in your first post, bitching like a little girl about "treehuggers" "old cows" and "watchdogs." If you hadn't done that, I likely never would have even seen your post. But since you addressed it to me, it was only fitting I respond. Don't pretend you didn't expect that to happen.

 

[pdqdl]

I don't envy tree removal companies or arborists in this country who have to deal with Treehuggers all the time.

I've been cutting down trees for over 40 years, now. I'm pretty certain no one has ever tried to convince me to save that tree I am working on.

There are some pretty big cultural differences in this world. Around here, trees are nice and well thought of, but are considered quite disposable. No one reveres a tree around here enough to make them interfere with a guy holding a chainsaw. Maybe the tree guys just have a bad enough reputation that the civil folks know better than to even try.

 

[donmakesallthefuelbegone]

And you are proud of what you did?
You should be ashamed of yourself.
It's idiots like you who give good arborists a bad name.

Karma loves people like you.

How about you post the name of your business, or the one you work for?
For all the homeowners who come here looking for advice, so they know who NOT to call.

Honestly… I’d be proud if I did it.
You sound a bit like a doormat to me, granted it’s not the best thing to do, it’s a bit mean(ish) but do you know what money that guy could have made by working that entire hour that he was just being used as a walking calculator.

I personally would not have done this in this situation but there sure are situations where I’d do the same.

This guy did not damage anything and if you’ve ever worked with a chainsaw you’ll know that takes about 15-20 minutes to free out the driveway. You just cut the tree at both sides of the driveway and then chunk that log up, then you can work on the pieces of the tree that are on both sides out of the way whenever you want.

I will indeed say: this is more something to do to a Karen, an aggressive costumer, a friend who you know will find this funny…

 

[donmakesallthefuelbegone]

Tree removal here at this side of the pond has become a real challenge because every one in town thinks they are entitled to interfere with your business and how you have to handle trees on your property.

I inherited my folks house which had 5 considerable size red beech trees (fagus sylvatica purpurea) on the property fence line. They were really nice trees but they were almost on the property limit and right next to a public gas and electricity station, so there was a considerable risk for collateral damage in case of a storm. So I asked and got writtten permission from the local community hall to remove them and replace them with other green stuff (hedge or else) to mitigate the obvious risks.

When me and a professional arborist started the work, I almost had the complete neighbourhood verbally attacking me. Comments from people I have never met such as 'can you please stop your activities as the kids are crying over the cutting down of these nice trees and we don't know how to explain, I am going to call the police, or do you have a permit for such ? etc. were really firing me up. One crazy old cow who walked her dog in my area told me trees are very important and necessary and that she was going to raise hell with the regional forestry services to stop the works. When I asked her how many trees she had planted in her entire life, she took off with a red face.

I don't envy tree removal companies or arborists in this country who have to deal with Treehuggers all the time. "Mind your own business" has sadly become a saying of the past I reckon.

As a Belgian who moved to Bulgaria I can tell you that saying has become a thing of the past in the west. Here in Bulgaria no one cares about what you do to the point that if you own an illegal firearm or something like that, no one cares and no one calls the cops on it as long as you don’t annoy them. Here you can cut down whatever tree you want and no one will care unless it’s the forestry police who sees you doing it. (Just don’t try it with walnut, that’s very illegal and probably will get you into trouble)

Here everyone minds their own business and no one cares about what you do

 

[cookies]

I had this old man that used me for a diag and never paid and changed the parts himself, a user of others.. he contacted me again and again about a truck he wanted to get running and I knew it would be a good bit of work and he would stiff me at all costs. turned out to be a bad fuel pump in 80's pickup , I used his oxy torch to blow out all of the bed bolts and used his tractor to lift the bed....I knew the tank was rotten and the pump was too, told the guy a triple price estimate packed up my floor mats and left, I left all his crap just as I used it taking up his whole barn in a trapeeze bed lifted mess that can not be reassembled and went home. Fixed his manipulative sorry arse for wasting my time and the funniest part was he was a renter and none of the tools, truck or property were his. Pretty sure he no longer lives around here now...

 

[OM617YOTA]

I had this old man that used me for a diag and never paid and changed the parts himself, a user of others.. he contacted me again and again about a truck he wanted to get running and I knew it would be a good bit of work and he would stiff me at all costs. turned out to be a bad fuel pump in 80's pickup , I used his oxy torch to blow out all of the bed bolts and used his tractor to lift the bed....I knew the tank was rotten and the pump was too, told the guy a triple price estimate packed up my floor mats and left, I left all his crap just as I used it taking up his whole barn in a trapeeze bed lifted mess that can not be reassembled and went home. Fixed his manipulative sorry arse for wasting my time and the funniest part was he was a renter and none of the tools, truck or property were his. Pretty sure he no longer lives around here now...

You were greatly inconvenienced again with this customer, but this time you did it to yourself. He not only didn't learn a darn thing, he got you to diagnose it and remove the bed for him.

Next time he calls, "Not interested. This isn't a hobby, this is how I feed my dog and keep my lights on, so I only work for paying customers. Good luck with your truck." Click.

Done.