Whats up with people wanting me to work for free???

[ROLLACOSTA]

if it's not on the job sheet i don't do it unless i want to or they pay extra plain and simple

 

[Koa Man]

I just had the opposite happen to me. My climber and I trimmed some small trees on Monday for $400. Trimming and cleanup took 2.5 hours. The woman asked me how much do I owe you. I told her $400 and she wrote me a check. On Tuesday she calls and asks, "Are you sure $400 was enough?" She wants to give me another $50.00. I told her, "Yes, that was enough."

I do ocasionally have neighbors of customers who want something cut for free. If it is something real simple and the cut and clean up will take less than 3 min. I'll do. More than that, at least a case of soft drinks or beer money or more.

 

[Koa Man]

Another case, on a windy day, leaves were blowing down the street. Not a whole lot, but scattered here and there for about 200 yards down the street. The neighbor lady comes out and yells, "Are you cleaning up all these leaves?" My groundman says, "Of course." I tell her, "We have a raking service that comes after we leave. Tradewinds raking service will be here shortly to clean it up." We jump in the truck and leave.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

I had a freind/associate once with some thespian experiance. I remember him once cetting all stright and snooty with a neuveux rich type-

"If you want something for free, then here is some free advice...do not demean man by implying his work is worthless"

It's close, I can see him standing there emoting the part, then cracking up when we were in the truck. The afro and forearm ink dod not lend itself to the role, but I think he got the point across

now thats quite funny,NO BS i had a women come out and start babbaling on about could i just do her a favour cut of some branch ,i said sorry me no speak english to good sorry i from Kosovo..she left with a frown on her face put that in your pipe i thought :blob5: ....my mate couldn't beleive it

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

i did the same thing when i got caught without a fishing licence ,said i was from france in a french accent ,bailiff said ohh right in that case you don't need one

 

[OutOnaLimb]

now thats quite funny,NO BS i had a women come out and start babbaling on about could i just do her a favour cut of some branch ,i said sorry me no speak english to good sorry i from Kosovo..she left with a frown on her face put that in your pipe i thought :blob5: ....my mate couldn't beleive it

LMAO. I will have to remember that one. I have a pretty good fake Czech accent.

Kenn

 

[jason j ladue]

i wont do much for free. if i do its because i like 'em or i think there may be something in it for me (future $) im not gonna roll over for anyone. it is rare that i dont get compensation for any services rendered. sometimes that compensation may only be a round of sodas or what ever... my point is that most people want to give you something. but there are always cheapskates around. and they wont get much from me. let go a that penny you beyotch!

 

[Monkeywitha_saw]

I did a job on friday for a returning client from last yr. that only has two palm trees about 65 feet tall and one of the palm leafs blew over in the the pool next door so i get down and walk over to the door and ask him if i can get the palm leaf that blew over into the pool and he said sure but after letting me in the yard he ask me if i can trim the palm tree so i tell him how much and he tells me that i should have to trim it for free since he let me in his yard and i tell him that i don't for free. so now the client i'm trimming for come over to the fence and asks whats wrong and i tell him what up and he tells me that if i don't trim his neighbor's that don't bother coming back next yr they will find some one else. so i tell him good luck and have a nice day

 

[newb]

We were doing a job in the city a couple of weeks ago. I had written it up with a city pick up to save the customer some money. The city will pick up trees if the biggest limbs are no longer than 4 feet. So of course thats what we cut them at. Well a neighbor from 3 house down comes over while were working and asks what we are going to do with the wood, and I tell him leave it for the city. He asks if he can have it and I say sure. Now the good part, He asks if I can cut it into 18" lengths and haul it over to his house. It was 2 50' maples we were taking down and I told him for another $150 dollars we would. He looked at me like I had just asked to sleep with his wife. He told me he thought he was doing me a favor and would never pay for firewood. He never did come for any wood.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Well a neighbor from 3 house down comes over while were working and asks what we are going to do with the wood, and I tell him leave it for the city. H

You didn't offer to spit and stack it for him too?

What's the matter with you!

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I thought I was the only one who dealt with this stuff on an almost daily basis. Its good to hear Im not alone

Kenn