tough customer

[texas16]

There is a yard up the street from J. It is a fairly big yard and the current owners do not mainiain their yard real well. IE edging, raking, mowing, near about everything. We approached them at the beginning of last season and she told us her husband did it.

We passed out a flyer to them a couple of years in a row. Any advice on how to get them to sign with us.

as always many thanks

[Creativeland]

2 fliers over a couple of years is not enough.

Also you can not always sell something to some one who may not be able to afford it or just plain and simple does not want it. Even Phil can not sell some thing to some one if they truly do not want it.


Creative Landscape

[CCLS]

Like Creativeland stated, there is probably a reason why their lawn looks the way it does. Some people are just plain slobs and do not care how their lawn looks. I would stay away from these types of people, they tend to be the one who stiff you.

[dave_n_mulberry]

if you really want this account

1. keep track and wait till it has been cut by lazy husband.

2. STop by and say "I've noticed that your yard really needs some attention and I love this property. It is absolutley beautiful. I'd like to give you a one free full service manicure. When can i start?

[lw4259]

sort of been there dont that

i have a house similar to your description. i was enrouaged to leave flyers by the nieghbors. Then one day i got the call. signed her up for a weekly mowing. I even gave her a neighbor discount as she lives down the street from me. She was never satified always paid late, i had to call her for the payments.

I ended up dropping her, the yard is back to the way if was. I told the neighbors it was worth my time, sorry that they have to put up with it.

Just be satified you not doing the lawn service, your time is worth more some where else.

Lee

[J&F Lawn Care]

Originally posted by dave_n_mulberry
if you really want this account

1. keep track and wait till it has been cut by lazy husband.

2. STop by and say "I've noticed that your yard really needs some attention and I love this property. It is absolutley beautiful. I'd like to give you a one free full service manicure. When can i start?

Their yard could be one of the best looking lawns in the neighborhood with very little effort. Aren't you afraid that they won't hire you again, especially since they dont care that much about their yard?

[mikeslawnservice]

One word of advice.
Don't offer a free manicure unless it's the fourth or fifth cut.

You WILL get stiffed.

Hell, I would accept a free cut and never have the person again.
These are deadbeats.
If they don't care for their own property, what makes you think they even pay the bills?

I commend your efforts to beautify the neighborhood, though I would leave this one alone.

I just had a thought!!

Agree to do the lawn for free if you could have a sign on the lawn all season advertising your services and stating something like: "This property beautifully cared for by 'company name here'.

Thanks,

Mike S

[dave_n_mulberry]

Their yard could be one of the best looking lawns in the neighborhood with very little effort. Aren't you afraid that they won't hire you again, especially since they dont care that much about their yard?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

you said you wanted the business. here is an old sales challenge

how bad do you want it ? Let me step into Phil's side.

If you want it and can't get it you try again. the customer never means no till they have told you no seven times and called the cops on you. then you come back and beg them for one more try. if that doesn't work they wouldn't let Lady Godiva cut the yard.

If you really want the business you have to sacrifce to show them you can deliver what you promise and give them a service they need and are willing to pay for.

try different closes on them:

listen I really want to be your lawn service company. What can i do to prove to you that you need to pay me?

Listen what did I do to offend you? I'm sorry if i did but how can I get your business?

always end with a question to find out why they do not want you to service them. If you know why they do not want you then you can overcome it. If you do not know the real reason why then you will never get the business.

questions like:
I'm taking a poll for the Lawn Service Industry. I would like to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Have you ever used a lawn service?
if yes
WHy not now?
What was the main reason you dropped them?
etc etc
if No
Have you ever thought about using one?
Is it the cost?
Are you afraid of strangers in your yard?
DO you just like the excersise

or you can go to other closes
(I love the agitation close's it get's them p.o. and remember without agitation you have no activity)

So you really like have the worst looking yard in the neighborhood?

You really wasted your time and gas money on your last cut didn't you?

Arn't you afraid of code enforcement?

You're out here busting your a__. Where is your husband/wife? Playing Golf or at the Bar?

It looks like the cars you park on the yard keeps the weeds down.

[The Scaper]

i wouldnt give a deadbeat the time of day. if they dont care about their own yard, chances are they dont care about YOU either. there are several nice but nasty yards in my neighborhood that stay that way year round too, so i've been there done that re-fliering over and over. what i really feel like doing is going up to the mailbox and droping a note "your yard is a discrace to the neighborhood-CLEAN IT!"

[J&F Lawn Care]

thats exactly what i feel like doing

[dave_n_mulberry]

for texas that started the post

if you want it go after it.

if you are afraid to ask for it you will fail

[mikeslawnservice]

Texas,

It all comes down to you.

Keep in mind my post and other similar ones before you pursue it too far.


This part is for everyone:

I don't care how bad you want the sale, some people are just NOT worth it!!
You are only wasting your valuable time and energy going after a single lawn when there are probably 100 potentials in the area that would LOVE to have YOU service their lawns.
Tunnel vision is no good in this business.
Take away the blinders and you'll see the properties all around you just waiting for your expertise!

Thanks,

Mike S.

[The Scaper]

yep.

[Seascape]

Texas,
Youve done for the most part everything you can do at this point.
Youve included it in your flyer route, youve made a direct contact in person.
Id suggest you continue w/ flyers and perhaps direct mail.Thats really as far as you can go. Theres going to be a fine line between promoting yourself to these people and pissing them off w/ constant hounding about your service.

Perhaps eventually an illness, or increaseed budget could provoke a call from them. Age could catch up to them or the kids becoming more demanding of theyre time w/ extra curricular activities. Ive seen a number of reasons people all the sudden inquire service. Its a waiting game at this point . Dont go overkill trying to keep your name fresh in theyre minds or youll be the last one they ever call.

Theres no since in practicing predatory sales tactics like mentioned above. If you find yourself needing to resort to those tactics come back here to the board and we will get you pointed in the right direction.

Another slant on this,,,, Consider honing in on a differant type site. take your focus and energy and hone it in on a high scale residential ,, your odds of winning are far better and your rewards at the bank will be more significant by far.

Case in example, ,,, back in 97 I landed a very upscale res on a street of 8 very upscale residentials. These particular homes are located in a extremely highly regarded community. This particualr street is one of a few that are gated in this community. I feel uneasy mentioning names but this was my first "jackpot" account.


The account i landed was that of a internationally known figure in indy racing. My father got me the account w/ his municiple contacts. Once i began looking up and down this street i was hooked. By the end of that season i learned that 4 doors down resided another high profile figure ,, one that you all know. I became fixated on his account. I met him twice and never so much as mentioned it. I did however make it a point that when my trucks entered this community they sparkled and that all work was top notch quality. By the end of 99 i had this residential surrounded. I had 1 on each side of him and 1 up the road from him that he often visited when he was in town. So i knew he was aware of our quality. It was a waiting game at that point.

Finally at the beginning of 2000 he pulled up beside my truck on his golf cart , got off and shook my hand and asked if i could make time by the end of the week to meet w/ him before he had to leave town. Little did he know i was almost speechless. Although i was tempted to talk on the spot, i asked him if i could meet w/ him 2 days later. He agreed. I should have had my bearings together but i didnt . I was scared if you really gotta know.

I resigned this res in november and 2004 will be my 5th year of service. You wouldnt believe me if i told you the annual on this residential. Its also being considered for a calandar.

My game plan worked. I have 5 total on that particular gated street. The other 3 homes on that street are serviced by another high quality LCO smaller than myself.

My game plan was quality. The homeowners on that street cant ignore it. These people dont ask prices ,they pay every 2 weeks and they talk to theyre friends about me.

My point to you is use the energy on quality and target it to accounts that actually want or need the service.You wont be disappointed.

mike