Major Problem

[Cougar123]

I am kindof stuck on what to do
I live in michigan and so far my buisness was going great, ya now it doubled in size, so now i have 12 lawns a week, Well people now start wanting me to bag, i hate bagging personally. And with it getting to be hot outside i dont see the point why they need it to be bagged because mulching it will make it look fine. Anyways, they want me to bag it now and i tell them the price will be $25 dollars instead of $20, some are ok with this, but i have 2 customers that dont like that idea. They tell me i am over pricing it. I think they are wrong because no other commercial service by me will bag, also gas prices have shot up and commercial companies are now charging 25 just to mow. and also bagging is much more work. So what do i do, make a deal with the guy and only charging him $22 a bagging cut. Or do i stick to my prices and tell him that it will be 25 dollars. My other consern is that i mow for his nieghbor, and they want me to start bagging also. They are a little hesitant about me charging 25 dollars but they agreed to it. Im afraid that they will fire me if that neighbor tells them that i am overpricing them.
Please tell me what to do soon because i have to call the guy back soon
thanks chris

[joeslawncare]

stick to your price!!!

If they are grumbling over 5 dollars they need to get a life. Maybe even if they dont like it they are just trying to bluff you into not upping the price thinking that you will do whatever possible to keep them happy. Just remember TIME IS MONEY and bagging will take more time.
Good luck.
Joe

[Seascape]

Fk em !! Theyre lucky theyre getting it for $25. Id tell them $35 pesonally. Dont foreget you may have to pay for disposal.

[Woody]

What Seascape said.

I don't bag. PERIOD. Not anywhere. All I do is explain a few things. Lawn clippings are beneficial to the lawn, as they add nutrients, and keep bacteria active (in breaking them down), which helps to prevent thatch. Bagging them will cost them more money (more time, more work, and dumping fees), and is environmentally irresponsible as it also adds needless bulk to landfills.

You can't be all things to all people. Stand your ground, and continue looking for more customers. B1tchy customers are REAL easy to find, so keep looking for new, nicer, more intelligent, and more understading customers. Then drop the ones that are a pain. Let someone else deal with them. That's my motto.

Woody

[Cougar123]

thanks guys

I think im going to do this, explain all that stuff to him and tell him that all the lawnservices in the area would charge about 30 dollars just to mow, if he stil doesnt like it i will just pass out more fliers and go from there

[Cougar123]

follow up

dude the guy was an arse hole, i even was going to offer him a deal at 22 dollars but before i could even explain the "deal" he said he wouldnt do it at 22 anyways. Like i would feel bad for him if i thought he couldnt afford it but he is just a control freak, he couldnt even talk to me face to face, he turned his back on me. Well wahtever by not mowing for him anymore it just gives me incentive to go pass out more fliers. Well tahnks ya all have a great day

[MortNuke]

good job, Couger123

First difficult lesson for newbies: Let a few of 'em go.

Mort

[P&C Lawn Care]

Well if they agreed to the price of $20 WITHOUT BAGGING then don't bag and charge them $20. If you agreed to bag it for $20 then YOUR on the hook for that. Bagging is an additional service (time, removal of bag, disposal, cost per bag) charge them more. If they want to get someone else who can bag it for $20, then let them. It won't kill you to let them go, let them know they may find someone who can do it cheaper, but will they do as well as you. Eventually in the next 5 to 10 years sending bagged clippings to the dump will be a thing of the past. Mulching is the environmental friendly way of mowing. It returns nutrients back into the soil as the clippings break down, explain that to them as well.

[jrservices]

What Seascape said.

I don't bag. PERIOD. Not anywhere. All I do is explain a few things. Lawn clippings are beneficial to the lawn, as they add nutrients, and keep bacteria active (in breaking them down), which helps to prevent thatch. Bagging them will cost them more money (more time, more work, and dumping fees), and is environmentally irresponsible as it also adds needless bulk to landfills.

You can't be all things to all people. Stand your ground, and continue looking for more customers. B1tchy customers are REAL easy to find, so keep looking for new, nicer, more intelligent, and more understading customers. Then drop the ones that are a pain. Let someone else deal with them. That's my motto.

Woody

I would say that Woody has hit the nail on the head. You got your pricing, stick to it, and do not back down. I only bag one account, and they pay mucho for it. Everything else, side discharged and mulched.

[locutus]

I aint bagging anything for $25.00. To coin a poker term, You need to go "all in" with these people. By that I mean you need to tell them that if they dont agree to your terms, perhaps they should look elsewhere for there lawncare.