Laughing at the scabs of the business

[TTLC603]

Last Year I had a fairly good size condo complex that I handled full maintence as well as plowing. This year I lost the contract to a low baller. I got a call from the condo rep to come out and inspect the work the other company has been doing because it is far from what my company had done. So I met with her and did a walk on the property. Not only did I find horrible mowing techniques I also saw the worst pruning I have seen in my life. They had no idea how to prune the bushes were neither round or squared it looked like they did it with their eyes closed. The lawns were scraped due to mowing it to fast around the tree rings. None of the garages had been trimmed and the weeding looked like continued lawns underneath the shrubs. I ran into the company and their workers were using fairly nice ZTR mowers and electric equipment...trimmers...pruners....and ana electric chain saw. I laughed myself all the way to getting the contract for next year. I dont see how anyone could make a profit using electric equipment....Not only is he cheating the condo owners by using their electricity but hes cheating himself money by using this stuff. Any comments about other companies that have been seen. On a brighter note tomorrow we begin trying to fix what this company has ruined and we have the contract for next year. The only down fall is I think the weeding alone is going to take 2 days of work...its pretty much like weeding a lawn. I think im just going to re edge the beds and pullout all the old mulch and start over again...its a total loss for a property.

[Ihateweeds]

electric equipment doesn't always equate to sh*tty work. actually doesn't usually equate to quality at all. its probably easier to turn a profit with electric equipment then it is with gas, it's just a pain in the as* to deal with and use and not as powerful etc. I'm sure there's more to the story than meets the eye, Kinda tough to do a bad job like that on weeding you either weed or you don't, sounds like a typical miscommunication to me

[TTLC603]

Well I talked to the owner of the company and he told me that he doesnt believe it is cost effective to worry about weeds, because they are annual and wont be there next year. And the equipment they are using does make for bad work...If your going to buy electric equipment dont buy black and decker...and I dont see it as being cost effective to run electric. If the motors in my trimmers break I can rebuild them or take a motor off a trimmer blower..etc that is not being used anymore. As well as the time you take to unwind cords and rewind them just doesnt make sense to me. Once an electric piece of equipment breaks you have to buy a new one...unless you want to contact the manufacturer and get a new motor which could cost you 5-10 days sometimes more waiting for the new part.

[Scaper-S2k]

I'm not sure I would have bothered going back with the condo complex. You did good work, and they dropped you with no problems simply because of a lower price.

Now you have to go back in and fix the mess and hope that someone doesn't lowball you again in a couple years.


I would highly recommend that you tell them you need to sign a 3 yr contract because you don't want to go through that again. If they say no, you might want to consider moving on.

[MortNuke]

I would highly recommend that you tell them you need to sign a 3 yr contract because you don't want to go through that again. If they say no, you might want to consider moving on.

Right on again, Erich.

(GM, you should pay him by the post

Mort

[TTLC603]

I was actually thinking of that...each year the place was pristine...I got calls this summer from owners of condos saying they wanted to pay me to do theirs but I couldnt do that....so once the condo finally got calls from 50+ owners they realized its quality not quantity...so I am fixing their mess ups this year and I have the plowing contract. thats a 25,000 dollar maintence and 28,000 plowing..

[Scott]

mo' money
mo' money
mo' money

[GrassMaster]

Do What?????

Right on again, Erich.
(GM, you should pay him by the post
Mort

He owes me 5 Brazillion Dollars now for letting him post here? j/k

Erich is a very sharp business person & anybody that knows him can tell you the same thing, hell I wish I had a job working for him. I've asked for a application numerous times? He keeps saying there's no openings & I understand, who would be crazy enough to quit him...

How many LCO's take their employees on vacations via a Sea Cruise besides Erich? I couldn't do a good job & finish his kitchen, but I could wash his fleet of vehicles & sweep the floors at his shop?

Roscoe & I need a Cheaper family. Maybe Roscoe could be a watch dog at the shop, we could live upstairs at the shop.

Erich, do you have a refrigerator & High Speed Internet Access at the shop? Maybe we could work something out, we don't require much? Call me or Roscoe at 555-555-beer!

[Woody]

Like Erich already pointed out, I would be VERY hesitant to go back with someone who dropped me over price. IF I did, and I mean IF, I would EASILY put a 50% premium on what I had charged the year before, and probably more than that.

I would make it a VERY expensive lesson for them. It comes down to principles.

Expect to have more difficulties with this place in the future. Maybe not for another year or so, but just expect it.

[Scaper-S2k]

GrassMaster, I'm not sure you could stand being around all the dirty lawn mowers without wanting to blow out the air filters! And of course, sadly, I don't have high speed at the shop. But I do have a refrig for your beer.

But Roscoe would probably enjoy himself.

[hardboiled]

never mind, posted in the wrong spot. (you may delete this)

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[Dr.Bizzaro]

I also saw the worst pruning I have seen in my life. They had no idea how to prune the bushes were neither round or squared it looked like they did it with their eyes closed.

When I hear people talk about proper pruning and round and square in the same sentence...I smirk.

Being a good gardener means knowing PROPER pruning...not making everything look like a loli-pop.


The link below talks about stopping SHEAR MADNESS and has some pretty good pictures of what not to do...you might want to read the site. Good Luck and maybe something will still be alive when you get it back..

https://www.plantamnesty.org

[TTLC603]

Please dude...I have pruned plenty of shrubs...and generally to get the look that is presentable and what pleases the eye of customers is rounded or squared...I have been in the business a few years and have had few complaints so I assume I must be doing something right.

[Dr.Bizzaro]

those pics on the site are from LCO serviced houses...yours could be next.