Breaking Windows

[roost-1]

Anybody else break any and how do you handle it? I broke one awhile back and the guy wanted me to pay ($200.00) which I did.. Not enough to claim on my ins although I have no deductible on damage. I need the ins more for something big or the liability aspect so I really dont want to make any small claims. I'm thinking about raising his cost per cut from $40 to $60. I can afford to lose him although he has been a good customer for 10 plus years. This job does not have a high profit margin and with the cost of the window I cut it for nothing this year.

[steve-o]

Explain Yourself Better......................

Anybody else break any and how do you handle it? I broke one awhile back and the guy wanted me to pay ($200.00) which I did.. Not enough to claim on my ins although I have no deductible on damage. I need the ins more for something big or the liability aspect so I really dont want to make any small claims. I'm thinking about raising his cost per cut from $40 to $60. I can afford to lose him although he has been a good customer for 10 plus years. This job does not have a high profit margin and with the cost of the window I cut it for nothing this year.

$40 a cut for a season and you pay $200 for a window and make no profit. here i get about 34 cuts in a season. that's $1360 minus my cost. another $200 knocks it down, but not that much. i've broken two car windows (one actually). i just paid for a new window on one and the other i paid the guy's $100 deductable as i don't think i broke it and he waited 3 days b/4 he called me to say i broke it. that's another story.

steve

[Sammy]

10 years and U just now realized he is under priced by $20.00 ?

He should of been gone 9 years ago or price fixed 9 years ago.

[Georges Lawn & Mulch]

Chances are if you raise his price by $20.00 you're gonna lose him anyway. That's a big jump. Telliing him it's been under priced for 10 years isn'g going to help.

[steve-o]

Hijack..........................

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

steve-oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[roost-1]

More clarity: 1998. I took over a business that a relative had with about 10 accounts when he got hurt. I had no experience what so ever. I even used his mower the first week. I decided it was something I could learn and he was going to retire. I bought a new yard man and a small trailer and I was in business. I didn't have a clue about bidding. Most of the jobs I bid that first year I was doing for nothing and didn't even realize it.

This particular guy Steve C. caught me mowing a restaurant and asked me to come out and bid his place. He said the previous lawn turd was doing it for 25 and I said I 'd give it a try. The place sits on top of a hill with almost no top soil and mostly rocks showing thru the thin grass. It barely grows enough to mow every two weeks. Beautiful 3500 sq ft house with a hundred windows. It took me about an hour to mow and trim it by myself.

As years go by the yard is expanded and I should have doubled it then, but I only added about $10 and with fuel increases it only got to $40.

Sammy: I realized it long ago but a good customer that helped me get through the first coupla years I felt it ethical to retain him.

Georges: This guy is not stupid and I would not doubt that he has had others bid it over the years and no one came close.

I broke this window over a month ago. He called an hour after I broke it. He said he had a window co and a lumber yard guy comming out Monday to estimate it. I went over the next day and looked at the window and sure enough it had a hole thru both paynes, and about 4 ft away from a 72 in tv. I went out in the yard and asertained that the rock had been dug up by an armidillo and I never saw it. He said he would call with estimates that week. I never heard from him for two weeks so I called and left a message asking if he still wanted me to cut the grass. He left me a message cut the grass but no estimate yet. When I went there the next day I noticed the window was fixed. I cut the grass.

That was two weeks ago, meanwhile he has two months pending bills unpaid for $235 And I get a check for $35. He sent my invoices back with a note $200 for window repair. He never let me know what the estimates were nor have I seen a paid recipt for said repair. I'm gonna ask for a copy of paid recipt before I do any thing. He's due for a cut monday but I'm having a tough time handling this. Thanks for the input give me more.

[hardboiled]

The plot thickens.

I think you were taken. He probably claimed it on his insurance and milked you. The warning sign of possible shady dealings was when he held back part of your payment.

[MASTERMOWER]

Definitely request a copy of the contractors receipt or invoice. You'll want this as proof of the actual repair amount and also for tax purposes. It shouldn't be assumed the customer can just deduct the amount from their total owed to you. Tell your customer he is still $200 past due on his account and you'll promptly reimburse him after he furnishes you with a receipt/invoice with the repair amount....

He won't like that.....guaranteed. But IMO it's only fair to both you and him. However, he really won't like it if you knock his mowing total up $20 from $40 soon after this accident. He's gonna feel like you are just trying to recoup the repair expense....at his expense.

Juuuuuust gotta be careful with this one, but doesn't sound like a valuable client anyhow. What strike count is this client on? :alien::alien::alien:

[roost-1]

The plot thickens.

I think you were taken. He probably claimed it on his insurance and milked you. The warning sign of possible shady dealings was when he held back part of your payment.

That thought had crossed my mind.

[roost-1]

Definitely request a copy of the contractors receipt or invoice. You'll want this as proof of the actual repair amount and also for tax purposes. It shouldn't be assumed the customer can just deduct the amount from their total owed to you. Tell your customer he is still $200 past due on his account and you'll promptly reimburse him after he furnishes you with a receipt/invoice with the repair amount....

He won't like that.....guaranteed. But IMO it's only fair to both you and him. However, he really won't like it if you knock his mowing total up $20 from $40 soon after this accident. He's gonna feel like you are just trying to recoup the repair expense....at his expense.

Juuuuuust gotta be careful with this one, but doesn't sound like a valuable client anyhow. What strike count is this client on? :alien::alien::alien:

E-mailed request for copy of the bill. I've not ever had a problem with him.

[Sammy]

More clarity: 1998. I took over a business that a relative had with about 10 accounts when he got hurt. I had no experience what so ever. I even used his mower the first week. I decided it was something I could learn and he was going to retire. I bought a new yard man and a small trailer and I was in business. I didn't have a clue about bidding. Most of the jobs I bid that first year I was doing for nothing and didn't even realize it.

I've never heard of anyone wanting to buy a business without knowing anything about it. Or how to service it.

Well, it seems that you do know someone that has........



How long does it take you to mow now ?

You upgraded your mower from a Yardman to a JD 757. That in itself should have cut the time by 1/3 - 1/2.

Is it U and a helper mowing it ?

If you are using 2 757's, U should be in and out in about 20 minutes ?

[spotremix]

More clarity: 1998. I took over a business that a relative had with about 10 accounts when he got hurt. I had no experience what so ever. I even used his mower the first week. I decided it was something I could learn and he was going to retire. I bought a new yard man and a small trailer and I was in business. I didn't have a clue about bidding. Most of the jobs I bid that first year I was doing for nothing and didn't even realize it.

This particular guy Steve C. caught me mowing a restaurant and asked me to come out and bid his place. He said the previous lawn turd was doing it for 25 and I said I 'd give it a try. The place sits on top of a hill with almost no top soil and mostly rocks showing thru the thin grass. It barely grows enough to mow every two weeks. Beautiful 3500 sq ft house with a hundred windows. It took me about an hour to mow and trim it by myself.

As years go by the yard is expanded and I should have doubled it then, but I only added about $10 and with fuel increases it only got to $40.

Sammy: I realized it long ago but a good customer that helped me get through the first coupla years I felt it ethical to retain him.

Georges: This guy is not stupid and I would not doubt that he has had others bid it over the years and no one came close.

I broke this window over a month ago. He called an hour after I broke it. He said he had a window co and a lumber yard guy comming out Monday to estimate it. I went over the next day and looked at the window and sure enough it had a hole thru both paynes, and about 4 ft away from a 72 in tv. I went out in the yard and asertained that the rock had been dug up by an armidillo and I never saw it. He said he would call with estimates that week. I never heard from him for two weeks so I called and left a message asking if he still wanted me to cut the grass. He left me a message cut the grass but no estimate yet. When I went there the next day I noticed the window was fixed. I cut the grass.

That was two weeks ago, meanwhile he has two months pending bills unpaid for $235 And I get a check for $35. He sent my invoices back with a note $200 for window repair. He never let me know what the estimates were nor have I seen a paid recipt for said repair. I'm gonna ask for a copy of paid recipt before I do any thing. He's due for a cut monday but I'm having a tough time handling this. Thanks for the input give me more.

just my two cents giving you or anyone else piece of advice. never assume or appear to assume a client might not want you to service there property any more just because you broke a window or anything else for that matter.

IMO opinion it gives the impression something else could happen. sure something else could happen but from the customer service end of the business they need to think nothing else will happen, that you'll be more carefull from now on.

the only thing i've ever broken was a clients piece of siding with the trimmer. i let her know right away and discussed how she wanted to handle it but i never for once assumed she would not want me cutting her grass anymore. i never even mentioned it. i just discussed the problem at hand and told her we'll get it settle and that i'll see her next week.

most people realize accidents do happen and if your track record is good the clients not gonna be so upset as to fire you or worry from that point on that something is gonna get broken.

[roost-1]

Sammy: I didn't buy the business it was given to me if I wanted it. I even tried it for a week to see if I was gonna like it. I thought I new what I was doing when I started but I really didn't know anything about commercial yard work. It's taken 12 years of trial and error to get where I'm at. I've talked with other commercial guys here but they don't share much.

This yard gets bigger every year as they clean up the woods around it. It still takes an hour plus sometimes. About 75 oaks to trim around and they put in a pita pool. Yes I have two 757s but its rough at best and trimming takes time.

[roost-1]

Sporty: He told me he was going to call the following week with an estimate. When he didn't call I wondered if there was a problem hence I called him.

[roost-1]

Thanks for putting me on trial I don't mind a bit. Rick.