Breaking Windows

[spotremix]

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.

you should have asked about the estimates NOT if he wanted you to continue servicing his property.

NEVER put the idea of being fired in a clients mind. some people wouldn't dream of firing a service at least until the end of the season. there are people out there who still believe there word is a verbal contract.

they might think they'll fire you at the end of the season because you broke the window but never thought they could fire you before the season is over and by you asking a questions like that puts that idea in there head.

in general always think positive and be positive when dealing with clients. never discuss the negative in a situation like that.

i would have checked it out just as you did and discussed how he wanted to handle the situation. he said he'd get some estimates and get back with you. i would have waiting a week or 2 to hear from him on the estimates and in the mean time keep servicing his property unless he said differently. then i would have called to ask him about the estimates after not hearing back from him on them.

[roost-1]

You are right there I never should have asked him that. He e-mailed back just after I left today. The mail said he had not paid the bill. Whoever did it said it was 200.90 and he would mail a copy when he got it. I jumped the gun on that. I gonna ask him to let me pay the bill.

[Sammy]

In another thread you said that you had not done any quotes this year 'cause you already have enough work.

Maybe you should make time and check out a few. Some may be a better deal than some you have now. Pick up a couple of new ones, drop a couple of old ones that are not making good $$$ for you.

[MASTERMOWER]

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.

75 Oaks?

And you're being compensated a measly $40 for all that work?

Geez....I'd ditch this client. There is much better out there. Why tie up your time dealing with crap like that? :alien::alien::alien:

[GeeVee]

You are owed, not him.

Someone would have a hard time explaining to me how they can adjust my bill.

F this guy, and grow a pair. DOn't let him walk over you another minute longer, and recognize, you must be a pushover.

[roost-1]

I sure hope you guys cut grass better than your reading comprehension skills. I really want to bump this guy and this is the most ethical way to do it. If I raise his mowing $20 he will find someone else or pay. I'm open to suggestions. I explained the situation as best I could but you are not seeing it the same way that I do. I am in the cat bird seat right now, I bid a job last week for double what it should be and the guy took it, grossed $90 an hour. I still have more than I can do so I'm bidding at twice the rate, but I am not ditching loyal customers for no reason.

[clclawn]

Suck it up till the end of the year unless you determin he is trying to screw you. It ain't his falt you broke the window so to raise his price now would be a bad way to conduct biz.

At some point you need to have a talk with him and explain the mowing size has increased by X% and that you have not increased price accordingly. You should never have to explain to a customer why you are raising the price, but 20 on a 40 lawn needs an explination.

[MASTERMOWER]

Ethical?

As I said, now is not the time to jump his mowing rate. It's screwy to adjust mowing prices mid-season to begin with yet alone right after a $200 window oops.

If you really want him gone, just ditch him (but tell him why). Otherwise finish through the rest of the season and ditch him next year. It's not like this customer will put you out of business. :alien::alien::alien:

[roost-1]

I have homeowners ins on my house. I been living here for 12 years an never made a claim. If the guy who cuts my grass breaks a window why don't I turn it in. They are not gonna raise my homeowner ins and they are not gonna drop me. If i'm cutting the grass and I break the neighbors window or my own (nocked one out of my suburban a coupla years ago) I should be responsible. This place is a rock pile if he busted his own would he turn it in, I'll bet he would. When I catch that armidillo He is going to pay with his.

[clclawn]

I have homeowners ins on my house. I been living here for 12 years an never made a claim. If the guy who cuts my grass breaks a window why don't I turn it in. They are not gonna raise my homeowner ins and they are not gonna drop me. If i'm cutting the grass and I break the neighbors window or my own (nocked one out of my suburban a coupla years ago) I should be responsible. This place is a rock pile if he busted his own would he turn it in, I'll bet he would. When I catch that armidillo He is going to pay with his.

Are you kidding.

Its not his responsiblity. You broke it, why should anyone else including his ins pay for something you did. His diductible is probably higher then that anyway.


Turn it in on you ins if its no big deal. If you were doing something on my property and pulled that crap with me, its the last time you would ever set foot on my property.

[roost-1]

Here is another way to look at it. Steve C. hires a lawn turd just starting out with no ins and no money because he knows he is getting a deal. Turd breaks window, He can't pay, Is it worth it to sue him for $200? No. If the turd knocks a neighbors eye out he's gonna try to sue but with no money and no ins he's lost. He's gonna have to sue the home owner and his ins co.

[roost-1]

Are you kidding.

Its not his responsiblity. You broke it, why should anyone else including his ins pay for something you did. His diductible is probably higher then that anyway.


Turn it in on you ins if its no big deal. If you were doing something on my property and pulled that crap with me, its the last time you would ever set foot on my property.

Pulled what crap I haven't done anything yet. $200 is a drop in bucket and if it was yours we would be done.

[roost-1]

[QUOTE=roost-1;214014]Pulled what crap I haven't done anything yet. $200 is a drop in bucket and if it was yours we would be done.[/Q

[safari lawn]

I threw a rock through a sliding glass door a few years ago, I had called a window repair person to come look at it before the customer had even known it had happened, and I chose to pay it rather than filing a claim since the deductible was only going to save me 250. IMHO it was my fault so I am the one who should pay and do the work getting the quote. I still never have raised their rate, I am just more cautious when I mow that area. Its not too hard to know when you throw a rock or can or baseball glove. oh and be really careful around houses that back up to golf courses..

[Stephen M.]

We have always operated on the "IF we broke it, we will fix it". Since my liability insurance has a $500 deductable, we just go ahead and pay for anything uo to $500. That way, no increase of rates. Anything over $500 is turned in to my insurance company.

Its always a good idea to carry a digital camera with you to document any damage that may be on a property you just acquired or going back to at the start of the season.

I owe a customer $360 for damage to the corner of his house because an employee ran into it with a wb mower and never said boo about it to his crew mates or to me until I had to ask about what the heck was going on and document the damage. I told the care taker to fix it and send me the bill.

Raising his rate mid season to "cover" the bill would be ridiculos. The customer would see that for what it is and wonder who was getting scammed. Suck it up; its the cost of doing business.