OLD PEOPLE

[Leone Lawn]

This old lady calls me and asks me to weed he bed and in the cracks of her drive. I go over there and quote her 60 and she says the job is mine for 50 so being a good person i say ok. I tell her instead of me spending hours pulling the weeds i would spray them first with round up concentrate, Diluted in a one gallon sprayer. I spray and 2 days late she stops me while im cutting next door and says that i didnt do the job she told me to do. I tried explaining to her that round-up takes about a week to work and she said that i was insulting her inteligence. I walk over to her house after she left her house and i saw that the weeds were wilting. Now if those weeds are all dead when i go back in a couple days I plan on sending her a bill, even though she said she wasnt going to pay me. What do u guys think I should do?

Leone Lawn

[Scaper-S2k]

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Do exactly what you said. Hey now, remember, them old people are still good people, I know you weren't putting them down. They are just not up on some of the "new" easy ways to do things. I would have showed her the directions and what to expect of the chemical. Spray them, then cut them down when dead. In that situation, really the weeds could be cut down 1 week after sprayed because they have absorbed the chemical. But, I would not in this case, would let them die back almost completely first so she sees what happened.

I know this is a bit off topic, but I stopped thinking any "weird" thoughts about elders after seeing many documentaries on the depression and WWII topics. They have been through more than we will EVER experience. They deserve so much respect.

<<Don't Fear the Green!>>

Edited by - scaper-s2k on Aug 09 2002 9:19:02 PM

[ematthews]

reply

Right on scaper. Im only 30 and what you said is correct. when i see the kids and youg adults today it makes me respect the elders that much more...



Edited by - ematthews on Aug 09 2002 9:13:50 PM

[gmcarn]

reply

I MAINTAINED THE LAWN OF AN ELDERLY COUPLE HERE IN N.W. FL. THEY ASK ME TO TRIM THE HEDGES AND BUSHES ALL AROUND THE YARD. THIS WAS A BIG JOB. I QOUTED THEM A PRICE AND THEY AGREED. I FIRST WALKED THE PROPERTY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WHAT THE WANTED DONE. WE DID THE JOB, AND I AGAIN WALKED THE PROPERTY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK DONE. THEY WERE. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED TO CUT THE GRASS ETC. AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I LEFT SOME CLIPPINGS BEHIND AND NEEDED TO DESPOSE OF THEM. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUES YOU CAN'T SPOT THEM ALL UNTILL THEY TURN BROWN AND THEN I PICKED A HANDFUL THAT WAS LEFT. THOUGHT EVERY THING WAS ALLRIGHT AT THIS POINT. HE CALLED ME THE DAY BEFORE I WAS DUE TO SERVICE THE LAWN AGIAN AND INFORMED ME THAT "HE WAS DROPPING ME". BECAUSE "I DID NOT KEEP MY WORD". SAID I LEFT CLIPPINGS . I COULD FORGET AND GO ON IF I DID A LOUSY JOB. BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW PEOPLE? WELL I GUESS THATS THE WAY IT GOES SOME TIME. HOPE I DID'NT BORE YOU ALL TO MUCH!

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HERE IF ANY ONE HAS ANY CRAZY STORIES OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPEN TO YOU WHILE WORKING IN THE BUSINESS.

[Scaper-S2k]

reply

Of course that could happen from any client, not necessarily because they were elderly. I think the elderly expect alot, and they should. That is how they were brought up and what they hope to get to this day. When they were younger, they had to work their rears off to get very little money. It's just not like that today. Just sit and think of how hard that generation worked and what they built. It's quite extraordinary if you think about before 1930 to how this country looked in 1960. Unreal.

They expect alot, but can ya blame em? It's a shame we couldn't be doing their stuff for free some how, I feel we all owe them everything we have, I really do. Hearing stories of what they went through just makes me feel spoiled. As they say, they are the "Greatest Generation". Sadly, they are leaving us too fast.

I hope that didn't all sound rediculous.

<<Don't Fear the Green!>>

Edited by - scaper-s2k on Aug 09 2002 11:01:36 PM

[Sammy]

reply

It sounds like they were just looking for a reason.
Sometimes it just dont make sense.


Post Script:
gmcarn, Your caps are locked.
Please unlock them. Thanks. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Quality Is Good

[Zack]

reply

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
They expect alot, but can ya blame em? It's a shame we couldn't be doing their stuff for free some how, I feel we all owe them everything we have, I really do. Hearing stories of what they went through just makes me feel spoiled. As they say, they are the "Greatest Generation". Sadly, they are leaving us too fast.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Stereotyping any group of people be it seniors, ethnic groups or religious factions is dangerous and misleading. There are good and bad seniors as in any group & one does not automatically get my respect because they have lived a long life. Good seniors attempt to understand the realities we as businessmen face & accept the realities of the current economic climate. Quite often widows, who have been sheltered by their husbands & are left to fend for themselves when their spouse dies, are clueless and bitter. Unfortunately if you want to service seniors and retain a good profit margin certain measures must occasioally be taken.
http://www.lawnservicing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=401

[Scaper-S2k]

reply

Sorry Zack, but the quote from me that you added is absolutely true. There were NO lazy people during the depression and WWII. These people (elderly's, and yes, I am grouping) all worked hard for our freedom. They made you! To not have the desire to give them what they rightfully deserve is sad. They aren't "bitter" because they had a spouse die. If anything, they are bitter for doing SO much for this country and left to dwindle away their hard earned money to people these days that have NO respect and rip them off (not necessarily lawn guys).

Zack, give them the benefit of the doubt all the time. Of course some are mean, but the vast majority are unbelievable. You read about the depression, or watch a documentary and you'll see. Or a WWII documentary. Totally willing to die for our country and their children, work non stop for a couple bucks for food. There is NO comparison of them and any other generation. You have to know that, did you ever have the opportunity to talk to your Grandfathers of Grandmothers? Un-selfish and hard working are 2 good words for them.

&lt;&lt;Don't Fear the Green!&gt;&gt;

[indmowing]

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Aaaww poor oldies <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> They may be oldies but from my experience they can be very goodies. The lovely old ladys and gents do not only talk your ear off but everyone elses, and they can be a very good form of 'word of mouth' advertising. I have seen quite a bit of work come from the little old ladies and all the contractor did was talk to her <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> I know time is money but is your time so valuable that you will risk customer realtions to keep it!

Say you walk into a mower shop and have several questions to ask, you want the salesman to show you different mowers etc. Remember you are not their only customer and unless they have one salesman per client who walks through the door they can't really afford to spend much time with you, but tell me, would you buy from someone who shrugs you off or gets one of his coleiges to call him away from you and he never returns <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

Just to show what a little time and effort can do, Dean went to several mower shops and the one closest to where he lives was pretty much just like yourself Zack <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> he walked out and never went back, now the mower shop that got his business was a 15 minute drive away but the salesman/owner of the business had very good customer relations! He looked after Dean and spent a considerable amount of time with him going through more then he was obliged to (and this was before Dean was in the business he is now). This mowershop now comes highly recommended by ourselves and gets anywhere up to 50 contractors coming to them from ourselves per week.

Now be nice to your oldies not only for business but remember you will be old one day! I have decided I don't want to get old!!! <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

Take care all and be good <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
Ebony

Independent Lawn Mowing Contractors
Working together to benefit all.
www.indmowing.com.au
Email info@indmowing.com.au

[Maddog]

reply

Sometimes customers think you may be trying to take them even though you bend over backwards to insure you do what they request. I find that may of them will call back later because they find that you have done an exceptional job compared to who they replaced you with in the first place.

Wayne

[indmowing]

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Very true Wayne. I saw something along the same lines in another post where a forum member mentioned that his client thought he was paying him to much and after he got some other quotes the customer came back to him (mind you he didn't want the job anymore as the client had been a touch rude hehe, which is fair of course)! As humans we all have our faults and can be a little misguided at times. As they say "you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> So true....

I hope you are all in good health and spirits. I have one thing to say before I finish up, remember what you experience in your business next time you go to anothers business! Each and every one of us have faults and no doubt we have all done to other businesses or employees the same things that annoy us in our own business.

All the best and take care

Ebony

Independent Lawn Mowing Contractors
Working together to benefit all.
www.indmowing.com.au
Email info@indmowing.com.au

[nohhousefire]

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Fear those old folks that say they have worked can to can't for 50 cents or less a day.

[TomQuartz]

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There were good hard working people bad then and some who where mean and did not work just as today but they give us so much we should give back I am new and only do a few but I give all over the age of 60 10% off.maybe some of you could work it in.


PS. some do think to going rate for a cut is 5 cents.

[skyracer808]

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I have to tell ya, it doesn't matter what industry your in, loyalty (at times) comes down to the cheapest bidder. Or, some people just don't understand what it takes to get things done or they just don't care.

My experience has taught me that it is better to treat everyone with respect all time, regardless of what our preconceptions are. In the long run you will always fair better. I would rather have my good reputation. The money will always follow.

[indmowing]

reply

there will allways be some one cheaper but with discounts come short cuts, shortcuts breaks down to less quality,
you get what you pay for.

Independent Lawn Mowing Contractors
Working together to benefit all.
www.indmowing.com.au
Email info@indmowing.com.au