Am I being unreasonable??

[MOWANDGO]

Ok, I admit I haven't used the search feature to ask this question yet, but I'm I being unreasonable to charge $35/ hr. to weed beds?? Mind you, this price includes spraying roundup after pulling out each weed. I met with one of my regular customers on monday, she asked if I could pull weeds for her. I agreed. I told her my hourly rate was $35.00/hr., and she just about flipped out. She looked angry to me. Anyways, long story short I told her that, "I would charge her $25 if I could." I didn't in any way, shape or form, tell her I would charge her $25, I said I would charge her as little as possible. Well I started weeding, and the front yard took me an hour, I filled two 55 gallon Contractors bags with weeds. She has the nerve to come out and ask how long I"ve been working for. I told her I had been there for 45 min. She tells me that she can pollish off the weeding in the front yard in like 20 min. She then continues to insult the way that I work. She says I'm going too slow. She tells me she won't pay me the $35 unless I finish the whole yard. I agreed because at this point I was so sick of talking with her, that I was ready to just go off on her. It ended up taking me 1.5 hrs. to weed, and it cost me half a container of roundup. And I only made $35. While she payed me she continued to make a big deal of the," outrageous cost to do the work." Am I being unreasonable to charge $35. I would appreciate some comments. What do you all charge for weeding and roundup(or similar products)

Thanks,
Jeff

[Saig55]

i don't mind them questioning the price, which is firm and I also charge 35 an hr. but don't question my work... Replace her...

[dancom]

I would have charged her 35.00 per hour pluss the cost of roundup with a mark up. I don't usualy give people a hourly rate. I generaly figure out how long I think it will take and give them a flat price. As far as the way you were treated I would not do work for that "lady" again.

[csm]

I don't think so because I charge $35.00 for 4 gallons of weed spray and weed and plant for $25.00.I don't use round up it costs too much. Their patent ran out so other companies can copy their product now. I get the stuff for $16.00 and makes 20 gallons. I don't know how big of a container of round up you used. I'm sure alot of people on this forum would say that $25.00 is too low. I think you could have gone higher, maybe not with this lady. I also think the type of neighborhood you are working in makes a big difference on what people will pay. The not so rich people might not pay what the rich people will pay but they will probably pay more than average income family will pay. Allow me to give you an example I had recently. I charged a richer lady $55.00 a hour to clean her gutters. I got a call from a less richer man in a different neighborhood and was going to charge him the same. Well needless to say I didn't clean the less richer man's gutters. Would I have cleaned his gutters for lets say $35.00 an hour? Yep! I don't know if I'm right or wrong in saying this but maybe sometimes there might need to be a price difference in different neighborhoods if you want to work all the time. Let me know what you think about that.


Scott

[andersc1]

I agree with Dancom, we never give the customer an hourly rate. It gets to complicated in trying to explain how we arrived at that figure to sit there an explain to a customer. Try giving just a flat rate for the job at hand, and ditch this lady A.S.A.P. There are far too many customers out there who will appreciate your work without sitting there and ragging on your prices the whole time.

Curtis

[Seascape]

I charge $44 per hour for all maintenance services except mowing,, i dont really have a hourly for mowing. I also charge $22.00 per gallon applied for RU min. 1 gal.

You have 2 choices.
1) re write the invoice the way you first spoke w/ her,,, $35 per hour
2) walk away.

this chump shiit,,, i might just walk away.

[Scaper-S2k]

First, spraying Round Up after you pull the weeds is worthless. It needs to be applied to the leaves.

Personally, I feel keeping up with light weeds should be included in the lawn service, especially when you do their mulching. If you don't do their mulching, then only care for weeds if they aren't out of control already. They shouldn't get out of control if you have sprayed them since spring though.


Weeds in the cracks of the driveway or walks should also be done.



You should add in a small figure to each lawn you service so that when you are done mowing you can go around and spray weeds in the beds in less than 5 minutes each time or every other visit. They will never get out of hand, and the client will be happy that they have no weeds. Cost is very minimal, and just makes you look better.

If you have 2 guys on a crew, you will barely even see a time difference because one usually finishes a couple minutes before the other.

[emeraldgreenlawns]

I have to agree completely with Scaper. I was reading responses and wondering if anyone was going to mention that Roundup needs to be applied to vegetation. Your spray was wasted
I include weed control with my regular mowing, and usually spray beds about every 3 weeks. The time is minimal, and the results are appreciated. I also include pre-emergent application to beds when I install mulch, which also helps.
I think you can call this a learning experience. Next time I'm sure you will only give a cost for the job, and not an hourly rate. It certainly helps to minimize the clients concern over the pace of work.

[Chuck Sinclair]

If you are not licensed to apply herbicides get some one who is by spraying Roundup on the ground you wasted a lot of money.


Glyphosate (Roundup) is a systemic or translocated herbicide. This means that it moves from the point of contact on the leaves through the plant to the root system, with the sugars produced by the leaves. It may take a week or more before injury to weeds appears. Visible effects include a gradual wilting and yellowing of the plant, which advances to a complete blackening of the above-ground growth and deterioration of underground roots and rhizomes.


Chuck

[Seascape]

this price includes spraying roundup after pulling out each weed.

hell i was reading to fast,, didnt catch that.

Well ,,, if its any help Jeff,,, the RU was useless as scaper indicated. That make ya feel any better?

[lorenzo piedra]

Your lucky the old lady does not turn you into the state department of consumer protection for being an unlicensed business.

[MGO]

First mistake was exposing to her an hourly rate. NEVER give an hourly rate....simply give a flat price for the job....PERIOD! If she doesn't like the flat price then let her get someone else to do it.....

[MOWANDGO]

THanks for all the help ya'll......Do you have to have licensing to apply round up?? I didn't think you need a lisence to apply something you can buy at home depot.....

[hardboiled]

THanks for all the help ya'll......Do you have to have licensing to apply round up?? I didn't think you need a lisence to apply something you can buy at home depot.....

In Illinois at least (most states are probably similar), you can't put it or any other general use pesticide down unless you own the land. You're doing it for hire so it would have been a no-no here.

[BCSteel]

Oh man, look out now!