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Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

jekjr said:

Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

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Ahh you are better off anyway if that is the case.

jekjr said:

Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

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I wouldn't worry about it to much. You'll pick up another or two and they will be better than the one you lost. That's generally how it goes.

That's what I like about residential work. Lose one gain two

Don't worry you'll probably get a new customer soon

exotion said:

That's what I like about residential work. Lose one gain two

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We cut about 60 properties on schedule. We could cut twice that many probably. We cut a lot that are cut here and there. Several people we cut for from time to time cut their own part of the time and we cut it part of the time...

Well I turn down most jobs. I have a rule for me and only me. I only take jobs that let me decide what is good for their lawns. I am picker than most are to begin with. I take crappy yards and turn them into something the neighbor wants to have. I just mow on weekends and for fun. Thank god I don't do it for a living I would go broke. But I love every minute of it.

jekjr said:

Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

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Is it okay for me to ask how much was you charging for the 7 acres? Forty five dollars don't seem bad to me but maybe that on top of the other 7 acres might have seem too much.

But as the others have said, just move on, you will recoup that customer sooner or later.

Wildcat said:

Is it okay for me to ask how much was you charging for the 7 acres? Forty five dollars don't seem bad to me but maybe that on top of the other 7 acres might have seem too much. But as the others have said, just move on, you will recoup that customer sooner or later.

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The acre had not been cut in a while. I did not stop and do math I just threw $45 out there cause I would have charged $50 if I just drove up to cut it. Dropped $5 off that.

I was hot and in a hurry. I did not take into consideration what I was charging per acre on the rest of it. $180 for 7 acres is really cheap. It has a lot of trees on it and is aggravating at times to cut. If I had gone up I would have lost it anyway.

I had been cutting the 7 acres for $180 bi weekly. Did not know how much we were cutting till this Summer when we downloaded Planimeter and used it to figure out the size.

BlazNT said:

Well I turn down most jobs. I have a rule for me and only me. I only take jobs that let me decide what is good for their lawns. I am picker than most are to begin with. I take crappy yards and turn them into something the neighbor wants to have. I just mow on weekends and for fun. Thank god I don't do it for a living I would go broke. But I love every minute of it.

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We need about 50 or so more yards. Therefore we don't turn down much. I wish we had so many that we could bid them high when asked to bid one and if we got it we made really good money and if we didn't we really would not care.

jekjr said:

Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

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You can't please everyone and you can't just run your machines to death without profit. Who ever he got to do it for cheaper may not be in business next year, but you will. The customer you lost may call you next year and if they don't, that's life. Your going to be OK.

gfp55 said:

You can't please everyone and you can't just run your machines to death without profit. Who ever he got to do it for cheaper may not be in business next year, but you will. The customer you lost may call you next year and if they don't, that's life. Your going to be OK.

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He prolly has a mower. He will pay somebody to run it. He will prolly come out a little as long as the mower runs anyway. I was cutting it really cheap. I know that.

I must hate to lose a customer because in our neck of the woods they are hard to come by.

I lost a customer today I asked her two weeks ago to pick up the toys, hoses, sprinklers, chairs in her back yard so I can come and now the yard. Last week nothing was picked up so I skipped it and left an email. Got nothing back this week her lawn was mowed by someone else

exotion said:

I lost a customer today I asked her two weeks ago to pick up the toys, hoses, sprinklers, chairs in her back yard so I can come and now the yard. Last week nothing was picked up so I skipped it and left an email. Got nothing back this week her lawn was mowed by someone else

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That wasn't cool. She could have at least called and told you she got someone else. Hope you get your final billing.

Ric said:

That wasn't cool. She could have at least called and told you she got someone else. Hope you get your final billing.

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Me to. But i don't have hi hopes

exotion said:

I lost a customer today I asked her two weeks ago to pick up the toys, hoses, sprinklers, chairs in her back yard so I can come and now the yard. Last week nothing was picked up so I skipped it and left an email. Got nothing back this week her lawn was mowed by someone else

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That 's low! We are not cleaning guys/ladies. We mow lawns here! If we want to scrub scum off toilets and clean up crap we will advertise for that. I don't mind moving a few chairs or a small table, but to move a bunch of toys and stuff is not my job.

I'd mulch their toys then tell them they have ten times as many toys, or tell them you thought it was lawn confetti

I can see if it were excessive. If your customer had the toys and chairs when you were hired you should have included the time to move and replace in your quote or put a stipulation and add on charge for excessively dirty yard. Hate to lose a customer because we didn't want to get off our butt and move a few items. Not sure I have the whole story either so don't hate too much if I'm out of line.

jekjr said:

Lost one yesterday. It was 8 acres. I had cut 7 acres for him over a year at a very low price. He added another area that looked to be about an acre I went up $45 on him. He made other arrangements.

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In a sense, you didn't lose a customer. You're just upfront with the pricing. Don't worry, you'll get more customers than the ones who left.

here in florida...we expect too lose some every winter...soon as we go bi.weekly some owners will cut us loose to screw us during winter months...I charge a flat monthly saves them in growing months...hasn't been bad this year only lost a few dew too re-sale...for what you were charging...you are better off ..after you figure how long and equipment...and fuel...home owners never figure our cost..just price