Lowballers!

[exotion]

Let me explain my gripe... Large commercial prospect requests bid. Bid to include spring clean up, 10 yards mulch, grass mowed to a height of 2-2 1/2 inches(yes this means more than one visit a week) 7 acres of grass, 1 acre parking lot, clean up and removal of all sand from previous winter, plowing every 1-2 inches in the winter with salt and sand as needed, trimming hedges 3 times a year, maintain flower beds through out season, I think thats it in a nut shell... Anyway, you professionals out there, figure a price, I'll tell you mine, $10896.00. There were 5 bids, $10896, $11580, $9800, $11000 and last but not least...$4200! Please tell me how you can do it all for $4200? Do I have a legitimate gripe?

Lol I would not even bid I'm not even remotely interested in that size job lol

 

[Ric]

Let me explain my gripe... Large commercial prospect requests bid. Bid to include spring clean up, 10 yards mulch, grass mowed to a height of 2-2 1/2 inches(yes this means more than one visit a week) 7 acres of grass, 1 acre parking lot, clean up and removal of all sand from previous winter, plowing every 1-2 inches in the winter with salt and sand as needed, trimming hedges 3 times a year, maintain flower beds through out season, I think thats it in a nut shell... Anyway, you professionals out there, figure a price, I'll tell you mine, $10896.00. There were 5 bids, $10896, $11580, $9800, $11000 and last but not least...$4200! Please tell me how you can do it all for $4200? Do I have a legitimate gripe?

Trust me. I get it. I don't work in the lawn cutting industry but I'm in the communications industry where anyone with an iPad thinks they're a pro. It sucks, I understand.

My question is this - $4200 is SUCH an outlier than anyone would question whether their bid actually met spec. Genuine curiosity here. Is there something he's not including that everyone else is? My gut reaction is that he'll work his a** off until he goes under working at 50% of market price.

It SEEMS to me that you have a gripe if he bid under cost and intends to make up the difference with contract differentials and such. But such practices tend to p*** off customers. I'm curious if the customer is willing to maintain the business relationship if the end product is sub-par.

At the present time the market will not hold up to the prices you and the others quoted and probably never will again. People don't have and aren't willing to spend the money on things that aren't necessary. Prices or bids like that $4200 along with the fact that you can get into the business without to much of an investment has opened it up to to all kinds people. Get used to it, as long as you have someone that's willing to do the job to make a living and not get rich you're going to have those types of bids and people who will work there a** off to do the job. Do you have a grip, No more than I do about the guy who will cut a law for $10 a cut. It's basically our own fault.

 

[BHLC]

I've been in contact with the property manager, they agree the low bidder is not providing services as requested and they will be asking for a rebid. Hmmm... Kind of blows your theory...

 

[BHLC]

Further more, in this to get rich? I don't know many people "getting rich" I do know I have a bottom line, I need to pay myself, pay my help, pay my insurance, pay for my gas. Bottom line $43 a man hour, now where's profit?

 

[Carscw]

Further more, in this to get rich? I don't know many people "getting rich" I do know I have a bottom line, I need to pay myself, pay my help, pay my insurance, pay for my gas. Bottom line $43 a man hour, now where's profit?

So your saying you have to make $43 per man hour just to brake even?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[BHLC]

Yes. Paying myself 1st, then my guy, and etc. if I don't want a paycheck it could be less. Also to keep the best help you have to pay them.

 

[AmericanTurf]

$4200 means the customer will suffer from it. The bidders will not make it past the first few weeks. They will realize they can't make it and are losing money. The higher bidders will be around for a long time!!! They make a profit. Americans will continue to pay higher prices simply because they are weak and cannot do it themselves. The lowballers come and go and that's a fact.

 

[Carscw]

So for every hour your helper works it cost you $43?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[Carscw]

A four man crew means you charge $172 a hour

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[BHLC]

I don't have a 4 man crew! I have me and a helper. 2 man crew. Every company is different.