Lowballers
- Thread starter Ric
- Start date
this is free enterprise captalism in its rawest form......i deal with lowballers and loose some to them but keep enough to stay busy.....what i call my business model [ do the best work, pay my part time helper well,give the time and effort to give that WOW factor to a yard ] works in most but not all cases.....some people go with lowest price regardless....thinking of asking city council to require liability ins for grasscutters but i doubt they would go that far....they require business license but dont enforce it.....we just have to deal with these problems and adjust on the fly ...or close the doors
Ric
Lawn Pro
That was my thought :confused2: Bankrupt... Like Carscw said they are losing money from the start and I can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to pay them first to start there service, the whole thing sounds fishy to me.
TaskForceLawnCare
Well-Known Member
Hmm just curious but did you seriously see that? I wonder if I had 15,000 sq ft if they could only handle 10,000 sq ft? Anyway the lowballers are a hassle but they aren't engaged in the communities renovating parks, donating to charities owning major sports teams in the 55 and over softball league lol. I'm not sure the police wouldn't be called on them in most of the areas we mow in. On the other hand some might be legit they're just new and don't have a clue yet. They'll figure it out when they pay their first fuel bill.
Ric
Lawn Pro
Did I really see see that, LOL....Yes I seriously seen that. I couldn't make up something that ridiculous. It was on there advertisements or flyers they hanging on doors all over the place. They also have a site you can view it on but I wont post it or there name here but I can PM you the site if you like? I just really like the last section where it says:
1. Simply tell us when you want us to start
2. Select your package
3. Pay online to begin service:
gfp55
Well-Known Member
I'm with you, they cry about someone that will do the job cheaper then them. Some of you are making $30-$60 or more a hour and you cry when you get under cut. Whats wrong with the new startups "low balling". Oh, I see now, my bad. You must have all started at the top. Do you ever read some of your own posts. Quit crying and man up. This is free enterprise
what i have learned in 10 years of cutting and growing every year is that there is no protection in this industry.....requiring everybody to have a business license hardly levels the playing field.....a city requiring everybody have liability insurance would help make things more equal but it would have to be enforced......you have to be creative and out think these price cutters.....building relationships with customers goes a long way......i hand out refrigerator magnets to all my customers with company name.....i have dropped price by 5 dollars per cut on some after they have been with me for 5 years......i give discounted price on things such as trimming hedges for long time customers.......anything that will build a little loyalty and connection......i am not against the kid with a pushmower trying to make spending money in the summer.....i despise the cutter that sees me doing a yard and comes back later and tries to under price me.......but these things just have to be dealt with.......you keep most but you lose a few
Carscw
Lawn Pro
There is a difference between someone just starting out and low balling.
Around here price starts at $35 for a small 1/4 acre yard guy bids $25 or $30 because he is just starting out. Ok that's fine. But then you have the low balling fools that will do it for $10. All it does is drive the price down for everyone.
I bid 3 acres a foot tall at $150.00 a guy bid $30
Two days later guy calls me and said this guy has been cutting all day and maybe has a 1/4 acre done can you come cut this. I told him my price is now $200 because I have to fix the mess now. Took me a hour and a half.
These guys think because they have a truck and a homemade trailer with a wore out snapper rer and a $15 pawn shop blower and trimmer that they are now pros.
How can you make many doing lawn care making $20 a hour? It takes one bad day to put them out of business. They hit a rock. Bend a $30 blade and snap a $40 belt or break a $80 spindle. Now they sit and think borrow money and fix the mower or get some more beer.
I find that around here if you bid to cheap the homeowner won't even talk to you. They know that if you bid half of what others bid your not doing a good job.
Anyone can cut grass but not everyone can do it right.