I understand what your saying with great service and easy to work with attitude, but really these days most of the time( not always, but most ) price is all that matters. Don't ever get fooled into thinking these people really like me and I get along great with them....If you're the higher bid next go round, you're out and the cheaper guy is in.
It is true that most of the time, the cheaper guy wins, but money aside imo you won't ever lose a job that you have because your too nice & easy to work with, but you sure can & will lose it if your not easy to work with, rude, bad service ect. So point is if your price is right in this case it was, make sure you don't lose the job by being an azz, inconsistent or anything else that could screw the job/relationship up. With that being said, one must also stand up for ones self, business & employee's when nessesary.
As for the phone call, it is a good tactic for finding out compeditors rates I wouldn't do it though
Other people's pricing doesn't matter much to me...I don't have to balance their checkbooks. I lose the bid on my local rescue squad every year. The spread is always $1500 for the lowest and $10,000 for the highest. I can't do it for $1500, but sure don't need $10,000 to do it. I bid it every year because I can see the building from my house. Just goes to show you, everyone's overhead is different and some don't know how to bid. The only part that bothers me is that I lose every year and the winner (different guy every year) provides poor service. Just figured eventually they'd learn why you typically throw out the low bid and start from there.
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Proud supporter of Snow care for Troops
There is a few ways to think about this, A customer who changes service over 10 bucks is something to think about. I was accused of lowballing some lawn maint this year as the guy who previously did is in my social circle and it came up one night...I never divulge my pricing but I was more expensive and got the jobs, I still feel them look at me when they drive by. I cant imagine getting called up by a contractor over them loosing a bid.
Have a feeling he is going to be a thorn in my side. Seen him out today and he mumbled something as I walked by. Didn't feel it was worth the bother to even ask what he said. Told my wife he is really fixing not to like me if he catches me on a bad day. I have lost bids and have never took it this personal. Wonder if I should tell him if he gets short on contracts I will let him sub for me, haha.
Have a feeling he is going to be a thorn in my side. Seen him out today and he mumbled something as I walked by. Didn't feel it was worth the bother to even ask what he said. Told my wife he is really fixing not to like me if he catches me on a bad day. I have lost bids and have never took it this personal. Wonder if I should tell him if he gets short on contracts I will let him sub for me, haha.
WOW ! this guys a pole smoker for sure. Dont let him bully you ! I'd be clearing things up with him real fast !
Had the family with me. Really don't want my kids to see that side of me. Talked to a buddy of mine that took one of his lawn accounts and he said the guy messed with his truck. He can't prove it though. Never would of thought plowing snow could become a real life soap opera. Think I am going to have a "talk" with him tomorrow. Ill end it before it gets out of hand. No wonder he is losing accounts.
This is going to be the next new show on the History channel, isn't it? The new lineup:
6pm: Repo Men
7pm: Lizard Lick
8pm: Ax Men
9pm: Plowboys
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Past: 8.5' Diamond on 12' stake body dump 15,000lb upgraded F350, for state highways...and lack of experience.
Present: Snowbear on 2002 GMC 1500 and ancient Ariens, for personal use only.
I take it you know this guy pretty well? Was this the guy you used to plow for or have you worked for him in the past? Sounds like more is going on here than just this snow account thing.
I don't get this "lowballer" business one bit. I am a tree service provider, and I started out with a **** one ton and a chipper that needed to be worked on hourly to keep it running. I took those two pieces of equipment to two bobcats, a newer chipper an F600 chip truck a 00 7.3 dump an 04 f350 and an 00 int forestry aerial lift truck in three years, and its all paid for in cash. I can underbid most people in my area because I dont need to make as much because the bill collector isnt knocking at my door end of month all year long. You have to set yourself up for your market, and decide if it's profitable. I charge roughly 1500-1800 a day (8-10 hours) for my tree work in my urban environment. The guys that have been around here for years were used to getting $2500-3000 a day. I can clear a grand profit wise a day pricing the way I do, why go any higher and risk not geting a job? Call me a lowballer, and I'll call you out of touch and eventually out of business......
I have mainly switched over to snowblowing a development I have been in for 22 yrs.Guys laugh at me since my son and I are doing 40 drives.We average 12-14 drives per hour.There are no snow piles,no torn up turf and the walk way and front of garage are clean.And the clowns with the plows wonder why they can't get any of my work.I also have not advertised in 21 yrs and must turn work down.I am also far from a low baller.Guys try low balling me and lose.
i know how you feel ,i to swithced over to more snowblowing and smaller accounts .as getting older and many years of plowing under my belt . i too get some feed back about it too. but making a profit and doing good service is more important to me Perrysee
My question is for Neige. Your competition is welcome to bid whatever he wants and he either has an ace up his sleeve or has to lie in the bed he makes.
My understanding from reading some of your posts is that you have absolute domination of certain geographical markets. This leads to zero travel time making your equipment plow nonstop and thus taking on more accounts with the same equipment. It is obviously a proven winner for you.
What I'm not understanding is how does he plan to execute on a site that cheap???
I wouldn't do it though
Trip blades were designed to protect your truck, not to tell the homeowner when you found his lawn
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