Forum

Replies

• 

  Graeme @ BGS April 1, 2009 at 1:51am

  Nope full stop!
  
  £100 - £140 would be nearer the mark.
• 

  Graeme @ BGS April 1, 2009 at 8:00am

  Was this an April's fool Robin?
• 

  Tony April 1, 2009 at 10:55am

  If it was, don't give up the day job!
• 

  Lawncare-4u.co.uk April 1, 2009 at 9:44pm

  it works out £20 p/h.......................up the road (literally) - but i have to fetch the mower/trailer first .
  its a nice place though. ?
• 

  Graeme @ BGS April 1, 2009 at 10:17pm

  I would only consider doing this at that rate if business was very quiet or I could add a few more ride on jobs to make it worth while getting the ride on out or the client has confirmed additional work to be undertaken. I had a few requests of a similar nature and they all turned out to be one off's but wanted to pay the lowest rate.
  
  Considering you probably knock out small lawns for a min. of £15 per cut which would take about 10 - 20 minutes I know where I would be spending my time.
• 

  Lawncare-4u.co.uk April 1, 2009 at 11:04pm

  yes.............i was quiet..............................though it'd take 2.5 hrs so quoted £50.00 !
  
  only took 1.5 hrs.............so £30.00 ? but less fuel/travel/lock-up etc etc..................
  
  hes weighing up if to buy another ride-on, as his was stolen...........i invoiced for £50 and handed it to him (he was suprised) so he said .hes weighing it up and.......if it would be that -no job .....he can get ride-on for (£100 p/m x7months ? = £700) , but might have a bit more work..............i could strim for half an hour and take it 'easy next time ) ! so 2hrs = £40 - i need another £40 job to make an easy day (possibly) ! or 2
• 

  Sustainable Land Management April 2, 2009 at 2:10pm

  Stunned by this - this may be a loss leader, but already the customer is of the opinion that he is able to knock the price down. Surely with insurance, petrol and other ancillaries it just makes a complete mockery of anyone in the industry. We are in a privileged position to tell people who start to take the p**s that we are not interested; long may this last, but with increasing amounts of labour coming in from the construction industry how long will it be before each and every contract is a fight where we see ourselves losing money.
  
  As with other professionals there has to a charge to ALL time spent on a job, i know of people who charge for all the time on the phone and even the thought process as to the logistics and they get paid for it.
  
  Standardise rates now - £15/per hour for man and spade - £20 / hour for light machinery - £30 / hour for heavy machinery and cutting tools at the very very least!!.
  
  Want to put up a post about 'customers to avoid' - but not sure how this will sit legally. Also would be great to have a blacklist of clients, but again this would be construed as contrary to the defamation act.
• 

  Graeme @ BGS April 2, 2009 at 4:09pm

  Robin Ainsworth said:

  
  hes weighing up if to buy another ride-on, as his was stolen...........i invoiced for £50 and handed it to him (he was suprised) so he said .hes weighing it up and.......if it would be that -no job .....he can get ride-on for (£100 p/m x7months ? = £700)

  
  These kind of clients are the ones to walk away from!
  
  He wants the job done as cheaply as possible and uses the excuse that he could purchase a machine and do it himself for less. Good luck to him.
  
  Clients pay us as we are professional, qualified, experienced and have full insurance etc. Not to mention the equipment.
  
  I find clients will employ us mainly because they can’t or don’t want to undertake the job themselves or more likely as they want the job done to the highest standard. Unfortunately this comes at a small premium.
  
  If a potential client asked me to do a job but it has to be cheaper than what he could do it – I would pass it up!.
  
  Would they do the same to a plumber or bricklayer? I think not!!
• 

  Richard@www.seasons-garden.co.uk April 2, 2009 at 6:27pm

  And they can't even be bothered to draw cash out to pay you so you've got another expense in going to the bank.
  Forget it - set your rate & stick to it. If it's Winter or V. quiet then only maybe.
  Any customer who is moaning about the rate or haggling isn't worth working for.
• 

  Graeme @ BGS April 2, 2009 at 9:34pm

  Still think this is an April's fool joke! :-)