customer pricing !!!

i have had a very nice, good client in London for over a year. initially i re-planted most of here small flower beds and bought plants for potting , window planters for herbs and installed victorian edgings around borders to 2 sides. i then painted the wooden fencing and pedestrian gate.last visit i asked prior to apply scotts summer fertilizer for £15 (it is very small &regular client)she asked me to cut the front side hedge next to car/drive and a laveteria in back garden.-1/2 an hour charged £15 and took 2 bin bags size away free of charge......i mowed the lawn,strimmed and vacumed as usual £30. (actually strimmed it all close/tidy & vacumed), i also weeded a bit in border & tidyed fatsia's Big dry leaves......and watered all pots/plantsx10 big and small........sorry first thing in the morning 11am i was asked to help erect her fallen gazebo///1/2 an hour charged for 40mins . i rectified it needed the tight ropes/string still in the bag ( i guessed) this was sorted with metal pegs inc. best we could and taped up top metal frame.......total : lawn. small hedge side ,shrub trimmed, fertilizer ,gazebo fixed.none a problem small jobs and happy to do (before going to east london to get machinary to ease 'white-finger' ........£75.00 invoice i collected next morning at 12.00. i sometimes have to pay 1.80 parking /hr... so on giving cheque i asked am i still owed £30 cash for previous months lawn cut ? as she did not require last one due to dry weather/ no problem....so she wasn't aware she owed this . (she had been away at the weekend the gazebo blew down).......ok i said 'im not sure'.................i text late that night near shropshire @11pm to say i'd spoke to my freind and he didnt meet you (it was previous time i remember her paying me £30 cash )so i had a reply 'nothing outstanding................i trust my customers so,,,:-then another text I WANT TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT AS I HAVE ALREADY AGREED ANOTHER PERSON FOR MAINTENANCE AT HALF MY PRICE (£15P/H) ! THANKS FOR PLANTING , GOOD LUCK- I replied : ok thanks for work, make sure they have public liability and let me know in future if you get let down...........................THE ENDsorry its long but this is the full facts to reply to please with comments / advice :-)

thanks - just wondering whats behind it - either being tight , less hours in her private orthopaedic clinic ,
maybe she just is going to have grass cut and not bothered about the rest for a while/till next mid summer.

mid life crisis, or just trying to save a bit towards her weekend - i know it adds up ,but £75 in sw15 is not a lot.
just weird as weve had a good relationship till now........................maybe ive just been lucky after the planting etc and it carried on till this slight in the economy ..........07 bmw / 800k house hmmm.
-maybe she wanted more !!-- ;-) but im a professional ! lol

yes ill maybe get a new better/bigger/easier paying contract with no chasing £30 up ! or her forgetting it................im sure it was owed as i quite often waited till next visit !! its been a funny/busy month for all.

thanks everyone for your straight ,simple, honest and encouraging reply's :-)

Replies

Graeme @ BGS July 17, 2009 at 5:58pm

This is one reason I do not like charging an hourly rate! Personally I offer a fix price contracts with materials etc. being charged at retail price plus sensible mark up.
The contract being for a fixed period with a clause stating a cancellation notice to be given etc.

People get what they pay for at the end of the day and if some chap wants to work for £7 per hour fair play to them but as you stated you have to question if they have insurance etc.

At least you walked away with dignity.
Classic Gardens July 17, 2009 at 5:58pm

ditto on that
Kerrie John-The garden design Co July 17, 2009 at 6:11pm

Don't think about it anymore. As Martin said, you walked away with your dignity and she lost a good man.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk July 17, 2009 at 6:19pm

thanks - just wondering whats behind it - either being tight , less hours in her private orthopaedic clinic ,
maybe she just is going to have grass cut and not bothered about the rest for a while/till next mid summer.

mid life crisis, or just trying to save a bit towards her weekend - i know it adds up ,but £75 in sw15 is not a lot.
just weird as weve had a good relationship till now........................maybe ive just been lucky after the planting etc and it carried on till this slight in the economy ..........07 bmw / 800k house hmmm.
-maybe she wanted more !!-- ;-) but im a professional ! lol

yes ill maybe get a new better/bigger/easier paying contract with no chasing £30 up ! or her forgetting it................im sure it was owed as i quite often waited till next visit !! its been a funny/busy month for all.

thanks everyone for your straight ,simple, honest and encouraging reply's :-)
Sustainable Land Management July 17, 2009 at 6:48pm

A huge factor can be peer pressure. My Mother in Law has a a very neat garden and takes a considerable interest in it - she has little else to do. Her gardener and her arborist are both professionals, they do a really good job. This doesn't stop her friends and neighbours constantly criticising the prices charged albeit a few pounds. And it amazes me just how much time is taken in discussing such things endlessy. Every time I speak to her the subject seems to arise - but you only have to look at her garden compared with the others to see the difference, which is dramatic. Some people simply have too much time on their hands.
Donny Bryan July 17, 2009 at 7:48pm

Hi Robin, I understand how frustrating it is to not know why a long standing customer moves to someone else and in this instance I suspect it's as simple as someone offering her maintenance for half the price. It's probably short-sighted. She probably won't get a good service. She'll probably live to regret it. But you on the other hand will have closed the door on this unfortunate incident and focused your energy on more deserving and perhaps new more profitable customers who appreciate professionalism and reliability. Onwards and upwards! Donny
Graeme @ BGS July 17, 2009 at 7:53pm

Kerrie said:
Don't think about it anymore. As Martin said, you walked away with your dignity and she lost a good man.

I think you will find that Graeme said that :-) But he ditto my comment.
Kerrie John-The garden design Co July 17, 2009 at 8:01pm

Graeme @ The BGS Group said:
Kerrie said:
Don't think about it anymore. As Martin said, you walked away with your dignity and she lost a good man.

I think you will find that Graeme said that :-)

Yes you did.
Lisa Valentine July 17, 2009 at 11:52pm

It is bloody annoying though as you feel you deserve some sort of answer as to why they cancelled you because you could have maybe put it right. I've been puzzled as to why a customer cancelled us as well not so long back and can only think it's the recession
Lawncare-4u.co.uk July 18, 2009 at 12:25am

i think it must be financial , or an reason or statement would be raised i think......some people are cutting back.

Lisa Valentine said:
It is bloody annoying though as you feel you deserve some sort of answer as to why they cancelled you because you could have maybe put it right. I've been puzzled as to why a customer cancelled us as well not so long back and can only think it's the recession