Recently qouted on a planting job - buxus hedging and received a reply stating that my plant prices were too high. As this isn't a comment I've run into before it made me consider how I had worked out my prices.
On plants what I normally do is try and strike a balance between the trade price I can achieve and the retail price the client would have to pay if they bought direct. I feel that in this way the customer gets a good deal and I can make a fair profit.
Naturally other considerations/complications can come into play but I've laways thought this a reasonable way to work out plant prices.
One problem I have encountered having looked into this particular quote further is that there are now a number of online retailers that sell direct to the public and in this case for less than some of my trade suppliers!
Just wondered what thoughts others had on this, I'm frustrated as this element could have led on to more work, but pricing seems to have tripped me up.
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One of the problems with online Retailers is comparing like for like plants.
Most do not in my view show true plant sizes in photos. They may show a photo of a beautiful plant, but that from experience is not the plant delivered.
Online retailers also tend to steer towards smallest pot, for delivery purposes.
Convince your client, like for like plants.
Good luck Andy
Is this a private or commercial client ?
Do you cater for plant failure/replacements (within x months..) hidden within your price ?
Simple just tell the customer to get the plants themselves and you will do everything else that you quoted for , i had this with a customer a couple of years back , it was for a new zealand flax , they wanted one a certain size and i found one at a local nursery which was perfect in size and price or so i thought , they moaned that the price was too high so i asked them to get on and i would plant it ..
They did find one that cost them more and cost them for delivery and it was half the size of the one i had found , i planted it as promised then 2 weeks later they rang me back and asked me to get the one i had seen as the one they had looked lost in the place it was lol.
Stick to your quote and if they still aint happy then tell them to find the plants and you will put them in as quoted ;0)
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think for my own peace of mind I will simply reply and highlight the points raised. At least then if he still goes for the cheaper option I'll have done my best to point him in the right direction.
It's funny really as just round the corner is a similar sized property (huge!) that has a new box hedge in the front garden which looks ridiculous - plants must be 10cm tall and the same wide, planted nearly a foot apart in front of this great big house. Like floating a toy boat on the pacific, the scale is just all wrong!
Similar discussion at http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/has-anyone-used-t...
As Steve said you can not compare like for like from these online sellers. Bottom line you get what you pay for.
i did a quote once at the local secondary school, i met a teacher that taught me and the guy (who has now died)- someone i know's father. i also knew the bursor from junior school as i was in her sons class....
anyway i quoted fair and reasonable and suitable sized plants,,,,, it was yrs ago so i was v.good value.
i didnt get it . so i looked a few months after and they were shrubs about 10cm max tall lol......
why they didnt leave the old ones in is beyond me ................. money down the drain by government :/
Andy Westacott said:
also meant to say : when i source plants/shrubs i buy good stock from where i know and i double check as i put on my trailer if i collect (usually do as its time-specific with my planting jobs)...
i also guarantee them by charging a minimal amount if i can , as its easier for me to buy 1/2 shrubs and replant should there be a problem for them for £15 on the initial cost say - and good service. :)