[Nebraska]

Here's a recent email (Sunday)

"Just curious what your fertilization schedule was. I asked for a plan including six applications throughout the year and we've had only one so far. Please let me know if you would like me to find someone else to do my lawn by Tuesday of this week. If I don't hear from you by then I will look elsewhere. I left a message at your house on Saturday and didn't hear back from you yet. I would like you to take care of my lawn instead of giving my money to Steve's or Kozy so let me know as soon as possible. "

This guy called our answering service and left a message on 3:30 Saturday afternoon. I have no idea why he thinks that he is calling my house. We take a few calls on Saturday up until noon. The answering service reports that he called two more times on Sunday. I then check my email to find that previous message. (Steve's and Kozy are competitors) He is scheduled for his second application during the last two weeks of May as his SCHEDULE indicates.

....still thinking about maintenance?

[Stonehenge]

No different in landscaping - just more dollars involved.

I few years ago I had a guy and his wife have me out to their house - they had built retaining walls from the mini-block homeowners are so fond of. They also had some of those 18"x18"x1.5" patio block made to look like a paver pattern. They wanted us to rebuild the walls in a different manner, and wanted suggestions on the patio block. I talked them out of the patio block, and they wanted to have the store they bought them from pick them up and swap them for some other choice. And they wanted to do it all T&M. I told them I'd stop out at that store to look at the selection, and work that into a design. I also told them 2+ weeks for the design process.

36 hours later I get an angry call - "We had the old block picked up - it sure would have been nice to know what materials we were going to swap it with before they picked up the old. Get back to us as soon as you can so we can talk about this problem."

So I did - I told them "I don't think we'll be able to live up to your expectations, so it will be in your best interest to find a contractor who can."

We've lots of stuff like that, but that one stands out in my memory at the moment.

[Nebraska]

"I don't think we'll be able to live up to your expectations, so it will be in your best interest to find a contractor who can."

What were you really thinking.......really..

[Stonehenge]

What I was really thinking would have left a distinctly different impression on them if I'd have said that instead of what I did say.

And even with that, they were still really ticked...which made me glad I ran for the hills.

[Pelican]

I lost a lawn care account this season in a similar manner. I've been servicing this guy for 4 years and also do his snow removal. My accounts all started growing at different times and rates this year, some were 3 weeks later than others.

I got a call from him asking about this year's service, it came late Saturday, I called back Tuesday. He said too late, already got some one else. Guess he thinks he's my only or biggest account (not by a long shot!).

He's an older guy I liked and took care of below market prices, but no more. He'll be needing a plow guy this winter too.

[Nebraska]

One thing for sure: A certain percentage of the population seems universal no matter where you go in North America.

Still love that line!

"I don't think we'll be able to live up to your expectations, so it will be in your best interest to find a contractor who can."

I'll have to use it next time the opportunity forces itself upon me. Hopefully with a straight face and in person! (How do I convey the sound of a burning match being forced into water over the internet?)

[Lawngodfather]

"I don't think we'll be able to live up to your expectations, so it will be in your best interest to find a contractor who can."

I have actually got to say similar to this a few times last year and this year, but 2 have still begged to come back.

The way I did it before was to just not show up or ignore them, I love saying this much better. Much more fullfilling to me to tell them off with a smile on my face and not say f-off.

[Chuck Sinclair]

I told one PITA one time there is a reason i am self employed they and why is that?
So i can tell you to take a hike!

Chuck

[GLAN]

I don't know what it is with landscaping........They call......OK yes we are supposed to call them back........but pending the time of year........Ah heck anytime of year we can get side tracked.

But if they are getting a bathroom or kitchen remodel.......they can wait months and think nothing of it.


At this time of year.......closing the season....All I want to think about is reving up for snow........I don't want to talk to my customers NOW..........When will they ever understand

[turfdude]

After a while it gets easier to recognize this type of potential client that much faster. At that moment, it is best to don the track shoes and run like the wind. I've been able to weed most of these types out over the phone, but on rare occasions you show up to go over a bid and realize you just stepped in something that isn't quite right!