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12-14-2003, 06:01 AM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern VA
USDA Zone 7
Posts: 1,239
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Making the Call to Go Out
Some storms are easy to manage. Its cold and its snowing, the trigger depth is reached and you drop the plow. And then there are ones like we are in right now. Its cold and snowing now, but by midday on Sunday, its supposed to turn to rain, mixed with sleet. On some properties, we know that they do or don't need serviced, based on use on Sunday. Then there are the rest. Will they balk at paying even though the trigger depth is reached? May depend on the mood of the property manager and whether they slept late and 'missed' the early morning conditions.
How do you deal with the questionable ones?
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12-14-2003, 10:12 AM
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Gold Oak Network Member
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Join Date: Apr 2003
USDA Zone 5
Posts: 1,105
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I hate that kind of storm. They always happen early in the season or late when it just dosn't stay cold. I always do the important ones first; then I will do the ones you are questionable about. A lot of times the weather man will call for rain or thaw and it dosn't happen. I always prefer to err on the side of plowing to much than not enough. Most clients don't question if they need plowing if all of the other lots around them have been plowed.
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12-14-2003, 11:05 AM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Nov 2003
USDA
Posts: 30
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Once the trigger depth is reach, service them. The weather guys have a hard time getting it right. I would rather have done what I said I was going to do (per the contract) than be behind the eight ball with more snow.
That's why I'm not fond of snow removal in the south. Most customers don't budget for snow removal as they do in the north.
I would make my decisions on what I see now, rather than what MIGHT happen later.
John
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12-14-2003, 12:15 PM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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I'm with him. once it's reached go. If you don't it's just money melting away. (hahaha) W've had snow up here scince about 6:30 this morning. Already have about 3 inches where I am. It's also supposed to mix with ice. should mess things up alot around here.
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12-14-2003, 05:07 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 1,015
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We go out once there is 2 inches even on a Sunday....but if we have any doubt we will call. We have multiple contacts and multiple numbers (including home numbers) for each property, just as they have multiple numbers to reach us; they even have our home numbers.....
Last edited by Nebraska : 12-14-2003 at 05:11 PM.
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12-14-2003, 06:46 PM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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That's a good idea. People want to know that if they need something all they have to do is call you up.
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12-14-2003, 06:47 PM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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One more thing. Can they call you and request that youi come to there house first or even when the snow was just cleared for and extra service or something.
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12-14-2003, 10:44 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 1,015
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It would depend upon the scope of work that the customer offers ......yet the larger one's whom we do clear their driveway always emphasize that they do not care if it takes a couple of days to get to their personal residence; and they sincerely mean it. Priorities that we have go commercial lots, townhome associations, and residential driveways...in that order.
Very rarely do we get calls at home or make calls to their home....but if I was in doubt I would not hesitate making the call.
Lanelle,
One of the things that I do is keep almost an hourly print out of weather conditions as well as forecast updates. It is either provided to the customer with the invoice or is kept in the file for that particular storm. Future reference and C.Y.A. purposes.
Last edited by Nebraska : 12-14-2003 at 10:47 PM.
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12-14-2003, 11:04 PM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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Thanks. Even if they never do call you it is good for them to know that they can if they need to. Do you salt as well as plow??
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12-15-2003, 12:46 AM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 1,015
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Do we salt... LOL! Will, you didn't read our fiasco in the thread titled 'subcontractors'?
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12-15-2003, 11:28 AM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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Oh I just did now again... OOPS!!!
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12-15-2003, 11:49 AM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 1,015
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I'm looking at another spreader...maybe the stainless steel Air Flo from Angelo's.
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12-15-2003, 11:51 AM
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5 Gallon Tree
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 655
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Nebraska-- Can you get me the link to Angelo's??? Thanks.
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12-15-2003, 11:34 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 7,570
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Speaking of making the call, if there's a member in the Fox Valley that needs to pick up about 6 residential plowing contracts, 5 on one street, 1 on another 1/8 mile away, send me a PM. I have a solid lead for you.
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02-10-2004, 04:22 PM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Oct 2003
USDA
Posts: 4
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When I was in the residential/ commercial snowplowing business, ( I now work for a college) I used to have a network of buddies in the business. We would all try to keep consistant in whether to to service all customers, or just residential, and so on. I was a rather small player back then, and often would just call some of the bigger guys , who I knew had to go out , no matter what. They would let me know how they were going to handle that particular storm. I would usually stay consistant with them. That way , most of the clientale in our area were either plowed out, or not. In this age of cell phones and instant communication, I found this to ease my mind quite a bit.
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