Clients that make you go hmmmmm.

[Ty Korrigan]

@Mick Dempsey

You brought to mind the quote I drove an hour for a few years ago.

As I was closing the deal, the British couple said "Oh no, we don't actually want you to do this, my brother-in law is a Jersey tree surgeon and just wanted to know how much it would cost because he wants to come out here"

Like being trolled on the web but to your face.

And you know, he chuffing did too the lowballing swine!

 

I have found up here in Brittany, that it is almost totally pointless responding to any enquiries from fellow Brits these days.

Very few who are resident have coin to spend on such fripperies as tree work.

Those who work here especially for themselves, resent you charging more for a days work than they earn in a month.

The only lucky strikes I get are with new arrivals who are often flush with lucre from a house sale and have yet to make connections within the 'Brit-on-Brit-on-the-black' cash community.

These days, I concentrate on the local French and sigh heavily if I must drove more than 15km to a quote...

 Stuart

 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I have no issues with my expat clients, good as gold and an important part of my clientele.

[Ty Korrigan]

This week, quoted for so many jobs that I had to post-pone work just to fit the quotes in.

2 large jobs took some selling, both conifer removals

The clients insisted on telling me they would deal with the waste, just get the tree down.

First thought I could stack 4 very large leylandii on his neighbours property as "It is up for sale and no-one lives there"

The second thought I might stack 6 tall firs in a field for him to deal with. Except the entrance of the field was 150m up the road...

He also said "What if you just fill up an Ag trailer with the brash and I get the farmer to go to the tip?"

I gave them both my spiel about Henry Ford, double handling and cost implications of.

Some times I feel like a Michelin chef being asked to make a pot noodle...ffs.

  Stuart

[Ty Korrigan]

2 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I have no issues with my expat clients, good as gold and an important part of my clientele.

Brits now account for less than 5% of my turnover.

Most of those are heritage clients from my old business or word of mouth.

The last one was 1hr 15min away and paid my full rate plus travel which stunned me.

There are very few British around Rennes, most are over an hour further West which is well saturated with Brit Arbres engaged in a lowball downward spiral, fishing a tight pocket of cash strapped Expats.

 I have the impression that the Brits who live in your area a more well heeled than those in Brittany.

   Stuart

 

 

 

 

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

3 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I live in Norway mate.

 

I just used a rough estimate of 10nok to the quid.  
 

So one day onsite with 2 men and chipper was 11500nok plus vat.  The second day, 2 men and chipper 11500nok plus vat.  
 

It costs a lot more to live here.  Wages are higher and at 3.50 quid for a loaf of bread you would go very hungry and very quick if you charged UK prices.

Spent a bit of time in Tromso Rich. Price of a pint make your eyes water ?

[Rich Rule]

Yes, a quiet night, few beers and a bite to eat can soon make you become a couple hundred quid lighter.

[Mark Bolam]

11 minutes ago, Rich Rule said:

Yes, a quiet night, few beers and a bite to eat can soon make you become a couple hundred quid lighter.

It can in Kent Rich, if you take the wrong lass home.

[felixthelogchopper]

18 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

It can in Kent Rich, if you take the wrong lass home.

Prescriptions certainly are expensive these days.

[Mark Bolam]

Luckily Rohypnol is quite cheap.

[felixthelogchopper]

2 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Luckily Rohypnol is quite cheap.

Is it? I don't remember.