Acceptable or Underhand?

[stihlmadasever]

Kinda answered your own question..

Tis true it be a bit underhandedly stealthy...

But as you said thats.. business init.

Edited September 1, 2017 by stihlmadasever

[Mark Bolam]

It works both ways though Stihlmad.
Personally I see it as part of the 'we'll beat any quote' race-to-the-bottom book of tricks, but people have different business models.
Treecreeper seems to have it sussed, build a decent customer base, graft for them for decent money for decent work and receive decent loyalty.
You can't win 'em all....

[flatyre]

43 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

You knights in shiteing armour are a different breed though Eggs.

[monkeybusiness]

You've also got to look at it as a great way of selectively removing your less desirable customers - if they are fickle enough to go with someone approaching in this way you probably don't want/need their work anyway. Not all business is good business...

[Ty Korrigan]

9 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

It's business, some people only think in one direction - FORRRRWAAAARRRRD!
Not a technique I'd use, I'd rather have a pint with the competition, flick work between us when we're busy, team up on bigger jobs and help out when kit breaks down.
Mind you, I never wanted to take over the world.
I don't run apps until we've had the quote accepted, and I've never been bounced yet, but I've probably been lucky.

I normally go with Mr Bolam but there are a select few who get up my nose. So I'll do whatever I can to pinch work from them. Not because I need it, because I can and I know I'll get a reaction from doing so even if I cannot witness it myself. 

  Ty

[MattyF]

I normally go with Mr Bolam but there are a select few who get up my nose. So I'll do whatever I can to pinch work from them. Not because I need it, because I can and I know I'll get a reaction from doing so even if I cannot witness it myself. 
  Ty

That's why you do it ? , how childish ... IMO like a thief saying I just take it because I can.. it would just lower opinions of you, so you have set out to do what you have achieved if that's the reaction your looking for.
I started a thread on this years back because it really boiled my piss when it blatantly was not the home owner who had put the application in it was me the agent , the name in the company of the agent on the application is a bit of a give away as to who undertakes the work.... it only really affected me once and despite turning up with a huge tracked chipper to do the job and finding it already done , I knew never to book in work through a certain guy again and if I did charge fully for the tree report and application .. unfortunately that's life though , full of wankers who will try and take your livelihood , your tools , your girl,The shirt off your back... the tree word although is definitely no different.
It's great though In hindsight at least it makes it clear who the wankers are... another point is if you don't know the client and you make the application make it very clear they will be billed fully for it and any additional reports if needed for the work if you don't get the work otherwise if they accept your quote it is free... sort of.

[skyhuck]

I think most decent fork would consider it a "****'s trick".

 

Not something I have ever done or would ever do.

[Steve Bullman]

This has come up several times before.  As has been said, it all depends on what sort of businessman you are.  Not something I would personally do, but theres no doubt plenty of stuff I do that others wouldn't dream of doing!

[peatff]

11 hours ago, eggsarascal said:

Us drains men wouldn't behave in such a fashion. We have a reputation to uphold......

When you're in deep **** it's time to stop digging

[beechwood]

It has happened to us a few times, that I'm aware of and probably a few more that I'm not aware of.

TPO and CA applications are a matter of public record and as such some businesses will see direct mail marketing to households who have submitted a application as a sensible bit of targeted marketing.

When we lost our first job to this I was as angry as a couple of you appear to be but I believe in business and life anger is a waste of energy and solves nothing.
I believe you need to learn from the problems you encounter, not bitch about them.
We charge for submitting applications and we make it clear in our T&Cs that it is a reduced rate on the basis that we will be carrying the works, if not the rate will be 200% more.
Now if a client wants to let a competitor undercut us for the works so be it but at least we have charged good money for submitting the application.

Bit brutal but truthful I feel.
Don't get angry get paid!

Regards Neil