Unfair Competition

[Johny Walker]

Since when did you have a tinnywold? you up for an exmas drink soon if we can get a few together?

 

found in a lay by ,so i rehomed it

[Ian C]

found in a lay by ,so i rehomed it

 

Thats all there good for:001_tt2:

 

Sorry to derail this thread bythe way Jon.

[Johny Walker]

Thats all there good for:001_tt2:

 

Sorry to derail this thread bythe way Jon.

 

will keep it till some one comes looking for it

[Quickthorn]

 

I was wondering if any other members find themselves quoting against policemen; firemen; ambulance personnel or similar, doing tree work on their days off. And how difficult it is to compete with them on price, as effectively their wage / salary subsidises the prices they can give.

 

...

 

Does anyone else come up against this problem?

 

I've also come across people from government agencies, LAs etc: starting businesses at weekends; going part-time on their "day" job to do tree type work for the rest of the week; retiring at around 50 on very generous pensions (particularly police, it seems) and starting up hobby businesses. All public sector, I notice!

 

Personally, it does affect me quite badly, as one of my mainstays was hedgelaying. I get fewer enquiries now, and haven't booked in a fresh job this year at all - only repeat business - and I put this down to competition from part-timers and early retirers who think it's romantic to work in the countryside, or something, and set up to have a go. They're well off already, and can afford to buy the work; I can't.

[lloyd g]

We have a problem round our way with farmers doing tree work with a tractor and tralor thay seem to get all the easy jobs and beat us on price as thay can do the work when thay have a day spare from there farm work.

[Saw-sick Steve]

Passed one today while delivering logs. Minor road, blocked by what I took to be a Philipino groundie, waved us through past a bloke up a ladder with a little Makita, no PPE, and another Asian bod stopping traffic in the other direction.

I'd put my mortgage on the fact that they had no permission to block the road, no training and almost certainly no insurance!