Stealing work rant!

[MattyF]

not bad idea rupe most of my clients i dont charge for planning aps think i will do this in future with clients i dont know or get that not quite right feeling about them or the job.

[Mesterh]

not bad idea rupe most of my clients i dont charge for planning aps think i will do this in future with clients i dont know or get that not quite right feeling about them or the job.

 

Ahh right you should charge for an app, we do!

 

Its a decent job you can always say you will knock the cost of the app off the tree work price if you get permission, and therefore do the work. (I wouldnt say IF you get the tree job as it might make them think about looking around for other quotes)

[Mark Bolam]

It's a tricky one this.

 

Charging for apps might put some people off, but I have obtained permissions before and the work has been carried out by someone else, which has p***ed me right off!

 

I don't normally like to give a price until permission has been granted either, because the spec can change a fair amount eg have had requests for 20% reduction come back denied with permission granted for 10% thin, which obviously affects the price.

 

May start telling people the permission is only for me then load the price.....

[Mesterh]

I also try to not give a price untill the app has came back and we can check the specs.

 

Another thing though dont you all get the app mailed back to yourselves, you then hold the app:001_smile:

[Rupe]

You might have the "app" in your hand but you don't own it. It belongs to the tree really!

 

Once the permision is granted anyone can do the work.

 

We all charge for applications, even if its included in the job it still not free. Tellign the customer its free is better IMO than telling them there is an additional charge.

 

So if I've got 500 in my head and they say "will you do the app" I say yes of course, quote them 520 and say the app is free. If they say they'll do the app then you could give them a dicount. Always make them think they are winning.

 

Then the 5% deposit is not a charge for the app. its just a deposit for the job before doing the app (for free!!) which comes off the final bill.

 

Of course you are charging them a fixed amount or 5% for apps but just don't tell them. We are salesmen at the end of the day, you need to read each customer and make decisions based on that. Thats why I hate given a price in the spot, I'd rather go home and weigh up the job and customer before commiting. It usually ends up cheaper when I do that though!!!!!!

[Dean Lofthouse]

When you quote for the work and they ask you to apply you just tell them the application is £80 to be knocked off the bill on completion of the job.

 

So applying is free unless they go elsewhere

[educated arborist]

thats low, its in my t&c/quote that any aplication is only made after acceptance of the quote. standard cancelation clause if cancelled after acceptance

[Rupe]

How water tight is a cancellation clause?

 

The customer must surely retain the right to cancel for many reasons. I'm not sayign its right, just that customers have rights.

 

I can order a new phone, or a mortgage or many other things and I retain the right to cancel. Gettign someone else to do the job is low, but maybe your just not sure about the company you chose and they were jsut the best of a bad lot, then someoen better come along, maybe recomended by a friend at the last minute and you (the customer) decide to go and use them instead for whatever reason.

 

I think the customer will always have that right. Money up front for the app. which is non refundable would be the only way, but if one company askes that and another doesn't the customer will possibly just go for the one that seems to be more trusting.

[educated arborist]

true it probably would be more trouble than its worth enforcing it, legally you can only claim back costs incured & a outline of these costs must be included in the T&C mine has an hourly rate/man & 2 milage rates dependant on the size of veihcle. I also take staged payments on certain jobs, especially planting.

[orang utah]

One thing I would never ever do is employ someone who has contacted me, not me contact them.

 

That includes door knockers, telephone cold callers and fly posters.

 

IMO if you can't get the work in through advertising or recommendation then you either need to downsize or do something else.

 

Sorry but thats how it is with me. To scour planning apps and get work that way is desperation and very sad. Someone who does that imo cannot be trusted

Whats wrong with flyers as long as there of good standard ive used whilst im starting up in the last six months probly only got 5 jobs from them though lol ive got a sign written landy and timberwolf 150 sign writing got me FA just had a website done so hopefully that will drag in some buisness Branches Nationwide - Tree Surgery & Landscaping >> Home how do you guys advertise