How do they get away with it

[nailer]

Interesting I notice on the Manchester Tree Surgeon website Nailler there's a lot of information about insurance, BS and trained staff etc. I still think it's the right thing to promote.

 

Yes, it probably deserves a mention but, personally, I don't think it carries much weight with savvy customers.

 

_________________________________

 

If you charge money for work, by definition you are professional. By law you should be insured. Qualifications are great and all, but can you actually deliver what the customer wants or is it all about you and and what you think they should want?

 

Trying to separate yourself from guys 'just having a go' ain't much use either. Price shoppers won't be happy because even if you are cheap they'll still think someone else will be even cheaper. Don't try to appeal to everyone. Customers looking for the best job with minimal hassle are not too concerned with price. But they need to be sure from the start that the extra dollars will be worth it. They need evidence - a recommendation, pictures of your work (not just of you working), video, testimonials etc. Whatever it takes.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Errr, so how much then Dean?

 

My quote was cheaper than the door knockers quote so I got the job.

 

I was expecting some 60ft connies but they turned out a massive 6ft high, must be why they insisted on showing my insurance

[tommer9]

Climbed a small sycamore that needed removing last week for another arbtalker. It took about 3 hours i think plus a couple to clear up viddy. The customer paid in the region of 300 for the job......some door knockers had quoted 1k to remove the crown.....

 

I think the argument about people going to door knockers just for the price is flawed.

[czhey]

I think the argument about people going to door knockers just for the price is flawed.

 

Agreed, i've done jobs for people that have well over paid, AND got a bad job from door knocking types.

 

To assist with this the AA produce a leaflet called 'Choosing Your Arborist' (see Leaflet "Treework - Choosing your Arborist") which may help. I know many arborists leave a copy of this with the client, explaining the content (obviously, sorry!), when they first meet....as a consumer in an unknown world I'm convinced it would reassure them.

 

Looks good So how much per 100 or 500 delivered? PM if you don't want to share price in public please

[Rupe]

Climbed a small sycamore that needed removing last week for another arbtalker. It took about 3 hours i think plus a couple to clear up viddy. The customer paid in the region of 300 for the job......some door knockers had quoted 1k to remove the crown.....

 

I think the argument about people going to door knockers just for the price is flawed.

 

The point that I was making earlier was that people go with door knockers, not for the price but because they think thats all there is..

[Mark Bolam]

Seen both ends of it.

 

£500 to remove a bit of hedge that would literally have taken 4 Silky cuts and thrown onto a pick up.

 

£100 to remove a Birch that we would have taken a day to do. They took 2 1/2 days, 2 blokes, all off a ladder.

 

So, to add to all their other crimes against humanity, they are also guilty of INCONSISTENT PRICING!

 

Huck and co. are right, though, concentrate on your thing, let them carry on making an a*** of stupid people's trees.

 

It does grate a bit when work is as tight as it is right now, mind.

 

Must go. Off out to knock on a few doors......

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi Czhey, glad you think the CYA leaflet is useful:

Prices, inc. p&p are:

100 = £15

500 = £47.50

(for an order form see http://www.trees.org.uk/downloads/ChoosingYourArborist_OrderForm.pdf)

APOLOGIES STEVE IF I'M (UNINTENTIONALLY) BREAKING ANY FORUM RULES POSTING THIS AS IT COULD BE SEEN AS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY...BUT IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

 

Rupe,

A 'subbie' is also techncially a sub-contractor, the difference is the way we typically engage them is as 'labour only' rather than as a bona-fide sub-contractor, i.e another company in their own right (stump grinding for instance.)

However, whether or not you would be expected to hold 'employers liability' insurance isn't clear. Many will be reluctant I would suggest, even if they really should, as it's something that HR Revenue & Customs could possibly use to get them to take staff 'on the books' (PAYE.)

 

Cheers both..

Paul

[Rupe]

Yes Paul but that "labour only" makes them employees for the day, as described in five of the points in the list you posted, and as such they would need to be covered by EL and therefore by PL aswell.

 

This thread is more to do with public perception of proffessionalism, or lack thereof, so I don't want to derail it towards a different topic.

[otter]

well jon, reading the north devon local paper it looks like one company is going down for illegal fly tipping.. (i wonder if there is any cheap kit going)?

[czhey]

Hi Czhey, glad you think the CYA leaflet is useful:

Prices, inc. p&p are:

100 = £15

500 = £47.50

(for an order form see http://www.trees.org.uk/downloads/ChoosingYourArborist_OrderForm.pdf)

APOLOGIES STEVE IF I'M (UNINTENTIONALLY) BREAKING ANY FORUM RULES POSTING THIS AS IT COULD BE SEEN AS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY...BUT IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

 

Thanks.

 

Think i will order 100 soon and see how they go down with the customers