The client psychology thread

[green heart]

Something very simple I've noticed over the years, that seems to significantly help new, or less confident potential customers, to instruct tree work: 

Breaking down the quotation into a couple of component prices (especially with a low-ish cost prep/preliminary item of work, first ), seems to relax them.

I guess they get to see that we're not a bunch of cowboys, and I get to see how good they are at paying bills ! 

 

[AHPP]

Give an example please. 

[green heart]

 

Ok then,

Perhaps this really isn't the best of  examples, but last month, I did a fallen tree -blocking minor road type of job.

The unfortunate tree owner was blissfully unaware that their tree had just collapsed, across the access road to the local golf club and some neighbours houses. 

I explained the situation to them, and charged the princely sum of £180, for clearing vehicle access, that same evening.

It was half a mile from home..

The following day, I texted a quotation for approx £900 to cover the full clear-up, with suggestions for local tree consultants, to give a report on their other roadside trees . 

Both invoices were paid promptly by a very happy new customer, with the strong likelihood of some future work, too..

Sorry about the photo, seems like there's some issue with uploading the  same. After 5 attempts at reducing the size, we'll just have to live without it !

[Peter 1955]

22 hours ago, green heart said:

 

I explained the situation to them, and charged the princely sum of £180, for clearing vehicle access, that same evening.

It was half a mile from home..

The following day, I texted a quotation for approx £900 to cover the full clear-up, with suggestions for local tree consultants, to give a report on their other roadside trees . 

Both invoices were paid promptly by a very happy new customer, with the strong likelihood of some future work, too..

S

I think that's basically trust building. Show the customer that you're fair, reliable and value for money, you'll be the first one they call. 

[AHPP]

Did a couple of quotes last night with two pieces of Dempsey derived wisdom in mind. That you need to actually be the expert and that giving a price then and there hammers home your confidence. Big cherry to prune. Shape and getting towards the house. Amenity. 

“Just before we go any further, how sure are you it’s a cherry?” 
“Well it drops cherries.”

 

Excellent. Look like a moron early doors. Tick.
 

Pulled it back by pointing out I was going to check whether it fruits and whether that’s desirable. Didn’t give a price because I said I was going to go and double check the pruning season for silver leaf etc. That impressed him I think because when I asked him whether he had any opinions on finished size, he said whatever I think. He’d already been critical of next door butchering their cherry to stubs so a moderately tasteful/informed client I think. 
 

Anyway. Didn’t look like a total chump but not for want of trying. 
 

 

 

[AHPP]

Quoting a wind snapped sycamore over a shed, fences, a caravan and telephone wires tonight. Hope it’s still windy when I look at it. I’m winning that either way. Bang in my wheelhouse. Ideal job for the Pinkwinch too. He’s a mechanic or machinist so that’s some common ground straight away.  

Edited August 27 by AHPP

[AHPP]

12 hours ago, AHPP said:

“Just before we go any further, how sure are you it’s a cherry?” 
“Well it drops cherries.”

 

Excellent. Look like a moron early doors. Tick.
 

Pulled it back by pointing out I was going to check whether it fruits and whether that’s desirable. Didn’t give a price because I said I was going to go and double check the pruning season for silver leaf etc.

 

Follow up. I've identified it as Prunus cerasifera. General prunus advice is prune in mid summer, until the end of August. We're very nearly there. I think the seasons are late and now would be fine but I could instead tell him to wait until next June. That hits the perfect middle of the pruning season and shows him I'll put his tree's health above my desire for the job now. Or would it make me look like a fanny and he'll just get someone else to do it next week?

[tree-fancier123]

 Prunus cerasifera

9 minutes ago, AHPP said:

 

Follow up. I've identified it as Prunus cerasifera. General prunus advice is prune in mid summer, until the end of August. We're very nearly there. I think the seasons are late and now would be fine but I could instead tell him to wait until next June. That hits the perfect middle of the pruning season and shows him I'll put his tree's health above my desire for the job now. Or would it make me look like a fanny and he'll just get someone else to do it next week?

If you've got free time and he accepts why not do it next week? It's not going to make much noise so could be a weekend job even. I would say to him - if the general advice is June, July August, then doing it after the first week in September not ideal.

[Mick Dempsey]

6 hours ago, AHPP said:

 

Follow up. I've identified it as Prunus cerasifera. General prunus advice is prune in mid summer, until the end of August. We're very nearly there. I think the seasons are late and now would be fine but I could instead tell him to wait until next June. That hits the perfect middle of the pruning season and shows him I'll put his tree's health above my desire for the job now. Or would it make me look like a fanny and he'll just get someone else to do it next week?

Hes not going to wait till next year!
Get on with it.

[Dan Maynard]

Late summer is after fruiting, and to avoid damp conditions in autumn as silver leaf likes the damp. I always say "well the books will tell you..... " and then go on to say mostly we ignore that and do trees whenever we get to them else we'd be hungry 6 months of the year.

 

In any case I'm not sure that there is actually that much risk of silver leaf in the average garden, it's more of a stone fruit orchard problem. The spores are released from fruiting bodies on dead wood, so gardens being tidy there isn't much about.

 

Silver Leaf Diagnosis & Treatment | Ashridge Blog

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There is no need to be afraid of Silver Leaf disease, which rarely affects Cherry and...