Help, lots of it please.

[Stephen Blair]

No we do not have a contract of any kind, it is a verbal agreement we have always worked on, we have huge respect and trust between us, has always worked very well.

 

my comment about losing wood from him, that is based on the assumption he has to get someone else involved to clear the poplar and knowing how sought after wood is, they will most likely make him a very good offer on the rest of the timber,.

 

Regards, Rob.

 

I think you have a huge respect for him BUT you do not seem confident in him. If you did you wouldnt be concerned about another contractor taking your work.

If you had a contract in place then this would be addressed.

Assumptions are fine for some things, like in a scary situation. for eg, If you are climbing a tree and you here thunder, you assume you are going to get zapped by lightening so go home, safety first. In business assuming a contract and terms and conditions will only lead to problems.

[ashman]

No we do not have a contract of any kind, it is a verbal agreement we have always worked on, we have huge respect and trust between us, has always worked very well.

 

my comment about losing wood from him, that is based on the assumption he has to get someone else involved to clear the poplar and knowing how sought after wood is, they will most likely make him a very good offer on the rest of the timber,.

 

Regards, Rob.

 

I think you have a huge respect for him BUT you do not seem confident in him. If you did you wouldnt be concerned about another contractor taking your work.

If you had a contract in place then this would be addressed.

Assumptions are fine for some things, like in a scary situation. for eg, If you are climbing a tree and you here thunder, you assume you are going to get zapped by lightening so go home, safety first. In business assuming a contract and terms and conditions will only lead to problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You make a fair point.

 

What my concern is, i know what i am doing with the oak/ask pricces and agreements.

 

But when it comes to getting a deal on the table with this poplar i have no idea.

I have to bear in mind he is also running a business.

 

I dont want to make a deal that is stupidly low, he will think i am taking the p**s if it came to light it was worth a lot more.

 

On the other hand i dont want to make a stupidly high offer and find i am working my n**s off for no profit or a loss !

 

I know what a good estate it is to work on, qaulity and quantity of timber available, as well as lots of other things, any contractor worth there salt would try and get in there, (several already have) and i couldnt blame them.

 

Going on past performance the owner would approach me and explain any offers or deals been put forward.

 

My point is.... this could be avoided if i get the right deal on the table from the off, also i like to know what i am getting myself involved in.

 

 

I would be lying if i said i did not want the work, in fact i am very keen to get it. It will keep me busy for a good part of the year coming, have to remember it will also lead to grubbing out the roots, levelling the site and replanting ! not to mention the amount of timber that will be harvested.

 

 

I have a good few ideas now, mainly from leads gained off here, it is all coming into place so hopefully in the next week or so i will be in a position to put a decent offer in.

 

Thankyou to everyone for the input and pm's recieved.

 

Regards, Rob.

Edited January 1, 2011 by ashman

[Stephen Blair]

The first thing you MUST stop doing is thinking you know what the other guy is thinking, big mistake.

You are the log chopper, he is the businessman. You work well together and make a good team. Do you think he also sits in the house worrying how you are going to sharpen your saw in the cold, of course not. Anf lets say he did, all he would do is ask you, not give you lee way of a few quid a ton for your poor wee hands to get gloves.

Put your cards on the table with him, ask for a meeting. Make a list of your concerns and queries and go through them 1 at a time. If he has the same respect for you as you do him, he will want you there every year to do his work and make him money, not put yourself under due to your anxieties.

take any idea of loosing work, your kit, your house and some evil tree hillbilly stealing all your work out of your head, because its only in your head because you have put it there, it doesnt exist.

I too give cheaper deals if i like the venue BUT i explain this to the customer and i also tell them i give them a good deal because they are so good to deal with, my VIP customers. No hassle, paid on time and if there is a problem, we stop, discuss, resolve, shake hands, drink coffee and enjoy this wonderfull job we do in the amazing locations we get a chance to work in:thumbup1:

[skyhuck]

The first thing you MUST stop doing is thinking you know what the other guy is thinking, big mistake.

You are the log chopper, he is the businessman. You work well together and make a good team. Do you think he also sits in the house worrying how you are going to sharpen your saw in the cold, of course not. Anf lets say he did, all he would do is ask you, not give you lee way of a few quid a ton for your poor wee hands to get gloves.

Put your cards on the table with him, ask for a meeting. Make a list of your concerns and queries and go through them 1 at a time. If he has the same respect for you as you do him, he will want you there every year to do his work and make him money, not put yourself under due to your anxieties.

take any idea of loosing work, your kit, your house and some evil tree hillbilly stealing all your work out of your head, because its only in your head because you have put it there, it doesnt exist.

I too give cheaper deals if i like the venue BUT i explain this to the customer and i also tell them i give them a good deal because they are so good to deal with, my VIP customers. No hassle, paid on time and if there is a problem, we stop, discuss, resolve, shake hands, drink coffee and enjoy this wonderfull job we do in the amazing locations we get a chance to work in:thumbup1:

 

How many contracts do you have Stevie???

 

I have none and have not had one in 15 years of trading.

 

Its just not how it works IME.

 

I shake hands and crack on.

 

Why would a client want to tie them selves down??

 

OK councils, etc have a service to provide and need to have a contractor in place, but not many others do.

[likeitorlumpit]

How many contracts do you have Stevie???

 

I have none and have not had one in 15 years of trading.

 

Its just not how it works IME.

 

I shake hands and crack on.

 

Why would a client want to tie them selves down??

 

OK councils, etc have a service to provide and need to have a contractor in place, but not many others do.

 

quite a few organisations i deal with don't have contracts for tree work but do tend to use preferred contractors- i.e. someone who over time has provided the quality of work they require at the right price and even given the best advice/ had the fewest complaints.

It's not a contract as such but in many ways it works like one

[skyhuck]

quite a few organisations i deal with don't have contracts for tree work but do tend to use preferred contractors- i.e. someone who over time has provided the quality of work they require at the right price and even given the best advice/ had the fewest complaints.

It's not a contract as such but in many ways it works like one

 

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thats what I'm talking about