am i being pessimistic?

[john p]

time to mutate and survive i reckon!

[WeeDee]

time to mutate and survive i reckon!

 

That's fair enough - but what does a tree cutter change into?

Many of the spin-offs (gardening etc.) would be a drop in wage.

[samarb]

I have a shop that keeps me going through quite periods and actually considering getting a tramp steamer.

[WeeDee]

I have a shop that keeps me going through quite periods and actually considering getting a tramp steamer.

 

C'mon - you knew someone would ask!

 

What's a tramp steamer?

[samarb]

A cargo ship used around the 1900s going from port to port picking up delivery work and odd passengers, no set route just go where job takes you.

[WeeDee]

Yes - I understand now.

[Mark Bolam]

Approaching saturation point?! Well past it more like; there are over 100, (yes, one hundred!) "tree work" companies advertising in the YP, Thompson Local and others in Plymouth alone! There are even higher densities in the outlying towns like tavistock, south hams, etc. Good job devon is very wooded. But imo competition is very very fierce here; day rates are crazy low here for 2-3 man outfits.

 

Very true John.

 

Outfits spring up, charge £250/day and last about a year before going tits-up (because they can't see the overheads and just charge a wage), and they keep arb prices artificially depressed.

 

Quite a few are on this site, endlessly asking basic questions because they can't use the search facility or their mummy or daddy won't do it for them.

 

They didn't want to learn their trade dragging hawthorn out of ponds in the rain for crap money, so they set up on their own. Fair enough, but it can't last.

 

Thank God most of my work is recommendation these days.

 

Quoted £45 for a very small cherry reduction a couple of years ago, and the guy said -"Thanks. I've got another six quotes to come in, so I may be in touch". Never heard back!

 

I'm worried that it is so tough at the moment that some genuinely talented young grafters will give up on arb because of the poor prospects and wages. I know a couple personally, but simply can't dish out full time jobs which might put me in a pickle.

 

KEEP YOUR STANDARDS AND YOUR PRICES HIGH!

[john p]

Very true John.

 

Outfits spring up, charge £250/day and last about a year before going tits-up (because they can't see the overheads and just charge a wage), and they keep arb prices artificially depressed.

 

Quite a few are on this site, endlessly asking basic questions because they can't use the search facility or their mummy or daddy won't do it for them.

 

They didn't want to learn their trade dragging hawthorn out of ponds in the rain for crap money, so they set up on their own. Fair enough, but it can't last.

 

Thank God most of my work is recommendation these days.

 

Quoted £45 for a very small cherry reduction a couple of years ago, and the guy said -"Thanks. I've got another six quotes to come in, so I may be in touch". Never heard back!

 

I'm worried that it is so tough at the moment that some genuinely talented young grafters will give up on arb because of the poor prospects and wages. I know a couple personally, but simply can't dish out full time jobs which might put me in a pickle.

 

KEEP YOUR STANDARDS AND YOUR PRICES HIGH!

i agree,most of my work is recomendation/repeat custom,to start from scratch now would be very very hard.

[john p]

That's fair enough - but what does a tree cutter change into?

Many of the spin-offs (gardening etc.) would be a drop in wage.

 

rope access workers get loads of dosh with none of the overheads and much less risk,seems less physically demanding(i will now be attacked by rope access types!).might explore it.

[The tree monkey]

correct me if i'm being naive here but surely a lot of the so called arborists out there are only doing tree wirk till the scrap prices go up! and are probably unqualifed and unisured. i think if we keep doing a good job it'll be us that gets called back next year. the whole country is in recession affecting all trades. hopefully if we weather this storm we'll come back stronger for the next one!