Lead times.

[Daythe trees]

Had a call two weeks ago; can you come and remove my conifers, well half of them I had a guy who said he'd cut them down but when he started he didn't take the roots out. I thought fell meant the lot he has left and now my lawn turf has arrived can you come around today? Me: sorry I am busy but as you're pushed I could do it Saturday afternoon and Sunday but I will have to see it tonight to quote and be sure that's enough time. Her: oh right, er but there's loads of wood you would get. Me, sorry Saturday earliest. She hung up. It was let's guess, Monday? No Thursday morning! Oh well, another one lost hope she got the job done.

[pie eater pete]

Busy as i wanna be Biggles...

[Kenty]

My lead times used to vary from a few days to a couple of weeks, but this year I have been booked on average 4 - 8 weeks in advance with no complaints about waiting or losing jobs.

[Ty Korrigan]

So, if there is demand enough to be booked for months ahead 'consistently' then why not half that and employ more people to give a shorter turnaround/better service...?

Ty

[hamdogg]

Good to hear people are booked up weeks in advance, must mean there is plenty of work out there for the taking

[Dan Curtis]

So, if there is demand enough to be booked for months ahead 'consistently' then why not half that and employ more people to give a shorter turnaround/better service...?

Ty

 

I would but there's only one of me!

[Mountain man]

Try always leaving Friday free and using it for emergency/short notice work/work with no set date.

Easier said than done I know.

[treeman]

Just started booking in for February, most of our customers are word of mouth and tend to wait

[Kenty]

So, if there is demand enough to be booked for months ahead 'consistently' then why not half that and employ more people to give a shorter turnaround/better service...?

Ty

 

I'am but one & contract in when I need to which gives me the flexibility for work/life balance.

If I were to employ then I would have the responsibility & stress of keeping the volume of work coming in, which in turn would mean I would be busier thus affecting my work/life balance.

[White Noise]

The problem is there are now to many tree surgeons about? So back in your younger days there would have been fewer treemen . I am booked up until the end of November and some dates also taken in December . Having said that I have been trading for over twenty years . I still do a lot of Conny Bashing so not always big dismantles and the like . When I first started it was week to week . Some firms I know are booked out till january ? Obviously a certain percentage is commercial . Yes it is true you can be that busy that you end up losing work ? If that happens then you are doing something right . Basically the people who won't wait well just forget them and concentrate on the jobs / clients you have got as they will always recommend you . The jobs you lose through being to busy well thats just self explanatory You know your stuff and charge a fair rate and do a good job .