likeitorlumpit

plus they are evergreen I would plant laurel everyday though

we've had it for a couple of years didn't cause that much disruption building it I'm sure the reason wasn't to bring cheap labour into london as we're not exactly a megapolis When it's done- you'll be glad- progress and all that

We've all had days like that Sometimes I wonder if you could have advance warning and just not even get up:001_smile:

They're not keen on euphorbia or buzzy lizzies or box from my experience

Can they prove intent though

Plus they mulched...mulched...mulched Moving in the soil due to high winds isn't always a good thing- more often than not left to its own devices the tree has to be felled eventually as instability creates its own problems

You may want to get better directions on your website as my lad had trouble finding you yesterday. Though it could just be him- not used to London traffic and traffic manners!

You can do it for under £200 if you use second hand materials. But Beware Insurance companies don't like home fitted tippers so you'd better say it was done professional- It's things like operating switches going wrong could cause road issues.

fitters do a smoke test i believe it consists of setting fire to the fuel 2 stroke burns smokier. it may even be a bit more sophisticated than this but i forget my learning

That explains it You might have known:001_smile:

On the point of setting traps- I think you may want to rethink If you get said burglar peed off he may return with a can full of petrol and thats a different story

Hi Dean When I saw your yard being put together(your photos) I was amazed at how open it was and how isolated. I would get a dog- I don't think a couple nicking a few logs would hurt the dog so it would work as a deterrent

I'm not really in the log business-as much as most of you firewood types. I get free wood- well cost to transport and chop up. I love a log fire- wins hands down on coal which to me is a boring fuel- not so much action. If I gave up tree work I would visit all the tree guys locally and let them know a good place to drop off their arb waste- probably worth giving them a good drink too. So long as I didn't just get crap (wet knobbly hard to split stuff) all the time then I think this would be a good arrangement.

Interestingly a stove installer near here wouldn't know Oak from Alder either

On the subject of VAT though Has anyone here noticed that customers are somehow much more keen on avoiding VAT now it's 20% I've really noticed it Somehow a 2.5% rise has encouraged people to consider trying to avoid it. Government has shot itself in the foot as if this attitude continues then they will remove the benefits to the gov. of the increase. doh!!

I can't see any problem other than the guy should have had a shorter ladder:001_tt2:

we too often get work when pricing high swings and roundabouts I suppose I just remember when he pointed out how many firms had quoted and from big distances my head was saying- you need to let this guy know what a timewaster he is- Professionalism took over and I kept it bottled. I know I'm not the only one who has walked away from a conversation thinking ' if only i'd said this' There obviously isn't a 'this' that I could have said and not upset the guy. I'm sure he's a good guy really

It's a classic sometimes even a piece of cotton would make you feel more secure. Obviously - all in yer head

I think working in gardens - not a problem- just do what you feel right- customer probably loves it and dines out on the stories when the tree men came

Hmmmm.. so no cool comments then.. shame Stephen- I don't think your method would have worked for me here as the customer led me to believe I was recommended and so I went out of my way so to speak. Foolishly I've come up against a clever customer who wants the best deal with a known face and doesn't want to upset a recommended contractor that he can use in some future project. I've been out clevered!! Really in hindsight I wish the customer hadn't called as then I would have just forgotten the job. To all recent businesses (past 40 years) I say this is the modern way Going back further there was a time when estimates were charged- maybe the wheel will turn full circle soon:thumbup1:

San Fran for 6 nights- Hmmm Don't forget it can get a bit cold in that city But my vote is get out to Yosemite and see Sequoias and a bit of Yosemite too. Maybe head down coast road on day 2 Hire a car- get a big one- they're more fun! If you've got kids with you they'll know san fran pier 39 and golden gate from playstation games they play- which I thought was brilliant. Dad- this is the bit where you jump down and hide- fantastic Walk out across golden gate Have a go on a segway= segway tours Got to take a ride on a tram- it's worth the queues Oh - I forgot- try not to go when some idiot wants to use a shoe bomb at heathrow- it really messes up the return journey:001_smile:

Thanks for all the replies I can see this is a problem a lot of you have and you mainly accept it for what it is. We work largely as preferred contractors and get nearly 100% of our quoted jobs on these as we are used as consultants at the same time. I had forgotten how demanding private customers can be. I'm thinking along the lines of remembering how he asked us to quote and using this as a way of weedling out future timewasters. I am just frustrated by the incredible waste of time this whole process creates. As a business we have to do VAT/ pay tax on profits/tax on wages/ NI employers contribution/ H&S compliance/ soon to be 3% pension contribution. I would like customers to understand this and to call in 2nd and third prices from over 40 miles away on such a small job is a bit much. If you read my original post you will see I did keep my cool and avoided the chance to make this point and kept a professional head on. I had wondered whether any of you had a cool way of letting the customer know they had caused so much wasted time whilst avoiding angry posturing. By the way- customer will be calling us when he needs some landscaping done soon- thats one call I will be too busy to take- once bitten twice shy:001_tt2:

Not liking to see that wound- hope you heal quick- Get well cards to boost the immune system- lunge nurses doing it even better Let them know their duty ... yes duty!!

I've just had a call saying we hadn't succeeded with a quote- which is unusual to say the least (unusual to get a call that is) but when quizzed he said he had got 3 quotes and one from their preferred contractor who had got the job. Now the job was £140 + VAT - a small takedown about 2 hours max for 2 men plus travel. We were spot on with price as I did ask. Time to quote was 1 hour inc. 40 mile round trip Is there anything you can say to these guys- getting many quotes in is not illegal but so many for such a small job seems immoral to me especially when you have someone in mind for the work. I didn't give him a mouthful obviously but in hindsight would have liked to point this out to him in a respectful way. Any ideas?

Hi Jonsie Did you get my pm reference the 261 I have had problems with- I know you must be busy but I need this issue dealt with asap