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Thread: The carrot to entice

  1. #1
    Stuie
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    Default The carrot to entice

    Anyone considered having a different teaser instead of every sixth mow free etc etc.
    I was thinking of Video Ezy something along the lines of Free new release for every new customer.
    The cost of a new release about $8-But a deal is possible i would assume.
    Is it something that could pull in customers or just pull in those that want something for nothing?
    STUART

  2. #2
    sharon
    Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stuie
    Anyone considered having a different teaser instead of every sixth mow free etc etc.
    I was thinking of Video Ezy something along the lines of Free new release for every new customer.
    The cost of a new release about $8-But a deal is possible i would assume.
    Is it something that could pull in customers or just pull in those that want something for nothing?
    STUART
    I am starting to understand now that not one thing works for every one and a lot of this game is trial then see if it works. so i would say give it a go and if it does not work try something else till it does work. sharon

  3. #3
    Tonyr
    Guest

    Default

    Mate I can see where ya comin' from...

    same as the idea every 6 mow free etc....while these freebies entice they also drop our profits, unless we incorporate these Freebies into the normal price so they don't actually cost us, but then with your normal price plus price of 'freebie', how do you stay competitive?

    I know people love freebies etc, but in this cut throat industry can we really afford too?

    We do too many "one offs" giving freebies would cost a bundle...

    With fuel going up, more and more people entering this industry, every bugger wanting the cheapest lawny as it is, just not sure how far we need to go to get work till it reaches the point of why bother....

    Why do we feel we need to beg for work?

    If we lived in a perfect world competitive pricing, yellow pages, newspaper and referrals would be plenty, but I know I'm not gunna mow free for some tight ass woop, or buy him a video rental so he will let me sweat my ass off doing his yard maintenance!

    You gota do what you gotta do, but imo when it comes to free work or gifts to buy us work I think it sends us a scary message.

    Next time my electrician comes around, hope he brings me pizza and beer so I will let him check a power plug, LOL.

    Hope my doctor takes me to the movies next time I go see her, or else!

    I hope the guy I just bought a block of land off builds me a free house as I chose to buy from him...

    next time i buy a set of blades, i hope dealer supplies freebie toro ride on mower...

    We should not have to give freebies to get work, if we are good and professional, that should be enough, imo.

    *The client needs us as much as we need them, we should not forget that.*

    We need their money, they need our service, why do we think we need to beg or give freebies?

    Could be said then that the client should give us freebies, we are doing what he can't, they should be bribing us to sweat and get dirty cleaning up their jungles! lol/


    BUT in saying that rewarding clients who refer clients to us should be somehow rewarded, e.g a discount on mow or something.
    I never have but I bloody should....

    I know my examples were extreme and off base, but was just trying to make a point, realising a lot of companies do give freebies, e,g video shops, pizzas etc, just not sure a service industry business needs to?

    Just my opinions of course, but I too would love to hear how others see this topic, maybe I'm missing the point....not the first time LOL!

  4. #4
    Tonyr
    Guest

    Default

    I'm sorry, disregard my last post, I do give away a freebie, every new and old clients get to freely view and admire the *** appeal, the brutal grass conquering, rotary grass shearing finely engineeered, purpose built, stead named TORO that sits in my trailer making the chicks go all weak in the knees, one look and the job is mine!

    Clients can't help it, can't resist, they just must have this mesmerizing marvel clear their jungles!


    ALL True! Would I B.S you??



    Lol Lol, lOL

  5. #5
    sharon
    Guest

    Default jims

    Ijust saw an add the other day for Jims paving for a short time only they are giving away 6 days accomadation in australia for any new work done. i think a video on something like, lets say something to do do with lawn mowing would be good. I can not think of any films about mowing,but i am sure there is a good film to be made about mowing. I do not think that if something is beneficial to your own business can be a bad thing, how can it be looked at any other way then putting some thought into your own business. As to the comment as begging for work, that is not what we are doing in any way shape or form we are all people trying to make a living doing something that we can be in control of. How do we know what other people think of us, we don't. We can choose to think that we are begging or that we are doing a good job. sharon

  6. #6
    Pain in the Grass
    Guest

    Default

    I advertise in my local paper and every issue there's good old Mark's Mowing with his "if I'm late to quote I'll give you a $100.00 and if you dont love the job it's free' spiel...Then there's a new franchise mob calling themselves "Black and White Services" They're offering an introductory offer of the third mow for free....

    Well my phone's still ringing and I've even stolen two Mark's Mowing jobs just this week. So much for gimmicks..

    I thought about it but stuff it!!1 I'll work on my reputation and good work

    Wonder if the client's that lost Mark's got their "guarantee staisfied" he he...think not!!

  7. #7
    Tonyr
    Guest

    Default

    As to the comment as begging for work, that is not what we are doing in any way shape or form we are all people trying to make a living doing something that we can be in control of.

    =======

    Sharon, I was replying to a post about offering a free video voucher to new clients by Stuart, nothing I said was aimed at anyone, just my general opinion which I stated at the end of my 1st post.

    I did not go into how any of you run your businesses, I was just saying and after re reading my post I stand my my original opinion, if you are giving free lawn cuts, video vouchers etc you are as far as I see begging! Did you understand my point about how do you justify giving freebies and how you incorporate giving freebies into your biz plan without it costing you?

    There are only 2 ways, either raise your fee to incorporate the freebie, or not and it costs you which means you proifit less , and in my book that just doesn't add up if you can be prompt, professional etc. If ya got to give freebies away to get work I think that is frightening, not much different to saying all cuts $10....what type of client do ya want, el cheapo/freebie hunter or a quality client who wants you for your professionalism?

    Sorry Sharon if I mucked up getting my point accross, but if you still dissagree with me, sorry, we just have to agree to dissagree on this one...

    We work hard in a very competitive industry as it is....where does it end....cheap deals, freebies....like I said earlier with my examples, the way I see it if ya gotta plead, give freebies or make rediculous promises just to land a job, I see that as begging, I'm sorry, but that's how I see it, and I can guarantee you, I will never beg for work, but I do make sure I do my best on every job, I have shoed generosity on the job often with extras, but thats alot different to giving away gifts etc.

    Again, just my opinion, not trying to critisise, just saying as i see it...

  8. #8
    Pain in the Grass
    Guest

    Default

    Ah just give em a free Toro with every third cut Tony..he he he

  9. #9
    Pain in the Grass
    Guest

    Default

    And dont worry about being late for your quote..Just tell em you'll be there between 7.00am and 7.00pm no worries

  10. #10
    Tonyr
    Guest

    Default

    Yeah mate, sounds like where the industry is heading, how about I buy a big heap of lolly pops or something, give em a lolly to get job?? )

    Wife is trade sales rep for building supplies company, they give builders shirts, caps, beer etc to keep em happy, so I guess the freebie mentality is closer to home than I want to except.

    I still doubt too many of us can really give much away, big biz and us small biz guys are very different, and we can sell ourselves personally, big industry places can't so need to suck up by throwing gifts at the good clients.

    You would think when I bought the Toro last Febuary the dealer would of thrown in a free rain voucher!

    Dunno bout you guys, but the grass is nearly all dried up and gone here, worse now than in winter! not many guys out working, except jims, always busy here....mainly garden clean ups though.

  11. #11
    pbm
    Guest

    Default

    You are dead right Tony...the only thing we should be giving our customers is a top class job. I have thought about 3rd mow free for new customers but decided against it. I would rather sit at home for free than mow a lawn for free...eh eh As for free movie vouchers etc. I am not sure if I would want to go down that road.

  12. #12
    Tonyr
    Guest

    Default

    Thanks mate, whew! thought I dropped outa reality there for a bit, thought it was just me not getting the drift or something....

    still wish my dealer gave me a free rain voucher gift when I gave him nearly 24K in Feb!

    didn't even give me a carton!

    Simply from my point is, we are not big enough businesses to go giving out freebies, and if ya good at what you do and folks refer you, got some commercial work, then why go sucking up to get work, we are not lower class beggars porning ourselves out for work, we are professional lawn care opperators and bloody clients should realise they are lucky to have us as well, should not need to give stuff away to get work, our jobs aren't big enough to wear freebies anyway, different in wifes job, builders spend huge amounts of money, and they get a shirt or a carton 1 or 2 times a year, on the gift scale related back we would be giving a 5 cent lolly

    If a contractor came here and said I'll mow ya lawn for $40, then jumped in and said, and I'll give you a movie ticket, carton of xxxx, and his missus for an hour lol, i'd say, WTF, are you a gift shop or a mowing service!

    If you were good why offer me gifts??

    I want my grass cut not bloody freebies!.....so how good lookin' is ya missus,

    I hope Mick and Alex etc get in on this, could be an interesting thread, Ebony, what are your thoughts??

  13. #13
    bradtez
    Guest

    Default

    Why do freebies have to cost us???? My wife and i sat down about 12 months ago and thought of all associated companies to do with lawnmowing/gardening. When we had the list we sent them all emails telling them who we were and what we did and could we please have some samples to pass onto clients. A week later we had the courier in the drive everyday dropping of cartons of FREE samples. it cost us nothing to do it. Now when we write next appointment slips for clients we attach a free sample of something for them. Makes us look good, and more importantly people LOVE to get something for nothing. Dunno about you, but i would in no way shape or form call this begging!!!!
    Have to start thinking outside the square guys, for a freebie to be a freebie it has to be free for us too!!

    Brad

  14. #14
    sharon
    Guest

    Default mmmm

    I had my thoughts all down off line and lost it trying to post when on line. sharon

  15. #15
    bradtez
    Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sharon
    I had my thoughts all down off line and lost it trying to post when on line. sharon

    LOL Sharon.....keep thinking, it will come back to you...

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