Independent LawnMowing Contractors Of Australia Forum

Thread: Things that make me grumpy

  1. #4711
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Geoff and Chris we are getting side tracked a little. The issue at hand and the one that gets brought up on here year in year out is how the industry is a mess, rates are too low, too many low ballers, too hard to win quotes at a good price, when is the industry going to do something about that? Or are we just going to whinge about it? Forget it, then bring it up again next spring when the newbies start up again ground hog day style. Will we ever move forward as an industry?

  2. #4712
    Senior Member geoff's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    trouble is the industry is and always will be unregulated ...no license like plumbers electricians etc....yes whinge bloody whinge ..the only thing decent operators can and do is sell there skill to the potential customer....If Goverment ( they never will ) brought in a law that all services must be licensed ( they would get a good dollar out of that ) ..so inspectors would crack down on any business performing a task for a customer.....not going to happen...so short story every year people will whinge about low ballers....

  3. #4713

    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    Geoff and Chris we are getting side tracked a little. The issue at hand and the one that gets brought up on here year in year out is how the industry is a mess, rates are too low, too many low ballers, too hard to win quotes at a good price, when is the industry going to do something about that? Or are we just going to whinge about it? Forget it, then bring it up again next spring when the newbies start up again ground hog day style. Will we ever move forward as an industry?
    I would think the industry needs to come at it from a position of strength! Can't see how they can do it with present laws.
    You can have your qualifications, equipment, professionalism, etc etc etc and the school kid doing a few lawns for spending money can under quote you in your local area. Some can even do a reasonable job. What about Gumtree, Airtasker, Beer Bob & others that will come around The system allows them to do it. Can the industry change the system??
    But then again I am just a Lawnie!!!!

  4. #4714
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Yeah sounds like you boys are already defeated, me i'm not one to lie down, i'd prefer to fight.

    It starts with little things. Little changes, everyone doing a little bit. We all want to earn more yes??? Or are we just a pack of whinging *****es?

    This is maybe more for the admins of these lawn and garden forums but how about we start simple, maybe something like a link to a website or a page that has a minimum price map, a map of Australian regions, Mid Coast NSW, Northern suburbs of Melbourne etc somewhere contractors can see a minimum price for the region they work, they click on it and up it comes for gardening, lawn mowing, ride on work etc. You could sell advertising to industry relative companies to make it worthwhile for the admin/websites/people involved. Minimum rates could be discussed before being posted and maybe have a little bit of text explaining how having and keeping a minimum standard benefits all. Print off your region and hand it to your local mower shop and hang near there till.

    Simple but its a start.

  5. #4715

    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    Yeah sounds like you boys are already defeated, me i'm not one to lie down, i'd prefer to fight.

    It starts with little things. Little changes, everyone doing a little bit. We all want to earn more yes??? Or are we just a pack of whinging *****es?

    This is maybe more for the admins of these lawn and garden forums but how about we start simple, maybe something like a link to a website or a page that has a minimum price map, a map of Australian regions, Mid Coast NSW, Northern suburbs of Melbourne etc somewhere contractors can see a minimum price for the region they work, they click on it and up it comes for gardening, lawn mowing, ride on work etc. You could sell advertising to industry relative companies to make it worthwhile for the admin/websites/people involved. Minimum rates could be discussed before being posted and maybe have a little bit of text explaining how having and keeping a minimum standard benefits all. Print off your region and hand it to your local mower shop and hang near there till.

    Simple but its a start.
    Not defeated! Problem is - who really gives a ****.?
    Most people are fighting to earn a living and don't have the energy or desire to pursue something which has small chances of doing them any good.

    Go take a look in the members section of the forum and see how active it is Now tell me what chance of the above? Not saying it's not a good idea or worth doing. It is going to take some doing and someone/people with big kahunas driving it along.

    Personally I am slowly trying to go back to 4 days p/w next year and hopefully 3 the year or 2 after - and moving! The docs tell me to slow down - actually one said "you need to get a job in an office" As if that is healthy
    The point is maybe it is something the young fellas should be worried about. People like me may have other things they would really like to spend their time on because what you are wanting to do is a decade long struggle - at least

    But as I said previously - I'm just a lawnie

  6. #4716
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    So another knackered lawnie, i've met a lot of the journey. Maybe if rates were a bit better we wouldn't have to kill ourselves hey.

  7. #4717
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    If the edit button no more?

  8. #4718
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    If the edit button no more?
    LOL i guess not just tried to fix spelling mistakes in the last two posts, no dice

  9. #4719

    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    So another knackered lawnie, i've met a lot of the journey. Maybe if rates were a bit better we wouldn't have to kill ourselves hey.
    The problems come from Dads side of the family

    Can still keep going just prefer to try to stop & smell the roses a little more while I can still smell.

    Had a few plans going which was obviously a little radical for the wife and she backed out.
    Put some other options forward which will be a slowdown over the next few years to 3 days per week.

  10. #4720
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by South East Mowing View Post
    The problems come from Dads side of the family

    Can still keep going just prefer to try to stop & smell the roses a little more while I can still smell.

    Had a few plans going which was obviously a little radical for the wife and she backed out.
    Put some other options forward which will be a slowdown over the next few years to 3 days per week.
    Totally understand.

  11. #4721
    Senior Member Chris B's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    Yeah sounds like you boys are already defeated, me i'm not one to lie down, i'd prefer to fight.

    It starts with little things. Little changes, everyone doing a little bit. We all want to earn more yes??? Or are we just a pack of whinging *****es?

    This is maybe more for the admins of these lawn and garden forums but how about we start simple, maybe something like a link to a website or a page that has a minimum price map, a map of Australian regions, Mid Coast NSW, Northern suburbs of Melbourne etc somewhere contractors can see a minimum price for the region they work, they click on it and up it comes for gardening, lawn mowing, ride on work etc. You could sell advertising to industry relative companies to make it worthwhile for the admin/websites/people involved. Minimum rates could be discussed before being posted and maybe have a little bit of text explaining how having and keeping a minimum standard benefits all. Print off your region and hand it to your local mower shop and hang near there till.

    Simple but its a start.

    $50 minimum charge is my recommendation - Most find it reasonable as they understand travel and other operating expenses

  12. #4722
    Senior Member Scooby Steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris B View Post
    $50 minimum charge is my recommendation - Most find it reasonable as they understand travel and other operating expenses
    Hi Chris, my thinking was more along the lines of hourly rates and minimums. A lot of newbies come in with no idea of prices. But you are also right you need a minimum charge to stop, unload etc.

  13. #4723
    Member Macka's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    $20 minimum, good money for 10min work on the way to the next job.

  14. #4724
    Senior Member Chris B's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Scooby Steve View Post
    Hi Chris, my thinking was more along the lines of hourly rates and minimums. A lot of newbies come in with no idea of prices. But you are also right you need a minimum charge to stop, unload etc.
    Hey mate, Just something I do that thought I'd share - One of the best business decisions I've made (only exception is if I'm mowing a nature strip of a body corp and one of the tenants wants their tiny lawn done while I'm there)

    Hourly rates are touchy on here!

    I remember someone posting that charging an elderly lady 80 an hour is taking advantage of them!

    As a business, it won't help thinking like that (my opinion only of course)

  15. #4725
    MEMBER Fred's mowing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by BeetleJuice View Post
    Few months back i asked the accountant,how are the other lawnies doing that he's got on the books
    He says they get by but no one is doing any better than the rest.Or in other words nothing over exciting as income

    As for tradies we are not,just a service with no 4 year apprenticeship and trade school so you can't compare this up against gas fitter or sparkies at $100 per hour.
    One thing it did over the years was streamline the business including the smallest of details.Anything that made the job faster and easier for me,no matter what it cost to make it work in my favour
    Disappointing !
    How long has it not been a TRADE ?
    I started my 4 year Hort apprenticeship at TRADE school in 1978 at the Northern college of Tafe (it was called Collingwood Tech back then .... lol).

    My above statement is irrelevant but, we must see ourselves & act as professionals.
    Almost a decade ago on this forum we were talking about $60/hr, what does that say ?
    I do however agree, it would be difficult to achieve the same rates in all areas.

    Cheers Fred.

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