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Thread: Things that make me grumpy

  1. #2176
    Senior Member gcsmow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by HPM View Post
    I always carry some wire and pliers so I can fix broken springs and cables untill I can get a replacement.
    It's amazing what you can do with these 2 items.
    ..... and twelve months later it's still doing the job !!
    Everybody is entitled to MY opinion

  2. #2177
    Junior Member Alby's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Had all my jobs sorted for this week prior to school holidays and what do you know ... it rains ! Schedule out the window.

  3. #2178
    Senior Member Kathryn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    im trying to tell myself i mowed a lawn for free rather than that i lost a $50 dollar note. customer paid whilst i was mowing. i shoved it in my pocket. the same pocket my phone lives in. i would have pulled my phone out of my pocket half a dozen times before i thought "oops better check if that note is still in there" . it wasnt
    Indy and proud

  4. #2179
    Senior Member DavidS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Yep did that about 3 weeks ago. Mowed a lawn for FREE too.

  5. #2180
    Senior Member gcsmow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    I have a mate who has a computer program that he uses to tell him which lawns to do on which day. What happens if it rains for 3 days solid ? It's gonna throw your schedule right out of whack. What I tend to do in those situations is mow the ones who pay me first and the other so and so's can wait !!

    Quote Originally Posted by Alby View Post
    Had all my jobs sorted for this week prior to school holidays and what do you know ... it rains ! Schedule out the window.
    Everybody is entitled to MY opinion

  6. #2181
    Senior Member fairdinkum's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    It's late September, the grass is still not growing enough to justify 3 weekly mows let alone 2 weekly, the gardens are rock hard which counts out any weeding (without heavy digging), my $31 weekly ad in the local paper isn't even generating phone calls let alone work, half the jobs I do the clients don't even bother to pay me for, haven't even heard from many casuals since mid july, fuel prices are through the roof again so driving around tryin to pick up cash eats into the cash I am picking up. Just my regulars alone should be giving me 4 half decent days a week work. Instead I'm lucky to work 2 and a half. Bills are starting to add up pretty bad. Grocery prices have mysteriously jumped in the last 3 months (nothing to do with any carbon price though of course). If the coming summer is as dry as predicted, I'm pretty much done with this mug's game. Can't support a wife and 2 kids on this ****in ****! Really getting sick of it.

    Jason Forrest
    Fair Dinkum Lawn & Garden Care
    Servicing St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, South St Marys
    0407 435 642


    fairdinkumlawns.com.au

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  7. #2182
    Senior Member Kathryn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    hang in there . it will rain. eventually. yesterday we had the noisiest thunder and i got all excited at the thought of rain and we got 1.5mm. thats it. i think it was in a rush to get to get to toowoomba.

    ive only increased the frequency of mowing on 3 lawns so far. its not a good spring
    Indy and proud

  8. #2183
    Senior Member m287j's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    I hear you Jason, it looks like a pretty bleak and dusty Spring and Summer in Sydney, above average temperatures and less rainfall. I've noticed a lot of lawns around starting to look crispy already.
    Perhaps you could start promoting mulching to clients (will help retain mositure in the soil) and water crystals for lawn and garden areas.
    If you ever want to have a chat feel free to call me, i'm not that far away from you.

  9. #2184
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    I'm hearing you too Jason; It's pretty much the same for me here still. I don't know how everyone here is making a dollar as there's so many start-ups/centrlink/pension top-ups etc. I have a busy week then a quiet week, pretty much only part time hours at the moment still. There is hope of a late season La Nina but that won't be here anytime before Christmas from what I've read.

    Kathryn some parts of town here got around 10mm yesterday while some got only a couple. Bit of pea-size hail too while a couple of suburbs got golf-ball size stuff. You wouldn't know it from the couch lawn I did this afternoon though - I'm still rinsing my eyes to get the grass and dust out.

  10. #2185
    Senior Member fairdinkum's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    The other problem I/we face is that all the financial issues that effect us also effect the clients. We just got an electricity bill for $1100 which is $400+ higher than our biggest bill ever. Now if everyone is being effected by this and other fraudulent activity such as petrol, grocery and housing prices in the same way, I can understand why they wouldn't want to fork out to get their lawns mowed.

    Jason Forrest
    Fair Dinkum Lawn & Garden Care
    Servicing St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, South St Marys
    0407 435 642


    fairdinkumlawns.com.au

    facebook page

  11. #2186
    Member of forum Stump's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Sorry to hear that guys. Opposite end of the spectrum down here atm. Grass beggining to approach the armpits.
    No sign of the rain slowing yet.
    I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather.....not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car!!!

  12. #2187
    Senior Member Lawn Mowing Professionals's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by fairdinkum View Post
    The other problem I/we face is that all the financial issues that effect us also effect the clients. We just got an electricity bill for $1100 which is $400+ higher than our biggest bill ever. Now if everyone is being effected by this and other fraudulent activity such as petrol, grocery and housing prices in the same way, I can understand why they wouldn't want to fork out to get their lawns mowed.
    I agree costs are definately going up (minimum 25% electricity increase across sydney from my research) and impacting somewhat on how many people get there lawns done by a professional.

    I've done some local advertising this spring and my current heading that promotes value for money is getting the phones to ring... This indicates to me people are starting to look at cost cutting alternatives...

    Problem is they want a premium service which needs to be done "yesterday" and haggling on price. I'll admit It is getting somewhat harder to quote $50 or more for a regular block (30 - 40 minute job). Some try to negotiate $5 - $10 off my desired price and then once agreed "some" throw in weeding, hedging and other small jobs This is when i just walk and laugh.

    I've decided to now stick with my price and not negotiate at all... My theory is it keeps my business in control and if they don't like it they can use someone else...

    I would hate to think how the Jimbo's and co's are going charging $80 a lawn around here... might be a slow slow summer once it does rain as many won't be able to pay that fortnightly or weekly!

    Hey Jason, Is it just me or is there more lawnies popping up around here?

    Simmo.

  13. #2188
    Senior Member bb1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Simmo View Post
    I
    Problem is they want a premium service which needs to be done "yesterday" and haggling on price. I'll admit It is getting somewhat harder to quote $50 or more for a regular block (30 - 40 minute job). Some try to negotiate $5 - $10 off my desired price and then once agreed "some" throw in weeding, hedging and other small jobs This is when i just walk and laugh.

    I've decided to now stick with my price and not negotiate at all... My theory is it keeps my business in control and if they don't like it they can use someone else...
    .
    I have a simple method when a client wants to negotiate, I give them my price, they counter offer with a lower price, and I repeat my original price. Negotiaition complete.

  14. #2189
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Value for Money
    Lawn & Garden Care

    Good heading for a flyer!

  15. #2190
    Senior Member Lawn Mowing Professionals's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by PaulG View Post
    Value for Money
    Lawn & Garden Care

    Good heading for a flyer!
    You should never use the word money in a heading.

    Simmo.

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