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  1. ward

    Dog pee and street tree protection: protocols, prophyllaxis, and prospects?

    Couldn't find anything in our literature about dog pee and soils protection, especially around street trees. Can anyone give me a reference on this? Soil amendments, partial replacement seems likes the best approach but it would seem that products must exist which a. deflect pee away from the...
  2. ward

    Damage caused by employee

    1. Fix the damage. 2. Let the employee know how much it cost. 3. Analyze together the source of the error or accident. 4. Use it as a learning opportunity for as many employees as need to hear it. 5. Most likely steps 1-4 are sufficient, but if necessary, sanction or fire. BTW, the character of...
  3. ward

    How big is your wood?

    Great idea for a thread. There's a thick log there, that Maple. Here's last year's Big Doug fir in the fall. 275 ton crane @ 145' Can't remember exactly how much it weighed... maybe 10k? Whole tree must have been 75K or more. That's Ryan Cafferky (contract climber) and Nick Stafford (foreman)...
  4. ward

    What's this scam?

    Many thanks Evo for the contribute. Looks like the investigation is making progress and that is a good thing. I wonder what they (the "Shanxi Calling Ring") stand to benefit from these transactions. People have reported that the conversations sort of go nowhere and the work is nowhere to be...
  5. ward

    Unhappy customer.....best approach?

    Was there a mismatch of expectations from the outset? Keenanlog clarified what he could do when he gave her a quote for the removal of the hillside of oaks. Conciliation is a good strategy generally for those in the business of customer service, but in this case, it is to admit too much. She is...
  6. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Thank you for spelling it out so well. So, in your mind, it is entirely fair and honest to build some cushion into the crane cost because the most important thing is the objective achieved. That deserves some consideration. I like that a lot. It means you could possibly bill the client either...
  7. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    All of that should be in the fixed portion of the quote. The fact that you are working with a crane and that this represents potential risks, the fact that the work has x difficulty factor, the cost of signage and notification, coordination with local authorities, the additional administrative...
  8. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Well said. To me, transparency is a value that goes both ways. This is absolutely true for the big cranes. I can see the embedded cost method having certain value to a client, as well. But if they inquire further, the benefit will be outweighed by the risk. But consider how that conversation...
  9. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Every crane company I've ever used has billed by the hour with expenses. Looks like some tree services are billing their crane to the client by the estimate, not by the hour. Either these tree companies are passing along the true cost of the crane in their estimate (they predict the time and...
  10. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    I certainly don't want to poo poo what you do. Sounds like you've got a plan and you are working it. Let me show you how you might be vulnerable to estimating against a guy like me, however. I could point out to the client that in the enclosed model, where the crane cost is included in the cost...
  11. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    I like the idea of discussing with them and getting them to agree to the possibility of reschedule and the reality of variability in the pricing beforehand. Especially on larger jobs, clients appreciate transparency and honesty . But I do think it is important that they get more than just a...
  12. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    I think our markets are a little different. Here there is possibly more intensive competition than in your market. Under these circumstances, the larger jobs will have a greater competitive pressure downward on the winning estimate prices. If all tree services price their tree work in this...
  13. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Let me return to the main question. When crafting boilerplate at the bottom of the quote, or as an add on page, what do you tell the client about the billing practices of crane companies and what to expect? Gradually over time in my business I noticed that the big crane companies would...
  14. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Not only is your crane guy working with other good tree guys, but I'm sure he thinks you are an asshole too. He only wants your money.
  15. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Just to be 'fair and balanced'--a section praising the crane: Cranes are great. Cranes have lifted humanity from its primitive past and helped erect the modern world around us. Cranes have built bridges, skyscrapers, monuments. Archimedes said 'give me one immovable point and I shall lift the...
  16. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    I think your crane guy does work with other tree guys. There's nothing special about you. I think you should reflect on that fact. You've had a string of good luck so far and you've only had to deal with a small crane company (your guy has 2 cranes). Sounds like a nice, cozy arrangement you...
  17. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    That is very special. Do you buy him donuts in the morning or does he just think you are awesome?
  18. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    To answer your question, the answer is (with respect to the crane) never because I pass the whole cost right through. The only question is can we be efficient within our part of the process. To that question I'd say we do pretty well because we have the skills and can get it done. With respect...
  19. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    Looks like there are those who bundle the estimated crane cost into their final invoice, regardless of what the actual crane invoice is. I wonder, however, if those who purport to bundle have ever been asked for an itemization for an insurance claim job? Did the claims adjuster accept your...
  20. ward

    What to tell customers to expect from working with a Crane Company

    But what if he didn't? Would you be liable if you didn't tell the customer first that this is a possibility?

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