Feedback Please

[rico]

I’m so conflicted. I used to hate the idea of the mek, but now I dig it. You and your vid have won me over. Please don’t tell any of my buddies, for they would surely whoop my ass.

 

[Steve Connally]

Funny Rico. Come see it someday The doors always open. Unfortunately I couldn't work in your forrest. I'd come up way short. lol

 

[Rainwater]

TreeMek’s are the future. We are just a little ahead of the curve Steve.

Seriously though, our setups are frequently very tight, and our pick size is determined by what we can land and process. I relate it to when I first got a bucket truck and just killed my ground crews, then I realized workflow was faster with well timed, well sized pieces, even though I could go bigger. Same story with the crane. I think the Mecanil gets appropriate sized pieces for efficient workflow.

 

[Ryan Keats]

Steve, what about marketing to homeowners as well and then you sub out one of your tree service buddies to clean up? Kind of doing it both you get subbed and you sub out?

 

[Steve Connally]

Steve, what about marketing to homeowners as well and then you sub out one of your tree service buddies to clean up? Kind of doing it both you get subbed and you sub out?

Too many moving parts in the system. I did it for a while but the added time of scheduling and doing estimates, coordinate everything, Chase customers for the check after the sub comes is just more time out of my day than I want to give. I prefer to get a call, show up at the job, do my things, collect a check and then go home.

 

[Steve Connally]

TreeMek’s are the future. We are just a little ahead of the curve Steve.

Seriously though, our setups are frequently very tight, and our pick size is determined by what we can land and process. I relate it to when I first got a bucket truck and just killed my ground crews, then I realized workflow was faster with well timed, well sized pieces, even though I could go bigger. Same story with the crane. I think the Mecanil gets appropriate sized pieces for efficient workflow.

Couldn agree more

 

[TimberJack]

Too many moving parts in the system. I did it for a while but the added time of scheduling and doing estimates, coordinate everything, Chase customers for the check after the sub comes is just more time out of my day than I want to give. I prefer to get a call, show up at the job, do my things, collect a check and then go home.

I think your barking up the wrong tree. You should diversify into handleing your own contracts. Market to municipalities, homeowners associations and property management companies. Bigger contracts less chasing? The other tree companies are only going to call you for the ones with limited options. You could use that machine for all of your own work no other options.

 

[Steve Connally]

I think your barking up the wrong tree. You should diversify into handleing your own contracts. Market to municipalities, homeowners associations and property management companies. Bigger contracts less chasing? The other tree companies are only going to call you for the ones with limited options. You could use that machine for all of your own work no other options.

Very true but I don’t want employees or additional equipment. No gaurentee I can get my subs there when I need them. The goal was to be a biz by myself without all those other headaches of owning a full on tree service. I’ve been there and not so interested in repeating the banging of the head against the brick wall when there’s virtually no skilled labor pool to choose from. Municipalities is on the to do list for sure.

 

[pctree]

Yes but offer them the service to get the tree down so all of the skilled work done. Most municipalities could clean up.....

Good idea TJ

 

[Baja Mike]

Video serves its purpose as a conversation starter. No matter what, people will always have something to say. That’s why I don’t post many pictures.
People criticize things they don’t understand or don’t believe in. Everyone always thinks their way is the best.
When you calculate in all the variables the mek wins 9 times out of 10.
I read many threads on these trucks and saw that it was working out for you and that was one more reason for me to buy mine. You are at the forefront of the mek revolution. People don’t get it unless they see it, I am amazed every day at the versatility of this machine. I had to convince myself to spend more money for a smaller k boom than a larger stick crane and every day I am happy with my decision and know you are as well. You will do fine, the mek will catch on in a year or two you will have built up a good client base.
Thanks for your inspiration and be well
Mike

 

[Steve Connally]

Video serves its purpose as a conversation starter. No matter what, people will always have something to say. That’s why I don’t post many pictures.
People criticize things they don’t understand or don’t believe in. Everyone always thinks their way is the best.
When you calculate in all the variables the mek wins 9 times out of 10.
I read many threads on these trucks and saw that it was working out for you and that was one more reason for me to buy mine. You are at the forefront of the mek revolution. People don’t get it unless they see it, I am amazed every day at the versatility of this machine. I had to convince myself to spend more money for a smaller k boom than a larger stick crane and every day I am happy with my decision and know you are as well. You will do fine, the mek will catch on in a year or two you will have built up a good client base.
Thanks for your inspiration and be well
Mike

Thanks Mike.

 

[Steve Connally]

Yes but offer them the service to get the tree down so all of the skilled work done. Most municipalities could clean up.....

Good idea TJ

I’ve got a good contact with one municipality and working on others. I’m also trying to get some interest from the regional utility forester. As far as the roads and highways. They go out on bid every few years. Not sure I’d fit the bid requirements. Local university is onboard as well as some other key companies in the area but it’s atill a work in progress. Only chasing things that don’t include an expectation of clean up or debris removal.

 

[TimberJack]

Thats how i sell my "buzzies" no clean-up. With that sort of investment are you still looking for buzzies?

 

[Steve Connally]

Thats how i sell my "buzzies" no clean-up. With that sort of investment are you still looking for buzzies?

What’s a buzzie?

 

[allmark]

But it doesn’t. Moderate sized wood, you are done without a climber. Too much set back, done. Sure you can prune, but you still need to send a climber to finish the cut (not really arboricutural pruning if you are doing it with the mek).



But it’s not faster! The truck has to be close to use it. Has a limited chart with the saw (I seem to remember 800lbs for Ricks). I can put a 30t stick as close or closer cause the truck is smaller/lighter and take moderate 2500-3000lbs pieces as fast a the cycle time of 2 of a mek. Basically reducing time by one mek cycle each pick at the very least.
Convince me!
Steve this is where I said confidence is important. The “I don’t know what else you want me to say” doesn’t cut it.
I’m probably being an asshole but the guys you are trying to convince are gonna say the SAME EXACT thing. You NEED to be able to come back calm and level headed with a reasonably logical answer without hesitation. Or they will just think you are a crack pot with a fancy truck.

Again I’m not trying to be malicious just trying to get you to think about how they are convinced it’s not worth it. So you can correct them.

It might not be faster per say but with less men it is more cost effective. You are also comparing 2 different size cranes. My k boom will out pick that 30 ton stick especially as the radius increases. The kboom also needs less boom out to reach over obstacles to get the same radius reach.

 

[christreez]

You stand a better chance with smaller companies that dont have a bucket or crane. I know the company I work for would never call you because we have multiple crews and a lot of iron, but can think of several that would simply because they are a 3 man company and we get several jobs referred by them that are easy crane trees or 2 day miserable climbers.

To us your hourly of 175 (think I saw that figure somewhere) is just about the rate we bill for two guys so it's actually a loss to bring you in vs having a 4 man crane crew. We bill 80 to 100 per hour depending on workload/season I forget the number they came up with but it was something like 55 bucks per man per hour for actual cost to operate the company so that's 30 to 45 dollars per hr per man of profit we would loose.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[Ostrowski]

I run a 2 man crew, chipper/truck combo, dump trailer and would crush it with your mek. I would use your service as much and possible. Work smarter not harder. Post #77 I couldn't agree with more.


Steve, don't get discouraged with the forum, I believe it's all in good intentions. Most pioneers in any field were the black sheep.......until they weren't. You're business model is exactly what I'm shooting for. I can always count on myself.

 

[pctree]

Steve you are about to be so busy you will be begging for a day off!!

Don't worry be happy

 

[Steve Connally]

You stand a better chance with smaller companies that dont have a bucket or crane. I know the company I work for would never call you because we have multiple crews and a lot of iron, but can think of several that would simply because they are a 3 man company and we get several jobs referred by them that are easy crane trees or 2 day miserable climbers.

To us your hourly of 175 (think I saw that figure somewhere) is just about the rate we bill for two guys so it's actually a loss to bring you in vs having a 4 man crane crew. We bill 80 to 100 per hour depending on workload/season I forget the number they came up with but it was something like 55 bucks per man per hour for actual cost to operate the company so that's 30 to 45 dollars per hr per man of profit we would loose.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Thanks for the feedback. I've worked for companies like yours and they were happy as a clam. It's all in what you want. Like I said i'm not the perfect fit for everyone. As a matter of fact I worked for one of the largest tree services in the world last week. Their goal was to keep their employees safe. I did exactly that quicker than they could have. Lots of details lined up.

 

[Steve Connally]

I run a 2 man crew, chipper/truck combo, dump trailer and would crush it with your mek. I would use your service as much and possible. Work smarter not harder. Post #77 I couldn't agree with more.


Steve, don't get discouraged with the forum, I believe it's all in good intentions. Most pioneers in any field were the black sheep.......until they weren't. You're business model is exactly what I'm shooting for. I can always count on myself.

Thanks so much. for the feedback. It's a labor saver for a small crew for sure.