Free Mulch App Is Officially Launched

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Sweet! Good work!!

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Thanks Sam!
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From the video: "finally there's an app for that"? That's not quite true...

There's been an app for that, because we launched Chipero (http://www.chipero.com) over 8 months ago. Your app is somehow very similar to what we originally created. We're flattered, of course.

Our customers love our service even though we charge a fee (our most expensive pricing tier is less than $2 per day per chip truck, with an even cheaper one coming soon).

And let's be clear: the "free mulch app" advertised here is free only until they decide to start charging for it, which is entirely possible, as they explain at https://freemulch.abouttrees.com/#!/about_for_business

So why would you pay for our service when the one advertised in this thread is (currently) free?

In our view, when you pay someone they're accountable to you. We want to get you as a customer and do whatever it takes to keep you as a customer. We want to keep you happy, to listen to you, and to solve your problems. When you stop paying us, that means we messed up and we got things to work on.

Who do you turn to when a vital aspect of your business hangs on a free service? For us at Chipero, this is our job. If something's not right, you call us up and we try damn hard to fix it. We've learned a whole lot since we've launched, and from the way this "free mulch app" website is worded, there are a bunch of issues ahead of them that they have yet to encounter.

You're also paying us because you're getting something valuable out of it: a service that's been in development for over a year, that's had over 8 months of feedback and actual day-to-day use in coordinating spring, summer and fall wood chip deliveries for many tree services of many sizes.

So, congrats on launching Mark, but it's disingenuous to announce you're "finally" offering a free-but-maybe-we'll-charge-you service that's been heavily "inspired" by our hard work.

-Craig @ Chipero
 
So rather than start a war, (sorry cerviarborist ) I called Craig yesterday to see if we could find a win. We had a pretty good, yet slightly awkward, conversation.

You guys need to know that I think Craig is a really neat guy. Check this out. He built this site concrete jungle where they GPS plot out fruit trees in Atlanta's public areas such as parks. Then the site organized volunteers to harvest the fruit and distribute it to the hungry. To date have distributed 14918 POUNDS of fruit. THAT is super cool!

Craig and I have known of each others mulch/chip app through a mutual friend here in Atlanta.

What makes it weird it that we had BOTH talked to this same mutual friend about our future plans to develop the app, me about 24 months ago, and he about 18. (more or less).

While my video Free Mulch App launched 9 months ago, Craig's app hit the market 8 months ago.

So yes, his app was first to market.

I did say "finally", in my video, but will also give Craig credit. His app got to market first.

He and I have have two different approaches.

His hypothesis is that tree guys will pay a monthly fee for the service and he makes some really good points about a "free" product vs one that you pay for.

My hypothesis is a bit different. I prefer the free model because I believe that when we as a community can get through the bumps in the road, then together we will all have easy access to a centralized list that we can all use. Then, we all save fuel and time. I am willing to pay for the development of the product updates out of my own pocket. Maybe one day Stihl, or Husky or someone would like to sponsor it. But if it never happens, I doesn't really matter to me because I use the app myself.

Regarding "who was first" with features? I'll leave that question alone because I was not there during his conversations with our mutual friend and it would only be speculation.

One thing is for sure, from what I've learned, Craig is a really cool, and super smart guy that deserves credit. He has put in a lot of hard work.

The market will decide which model is best. If his hypotheses is right, cool. If mine is, cool. Maybe it will be both?
 
For a guy that was quitting the Biz a couple of years ago, you sure do put in a lot of work in the Biz.

I think the future of dumping chips will be tree services getting paid for the biomass.

Apps are cool though.

SZ
 
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I remember the great mulch war of '13, like it was yesterday.

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It reminded me of the Bar Oil Conflagration of Aught 2. Many men died in order for our chains to be lubricated.


SZ
 
I just take chips to the dump. Its free and the only app I use is google maps.


My worry with either of the two services, is this. I fill my truck up and then I look at wheredoidumpmychipsatapp.com or whatever and they say go to Mrs. Ivanna Somechips house, which is just down the street. I roll down there, dump 10 yards of 'chips' and leave. Now this can go a few ways, maybe they thought it was mulch? Maybe they thought it was wood chips like you see at a playground not in a chip truck? Maybe they didnt want them anymore at all?

Who cleans em up if they change their minds? Chipero? Freechipp app.com? More than likely me, and I wont be getting my $75/hour either I am sure.

I am leery of dumping chips for people that I show a shovel full too and explain what it is they are getting. Everyone wants 'free wood chips' until they hit the driveway, then all they want is me to pick em up. Generally speaking its better for me to just drive em to the dump, they never complain.
 
I dont call it mulch, people think its mulch. But yout point is what I am trying to get at.

I cant dump chips at someones house that I never met, because I read on the internet that they wanted them.

I do see an opportunity to play some good jokes.... "Yeah I want 10 yards right on the apron of my driveway" insert enemy address.
 
Bandit Vermeer and Morbark all sponsored the TCI SRT Manual, why is a stretch to think Stihl wouldnt sponsor a chip app.

Chippers have less do with climbing than Stihl has to do with making chips.
 
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