Our Best Advertising Tool !

P

poteet

Location
Nashville, TN
“Tiny” is our customized 4WD, 7400, 35,000 lbs GVW, 16,000 lbs curb weight International and the largest street licensed pick-up truck in the world. Tiny has 10,000 lbs GVW more capacity than the CXTs and a lot more power. It produces 915 lbs. of torque. Power to the ground is transferred via air locking two speed differential with automatic Allison transmission and 22.5 Firestones. We do some off road clearing and this monster really comes in handy. It is also my everyday driver and the publicity factor is priceless. Two sets of train horns and an Alpine mind blower sound system make this truck something children of all ages ask to ride in all the time. It will be in two parades this month with a lighted Christmas tree in the bed. It averages 8mpg, cost $120,000 and is worth every penny!
 

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Scotty,

the check is in the mail
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I hate to say it, but my crane truck is my best ad tool as well. I used to think the only way to impress the public was quality work. I assumed potential clients cared very little about shiny/ flashy trucks.....i was wrong! When i brought home my first crane 9 yrs. ago, i stopped at a store to get some truck supplies. When i came out there were 3 people waiting at the truck for estimates! It's is completely insane! I actually get several calls from people i don't know saying "looks like you have nice equipment, come do my trees and send me a bill." My old trucks looked nice & had nice paint? I seriously despise the whole bling factor thing and I won't buy a piece of equip. or a trk. that isn't useful/ functional but it's a lure for customers like you wouldn't believe!
 

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I've had the opposite happen as well. One time recently we were working for a condo place and a neighbor came out to ask about "topping a willow". I told him we'd remove it since it was a hazard, but not top it. It was starting to fail and had one lead laying into another already. It was over his shed and fence. Not easy. I told him the price and he said "yeah, with trucksthat nice I figured you'd try to rip me off..." I laughed and explained in a nice "New Jerseyian" way that they were already paid for.
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so i guess he wanted to see a ragged out old pickup with bald tires..... oh yeah, knock out some of your teeth too.... anybody that goes to the dentist must rip people off
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I have had customers say the same thing, but most(smart) people know that if you take pride in your things and yourself, then you are going to take pride in your craftsmanship.


then again, most people don't like to see anyone be more sucessfull than themselves...... it's a catch 22
 
An owner of another local tree company drove a red Corvette. He would occasionally drive it on bids and I would love it. many times I had customers that said, "John Smith was just here in his Corvette...[spit] and bid on the job..." It was evident that they didn't like seeing their money pay for the 'Vette. Most times I would get the job...and sometimes I would find out that I was higher too. Most times, not much lower.
 
I'm convinced that imagry makes the sale - but in the big city, not out here.

There's been too many instances where Davey or Asp. would show-up for bids and get the job (recognition) but would leave a homeowner less than satisfied and those words spread fast...over hills and dales and onto the next small town thru cousin's and in-laws.

Then they call me.
 
Our best advertising tool are our awesome techs going out there and making the clients trees and shrubs green and make them flower for the first time sometimes. We have people lining up with PHC work from now until Thanksgiving our tech leaves the shop at 7 am and doesnt get back until 4 -- 4:30 5 days a week. We also have a mini bobcat which is another slick little piece of equipment we have as well.
 
if you have nice trucks you get to work at nice properties... if you use old beaters that look like junk... well, just watch out for the dog crap! thats just what i found at least. my tree trucks are all 1991-1995 but we keep them painted nice and as clean as we can. people always think that they are new. curb appeal helps get you on high end properties.

unfortunatly one of my competitors has been in buisness for 3 yrs, has all brand new epuipment and is responsible for topping most of the trees in the area. he got the money for the trucks from another buisness that he has... i guess that things arent always as they seem.
 
having that note does not appeal to me one bit. I like my freedom. My two trucks are 1980 and 1982. Love the little monsters. Pulling up to jobs smelling like fryer oil is pretty interesting advertising too!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I hate to say it, but my crane truck is my best ad tool as well. I used to think the only way to impress the public was quality work. I assumed potential clients cared very little about shiny/ flashy trucks.....i was wrong! When i brought home my first crane 9 yrs. ago, i stopped at a store to get some truck supplies. When i came out there were 3 people waiting at the truck for estimates! It's is completely insane! I actually get several calls from people i don't know saying "looks like you have nice equipment, come do my trees and send me a bill." My old trucks looked nice & had nice paint? I seriously despise the whole bling factor thing and I won't buy a piece of equip. or a trk. that isn't useful/ functional but it's a lure for customers like you wouldn't believe!

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree 100%!!!! I was trying to tell the guys over on AS this same thing and they wouldn't hear a word of it.

Thats a nice truck btw Poteet. Must catch alot of eyes..
 
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