I Fired Them (Reasons Why & How I Told Them)
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- One thing that is important to determine in any business is the tipping point at which the time, labor, and materials needed to complete a job is no longer worth the payoff. This client made several decisions that pushed the scale out of my favor. This is why I fired them, and how I told them.
Firing a client (also known as dropping a client) happens for any number of reasons in the lawn care industry. I have dropped a client because they wanted their grass cut at 2" when a huge portion of their yard had roots jutting up above 2". Obviously I couldn't meet that request.
Another client was fired when they put in a locked gate but I couldn't get a key and would have to schedule my visits around them being home. Not a viable option, especially during the Florida summers when rain can wreck a schedule every day.
Let me know your thoughts, but please be sure to watch the whole video before commenting.
The products I use: www.amazon.com...
Copper Creek Cuts is a lawn care and landscaping business in Florida with a goal to entertain and educate.
Contact me: coppercreekcuts@gmail.com
I worked at a lawn care and landscaping company for 6 years, 4 of them as a crew lead. The struggle is real, people. You're not paying the lawn care company to pick up stuff around your yard, you're paying for a mowing. That would be like expecting the plumber to wash your bathroom entirely because they replaced a washer or gasket.
So true!!!
Yeah but as a car detailer, it is expected that you pick up any trash or belongings in the vehicle before cleaning. Sure it is nice if the clients do that part but honestly it is part of the job.
@@liberationpocket6435 there's not really an equivalency there. The obstacles in this yard prevented him from using his best equipment to get the job done.
@@liberationpocket6435 When I had my house professionally cleaned, they expected clutter to be removed or they didn’t clean it. Incidentally, I would give you a tidy car for detailing 😊. I’m hiring you for your special equipment and elbow grease, not to pick up trash. It’s disrespectful. Bottom line it’s a small businesses owners prerogative to set guidelines for his customers in order to stay profitable. If it works for you to charge for picking up McDonalds trash, good for you.
@@BigSam63 yeah I guess it would be difficult to mow a 16th of an acre yard with a 60 inch mower. Never thought about it like that. How foolish of me
Out of respect for my lawn guy we pick up anything in his way. Also have two dogs, no land mines left to run over . It's called respect.
You are the perfect customer. On behalf of all landscapers... thank you
Total agree
Oh man dog poop. Honestly I don't mind it if it's one or two small poos but jesus the people who let their dogs out before I come and apparently fed them a buffet are the worst.
Agreed, prefect customer. The worst lawns are the ones littered with toys, dog crap, and obstacles of furniture/ trampolines/etc. When the customer respects their hired business, believe me they KNOW and they will go the extra mile for them much more often. We appreciate it
Now that's how you do it! People have not respect or consideration now days.
Have a friend with a trampoline. He put landscape fabric with some mulch under his trampoline so there was no mowing under it.
I've had some yards with trampolines, but with enough area to pull them out of the way. In a tight yard like this that fabric and landscaping idea is way better.
Back in the early 90's when I first started, people (most) still watered their lawn and would pick up toys, sticks, objects, etc on the day I was due to mow. Not anymore 😡
I have a pool cleaning service and I literally had the same basic problem today. Walked into the back yard on a prospective client to find a child safety fence surrounding the pool giving me 18" all around. I told them I'd clean one time and that's it. I'll choose my own headaches thanks.
For those of you complaining, check out Blade Mates Lawn care. Just a lawn mower, brush cutter, rake and spade cutting knee high lawns. No fuss, no muss.
Good for you! You've set a high standard for yourself and your customers, and I completely understand this decision.
My brother maintained the landscaping of a small business property in town a couple years ago. While they loved his service and was getting paid well, he wasn’t getting paid enough to pick up human feces and dirty needles from homeless folks on a nearly weekly basis. So he backed out. Sometimes it’s not about the money but rather the quality of work you want for yourself.
I think that's a great philosophy to have Brad. It also diffuses any potential situation before it has a chance to begin. Hoping all is well Bud, Dirty Jersey out!! #broinlawns
I'm not sure you should say "you fired them as clients" because that would be telling people you are paying them to be YOUR customers. What the title should read is "I'm declining this customers work because...."
Exactly. You can't technically "fire" someone who is paying YOU. smh But I would've dropped them as well. Or used a smaller mower and left uncut what I couldn't get to.
Control is a hell of a drug. Hopefully you feel better now that you corrected that error. LOL
Bro I used to cut grass for a small father and son company now I do landscaping for the city and I learn so much! Thanks I usually watch ur videos to sleep lol
I’ve had lawn service since I purchased my first home (over 35 years) and always moved everything out of the way the night before my scheduled service. Who thinks they are that entitled to have the lawn service move all their crap for the price of cutting their lawn? The price for the lawn service is cut your grass not move all your crap that you are too lazy to move. He was way too generous to give them a free cut. I would have charged double to have to move the crap then dropped them from my service.
I do like that you doing the free last cut....even though you dumped them, you should still get good reviews and if things change maybe a customer back or referral.
That's nice of you to do the last cut free.
People who leave their yard like this have probably never mowed their yard, themselves. All it takes is one time to run over dog poop and store the mower without cleaning it well enough... Never again! I pick those bombs every other day and always pre mowing, regardless of who is operating the mower. At the same time, I also store kiddy pools and other easily removable things (by hand or wind) in the garage and try to keep my yard nice and clean... I think you made the right decision!
I ask Lynn (who mows my yard) before I do anything to the yard. It’s hard to mow around things. I want to fence my back yard. I have talked to him. The gate will have to be large enough for him to get in with him mower.
Those types of customers are definitely a pain, I've had only one like this so far this year. I raised the price on them and then eventually just had to tell them I don't mow in their area anynore
I really like these videos where you explain why you give up contracts/jobs. It's very interesting information about things I never would have known or thought about.
Smart move I see liability everywhere!
Best way to market my lawncare /landscaping business
Thanx Brad Some really good advice on prevention.... that bobcat is a lot mower . Cool
Customer: hey I need my 20x40’ yard mowed. Lawnmower man: ok , I’ll bring my brush hog!
To the customers, all I can say is, you get what you pay for
Came here from the other video where the guy called you out on dropping a customer for this. Would you move all that and string trim this entire back yard for $45? Yeah... me neither. There's a difference between being lazy and making a business decision based on the value of your time.
I cleaned houses for many years and I would ( fire a client as you say) if I had to pick up (stuff) toys etc. Every week you have to pick up before you start. Also you can’t possibly know where personal things go. Time to move on.
Bro I would whip that tiny back yard in 5 minutes. Especially with all the stuff taking up space.
Sad that homeowners are not encouraged to take care of their own small properties. In our neighborhood, the HOA/ Property mgmt. co. attempts to cite every resident into using a professional co. This has led to many different landscaping crews for 200 homes in here once a week with trucks loaded with heavy duty, loud equipment: extra large mowers, edgers, gas powered blowers. There is no quiet enjoyment. They edge mow and blow, and Roundup throughout the winter when the warm season grasses are dormant creating bare spaces and runoff when it rains.
Between that, and the chemical lawn care cos., think Trugreen, our properties are just another avenue of exploitation.
You cant "fire" someone you havent hired. They, hired you and your services, not vice versa. Fine to say you dropped the client, but you cant fire them.
I've had my share of customers that expected me to clean up after them. Even had ones who expected that and for me to up keep everything outside of the house for the price of lawn service. I had to explain im not a grounds keeper. I started making them sign a contract that specified when I would be there and that the yard needed to be void of all belongings. I would pick up litter and branches only but any other services were an extra charge. It worked out well after they signed the sort but to the point contract. I don't mind things here and there but time is money in this business and an extra 30 mins on each job at the end of the week, the month, the year adds up. I've done my fair share of bending over backwards for customers only to be taken advantage of, lost money and was stuck in bad situations. 👎 sometimes you just need to move on and find loyal and respectful customers. This guy did the right thing by stopping it before it had the possibility of becoming a bigger problem so I applaud him. 👏
Thanks for the great business tip.
Oh God. This really shows how different it is in the US. 😂😂 when that happened in my country. You just had to do those extra work (Moving those things).
Some customers are simply not worth the effort. Drop em like it hot!
I have a swimming pool cleaning company and people will leave their pool full of toys after a party or something and expect me to fish it all out before I clean. I can’t vacuum up some of those small toys because if they get sucked up into the underground piping and get stuck, guess who has to have an insurance repair. Not the owner, me. I’ll clean natures mess, I won’t clean up your after party.
It's good that you dropped them. You're getting paid to cut their grass, not move their shit! When the guy who cuts our grass comes, we always make sure there is nothing that will get in his way
Instead of mowing it with a mower like that just use a regular push mower like a 21in on my customers yards that I have like this I just push mow it and its actually faster because you can move stuff as you mow. I've never dropped a customer because of this. Doing lawncare you just gotta work around stuff like this its not that difficult
It just confuses me why people with small yards cant do it themselves. I understand some elderly people cant but just take a lawn mower you buy from walmart and do it yourself for 20min. Also if i ever get a trampoline im putting sand or rock under it with a nice looking rock or brick boarder around it so its less work required.
Yep play equipment is supposed to be anchored to the ground and if something did happen after you touched it you would be made the scapegoat. Maybe it would be wise to have a disclaimer about yard requirements/standard before disappointing customers and trying to explain things after the fact.
I would of done the same brad. That backyard was way to cluttered
0:19 LOL I am eating Popcorn! Zebra Popcorn, it's caramel corn with brown and white chocolate
Wowser I wish I had a lawn mower that could actually cut long grass. My stupid one is a joker...
I really don’t like when the customers leave hoses out, or when they don’t pick up the dog poo, I also really don’t like when they have a pool or trampoline in the way. Also dealing with toys all over the yard can be frustrating. Specially when you can’t see the object and it hits the blades and damages are blades. Now we have always make sure we are good and clear before we even mow witch is a bit annoying. Will other than that, it’s pretty much it.
I totally understand and agree with you decision, although it’s never easy to give up a pay check, I would like to know did you get a reply to your email? Is it not worth suggesting to cover just the front of the property, or is it not worth it?
You are a good man!
Surprising they let you use video of their property after you dropped them.
I've dropped customers because too much stuff strewn about the yard and another one was dog poop entirely too much dog poop that they seemed to never even attempt to pick up before I got there and that just makes a mess of everything
Good call, because obviously they're just paying you $45 twice per season to mow their weeds.
Mow around is charge the same they usually get the idea
Soon that mower in the start it will look like a class
Perfect my friend!
Wow, if only they made something 2feet wide that you could push by hand that cut grass 🤔
Check the comments for why I don't push mow.
Do you talk to clients beforehand about expectations regarding clear lawns /access needed for your mower?
That's just ridiculous what they did
Before dropping them as a customer. How come you don't give them a chance to correct the issues?
No idea that u have to move their stuffs . . . .this is not like a hotel with room services . .
That mowing was so satisfying
Hey man totally agree with you
I work for a landscape, lawn maintenance and have one residential with kid toys everywhere, trampoline in the middle, dog shit everywhere
Some people are just so lazy, especially the top comment from that lazy person
This dude's smart to film everything he does I've been screwed over so many times doing lawn care
I don’t understand why if you hire someone why wouldn’t you atleast pick up your stuff so they can do their job?? I’ll never understand that.
Makes sense.
I can't see anything wrong there, you decided they weren't worth your time, you didn't charge them for the visit and at least seem to have sent a decent email. All within rights.
Although I do love it when you guys drop clients, where I am, it makes my business grow. Removal of lawns, esp for those who can't get lawn care companies is a growing business.
You need a walk behind self propelled for a yard like that. Maybe a tiny rider. They need to just do it themselves or pay a teenager.
No problem w getting rid of customer but was there a discussion about clearing the yard? Give them an opp to fix problem?
-Why such a big mower for a small yard? Not only is it a small space but it is doing more harm than good for the grass & soil.
And if the job is more difficult due to customer caused issues...why not ask for more money?
I wouldn't have even gone that far. I would have just drive away.
I understand that the play equipment all over the place is a huge pain, they should have tidied all of that up for you, it's not your job to do that. But as for fitting through those tight spaces, an 18 or 19 inch push mower could get in there .
But does it make sense to go buy a new machine to just fit in ONE yard? Does it make sense to take work that requires me to make another trip to the trailer and back each time? To become less efficient and take up more of my time? There is no legitimate business reason for me to push mow.
@@CopperCreekCuts glad you finally said it. I've been responding to so many people on here with that exact same mentality.
Thank you for your response, all the points you just raised are valid and I now undrstand your view. However, I am in a different country, the majority of residential properties here have push mower access only in the back yards, it's clearly a more open layout where you are.
Would love to come work for you! Do you guys need irrigation/landscapers?
your making me wanna mower and trim my lawn
Nice strategy
It’s such a small space. Why don’t they just buy a push mower and do it themselves?
Probably either too busy to do it, or too lazy to do it, or both.
I know right it’s so small why hasn’t copper creek bought a push mower and TOLD HIS CUSTOMER WHEN HE WAS GONNA BE THERE.
@@destinationjesuschrist7043 Lol you're not a very nice person are you? You clearly dont understand, this stuff takes up extra time and effort which he doesn't get paid for. Besides they have a small yard and maybe could do it themselves.
@@destinationjesuschrist7043 lmao you don't even know what you are saying. I have a very solid work ethic but unlike your generation I have to work and pay for my education and housing and the fact you say you're right tells me every thing I need to know.
Could be an HOA requirement to have it done professionally, cause that was my first thought too. Also would seem professional of the gardener to have a 24 inch push mower on hand to get the spots he can't reach with that gigantic zero turn.
I swear to god, I’ve never seen a UA-camr who gets shat-on by their viewers, and cordially proceeds to rip said viewers a new one more than Brad. Keep up the good work man, screw those trampolines
@Former Auror how is he simping, he’s just being kind to someone because of what they’re going through. I don’t understand what you’re problem is.
@Former Auror Average MHA fan
He obviously has no interpersonal skills which is why he has to work alone doing unskilled labor.
please do not swear on Gods name, we should honor and reverence His name, and it should not be sworn upon, we don’t swear on our mother’s nor fathers names, out of respect. So why should we use the Lord’s name in vain, and swear, we shouldn’t, we should reverence and respect Him He who gave us life and all we have, and the opportunity to wake up today. Please do not swear by His name.
@@Dani4B jeebus fuckin' christ and gawd damn it! Lol
If you’re gonna put so much junk in your backyard, mow it yourself. It seems incredibly inconsiderate to force someone to move all of your stuff just so that they can do what you’re paying them to do. You’re not paying them to move a bunch of stuff around, you’re paying them to take care of your lawn.
Mowers are expected to move rocks and debris out of the path. What's the difference in moving a few light weight items like that?
I don't think anyone is forcing anyone to do anything, maybe the yard guys can charge more or not take the job. 🤷
@@mattquarles6711 Lightweight? So you can tell the weight of items without being there? Also, those items were deliberately left there by the owner. Landscapers don't usually have clients going out of their way to put rocks down around their yard. Rocks are natural, all that bullshit wasn't. Imagine coming to do someone's plumbing and that person is a massive hoarder? You expect the plumber to do that job even though there is a mountain of garbage in the way?
@@mattquarles6711 lmfao good luck with that
Totally agree...this person thinks workers are slaves
My wife and I clean up all the kids toys, dog toys and dog shit just prior to our lawn care guy arriving. He's never said anything but we know he appreciates it!
You are the perfect customer. On behalf of all landscapers we thank you
and probably offer his some Powerade or Cold Iced Tea 🥤
The bad part is that even if you charged them extra to move their objects out of the way, that would be like giving them permission to put more in your way.
As a professional landscaper myself I would agree 100% if we charge more we are saying it's okay to do it. And eventually they will hire somebody else cheaper and do the process all over again. Customers like this do it for years before they can't find anyone in the area to mow their lawn anymore.
plus he's totally correct about the trampoline/swing set being both a massive pain and a liability to pick up and move. That trampoline was a worthy deal breaker in that tight little space. My Dad always said we couldnt have a trampoline because
1. injuries/friend injuries
2. Lawn killer
Wanna get suburban sued? Buy a trampoline and let your kid watch professional wrestling. All their friends will want to come over and get suplexed.
It’s not really about charging someone extra, but keeping your schedule. Any additional time added to each job can put another job behind.
Brad, I also own a LCC. I'm right with you. The reasons for dropping this customer are sound business decisions for any lawn care company. We are not there to move personal goods from the yard to do the job. Liability of damaging those items are a real concern. I have had similar situations over the years. All customers are informed that we do not move items from the yard. If we can't get our mowers in or maneuver around them, we will call the job finished. One thing you didn't mention, what happens if you got hurt moving their junk. Do they pay your hostital bills. Keep the faith and stick to your guns.
Yeah maybe if he had like just been starting out he might be more inclined to deal with the bs in the backyard but as he said he's simply at a point where he doesn't need this account to pay the bills and its not worth his time. He probably would actually lose money doing the job the way some of these people commenting want him to do
I like you
Nothing wrong with sound business practices. Having standards improves quality of life all around.
Says the guy with a swing set and a sandbox and a kiddie pool in his backyard and a city citation on his front mailbox
@@philliplinton6846 I'm confused by your statement. Do you agree? Or disagree with the above statement?
Nicely written. What brand and flavor is your cigar? Thanks.
Good. People know your coming and when you do it once they will continue to expect it at no charge. It's time consuming and the price agreed upon now must change! Same thing with carpet cleaners. It says on website we do not move furniture! Still they ask to move sofas, dinning tables, end tables, folding beds, toys throughout the house. The one I love the most.....can you just roll up the rugs and put them in the garage. Hell no. I'm on a schedule, call us back and we will try to fit you in about a week from now. I dont care you took the day off to have your carpets cleaned, then you had enough time to at least vacuum, move your rugs you dont want cleaned and put your dogs outside so we can service your house! See you next week or we won't. As I am getting older, being nice is for the birds. If they don't respect low prices and quality service then I don't have time for B.S. n games. I use to bend over backwards with a smile.......use to! And for you women showing up at the door half dressed for a discount, my wife says no so please stop trying!🤣😅🤣😅
People don't know what common courtesy is anymore.
That is so true!
when i drop someone, i tell them their yard is out of my route and i have taken on too much. but i normally do this at the end of the season so they have the whole winter to find someone new
What's the end of season? -Florida
@@cup_and_cone 🤣😂facts what “season”
@@Cripstobal they know one season hurricane season
Florida doesn't have winter lol
@@McNaBir Yes we do! It drops below 50 in the winter :)
I totally feel you! My biggest issue is people who don’t clean up dog crap and act like it’s no big deal. It’s just poop they tell me.
Be a shame of that trimmer slung a bunch of "just poop" all over the house :-/
I know man one time I was cutting someone else’s grass and I hit a pile of dog crap with the weed eater and it flung all over me
@@logan8926 that sucks but would be very funny to see
@@JZ-rc1de 😂
@@logan8926 shit happens 😭💩 been there done that.
I fire some of my customers who don’t suit my business. We have trampoline problems and ppl leave hoses laying around . Biggest reason is dog droppings
The dog 💩 is the worst!!✌🏻👍🏻
Yeah dog droppings are the worst. I don’t run a mower business but when I do lawns, there is always one poop I missed 💩
Mercuraz....I’ve hit a pile of 💩with a trimmer, that will ruin your day! Literally sprayed from head to toe. 🤬😆✌🏻👍🏻
How do you go about telling them you’re not going to provide service anymore?
@@horticology9343 I tell them the truth you don’t pick up before I’m coming . You know the next booking date but fail to care .
I am guessing that if he accidentally broke anything in the yard moving it, the owner would be screaming at him to replace it.
Good for you Brad. Yea I fire 2 or 3 each year myself. They're always so shocked. If they think it's ok to leave that much stuff out, they always will. You did the right thing
I had a question I was wondering technically aren’t you firing them cause aren’t they your clients? If that’s your client and they need servicing and you say no your just removing them from your service list. I’m asking cause the definition of fired is to dismiss (an employee) from a job.
@@B00STED.B Oh, it's just a fun way of saying that we're terminating our mutual relationship. Maybe divorce would be a better word. I'm going to start saying divorce. :)
I use to know an insurance agent who had a very difficult client. He had a lot of business with her, but was rude and demanding to her staff.
Every year she had a meeting with her staff about him and took a vote. One year after the meeting she called the client to say she would no longer represent him. When he asked why she told him "this year you lost the vote. The commissions we earn from your business aren't worth the grief."
Every businessperson has the right to decide with whom to do business and what criteria to use when making that decision.
I can tell you’re a nice guy, especially since I can hear in your voice that you didn’t want to drop them, but it was needed. Don’t worry man
Smart smart smart business decision! People need to understand, not everyone is your customer. Lawn care companies target different properties. Some like large acreage and some like postage stamps. Good move just dropping and moving forward!
I saw the previous video about this lawn and I was just waiting for this to happen. Good job to you though mate. People need to learn to be considerant whenever there is someone mowing their lawn.
When I run into those same things I don't mow those areas and still change the same rate. I let them know they have to move their stuff so I can mow next time. If they don't, then I drop them.
When I was a kid and used to cut lawns I hated when these people did this crap... good for you for firing them
I would have told them, "Bad news is that I cannot do your yard because you did not clear everything off the lawn. Good news is that Home Depot is having a sale on lawn mowers and edgers."
😂👍
This is just super inconsiderate like how do you expect someone to mow with all this junk in the backyard smh 🤦♂️
Oh you mean you quit on them. I thought they were working for you lol. They better not be, you did your best and they cannot move their stuff. I would have quit too. Too cumbersome.
Mowing a 1/32nd of an acre yard with a giant mower dont seem like a smart move.. but I don't blame you for dropping them..
Glad you dropped this customer he needs to become considerant to you and any other that mow there lawn
Or she. Maybe 'they' is the best way to say it lol.
I like how you phrased that and the last service free is a good idea. But my favorite part is it's all in writing
Yes! A well written email or even an actual letter is fool proof. Easy to provide in court if needed. Phone calls/texts are much less safe.
I don't blame you. Their property was a hot mess. Plus, you'd have to move all that stuff around every time. It's not even worth it, you can get other clients since you do good work.
I used to work for an office cleaning service that would tack on an 85 dollar fee for unflushed toilets. It happened once. Every time after that the toilets(if they weren't clogged, which they seldom were after that fee) were always flushed when we got there.
Man I can feel his pain I hate moving things around it’s a pain in the ass
Especially when it’s not your responsibility
This kind of thing happens to me a lot and it’s su frustrating. If it isn’t bad enough they have stuff in the way they put more stuff up making nearly impossible. The fact of the matter is people are just lazy and have no clue how they are making your job miserable. They take no thought into what kind of problem it will cause when doing what they do. After a few times of fooling with a mess like that I just fire them lol. There are plenty of other customers out there that are just waiting and looking for someone like you with less aggravation and stress
We’re in the mowing business not the moving business
This was in my feed. Thanks for sharing. I have a small cleaning business and you learn that sometimes it costs more to keep the customer than the gain to keep. Best to lose them on good terms.
Screw all these lovers that have something to say about you dropping this client. At the end of the day, its your business and you can do whatever you want. Its disrespectful for them not to clean their yard when they know you are coming. They wouldn't be happy with having to pay extra for the clean up, so why would you be happy with taking the extra time?