Good points ekka. People dont understand our profession. Many just want a man with a chainsaw to tell them what needs doing and how cheap they will do it. People want to know what to do but dont want to pay for the advice that can save their trees and their wallet. They cant see the savings for the trees!
Paying a professional $100 for unbiased objectional professional advice on the health & safety of their trees to best understand exactly what if anything is needed.....
OR
Save the $100 and spend $1500 pruning/removing a tree uneccesarily because the treeguy doesnt want to have done a FREE quote for nothing.
One of the big differences between us and the other professions besides regulation of industry is they are services needed on demand urgently.
If your hot water goes or a pipe blocks/bursts or your power goes out you NEED these people NOW. As long as they can turn up soon enough they have the customer by the proverbials and can charge what they want. The customer wont turn them away because they might not be able to get anyone else the same day.
Doing work on your trees can often be put off for years.
The industry needs to improve.
Free quotes cost a LOT of money to provide.
We need to define a way of distinguishing quotes from consultations for a start and charging accordingly. Charging for quotes would be difficult to do when no one else does. Charging by the hour, like these other trades, would also be difficult as all tree service companies costs vary greatly.
1 might charge $80ph but take 2 days to do what another can do in 3hrs at $300ph.
I could be cracking a can o worms with this one but....
In many ways i see a need for clear separation between Arborists and Tree Services.
Tree Services should cut trees for people that want trees cut.
Arborists should be engaged on a professional basis to help people decide how to best manage their trees.
I'll run and hide on that one! |