"So what's your other job?"

shaggs

Sound like most guys here are smaller scale operators like me. (Forgive me if I'm wrong).

Some big tree companies think (not all) that bigger is; more professional, better, cooler, more experienced etc etc. As Ekka said, chippers become a p1ssing competition to alot rather than right chipper for the area/jobs.

I often get "never heard of you" from tree guys...which I like. I dont pay huge amounts for advertising as we're flat out usually anyway. Word of mouth always wins. For you guys who have expressed your opinion above, your passion is obvious. And if your work quality reflects your passion then good referrals follow.....People talk.

How many of you guys when quoting get the "xyz tree co did this...). If the customer has told you they have told alot of other people!

My best assets are my small but relaible, very experienced and loyal crew. They work with not the biggest chipper, not the biggest truck and a company that hardly anyone has heard about. We are all good mates and they are rewarded for their loyalty and skills and we love what we do.

Let the hacks be "hacks" and the big guys look down on you. Its a good game and those who are good at it seem to stick around for a long time!!!

newguy18

I have had people ask me why I don't use gaffs on trees that i prune for them and I simply say because I care about your tree and treat it like my own.So far so good.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

JohN Dee

You know what I get told all the time (mainly by bullshitting builders). "Oh that's right I've seen your trucks around town" Considering I havn't lettered/logo'd my trucks!

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT...

Red : Green : Blue

newguy18

Another faq I get is where is your saftey gear and I freak them out and say I brought my harness.Scares them everytime.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

shaggs

LOL John....
That's when the boys start talking out loud..."Geez I hope he doesn't wreck the house like the last job!"

At least it makes them watch you and the skills required for the work.

shaggs

Is that after they say "Yeah, thats easy...I could do that but.......". And just before they say..."Surely it wont cost that much...I'm in the wrong game"

Steve Tipton

OR- If I knew it was that easy, I'da done it meself

__________________
Heightmaster

arborcraft

Hi Quintrex,
Getting off topic I know, but why don't you share some of your stories about customers taking a discount when they pay?

newguy18

how about when they say I can buy some gear and do it myself?Then you show them a catalogue.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

bigshea13

let em do it .. hopefully they fall and break something . then you can go back and give em an even higher price.
unless he has his brother do it cause of course,"he does trees too"

quercus

To this day three people, whom I made an estimate for and finally did it themselves, got fatally injured. 2 of them died trying to top and fell a big pinus sylvestris, wich was under heavy tension, with a ladder. The other one got thrown from the top out of a big beech he was trying to rig for pulling.(This tree is still standing today.) Also due to working on a ladder, though... Sad to learn something like that after I call them back to hear what they think of the estimate. There are also others whom got permanently injured (1 wheelchair and 1 leg amputated) and also some minor injuries (broken bones and crushes fingers). In fact I only wanna shout through the mouthpiece "I told you so!!!!" but even that doesn't quite say it, now does it.

Steve Tipton

F@#%! I don't want a quote from you thanks!

__________________
Heightmaster

Sean Freeman

newguy18

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

Therrin

I mentioned earlier that I'm gonna start upping my quotes.

Maybe not so high that people are tempted to go and off themselves instead of calling me back though. I'll consider that the "high end", and try to stay below it in the interests of keeping people alive.

newguy18

I gotta keep my quotes way below the comp or else the bucket hacks will get it.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

shaggs

Quercus, I have to admit...that is really bad juju!

I hope you weren't giving them DIY tree advice!

quercus

No. I never ever give DIY advice. Except for trees who are smaller then me!!!
I'd show the articles from the newspapers, but you guys can't read them...I'll take a picture of the killer beech if I drive by tomorrow...

arborjockey

only been doing trees for five years but at the age of 30 i figured out what i want to be when i grow up. Certified master honda mechanic. Certified mechanic on all japanese made motorcycle suzuki, kawasaki, yamaha. Certified marine mechanic Johnsosn, evenrude, and bombardier. Certified by all major powersports manufactures (jet skis). certified com-tran tower climber and arial rescue. But now i live eat breath tree work. Its what i do Its who i am. Tree work never leaves my mind. I wake up 2 hours before work and watch tree videos. Every job I do gets 100% of my attention. I even dream of trees. To me you either live the tree life or you need to get out of the industry because you wont make it.

newguy18

i'm not certified but marine engines aren't hard to work on.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

arborjockey

I guess. Older boat motors were engineered very simple. Bombardier uses the the same direct injection for fuel and oil as formula one race cars and takes a $3000.00 lap top diagnostic computer for even the simplest job. Then again if you can work on formula one cars boats are easy. Hows the fishing down there? Im gunna be visiting friends down there soon.

bigshea13

id lose my tools in the water.

newguy18

i'm not sure about the fishing as i'm deathly afraid of water deeper than 6'.even on a boat.I haven't had a boat motor apart for about 2 years but like riding a bike you never forget.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

Therrin

Arborjockey,

The fishing out this way is pretty good

Between the lakes, the aqueduct, and the ocean, you've got a pretty good mix. I prefer scuba spear fishing in the ocean, but that's just my opinion. What do ya like to fish for?