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• PRO

  Will - WB Design & Construction May 29, 2010 at 8:18pm

  I have the same problem as I am 21 you just have to percivere. I found detting embroidered gear helped and often people try to haggle me down on price because of my age but i stick to me guns and tell them if they want a cheap job go speak to someone else and you will get a cheap job.
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  David Cox May 29, 2010 at 8:37pm

  Thanks!
  Its just comments like "You know what a clematis is? I dont want it trimming with the ivy!"
  I think the branded T-shirts are a good idea - On occasion I may be able to borrow my dad for quoting, but he works ft so not always possible.
  I know round our area we have quite a few older £8 perh people undercutting, but we dont worry about those now, as they seem to spcialise in scalping lawns and "if in doubt, pull it out" gardening.
  Its just this issue smarts alot more than raw competition, it is the proverbial door in your face.
  I suppose we shall just keep chugging away.
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  David Cox May 29, 2010 at 9:22pm

  Fraser -
  The exact words over the phone for the job in quesiton were "we'd prefer an older person with experience I'm afraid, Thanks" This was froma middle aged couple (probably no more than 45years). We had quoted them £100 for one man day of weeding and tidying.
  
  The other two implied age through questioning experience, and expressing supprise that both of us knew what Dill looked like, and that the Gerberas were straggling due to bindweed and partial shade. Both of these people were retired. Neither got to the pricing stage.
  
  I'm making a mental note to compliment the customer, cheers Pro - Thinking back, perhaps commenting on the difficulty with the Gerberas may have been taken as a slight against their gardening ability?
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  David Cox May 29, 2010 at 10:08pm

  I suppose thats it - COnfidence, also just got to make sure we respond when given such responses, I think we may have been a bit quiet, so maybe they did put us on the spot.
  Well with luck got a quote lined up on wed, so I'll dry run confidence and compliments!
  Out of curriosity, what is a good conversion rate on queries? At present we're looking 25%, and I'd expect 50% to be good overall.
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  Steven Crocker May 29, 2010 at 10:13pm

  im actually 19 and out of all the jobs ive quoted for ive won them all. even the more expensive fencing and tree work jobs. i think you just need to have a lot of self confidence and turn up looking professional in uniform helps. it may just be the type of customers youve encountered. all you need it for some customers to realise that the only way to gain that experience is by giving you the chance in the first place.
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  Pip Howard May 29, 2010 at 10:59pm

  I have had this happen to me also; but if given the chance to chat long enough it is easy to convince.
  I always turn up to site, no matter what size the garden is with a print out Land Information Search, available from the FC, a clear image of gardens elevation from google earth, and if possible a knowledge of the actual underlying soils - a geological map of area at 1:50 000 has been invaluable in relaying that the right information has been acquired. This of course for more engineering works on soils or planting trees rather than maintenance. But as I said on here once before won a difficult contract once with a lot of competition from the big outfits because I had a plan scale ruler stuck in my wellies and was caked in mud.
  
  I do wonder how much this has to do with pricing and the believe the older generation have the knowledge but charge less?
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  David Cox May 29, 2010 at 11:10pm

  Pip, interesting point. I do wonder, could it be some people want to chat with their gardener aswell? I can understand that I wouldnt be much fun talking to if your 65+! given my main interestes are permaculture, target shooting and cycling, though I might have to push a conversation on homebrew to a few people.... Not really the pensioners key interest areas!
  I get the feeling some people do see the price tag £100 and think, god no a gardener is not worth that!!! even though their 120m borders take a full weekend every fortnight by their own addmission.
  Still, i dont see how an older more experienced person can find a way of stretching £8 per hour to make a living and be insured, use safe equiptment and make a living (while paying ...... TAX)!
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  David Cox May 29, 2010 at 11:40pm

  Pro- No we never discuss pricing over the phone, I insist on seeing the job, as we dont want to commit to something we cannot handle, such as Knotweed, tree /stump removal etc (which We've herd people think is a tidy up job!). The £100 was a writen quote, following a verbal discussion.
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  David Cox May 30, 2010 at 12:49pm

  Its normaly myself that goes alone, although on large jobs where two people need to be, Both of us go. Taking today and tomorrow off to refresh, and then hitting out on tuesday. Got 7k leaflets to get through, so going to do 3k houses this month, then the same 3k next month. In the meantime, we've got to finish website design off and get it up and take it from there! In time i suppose!
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  Gary Hedges May 30, 2010 at 1:02pm

  Very true Rowly.
  I remember working with my Dad years ago, he had an old, reliable van shall we say not in showroom condition.
  Whilst we were working one of the competition came over with a brand new signwritten van and started to run down my dads van telling him about how he needed to project the right image etc, my Dad is a quiet man so just listened, the customer who now had joined us was not however, he said 'you may have a good van but your a crap gardener' (he had dealings with him) whilst Sam (my Dad) has a crap van but is a great gardener and thats why I employ him and not you.
  
  ROWLY HILL said:

  Yep T shirt and jeans...if they're lucky I've shaved that week. Looks aren't the dogs wotnots and this uniform, signed van and corporate look do not necessarily "cut the proverbial mustard". Its more to do with how you engage with the client, take on board what they want ( listen), advise if you think there is a better way of doing something, generally be pleasant and accomodating, don't bullshit or bombard them with latin names and technical stuff but gently show that you know what you're doing, going to do and that you can deliver the quality and service they expect ....you leave and they have the mindset " he /she does - I pay" IMO...of course.
  
  Pro Gard said:

  Ditto Colin, Ive never really done the uniform thing. I usualy do quotes at the end of the day on the way back to minimise travel time, I usualy just wear normal work stuff.
  
  
  
  
  colin said:

  i turn up in whatever ive got on. ive found that so long as you can explain methods in laymens terms so people understand what is involved and as importantly why things need doing that way you earn an instilled trust.
  i have it on regular occasions where customers will know every plant in there garden and will be questioning what it is and when it wants pruning etc even when i cant remember plant names but know what it needs and when shows an experience and more importantly an effort to care for something which on domestic maintenance is most important
  
  Steven Crocker said:

  im actually 19 and out of all the jobs ive quoted for ive won them all. even the more expensive fencing and tree work jobs. i think you just need to have a lot of self confidence and turn up looking professional in uniform helps. it may just be the type of customers youve encountered. all you need it for some customers to realise that the only way to gain that experience is by giving you the chance in the first place.