JJZ 109
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,174
- Location
- Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River
- Tractor
- Kubota BX2380/LA344 loader/60" MMM, Bobcat S185 skid steer, JD X394 4 wheel steer mower
I figure I've had a few calls from competitors. Customers usually don't ask as many questions.
That's definitely something to consider. In my business (seamless gutters) I get calls all the time asking my per foot price. I explain to them that I don't play that game over the phone. There are several other things to consider besides total feet of gutter in an estimate and a per foot price alone doesn't tell the whole story.
I visit all potential jobs and then give a written estimate that I never deviate from. There have been times when minor mistakes have been made and I didn't make what I should have on the job, but that's on me and I suck it up. I seem to have all the work I can handle and then some, so I guess local word of mouth is working just fine.
So yeah, I'd be leery of throwing out a number on the phone for mowing/shredding/brush hogging or whatever without seeing the job first and getting the lay of the land. Always a possibility it can be the competition trying to get some info to pull the rug out from under you with potential customers.