How Do You Handle Stragglers?

[toast]

Curious to see how you gents handle the late calls. You know, the ones that have you driving around with your plow attached when there hasn't been snow for days. Until now, I've actually been charging them less because by the time I get to them there is less snow; sometimes the driveway is half clear due to snowmelt. I know Hen dog will have some useful advice... Thanks ahead of time fellas....

[hockeypro1411]

First off, CONTRACTS. If not, take the plow off the truck when you're done plowing your regulars and when they call, inform them that you'll be charging $xx an hour and the clock starts when you start putting the plow back on and ends 15 minutes after you finish their driveway (travel time, unhooking plow, ect...). There's no way we'd ever plow anyone for a lesser rate that called 2 or 3 days after a storm. Not a snowball's chance in hell.

[Kodiak450]

Curious to see how you gents handle the late calls. You know, the ones that have you driving around with your plow attached when there hasn't been snow for days. Until now, I've actually been charging them less because by the time I get to them there is less snow; sometimes the driveway is half clear due to snowmelt. I know Hen dog will have some useful advice... Thanks ahead of time fellas....

 

That depends on whether how bad their snow froze up after a few days. Yes it could be less amounts, due to melt off, but also could have a giant frozen area of snow towards driveways entrance. I've had calls where people did not shovel their drive and let it sit uncleaned for days, only to call me to remove the frozen mess. If it's frozen real good it's gonna take more time to plow it, and salt to melt it, thus could wind up costing them the same if not more money had I plowed it the day of the storm. I got a bunch of calls with the Dec 19th storm and was getting more then usual cause of drives were buried at entrance from county plows. Most of the people signed up to be on my route after.

[Bernie Lomax]

Agree 100% with hockeypro.

[Kodiak450]

First off, CONTRACTS. If not, take the plow off the truck when you're done plowing your regulars and when they call, inform them that you'll be charging $xx an hour and the clock starts when you start putting the plow back on and ends 15 minutes after you finish their driveway (travel time, unhooking plow, ect...). There's no way we'd ever plow anyone for a lesser rate that called 2 or 3 days after a storm. Not a snowball's chance in hell.

 

 

You may feel that way, but if I were a so called :straggler: I would hang up on the phone on you and call someone else. No offense to hockypro, but this is not professional advice at all to say to a potential customer. You don't know their story why they waited so long to call for serivce, for all you know they could of been on vacation or away and were not able to take care of the snow.

 

It's takes under 30 secs to put my plow on, the biggest inconvienence would be drive time out to a locations that you were already in just hours ago. You give them some BS price because you are inconvienced because you had to put on the plow after you took it off, then you are in the wrong business. What if UPS or Fed Ex decided to call you up and say " Oh your package came in late, but we will not drive back out to your location cause we have to load the package on the truck and drive all the way back out your way.

 

You give them a fair price for how much snow they currently have and then ask them if they want to be added to your route for future services. I picked up about 8 new customers, no actually 10 new customers this season, because these people did not realize the importance of having a professional contractor take care of their snow removal. If you want to come off as a weekend warrior and tell them you are going to charge them extra money cause 2-3 days lapsed after the storm, and that your plow is off your truck and you have to put it back on, then you should either invest in a newer plow like mine where it takes 30 secs to put on and 30 secs to take off give or take..Cause you certianly are not going to make it in this business with an attitude like that. I didn't get to where I am today cause I was inconvienced by putting the plow on. Yea I was at one point, but I took care of that by purchasing a new plow. I always welcomed the late callers, cause I know I will be making even more money.

 

The right way to do it today is this..

 

Ask the customer what kind of driveway they need cleared, ask is it flat or slopped. Ask ruffly how long and wide it is, ask for their address, put their address into bing maps and look it up while still on the phone with them. From there you usually have the option to use birds eye view and get multiple views of their property. Then figure out the minium price they are looking at. Ofcoarse you wont be able to see the current snow on the map, so ask the customer how many inches of snow is on the ground where the area that needs plowing is. From there you can say you are look at a minimun if at least $$$. You don't want to show up , only to be turned down because you over bid the driveway, or they are too cheap to afford it. They are calling you 2-3 days after because either they were away when it snowed, or did not have the time to do it themselves and/or there is none else in the area they could find to do the job. Do it this way and you will find not only you will grow over time, but will also build up your cliental list and make alot of money per storm.

 

I don't make thousands of dollars per storm because I was inconvienced, I make it because I want to. It's a very rewarding experience to make what most people make in a month off a single storm.

[hockeypro1411]

I'd agree with your advice IF I worked for myself. I drive for one of the bigger landscape/snow removal companies in our area and our boss always preaches about contracts for liability, ect..., not stopping to plow driveways for people who flag you down for the same reasons, and keeping extremely tight routes. I agree with you about working on your own, however; they can just as easily call the next guy who they've seen driving around town. The money's there; you just have to be willing to go get it.

[sonjaab]

I also RUN from flagdowns !

 

Why? By the time the tightwads want you to plow the drive

is usually buried and they are tired of shoveling not to mention

they wanna pay you $5 bucks too!

 

Lets not forget that all the hazards are covered with snow and

not marked or staked out and of course the homeowner plays

dumb and tells you nothing is hidden or in danger of being

damaged!

 

Of course YOU know better and experience tells

you there is a well head, sewer clean out, sprinkler, curb

etc. waiting for you to RIP it up !

 

That $5 bucks ain't worth it!

[Zembonez]

I've never seen a plow on a vehicle in my life. You guys live in another dimension!

[Kodiak450]

I've never seen a plow on a vehicle in my life. You guys live in another dimension!

 

And it's a very profitable dimension!

[toast]

Thanks for the input fellas. I will take it into consideration for the next storm. Sorry it took so long to get back to y'all but there hasn't been any snow here.

[Wingnut]

I've never seen a plow on a vehicle in my life. You guys live in another dimension!

 

After as much snow as we've had this winter (about 10x the normal amount for OK), I'm about ready to spend $200 and put one on my riding mower.

[Kodiak450]

Thanks for the input fellas. I will take it into consideration for the next storm. Sorry it took so long to get back to y'all but there hasn't been any snow here.

 

That will all change tomorrow toast. 12-18" is coming, that's alot of $$$$$!

[toast]

That will all change tomorrow toast. 12-18" is coming, that's alot of $$$$$!

 

Indeed. I got the truck ready to go for the morning. This storm is the first to yield more than 3" in my area. There are places in Texas that have seen more snow than I have.

 

Happy plowing tomorrow! Best of luck.

[Kodiak450]

That will all change tomorrow toast. 12-18" is coming, that's alot of $$$$$!

 

Indeed. I got the truck ready to go for the morning. This storm is the first to yield more than 3" in my area. There are places in Texas that have seen more snow than I have.

 

Happy plowing tomorrow! Best of luck.

 

 

How did you make out Toast? How did that dump truck you got perform? You pick up any new clients from the last storm? Looks like the storm coming Mon-Tues is gonna give you a mix or just plain rain. They're calling for 3-6" for my area for Mon-Tues.

[toast]

How did you make out Toast? How did that dump truck you got perform? You pick up any new clients from the last storm? Looks like the storm coming Mon-Tues is gonna give you a mix or just plain rain. They're calling for 3-6" for my area for Mon-Tues.

 

The truck is excellent. No complaints other than the wiper fluid nozzle freezes up. I shot some lock de-icer in it and that stopped. Honestly, this winter season has been super slow. People are just letting the snow melt instead of paying to have it plowed. I picked up 5 customers at the beginning of the season and none since. In good news, all of them want me to take care of their properties year round. Looks like the contracts worked out better this year. I am considering putting an ad up on CL in areas where the storms hit. If I get enough response I'll take a trip. Good luck in the next storm and thanks for the info bud. BTW, where is the best place to see detailed weather info; I have been using WeatherChannel.com and find it to be a bit inaccurate for my taste.