Another timewaster | Running a Gardening Business

[@davidchester429]

I had one over Easter weekend. I changed plans to help this woman on the easter Monday as I was booked up for 3 weeks and she claimed it was urgent. She was umming and arring about the price. Let's me know at 1pm on the Saturday afternoon that I didn't need to come down on Monday as her sons had already done the job for her. I politely told her OK but its really not fair as I'd changed plans to fit her in as she needed it urgently. It was a bank holiday so now all the suppliers were closed so I couldn't fit in other work and now that's 2 guys bank holidays messed up and she could have let us know when she arranged it with her sons. You should have seen her reply. Really narky message when she was obviously drunk. Sometimes we swerve one with these customers

[@stevelanghorn1407]

Clearly not “compos mentis”! What a faff for nowt. Been there, done that!

[@FunnyFiveADay]

Ultimately they really don't give a flying mate you get some wrong uns 👍

[@davidchester429]

@JimsGardenServices764 I've learned my lesson

[@michellesnow4706]

On the flip side, I've spent all afternoon waiting for a gardener to arrive. Said he would be here between 2 and 5. Now 5.45 nothing. Waisted my afternoon off.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I hear a lot of that as well yeah. Not great!

[@blank-dr2kx]

Not a serious gardener then.

[@MrLetExplore]

Had two quotes last week that didn't answer the door on the arranged window. Just drove off and added them to my long and ever expanding block list.

[@palouuk]

Did you ring the doorbell or just bang as hard as you could on the door?

[@gavincollins9376]

Tradesman does not equate to a gardener lets keep it real!!!

[@darrenupton5500]

I agreed a price with someone and when i turned up and unloaded my tools etc he came upto me and wanted me to drop the price. I just picked my tools up and went. Phuck em! Ive too much work on to care.

[@MartinPowell-e3p]

JUST SO ANNOYING YOU WENT THERE,TIME,TIME,TIME.

[@CandleMakingUK]

That's annoying. On the flip side when trying to find a hard landscaper early last year the amount of people that said they would come for to give a quote and just never arrived and people who came and never provided the quote is unreal. It was a £20k job

[@davidhamilton8068]

This is why I always ask for photos and descriptions of what needs doing and u give them a idea of what i will charge.. it saves so much time with time wasters..

[@blank-dr2kx]

You still got the round of death?

[@uniteallaction]

First red flag for me would have been hearing he was a landlord.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I know what you mean. I do work for a few landlords and fortunately they're OK but probably life you, I'm very cynical haha

[@uniteallaction]

@TheGreyGardener1990 I'm not a gardener but a window cleaner your first question always is how often do you want it maintained. That in itself tells you what priority to give the job.

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

doesn't happen to me now as i don't advertise 👍

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I very rarely do, I just like to keep my fb page active really. Serves me right 🤣

[@davidmartin7695]

As others have said I don't advertise anymore or do Facebook, but in the past i had my fair share of time wasters and one season wonders

[@stevelanghorn1407]

My number one tip would be : don’t message. Phone and speak to them. Especially a new customer.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Good advice 👍

[@RuffRides]

Yep, conducting business over text/WhatsApp is a relatively new phenomenon. Just 10 or 15 years ago this would have been seen as very unprofessional. Talking is so much better, you can get the tone and the sincerity. Arrange verbally, confirm in writing.

[@davidtaylorbfd]

​@@RuffRides I have a stammer so WhatsApp/Facebook messenger and text is a good send for people like me.

[@chezbannister2588]

I've had that a few time in the past once they start playing about then I don't bother with them. I've also turned up to do a quote and they've been out so I give then a ring and they just turn round and say yeah we're out evern though I'm coming round. Once that happens I don't go back

[@THETATTOOGARDENER83]

Hi Adam I get annoyed with them ones mate I try to stay calm but if they mess me around I’ll let it go and take on the next one

[@DJCollo]

i went to quote job the other day, he actually wanted a job working for me...very bad english, i should have checked... but he really thought i was coming round to give him a job, crazy

[@jordanbeagle5779]

“If I’m not home please leave the job around the back of the house”

[@DJCollo]

@@jordanbeagle5779 took a photo of it as proof

[@homegardens7682]

I knocked my gardening business on the head after nine years. Got fed up largely with people and the system. Tools so expensive now, repairs for vehicles/tools etc so expensive. People out to screw each other over, customers/tradesman/government etc. Dont want to be part of that anymore. Working PAYE in a carehome now lol.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Hard to argue with any of that. Hope its going well for you mate

[@saudade2745]

Levels. You found yours. My friend worked in a care home, was getting abused by patients and management, over worked, awful pay, expenses never recovered, making friends and watching them die weeks later. Stunk of urine. They quit and bought a cheap van and now make a killing doing lawns and hedges mostly for half a year or so. Cheap van, cheap tools, low maintenance costs. Own boss, casual hours, freedom, no manager, no abuse, no death. Its as though what's right for one isn't always right for another. Who knew.

[@benturner5824]

Just out of interest @homegardens7682 what have you moved into , as I'm thinking of doing the same

[@LePaysagistedeNormandie]

I hate the ‘how much do you charge’ question via FB or PM, to me they are looking fir the cheapest quote. I live and work in France the average sized property I maintain is 1500sqM so I ask for the address then measure the land via a measuring app then send a price range, if they except it to be within the range I then make a visit having agreed on a mutual time. If they postpone I always say I’m not available to take a look for 10-14 days later, its then they revert to original or except, if they except I will go as early as possible.

[@DavidMiddleton-g2h]

Spent 6 hrs on a site visit , measuring up etc , add in admin for a clearance, small soft landscape and then regular maintenance program. Heard nothing for a fortnight so phoned the factors , “it was just a pricing exercise to confirm that our retained contract gardeners are being competitive, thank you for your time “ ……. That won’t happen again!

[@The_carp_catcher]

I have it far to often... I'm a window cleaner.... I had one today in fact...turned up to do a job today what been on the round for about a year, drove to the job using my diesel and time... Backed on the drive... Got the tools out walked up to the property to see it's empty 🤬

[@TKG]

my annoyance with time wasters is when you turn up, and they clearly don't want a professional or pay their prices, I have had a few that are rigid with their time, and I have just let them fade away, I have turned up to an airbnb and it was exactly the same situation, as yours, gate was locked went back twice, in the end a nieghbour sorted it out, gave them a quote and then not heard from them, I now avoid these, where the customer isn't around, if they cant see me when I arrange they don't get seen.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Same here. You need them to be serious about it don't you. Big red flag otherwise

[@wieser1992]

One time. Went to this potential garden. Nobody at home... phone call.. they totally forgot... Told them "I'm actually fully booked" nvm.

[@sarahsallotmentjourney]

Self employed get this sort of thing way to often . I even get it as a childminder . People message details and arrange visits but don’t turn up and never hear from them again .

[@davidcarley6278]

Major Red Flags when the customer says "Can you come today?" as they seem to usually be after a quick, cheap job normally. This is what I have normally found out. Always use to get this around once - twice a year for me. Getting an experienced head on me, I never use to entertain them. if your landlord guy couldn't keep to his initial appointment, then what would it of been like when trying to get paid?

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Agreed yeah. As I say, don't really know why I jumped through hoops for him as I'm so busy but there we go 🤣🤣 lesson learnt

[@peterforshaw2560]

Tbh mate it’s more often the tradesmen that don’t turn up, but I do sympathise.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I do hear a lot of that as well

[@MarkRadford-v7p]

Yh I get the same people expect u there instantly they think u r sat at home waiting for there call

[@rickywatkins5588]

Yep had 2 recently. 1 cut my hours in half for fortnightly visits then complained i wasnt doing as much. Next one would text me most Mondays oh grass to wet come another day oh ive put bird food down come another day then text a day later asking when im coming. See ya

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

See ya indeed!

[@Rose_19911]

that's tiring just listening mate, get rid

[@peterhemming8968]

I just move on to the next there is not much else you can do don’t send any rude or bad messages to them

[@jameslinton3119]

I turned up to a quote a week or 2 ago for grass cut/strim and a bit of general maintenance, trimming shrubs when required & weedkill paths etc. As soon as I got to the door the lady & her husband proceeded to tell me the last gardener has retired "but he was very good, I mean he used to take all the waste away and do the weedkiller etc for free, anything extra we needed he would just do it and he never charged more". I just thought oh ffs another complete time waster. I sent a text with a price for the grass (£30 cut just an average size lawn) and any additional extras such as weedkiller etc will be priced in accordingly. Never heard back🤣 so many time wasters mate.

[@jeremyminns5627]

A man who works for free and a call girl who applies her trade for nothing will never be out of work.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Brilliant! It's so annoying isn't it

[@andrewb6774]

Ironic this story of someone yanking your crank and you sitting in the passenger seat of your own van 😂

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I'm not in the passenger seat. The camera is reversed so just looks like I am lol

[@garyjp10]

What’s wrong about sitting in the passenger seat anyway?

[@pablo9364]

Must have a dirty mind 😅. I always sit in the passenger seat when I have my tea breaks .

[@rosspark3522]

Another one i hate is you are doing a grass cut at one of your regulars and the neighbour wants a quote for a grass cut but your work is allocated for that day. So you give them a quote they accept u juggle your schedule around to fit them in asap and you turn up and they have cut the grass themselves without a text or call to tell you they did it themselves. Ahhhhh

[@leeedwards1839]

From my experience landlords are a pain always want a quick tidy up and want it done yesterday for has cheap has possible hard work dealing with them in my experience

[@lloydrepton5683]

Anyone who doesn't have the courtesy to reply or respect my time gets blacklisted tbh. If they message later down the road I hit em with 'unfortunately I'm full and I'm not looking for any more work for the time being'

[@Paul-tk2my]

I don’t give quotes. I tell them my hourly rate. Be firm. When you’re a professional gardener, people treat you like a lackey. It doesn’t occur to them that you have a skill set. People are way too polite sometimes. If I get messed about I show my displeasure. You don’t have to rant, just let them know that their behaviour is unacceptable.

[@locien182]

key word is land lord. land lords are the worst time wasters/late payers ever followed by letting agents.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I work for 4 other landlords and fortunately they're OK but it's always a red flag for sure

[@KenHJones]

You will get to a point where these people will not call you because they realise you are not a fit for them, But in the mean time you will get the odd onea year. In 21 years of business I only walked away from a customer twice, and only one of them noticed. Honestly if you offer a genuine service at a sensible price then you will avoid the idiots. Rule 1. Turn up when you say you will. Rule 2 Agree what workyou are doing and then just do that. This customer was your one a year. Brush the dust of your boots and move on.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Definitely mate. 99% of my work is with regular customers now and I've weeded out the bad ones, not that there was many. But yes, thankfully it's only the odd occasion like this now

[@amwartwork]

he was looking for a quick quote. selfish self centred person probably.

[@geraldj2062]

You need adjust your camera as image is a mirror one ie text on your jumper reversed 😭

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I've been filming this way since I started my youtube channel for these kinds of videos. It's so I can see myself on the screen so I'm in shot

[@stendecstretcher5678]

You probably dodged a bullet there.

[@davidchester429]

Why are you sat in the passenger seat?

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Camera is reversed so looks like I am but I'm not

[@Les-OZZYTHEOSCAR]

To mess you around like that is totally out of order. Good you didn't do the work for him cause there's an extremely high chance you would not have seen any money for it also.

[@MartinPowell-e3p]

MY EXPERIENCE WITH LANDLORDS AND INSURANCE JOBS,DONT EVEN BOTHER GOING.LANDLORDS WANT IT CHEAP,CHEAP,CHEAP,AND INSURANCE JOBS THEY ARE ONLY HAVING QUOTES SO THEY CAN SHOW THEIR MATE HOW MUCH TO UNDER CUT YOU BY.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Yeah to be fair I have 3 or 4 landlord gardens and they're fine but definitely a potential red flag. Haven't had an insurance job but can well imagine!

[@russellpetrie119]

i dont get back straight away dont act desparate get back to them that evening arange to meet tommorow at least you tried

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I went against everything I usually do with new customers. No idea why 🤣

[@russellpetrie119]

@@TheGreyGardener1990 he just got you unaware it happens

[@jordanbeagle5779]

“Can you come today” shows a lack of planning ahead and an immature impatience. Definitely red flag.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

100%. I went against all the things I usually do with new customers but there you go haha

[@paulpringle8263]

You have to be so precise time wise for meeting and quotes and stick to yor guns. Turned up for a squeeze me in job woman wanted ln her words lawn cut and edge's. Small lawn so quoted £30.00. She nearly bit my hand off can you do it now. I said ok thought I'll have it done in an hour. Completed the job in a hour fifteen pu tools back in the truck knocked the door for payment. She refused to pay me because i hadn't completed the job and said you haven't done the edge's. It was plain to see lawn cut edge's all straight lovely job. Still refused to pay. She then stood on the 3ft borders which where very overgrown and full of weeds and said you haven't done the edge's. A good four hour's work to put right. Lawn edge's and borders two different thing's in my mind. She still refused to pay so i got in the truck and left with nothing. Will never get caught out with this crack again.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Ah yes I've had a few edges/boarders conversations 🤣 next time I'm sure you'll double check which they mean! As if she thought you'd quote £30 for all that man🤦‍♂️

[@paulpringle8263]

@@TheGreyGardener1990 I will she must have thought I've got a dummy to do all that work for £30.00. Never again 😒

[@andrewbradbury8527]

Never chase customers, if they want it doing, they'll chase you. People have no morals, well a lot of them anyway

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Definitely. I went against everything I usually do for some reason 🤷‍♂️

[@daveraatz1328]

Laughing. I go out of my way to get a physical meet. I'm big, ex military. After a brief conversation they usually offer me the gig at twice the rate. I decline. Those people think yard workers can be toyed with and abused. Sub human traits that they learned from their elders, i suppose.

[@Happytruth]

You get piss takers all the time when you are self employed and more than ever people want work doing for nothing. Landlords and foreigners are the worst of the worst!

[@wagner251]

Facebook disease !

[@niterider1969]

What is it about people who do YT videos that they ramble so much. This could've been a 2.5 minute video.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

It's difficult to film videos and keep everyone happy and engaged. This style of video is more of a chat to the camera so occasionally you tend to go off topic a bit

[@usman3583]

​@@TheGreyGardener1990 your video is good mate

[@saudade2745]

No wonder you're a gardener, beating around the bush like that. Do you drag jobs out this long?