My answer wasn't appreciated. Be realistic with your worth as a gardener.

Potential customer just doesn’t get my reaction to his "what can you do for £12 per hour?" question.
Thanks for watching.
It would be great if you could like the video and subscribe if you want to keep up to date with us here ‪@LewisgardenservicesLtd‬

[@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices]

My new reply to any customer who mentions hourly rate . I give them the telephone number of the local scout group here in Gateshead, as they will let them know when Bob a job week is. I am a professional gardener, don’t insult me. I think it’s a brilliant reply.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

You got into trouble the other week too on an hourly rate, must be going around. Bob a job🤣nice one👍

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

Lol I would have said for £12 I'll spend 15 minutes explaining how I can't work for £12 per hour 😂

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

The old I'm paying you per hour but don't bill me for talking game😂my favourite 😬👍

[@Autonomous1969]

I'm an ex-professional gardener. In my experience people don't see gardeners as skilled people. I've often told people that they would think nothing of paying an electrician £60+ an hour but a gardener you want to pay them £10 an hour. I worked part time (Saturday job) in a garden centre. There would be a queue of people waiting to pick my brains on plant advice. I have 43 years of plant knowledge in my head. What did I get paid to do this? Minimum wage.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Trying to explain that to customers is difficult. I'll turn up at some place with 3 man team and 15k of kit and expect a lot of hard work and waste away for some stupid price🙄 cheers

[@MarksGrassCuttingServices]

Jesus. £12 hour, it's crazy, everything costs money, we don't just turn up with the equipment, we have to buy fuel, strimmer wire, public liability insurance, fuel for the van, van insurance....the list goes on. Crazy isn't it. Good video mate

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Cost of everything is nuts😬🙄 thanks for watching 👍

[@kepadaservices1286]

A brilliant response, I may have to use that one day. Peace and love to you brother

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

🤣I was being polite that day

[@hoehoehoegardeningservices306]

I had a similar situation last season, but mine was what do I get for £10/hr - I said "do you write scripts for Michael Macintyre, cos you are hilarious"

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's the best🤣

[@alanbrown8296]

That made my day. I love your sense of humour.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Cheers 👍 views normally drop once the humour starts😅

[@AWgardens]

🤣🤣🤣park outside your house for an hour and have a break. Love that!

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Might be my new side line😂

[@yasminneves1086]

How did I miss this beauty of a video? 😂

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Missing my finest work 🤣👀

[@josephogorman8267]

I had someone ring me because her regular gardener had retired, she’d been paying him £12.50 per hour since 1996 and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t charging the same rate in 2023 🤪

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

🤔why wouldn't you tho 🤣

[@Jordan.E]

I wasn't expecting that reply 🤣

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Somethings just pop out of my mouth in jest....must be more professional, must be more professional 😅

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

🤣 made me laugh that!

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

It is a tidy size van too so I was offering good value for money 😅

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd it's definitely a bargain

[@DJC995]

£12 an hour I need to put prices up 🤣🤣 Nice one Nathan Thanks again

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

£8 is so last year mate, go for it....😂👍

[@DJC995]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd 😀😀

[@Chris_Senpais_Mitt]

Great response 🤣

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

😬I was having a crap week 😅

[@saabmatt]

Ha, you should have said, I can go and sit in the pub for an hour as long as you’re paying for materials 😆

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's at least 2 pints and a packet of scampi fries👍😅

[@mr.tidygarden]

When I get asked on the phone how much do you charge an hour I reply. I only work to price as I want to make a profit being a business owner. Thanks for sharing Damien from Ireland Rocky 13😆

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea that's the way, got caught off guard while out this time👍

[@jackw9920]

Was £15 an hour when I started in 2013 and that was cheap to ensure I had enough work. A lot more than that now fortunately. Yes I sometimes work on an hourly rate for regular maintenance jobs. My thinking is if there is a definite start and finish point, priced job but if it’s open ended or too much to do it’s a hourly rate. 10 years on now and apart from 2 weeks off in December and 2 in January I work all year round.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Sometimes an hourly can be better than priced work for sure as some price work never ends and leaves you out of pocket 🙄 cheers 👍

[@Jake-sf3bj]

Haha pissing myself 🤣

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

😂that's chargeable time too👍 cheers mate

[@simoncopeland9761]

Hi Nathan,,can't believe it £12.00 a hr,that's expensive their is a chap near to were I live Charging £10.00 per hr ,unbelievable and also a retired teacher charging £12.50 a hr but donating £2.50 of his hourly rate to the local church and all the elderly congregation are falling over him. Never mind leaves all the good jobs and proper rates of pay for us professionals . I feel sorry sometimes for those elderly folk because these other chaps are not even registered with hmrc,no insurance etc. Rogue traders come to mind. Keep up the good work mate.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Cheers 👍 they're is such a wide range in our industry. All the costs built up when running a professional outfit....that's clearly not me😅

[@olsaffa7679]

For £12 per hour, I'd watch you do your own garden and shout advice through my phone.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

🤣 sounds perfect 👍

[@deanbird3720]

Might of got his newspaper delivered for that. Hope things are good mate👍

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Paper boy/girl wages😅 thanks mate👍 still moving forward

[@adamrobinson2696]

So funny. When I do a site visit and someone says we paid our last gardener £15ph, I reply “so where are they now?” I just say no thanks and walk away. Most people don’t understand what it costs to run a business.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's so true, my favourite is justifying a cost to someone when they say...but it's only .....do it yourself then 😅 thanks for taking the time to comment 👍 cheers

[@alcopley7684]

What makes me angry is that some desperate fool will accept that rate. We need to stick together or we all loose.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea, too easy to take on these rates and I understand when needs must but yes as an industry we need to have a good standard of rate👍

[@onthemowwithjoe.7664]

In my area,there’s a group of old men that cut and go. No fixed price . Just ask for a donation for the church. How about that for competition.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Bet they get paid more than me🤔😅 cheers for watching 👍

[@michaelgough4489]

😂 you've got to laugh.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Or cry sometimes 😅👍

[@andrewthomas2406]

I dont charge by the hour,however my min charge is £12 (now just put it up ) ,but i can do about 3 gardens in a hour.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's where it gets confused sometimes, customer thinks the maintenance will take an hour so wants a price for that but I'm reality like you say, we can do three of those gardens in that hour as we have the kit and method to get through jobs. 👍 Thanks for watching

[@hillbillyjohn230]

What can I get for £12ph ? Someone else

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Well politely yes, my jokes don't always go well so maybe that's the answer next time👍

[@jimmyspartacus6]

Mate what shredder would you recommend

[@jimmyspartacus6]

12 pound depends how tasty his wife is😮

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Depends what size you want I guess, I'm only running and have experienced the greenmech cs100 chipper which hasn't missed a beat👌

[@joshuabush2569]

When I went self employed in 2014 I was charging £12ph, back when I started off weeding old ladies borders. Ah the good old days 😂

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Sounds fun🤔😂

[@andrewchapman1511]

Hi mate , why do a lot of people want to pay peanuts ? Nobody ever asks window cleaners how much they charge a hour , my window cleaner charged me £15 and it takes him 20 mins max , and I’m happy to pay him that . Window cleaners do not have the machinery costs like us . I try to only price work now , hope you are well mate . Andrew

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Exactly, I just think traditionally gardeners would potter for so much an hour, just started a job this morning which will be graft with probably 15k of various kit. Cheers mate 👍

[@will-bp9gz]

£12 an hour! Take away van, insurance, diesel, ppe, tools, equipment, wages and then with all that profit you have left, dont forget tax! 😂gotta love these people!

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Crazy right, would cost me that to get there 🙄😅

[@Grahams-Grass]

🤠🙈

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

😬😂🤠👍

[@williamevans6554]

I do property maintenance in winter and on two separate occasions I have been asking if they had a gardener thinking of summer work and they said they have a gardener for £5 per hour ,one did have to pick his gardener up and drop him back home but wtf.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Omg £5 per hour🙄 I'd make more busking at the local shopping centre and I sound like a cat being strangled 😅

[@williamevans6554]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd I know I would be embarrassed to tell anyone that I was only paying that , but one bloke proudly boasted about it.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea I'd be keeping that quiet 😅

[@foo4572]

When it comes to our sort of work some folk think they can pay pennies.. if they had a roof fitted to their conservatory then they would be looking at a few thousand without a quibble as I found talking to a customer last year …. 😮

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea, for some reason I think we're classed as a no skill industry that anyone can do if they had more time🙄 cheers 👍

[@foo4572]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd yes sometimes and that’s why they are wrong … 👍

[@jeremyminns5627]

I'd bring a news paper

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Coffee and a paper, we're up to 35 mins now🤣👍

[@THETATTOOGARDENER83]

I still got old people say this to me what about £12 one lady asked me and she lived in a mansion with a Range Rover and said well the old man down the road charges £10 for grass cutting ( I replied with and that’s the big difference he doesn’t have my running costs as he’s retired and only wanting alittle cash etc ) Some people are just very out of touch or just chances mate

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea, seen and heard most things along these lines🙄 all part of the fun I guess👍 cheers

[@PKGardenService]

Madness that he expected to pay you that! 🤷‍♂️🙄

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Gotta try your luck sometimes 😅

[@paulraymondstamp4111]

The investment of tools and a van etc are all too often overlooked by some customers

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Yea, it's everything around the bit of work that costs👍

[@TKG]

lol, i started at 12.50 an hour 7 years ago, and that was underpriced!!!!

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Maybe this fella just woke up from a long sleep or something 😂 how's things mate? That new partner working out for you😅

[@carl8035]

Thats a huge red flag for me…when i get an enquiry asking me what my hourly rate is

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

I always so no, obviously I've a rate I need to achieve 👍 cheers

[@carl8035]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd yep…i have rate in my head i look to earn p/h but if the customer knew, they would have a heart attack 😂

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@carl8035 exactly, lost it last year and explained exactly how much and why to a customer who was wanting more for less, he backed down and said you don't need to explain your business model to me, please carry on🙄

[@jameslinton3119]

Some folk are unreal mate. Person who lives local to me said we were "too dear". they've got someone else in who apparently does 2 hours for £25. But low and behold there garden always looks like absolute sh*te and he turns up using there pluggy In electric mower etc 🤣🤣🤣 what this guy does in 2 hours I could do in 5 minutes 🤦‍♂️ some people just have really deep pockets and short arms pal, they get what they pay for 💩👀🤦‍♂️🤣

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's the thing I think, because they think a job takes hours they try to value the job at an hourly rate rather than being realistic about what's achievable with kit and experience. Taken over a hedge couple years ago, customer said it took the last lot the whole weekend, I said it would be £460, which turned out £20 more than she had paid but we bashed it out in a good morning. You pay for the end result not how long it took👍 cheers for watching 👌

[@dagtailgroundmaintenance]

I might walk the dog for that

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Can you walk mine too, they have no manners😂

[@dagtailgroundmaintenance]

@Lewis garden services Ltd I blame the owner 🐕 😁

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@dagtailgroundmaintenance they're the wife's 🤣

[@jonathanbell7752]

Oh I hate computers. Don't know but I deleted the hole thing. But then again I have my own way of walking 😉

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Say what you like mate 👍👍if I filmed myself unedited you hear all sorts🤣

[@scottellwoodgardening287]

£12 where do I sign up 😀🙈

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

£12... you'd do a drive by wave on the Ferris 😅

[@scottellwoodgardening287]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd 😂

[@slowmarchingband1]

Unbelievable..except sadly it's not. Would he dare say that to a plumber, builder, electrician or carpenter? My answer would be ''Well, what would YOU do for £12 an hour?''

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Price is the price with everyone else and nowhere near that price with some of the kit we use🙄 cheers buddy 👍

[@BarriosGroupie]

Imagine going into a barbers/hairdressers and asking what they can do for £12/hour? Or turning up on someone's doorstep and asking the same question?

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Very little probably 🤔 cheers 👍

[@commercialtreecare2023]

£12 an hour is the average rate where i live in Shropshire. Not for me though, you can't run a proper business on 15 an hour let alone 10 to £12 per hour. This is one reason why I'm leaving the Domestic/Residential market and going All out for Commercial, Government Contract work. When every other Tradesman is a Gardener/Handyman Gardener and charging no more than £15 an hour, I'm well and truly getting priced out of the market..

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Good on you👍I'm thinking along the same likes as struggle with a lot of the nonsense that comes with domestics. Although a local company has just gone under owing me 1k so there is that to consider 🤔 thanks for watching 👌

[@russellpetrie119]

id probabley ask him the same question but then again we probabley already know lol

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Hadn't thought of that one, as in what could you achieve in an hour...then say I could do that in 10 mins so start there🤔nice one👍

[@russellpetrie119]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd just leave it as dont charge by the hour charge by the job

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@russellpetrie119 yea, good news tho the fence job is booked in👌

[@russellpetrie119]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd lets hope it aint by the nail trouble is alot of brain dead 9 to 5 ers that dont have the inteligence of how it works and always broke assuming thats hoe it works sad

[@ianlawlessthegreenkeeper952]

Who does hourly rates these day's?? Let alone for £12!!!!! 😂😂

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Somebody does no doubt 😬I just can't tho

[@tomreviews9668]

It's like a red rag to a bull, really. It's difficult to remain composed and not say something unprofessional. I never know whether to be sarcastic or try to educate them as to why it's not commercially viable.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

It's hard when you've had a tough day or something not to be polite sometimes but usually I manage to drush it off 😅 does amaze me tho that they expect a company to come in for that when you get any other trade in and you know it'll cost. Cheers mate 👍

[@kanhdahar2]

scrump your apples :)

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Possibly 🤔😅

[@sgm-gardenmaintenance7408]

Last bloke he had in do it. was probably cheaper than that. Probably think he’s doing you a favour. There’s always people willing to work for nothing.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Possibly right and some people may be happy with that, just can't do with the cost of everything as you know 👍 cheers mate

[@sgm-gardenmaintenance7408]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd totally agree in the same boat mate. Nothing worse than been approached my a customer who’s been used to paying the job and knocker price. They seem totally shocked when they get a proper price back

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@sgm-gardenmaintenance7408 I didn't even get as far as what it would cost, I spent way too many years being a busy fool just to keep prices down and it got me nowhere fast

[@ian1091]

Can I ask what u pay your lads an hr?? I work doing exactly the same as u an I'm on £10.90

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Living wage, whatever that is now. All the hours I do I doubt on that😂

[@BottleBrookGardens]

To be fair that’s not a bad rate - if we lived in 1998

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Now I know why I was so poor in 1998, if only I knew 😂

[@davidhigginbottom3637]

Haha what the F***k

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

That's exactly what I thought 🤣

[@jackw9920]

Retired old boy using hand tools, chancer topping up his benefits etc there will someone but it won’t be a a professional running a legitimate business!

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

It's everything that gets passed on now, just can't get past the cost of kit etc. Yea maybe so using their tools and pottering around it fine🤔 who knows

[@mycolliesandme268]

So basically he was telling you what he thought you are worth paying, instead of asking you what you charge. Pisses me off that some people think garden services are worth less than other services.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

I think so, I have joked a high rate before and people have said fine, when can you start 😅👌

[@davidchester429]

I just don't know why these people are obsessed with getting an hourly rate out of you. They want you to do a job. Why are they willing to pay someone lazy more money to do the same job?

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

It's to compare to what they earn I think sometimes without seeing the endless costs. If I rock up with 15k of kit and do it in 15mins why is that worth less than someone taking 3 hours with £500 worth of kit🤔 like you say if the jobs done at a cost they're happy with whats the time got to do with it. Cheers for watching 👍

[@davidchester429]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd I also think it's to compare to other gardeners. I do handyman jobs and I've done with quoting cheap prices. I do a lot of gates, fences and raised beds and the price is the price now. If anyone quibbles I walk away as its often more hassle than it's worth.

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@davidchester429 definitely 👍 your price your margins and your standards 👍👍

[@neilhatton6018]

The £12 an hour days are loooong gone 😂🙈 to be honest it is more than a little insulting of him to ask someone of your age and experience that question. Especially given he is younger than you! If you were 17/18/19 years old and starting out with a bicycle and a trowel you could MAYBE entertain 12 quid an hour.. maybe..

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

I was looking rough so maybe he thought I wanted to top up my pension 😂

[@neilhatton6018]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd It's annoying though ain't it? Because even that little exchange you had with him was a colossal waste of your time and energy 🤣 It sounds like you weren't in the mood.. I don't blame you. I might have said my standard response to such a question "I don't charge by the hour, it's a price, there are two of us, we have our own tools which are petrol and I'll need to go away and think about a price and get something over to you in writing" they never show any interest after that 🙄🥱

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@neilhatton6018 I usually say the same thing more or less, it's just easier 👍

[@funkyduckproductions.8844]

Seems like my reply has disappeared ??? Oh well. Not to worry

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

Pretty much sure I didn't delete it🤔no reason to, was walking around at the time while replying but don't it was me. You didn't say anything to offend me anyway

[@funkyduckproductions.8844]

@@LewisgardenservicesLtd there no panic mate. 👍

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

@@funkyduckproductions.8844 Yea I know, I like all the comments good and bad and only blocked one person since I started so just wanted you to know I wasn't being a twat about a comment 😅 and what you said was spot on actually 👌

[@danajhasalvegas5819]

Ok sooo, if someone asks $12 hrs what can you do.... TELL THEM. someone may not be able to afford more... no need to be snarky... it's ok

[@LewisgardenservicesLtd]

I could do 20 minutes probably for £12 per hour 😅he was trying to tell me he wanted the garden done for that price which I wouldn't be able to and I try to break the moment with a light hearted response which fell on deaf ears this time.... normally I get away with it