Strange customer dilemma regarding lawn service

[The motor guy]

I don’t know your business well enough to advise - if it keeps other customers - then it might be worth accommodating her.

Telling her to take a hike doesn't solve the issue because I'm still next door on her day off. I really don't think it's a big deal changing the deal even for the others, but I don't see how to do it without mentioning the neighbors name. Atleast let the others know the situation. Telling me I'm going to be fired if I mow her yard or any of the neighbors yards is outrageous. If I lose her oh well, but they need to understand the situation.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I agree, grew up in a small business. Not your job to ask the neighbors to change on her behalf. They might feel obligated to switch and then blame you - maybe switch servicers in the future.

I would simply politely tell here that the other customers seem happy with Friday and leave it at that. If she wants to bother them thats on her.

If its worth your time to come do hers on a different day offer it (for an increased fee), or just tell her you appreciate her business but can't justify coming on a different day, and tell her to let you know.

Remember - you cut the lawn. Its not your job to negotiate a community wide service day.

 

[shortyb]

Telling her to take a hike doesn't solve the issue because I'm still next door on her day off. I really don't think it's a big deal changing the deal even for the others, but I don't see how to do it without mentioning the neighbors name. Atleast let the others know the situation. Telling me I'm going to be fired if I mow her yard or any of the neighbors yards is outrageous. If I lose her oh well, but they need to understand the situation.

Looks like this is the answer that you like best. When I was confronted with folks that would try to tell me the outcome if I didn't do what they wanted, I would just smile.

 

[The motor guy]

I agree, grew up in a small business. Not your job to ask the neighbors to change on her behalf. They might feel obligated to switch and then blame you - maybe switch servicers in the future.

I would simply politely tell here that the other customers seem happy with Friday and leave it at that. If she wants to bother them thats on her.

If its worth your time to come do hers on a different day offer it (for an increased fee), or just tell her you appreciate her business but can't justify coming on a different day, and tell her to let you know.

Remember - you cut the lawn. Its not your job to negotiate a community wide service day.

Well maybe not request they change, but inform them of her demands. This happened once before a few years ago I casually mentioned it to the customer. The customer told me I can come whenever I want, so I showed up the same the following week business as usually and he through a fit right there in front of the already informed customer. The customer asked me to skip the back that week while they talked and that customer never asked me to change a different day.

 

[CST Q]

Seems this person is a bit too entitled and self absorbed to me. A few things immediately came to mind when I read this:
1) It should be her, not you, that talks to the neighbors to see if they are willing to change their schedules.
2) If you have multiple clients in the neighborhood that appear to be satisfied with your work and schedule, it would be foolish to possibly lose multiple clients for the sake of keeping one. Mr. Spock would agree with me I'm sure (the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few).

 

[Cujet]

Some years back, there was a local push for banning gas powered trimmers and blowers. While it never got anywhere, today I am 100% sure those same government agents would consider battery powered equipment to be of acceptable quality. For the public good. But as always, real work does seem to require fuel.

I have a Toro 60V mower with the 6AH battery, and it is capable of mowing 1/4 acre, maybe. I love it for what it is, a lightweight, quiet tool. But let's be honest, it is not just limited in capacity, it is also slower than my Commercial Mower by about 30%. When it's time to do real work, I can't use it.

With that in mind:

 

[The motor guy]

Some years back, there was a local push for banning gas powered trimmers and blowers. While it never got anywhere, today I am 100% sure those same government agents would consider battery powered equipment to be of acceptable quality. For the public good. But as always, real work does seem to require fuel.

With that in mind:

Some years back, there was a local push for banning gas powered trimmers and blowers. While it never got anywhere, today I am 100% sure those same government agents would consider battery powered equipment to be of acceptable quality. For the public good. But as always, real work does seem to require fuel.

With that in mind:

That happened around here, but it had to do with setting a time that we could start. I think 7am is the earliest. Not sure if that ever went through or not

 

[ARCOgraphite]

My Pet peeve. Gas power leaf blowers should be banned. Absolutely Ridiculous noise pollution.

When I did lawn care I used to vac up with the aerodeck push mover. Any residual leaf or heavy clipping pickup gets the Lawn Sweeper or a hand rake.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I wouldn't say a thing to the other neighbors. I would just continue cutting the lady's lawn until otherwise informed by her that the Motor Guy's Service is no longer needed or welcomed at her home.

If she's under contact or prepaid for the year, when she is sent a new bill for the 2025 Summer Program, she will either arrange for another pre-payment, or not contract-comply for another year.

By no means would I cut her grass, without pre-payment first in 2025. I wouldn't want her to have the last laugh. Keep everyone in that nearby surrounding area on the same day again next year.

 

[nomas]

The woman who asked you to change the schedule of both your neighbors and you needs to find another landscaper. It sounds like you have multiple clients who are happy with Friday’s schedule, but she is not. Do her on Wednesday, the others on Friday. If she doesn’t like it she can get someone else. Just be happy you don’t live next door to this entitled, self absorbed whack job.

Scott

Absolutely ! I'm not seeing the problem here . You don't change the world for one customer . SHE needs to talk to the other neighbors , not you .

 

[The motor guy]

Absolutely ! I'm not seeing the problem here . You don't change the world for one customer . SHE needs to talk to the other neighbors , not you .

I agree, but I see no harm in informing them of the situation. No telling what she'll say to them. Just tell them like it is. She's threatening to fire me if I mow hers or any these yards on our regular mow day. They don't have to switch, but that's what my current situation is.

 

[Pew]

I'd prefer they know she is the reason for the change. Otherwise they could change to some other company that mows on Friday thinking it's because I no longer want to etc when that's not the situation and the neighbor is still mad I'm the one who loses out

Telling her to take a hike doesn't solve the issue because I'm still next door on her day off. I really don't think it's a big deal changing the deal even for the others, but I don't see how to do it without mentioning the neighbors name. Atleast let the others know the situation. Telling me I'm going to be fired if I mow her yard or any of the neighbors yards is outrageous. If I lose her oh well, but they need to understand the situation.

Ah I see your side and agree with you. I missed the part where she said you'd "be fired" if you keep coming on that same day. I don't do well with threats so I'd immediately tell her that she can find someone else to do her lawn and walk away. The Karen's tenacity of "the entire neighborhood needs to conform to me" is ridiculous, especially since she doesn't have the balls to tell her neighbors herself.

Although for fun, I may just ask your other clients in that neighborhood that Karen wants the neighborhood to switch days just accommodate her. I'm no fan of name dropping but this situation deems it necessary.

 

[ATex7239]

I agree, but I see no harm in informing them of the situation. No telling what she'll say to them. Just tell them like it is. She's threatening to fire me if I mow hers or any these yards on our regular mow day. They don't have to switch, but that's what my current situation is.

I think you are over thinking it just a bit. If she is willing to tell them lies then there is nothing you can do about it regardless if she gets her way or not. She might get her way and still talk crap about you. And if not this time, then the next time she wants something done her way or the hwy. You have to decide now whether you’re willing to negotiate with terrorist or not.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I would probably just tell her that if she wants to change the day (and you can also change without issue) that she is welcome to talk to the other neighbors.

Otherwise I would say she is free to talk to the city about the noise ordinance, but you're not doing anything wrong.

 

[JohnnyG]

Implement a $20.00/mo. upcharge for custom scheduling.

 

[Allaneddie]

I get it. You truck in your good mower (zero turn, I suppose) and other equipment and do that neighborhood all at once. Friday is best for all the other neighbors but her. I may be a hard guy but she is out of luck and should look for a new landscape person to do her yard on the day she wants. Is her name Karen?

 

[jcy]

Consider if you accommodate this entitled lady, she will be emboldened to make similarly ridiculous requests of you in the future.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I have a landscape business and this same customer has always wanted me to come on Fridays, well I also do several adjacent neighbors at the same time. Most everyone wants their property serviced on fridays so it looks good for the weekend and I kind of think the neighbors like to have theirs done at the same time so everyones looks good etc, but I guess she's off on Thursdays and Fridays. idk. What I think is absolutely ridiculous is she wants me to talk to the neighbors to change to a different day of the week. The reason is she's tired of the noise. She was literally fixing to have a total meltdown on me over this. In fact, I think she did. This happened a while back where a neighbor complained about the same kind of the thing and I told the customer and I'm pretty sure the told his neighbor to take a hike lol because when I brought it up to him he goes wait a minute, he's telling MY guy what day he can come??? lol First world problems here....the part that upsets me is how the customer approached me on the subject all out of the blue saying if you show up one more day on this day I'm finding someone else, you need to talk to everyone and get them to have you come on wednesdays instead of Fridays. How do you approach the other customers without throwing her under the bus? I'm not good with subtly and in fact I think in this particular case it needs to be told how it is to the other customers so they understand the situation. There aren't many things that surprise me these days, but this one just blows my mind. The trivial things that people get bent out of shape about. I just hope I don't lose all these customers over this because they may not go along with it. They may just tell her to take a hike lol Honestly the bottom line is what your neighbor does is really none of your business. Why do people buy houses that are literally 8ft apart and then complain about what the neighbors do? My neighbors are like 1500ft down the road. They could be screaming at each other and it's barely audible let alone being able to understand what theyre saying lol It's possible i'm blowing this out of proportion, but honestly it would actually help me out in the end of I could do more earlier in the week so I don't get stuck working the weekend, so other than that customers poor approach, it would actually be a good thing if they changed days.

I would tell her to do one or two things. #1 SHE has the problem so SHE needs to talk to HER neighbors. #2 If SHE has any problem with #1 SHE would need to find a new lawn person if it were me. Also I would approach the neighbors to let them know right up front that SHE is the instigator in this foolish/selfishness and it has nothing to do with you. I would offer the others to do what they wish me to do for them since they are innocents in this silliness. I would be cautious around this one as SHE sounds like she is missing some marbles and who knows what she is capable of.

 

[walterjay]

Many years self employed in business. I eventually learned not to deal with these type of people.

 

[The motor guy]

Many years self employed in business. I eventually learned not to deal with these type of people.

I've honestly never had a problem like this with her until this year. She's been very snippy with me the last few times Maybe I need to call her husband and talk to him. He's usually the one I deal with and he's the one who makes sure I get paid