U.S. Maint, Home Depot

[Mustang]

I thought I remembered a thread about either plowing for U.S. Maint. or Home Depot but I couldn't find it. Does anyone have any experience plowing for either? I just received a request for a proposal for two Home Depots through U.S. Maint. The fax included a proposed price varying according to the depth of the event. The manager told me other contractors thought it was very low. He did mention it was negotiable. Well, when he faxed it over I almost couldn't believe my eyes!!! Not that they are all equal but I'm sure we all ahve a general idea of the size of H.D.'s parking lots. Well, the proposed price was for three hundred dollars for between 1-3 inches. I typed that because I was afraid everyone would think it was a typo. That's what I thought! I called him back and asked if there was a zero missing from the number. He started to laugh and said no. I was flabbergasted!!!FYI, the suggested price per inch over and above the max storm listed was $27.50!!!!!!!!

Now aside from this little price discrepancy, what has been your experience with either (or both) companies? Thanks!

[Plower737]

US Maintenance is a joke. Their prices are so low that its not even worth getting up in the morning. I'll never plow or do work for them.

[Clean Cut Lawns]

we do work for US Maintenance. And it all depends on the account. We started w/ a bed bath and beyond account and they pay the best out of ALL our other accounts. Then they asked us to do a COMPUSA account that we took on just so that they would not bring any other contractors in to the area as we were the only one. and that ended up being a mistake. they didn't pay enough but it was ok, then when it came to landscaping it was so low i said keep it i want nothing to do with it. but this one bed bath beyond account is the best very easy to do.
as far as payment we get paid at about the 35 day mark. there have been times where they said they could pay (2 times) i said ok and hid those cost some where else.

I'll only work for them if the money is right or else they could keep it.

[BWhite]

plow driveways , you can make more money

[sonjaab]

Stang............Hey !!! There is a thread in the business discussions thread here called "Another US Maint. call"

I will bring it up for you.........Interesting reading........geo

[cmerland]

Stang,

RUN DONT LOOK BACK JUST RUN.

Let me tell you how their negotiable contract price works. You negotiate what you think the real price is supposed to be for services and they say okay and you perform the work and send them a bill.

They come back months after the plowing is done and say they are having problems with the account, and will only pay what their original amount was going to be, and say thats all your getting paid, so sue us.

They have zero integrity within the snow business, even less experience and I have yet to see them retain the same contract for two years in a row.

These management companies go into major chains, banks, home depots, etc promising them they can handle all the branches and offices in their chain for x dollars with only one source to deal with which sounds great to them. Then they turn around and screw over the contractors that actually perform the work.

RUN

[Mark Oomkes]

CMerland says:

These management companies go into major chains, banks, home depots, etc promising them they can handle all the branches and offices in their chain for x dollars with only one source to deal with which sounds great to them. Then they turn around and screw over the contractors that actually perform the work.

RUN

Hmmm, this sounds like another thread.

Chris, how the heck are you? Haven't heard from you in a long time.

[Randy Clarke]

Don't be a hurry to get paid...been there for 5 years now. I only do one national account through USM. I am only doing it because of the account and I do not base the work in my core customer accounts...you know the one's that pay when you send them the invoice.
USM will paper you to death,switch account managers without telling you, pay the first invoice if your a newbie. Not pay you if you they have a request in for next years proof of insurance. Ummm oh and the client will not assume any reasponsibility for USM not paying as you are contracted to them not the client. If the client ask you to do extra on site USM will dispute the additional. USM will call another contractor if the client feels the work is not to the level required and USM will attempt to have you pay any shortfalls.
If the client is reputable which mine is you need to keep very explicit reports and all correspondence with USM.
Enjoy financing them espectially if you are salting and removing or renting iron to do the contract.

[Clean Cut Lawns]

its pretty simple. If you don't get a check be the 30th day, call then see whats up. if thy tell you it in the mail and you don't get it with in 5 days, stop service. Bill after EVERY service. thats how i went about it.
Good look and just watch yourself, and only take a us main account if it pays well.

[Prosno]

John Banks can tell you about working for snow management companys, bottom line you wait and wait for your money.

[John Banks]

And continue to wait, wait some more, and then they only want to pay you 75% of what they owe you, how they got that number no one knows, and then they want to pay you in installments that will go out another 7-8 months.

I rec'd the letter from Centrus, SMG's agent, which I will share with y'all.

[Prosno]

John post that letter if ya can, I'd like to see what is getting thrown out there now. Thanks

[John Banks]

I'll post it shortly, I've been swamped all week and still going like crazy. Three hours of sleep a night and I'm starting to feel a bit wooped.

Or, I can ask InstantRefill to cut and paste it since it came from him...

[Mark Oomkes]

I thought 'they' had deep pockets?

If so why do the people that are owed money have to wait 7-8 mos. for part of their money?:huh :huh More things that make one wonder.

[Randy Clarke]

Here's a thought as to what happens at that level. If you sell this idea to a company that has locations nation wide you can sell a seemless property management scheme.
You would also be able to charge an average monthly amount towards those invoices and charges to the client. I know one company that is large enough that they charge a monthly retainer fee to be "on call" as a sub-contractor to the management company. You don't pay that don't call us.
I would say it is not unthinkable that Home Depot would be paying USM $2-$300,000 per month as a base fee plus whatever the charges for the snow add up to. Now USM is paying staff/rents etc. The payables to the contractors is stretched out and those funds are probably in an investment or the bonus portfolio....Now make a list HD,CCV,Wiachovia,Level 3 any others...do the math

I'm not a detective but what a theory guy's.....

[bud16415]

Mustang here is a novel idea. Drop Bob Nardelli a line at home depot and tell him what you just told us. He is now the CEO and having worked with him here in Erie I always thought he was very approachable. Maybe its time some of these CEO’s are really aware of the safety issues they are putting their customers in.

Here is a little blurb on Bob to read.

http://www.mondaymemo.net/030217feature.htm

Bud