More parked cars

[gslam88]

Guys,

Maybe it just because it just before Christmas and family is home... but I noticed about 1/4 of my residential customers had cars parked in their driveway during today’s event that any year prior...
I normally might get 1 car in the driveway that is parked out of the way, so it not a real big deal, today... had several that had them parked like a checkered board so that I could not do a lot of the parking area.... and someone who parked and blocked the entire driveway... just me venting more than anything....

Pete

[CAMERON SERVICES]

I know the feeling.:mad: There's a seniors residence on my route which always has cars in the parking lot. The lot takes me twice as long as it should because I have to spend so much time working around cars and pulling snow out from between them. I know it's a profitable account for the company but what a PITA it is to plow, definitly the worst account on my route.

[76chevyman]

When i have customers like that i plow the end of the drive way and mark it as a plow. If they call its a extra $50 to come back. But it also depends on how far away i am and the customer if he has been with me for a few year or more and if they pay on time.

Rich:burnout

[mikegamb]

gs

I had the same problem with one house.they had the balls to wait 4 hours to call me after i left to come back because i didn't shovel around all the cars.i didn't go back either:headwall

i was saying to myself are these people really that rich and stupid? i mean i told them how i wanted things setup (back cars in and park to the left of driveway. park between 1 1/2 and 2 ft apart at the most. they parked all over the place.

people are just plain old stupid.you would think hey a storms comming i should move my cars around so its easier for the guy to plow.

then he crabbed about not sanding...well he never asked for it nor did he sign my contract:rolleyes:

[gslam88]

Guys


Well.. I guess maybe they did not have enough time or warning that a snow storm was coming.... they have been talking about it over here for what a week... it took them by complete surprise... no they were away on vacation... the cat made me do it.... I lost my keys.... (Think John Belushi Animal House)

Love stupid people....but wait.. what does that say for us.. who work for the stupid people????


Pete

[SNO]

It's Christmas.

[Alan]

Originally posted by gslam88

Love stupid people....but wait.. what does that say for us.. who work for the stupid people????


We gotta work for 'em. There ain't enough smart ones to go around!

[babyblue81]

Horray, we just had our first snowfall of the year :D

What do you guys do if you have a lot such as a wal mart or something that is open 24 hours a day? With all the cars parked around the place, how do you plow it?

[4evergreenlawns]

Correct, Allan.

you want to plow residential drives you have to take into consideration people only care about themself.

No different than lawn care and the client that only wants the grass caught so they do not have to clean up the dog crap all over the yard. NO THANKS.

Threads like this remind me why I DO NOT, WILL NOT, NOT NOW, NOT FOREVER AND A DAY, do residential work.

You can call tell me how the $$$$$ :cash :cash :cash just rolls in from driveways, but you tend to leave out the :headwall :headwall :headwall like mentioned in this thread.

Good luck. Looks like you will be back out and just have to bill them all for the second push.;) ;) :cash :cash

[4evergreenlawns]

BB81,

you plow what you can during the busy day time hours, and then follow up to plow the lot during the off hours.

Even 24hours accounts will have high and low traffic hours. This should all be spelled out in the Scope of Work section as well as, Terms section of the Contract.

Time and expereince will prove how and when.

[BWhite]

Originally posted by CAMERON SERVICES
I know the feeling.:mad: There's a seniors residence on my route which always has cars in the parking lot. The lot takes me twice as long as it should because I have to spend so much time working around cars and pulling snow out from between them. I know it's a profitable account for the company but what a PITA it is to plow, definitly the worst account on my route.

Seniors tend not to be out driving during snow storms . Dont know what you can do ?

[BWhite]

Originally posted by 4evergreenlawns
Correct, Allan.

you want to plow residential drives you have to take into consideration people only care about themself.

No different than lawn care and the client that only wants the grass caught so they do not have to clean up the dog crap all over the yard. NO THANKS.

Threads like this remind me why I DO NOT, WILL NOT, NOT NOW, NOT FOREVER AND A DAY, do residential work.

You can call tell me how the $$$$$ :cash :cash :cash just rolls in from driveways, but you tend to leave out the :headwall :headwall :headwall like mentioned in this thread.

Good luck. Looks like you will be back out and just have to bill them all for the second push.;) ;) :cash :cash

I have reasonable residential customers . They let me do my job ? If I was to get a crank I just cut them loose and fill in the opening with the next person . I keep a list of customers I have to tell I am booked .I Pick up the phone and I always find someone still looking . Can you do that with commercial accounts ? It really isnt that difficult or nasty . They seem to appreciate the service especially when they notice the Large pile of snow they didnt have to deal with .

[4evergreenlawns]

Bill,

I am not really sure what your point is.

Some customer are a real PIA so you keep a list of who you have to lie to about being overbooked and than you call around looking for more work when it snows?? How long have you been at this??? At least that is the way I am reading it.

In an attmept to answer your question: To be honest, NO I DO NOT call around during a storm to drum up accounts to make up for the one I think are PIA in the middle of the season and drop. That is just tacky. If anything we are getting calls for the side of the trucks to plow or salt but I am for sure not calling them. I run a 12 month a year business not just snow plowing for a few extra buck. I would never get away with a methodology of that type. Seems like the word ETHICS comes to mind.

Here is what I will do:

1) I take on the accounts that I can service within our means based on client we are already doing lawn work for. I submit a contract and I stand behind it. If the client accepts the contract as submitted and then changes the story mid-season I stand behind our contract and work out a RIDER to meet the new demands. Keep in mind I do this knowing they are a lawn Client too. I DO NOT PLOW for anyone I do not also do lawn work for.

2) If I am not happy with what the Client is asking of us then we DO NOT BID it or withdraw our bid.

3) I often find myself turning away accounts early in the season as we get booked quickly. In some cases I will pass on a name or number for another trustworthy contractor who is willing to stand behind a contact.

4) I a few cases I have helped out with the service call for

"the guy that did not show my loading dock is snowed in" or

"we went with the low bidder and now he will not come out"or

"the guy we had was plowing us on the side for cash and got fired".

Then try to set them up with a regular Contractor who I know might be looking for some more accounts.

Not sure that I am doing the right thing but if business slows down I might consider your method. However, I would leave every single piece of equipemnt I own PARKED before I started plowing driveways EVER. I hope my point is clear.

[BWhite]

I dont keep a list of customers I have lied to ? Where the He-l did you get that ? I said I kept a list of customers I had to turn away because I am booked up . Please identify where you saw me use "Lie" ? LOL long day ? I would appreciate a retraction of your statement , it was not warranted

Your point is perfectly clear , You prefer a commercial customers . I prefer residential . There are a lot guys here who like either or . Some do both . Business is business .

[4evergreenlawns]

Bill,


First I stated, this is the way I read this.

Second,

"If I was to get a crank I just cut them loose and fill in the opening with the next person . I keep a list of customers I have to tell I am booked ."

The way I read this, (which is clearly INCORRECT) was you keep a list of the PIA's so you can tell them you are over booked when they call.

Again, I have read this INCORRECTLY and it was inproper for me to think you were going to lie to people.

After looking at it again, I guess you are saying that when you are booked up you keep the over flow calls and make a list to call when you drop a PIA customer. That is way different than what I initially read.

A heartfelt, SORRY!!! for the misunderstanding.

[BWhite]

Originally posted by 4evergreenlawns
Bill,



After looking at it again, I guess you are saying that when you are booked up you keep the over flow calls and make a list to call when you drop a PIA customer.
.

Exactly what I do
When I do this the people are stunned . They say It is tough enough to get anyone to call back . never mind having someone call because a booking opened up

[Snoworks]

I also do mostly residential work, with all customers signed to a seasonal contract. As for cars in the driveway here is how i handle this problem:

Driveway Conditions: Snoworks Snowplowing operator will plow as close to garage doors, sides of the driveway & other obstacles as the driver deems safe. If a car is blocking the driveway, or a portion thereof, Snoworks will plow from the parked car to the cross street, no shoveling will be performed. If your driveway is not paved, Snoworks will not be responsible for stone, gravel, turf or mud that gets displaced. Homeowner is responsible for driveway safety conditions. Driveway shall be free of all foreign objects such as: Bikes, Skate boards, Lawn furniture, Garden hoses, Floor mats, Trash cans, ETC.

In ten years of service, I have never had a phone call, from a customer, complaining of not completing the driveway due to cars parked in the drive. Usually, I will get a polite caller asking me to come back at my earliest convienince. Once in a blue moon, i will get the customer coming out of the house as i am plowing there driveway, and when this happens, I usually wait.]

Chuck B.

[4evergreenlawns]

Chuck,

You are the man and the only person I have every really heard the makes real big buck in driveways.

[Snoworks]

Anyone, in the right areas, can make awsome money in driveways! Using the right equipment is also a huge factor! Who is to say you cant get all residential customers to sign up for salt service as well.

But the real issue that holds me, and most small snow contractors from making huge money in residential snow, is good labor!

Hard to come by a good laborer that can show up at a moments notice and drive a plow truck under the most sensitive circumstances. I am getting alot of kinks out of my operation. In my case downsizing, this year, actualy helped point out my inefficiency's.

I now believe steady growth is possible, while maintaining desired profatibility. You just have to be good at finding the right matches in similar labor pools.

Chuck B.