If I'dda wanted it done next week...

**Dougster** · 04-14-2009, 09:39 AM

... I'dda called you next week!!!

Prepare for the Dougster™ business rant d'jour!!!

Why do I keep getting calls for ditch digging work... very often from Indian and oriental sounding voices for some bizarre reason... for work that must (repeat, MUST) be done tomorrow (literally, no joke!!!) if not today or even yesterday???

This has always been a somewhat interesting phenomena ("must be done by tomorrow syndrome")... but lately it has become close to epidemic. Short notice scheduling issues are starting to really bug me.

My question is this: Are there excavating and grading folks out there that are on truly on "hot standby"... kinda like firemen on duty in firehouses... ready to mobilize at a moment's notice when the phone rings?

Am I the rule or the exception to the rule? Seems that the best I can generally manage to do (and keep what's left of my sanity) is to book work about a week out and sometimes two weeks out for more complex jobs requiring a better calendar "window of opportunity" or complicated planning/permitting/subcontracting or equipment/supplies that I don't have in stock or repair/reconfiguration mods to my own equipment, etc. Are my "logistical" issues killing me? Am I unique in this regard?

Maybe it's time for me to put on the voice changer and call my competition. I'd sure like to know how quickly they can book and execute work. I'd like to know if these "must be done tomorrow" folks calling me are crazy? Or if I am just slower than the rest of the ditch digging world.

Should I try to prepare better for "must be done tomorrow" calls? Or will it just lead to more stress, higher blood pressure and less job satisfaction?

Rant mode off... returning to normal communications.

As always, thanks for listening!

Dougster™

**LarryRB** · 04-14-2009, 10:46 AM

Out this way, this is the only calls that come in.. There is no such thing as scheduling a week or more than one day ahead. Been like this at least the last 7 years. THere simply isn't that much work and hasn't been. Those instant calls are just that, usually a foreigner who has an impulse need or more times than not, it is an impulse need without regard to permitting, etc.... I would be real carefull dealing with these types as they usually, but not every single one them, want something done illegally.. no permits, to close the the abutters line, etc,,,

**Dougster** · 04-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by LarryRB

Out this way, this is the only calls that come in.. There is no such thing as scheduling a week or more than one day ahead. Been like this at least the last 7 years. There simply isn't that much work and hasn't been. Those instant calls are just that, usually a foreigner who has an impulse need or more times than not, it is an impulse need without regard to permitting, etc.... I would be real careful dealing with these types as they usually, but not every single one them, want something done illegally.. no permits, to close the the abutters line, etc,,,

It is funny that so few of these (legal) Asian immigrant folks... typically highly-paid professional people from the Boston Metrowest area... seem to plan ahead. I know that more than a few callers have tried to do certain jobs themselves and then gotten into trouble when the job couldn't be done by hand or rental equipment. I also suspect that some of these folks have been let down by my competition at the very last minute. These are folks who pinch every penny even harder than moi... and I know they can pizz off us ditch digging contractors in a real hurry at times, especially if said contractor doesn't really "need" the job.

But it's becoming a scary trend around here (i.e., "zero notice" jobs) and I suppose I should take action to become more ready to nail them.

Dougster™

**Deanster** · 04-14-2009, 04:17 PM

Can you charge a premium for "emergency" service? You'd still need to work it in your schedule, but from a customer service perspective, it's always good to provide options, and let them decide whether to do it next week or pay an extra $100. They decide, you don't have to tell anyone "no".

**PaulChristenson** · 04-14-2009, 04:32 PM

**irwin** · 04-14-2009, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Dougster

(i.e., "zero notice" jobs) and I suppose I should take action to become more ready to nail them.

Dougster™

The wind blows business to and away.. Yes' be ready to jump and go. You never know what job will bring more work from friends of the "in a hurry" people. These are people going through the phone book or doing an on-line search, once you hang up they're gone forever.

Say Yes' Sure, but don't take a no win job. Don't let them beat you down, but don't charge excessively, it might be a profitable door opening.

This is where the Boy Scout wins.

**Dougster** · 04-14-2009, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Deanster

Can you charge a premium for "emergency" service? You'd still need to work it in your schedule, but from a customer service perspective, it's always good to provide options, and let them decide whether to do it next week or pay an extra $100. They decide, you don't have to tell anyone "no".

The irony here is that I *do* advertise my 24-hr availability for emergency service... but this is not what anyone would consider "emergency service"... except, perhaps, the caller!

For true emergency service, I would never charge more. In fact, knowing old softy (the poor businessman) moi, I probably wouldn't charge at all.

Lingering fallout from my Florida hurricane recovery days...

Dougster™

**Dougster** · 04-14-2009, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by irwin

The wind blows business to and away.. Yes' be ready to jump and go. You never know what job will bring more work from friends of the "in a hurry" people. These are people going through the phone book or doing an on-line search, once you hang up they're gone forever.

Say Yes' Sure, but don't take a no win job. Don't let them beat you down, but don't charge excessively, it might be a profitable door opening.

This is where the Boy Scout wins.

Well, yes, but it's not necessarily that simple. First, remember that I have two concurrent "jobs"... even though neither one of them is full-time nor pays me enough to survive. In the case of computer outcalls, every call is, by definition, an emergency... and I do respond appropriately. But it is easy when you don't have to configure and move tons of ditch-digging equipment.

What would it take to be ready at any time for (almost) any "zero notice", one machine job?

I guess the Red Beast would have to be configured for maximum flexibility (BH w/thumb on plus LD bucket on FEL with landscape-type toothbar) and the dump trailer pre-loaded to the gills with every implement/attachment I can possibly fit in there. The dump trailer could be pre-attached to the pickup truck so that the implements & attachments could be moved to the jobsite ASAP... same day... followed by the Red Beast the next morning. The jackhammer, chainsaws and cordless grease gun should probably "live" in the truck.

Dougster™

**PaulChristenson** · 04-14-2009, 06:22 PM

Seabee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**LoneCowboy** · 04-14-2009, 06:31 PM

Couple thoughts, in no real order.

1. WE never let jobs get more than 1 week away (unless it's scheduled that way for THEIR reasons). We've found people cancel, find other things to do, etc. If we get busy, we bust ass to get within a week. Sometimes the weather blows up the schedule, but people understand that.

2. I simply don't see the problem. This whole "switching" everything out. What exactly do you think I do for 30+ minutes every single night.
Today I just went and got the semi-truck/trailer (don't ask) and I have to take the ATV and the little tractor off. I have to take the Skid steer off the little trailer and hook the little trailer to the pickup from the dump truck. Then I have to put the tiller that's hooked to the little tractor and put that on the little trailer. Then put the aerator on the little tractor and put it all back on the big trailer and then chain everything down. Take me 30 minutes or so. This is nothing uncommmon.
At the end of the day tomorrow, I'll bring the big truck back, we'll take the ATV off, take the little tractor off, take the aerator off the little tractor and put the fertilizer spreader on the little tractor. Then we'll put the forks on the little tractor and build a pallet of 27 bags of fertilizer, then load that pallet and the little tractor on the big truck. We'll also bring extra straps because on the way back we need to buy more seeding fertilizer.
Then, thursday night, I have to take the empty pallet off, the new pallet of fertilizer off and put it in the garage. Then take the fertilizer spreader off the little tractor and put the aerator back on the little tractor. We'll also have to swtich harrows from the seeding harrow to the aerating harrow and load that all up. We'll also take the big tractor (which already has the big aerator hooked up) and load that on the trailer.

etc, etc, etc

This is every day, I don't see why this takes you a week? This is the story of the business.

3. This is why you need to get rid of the little stuff.
dump truck, real backhoe, mini-ex would handle any 'EMERGENCY' stuff with damn little loading and switching. Would also be great for plumbers/sewer guys.

4. If someone absolutely has to have it tomorrow, I'm certainly bidding a little higher.

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