🚀 go-pugleaf

On Wed, 21 Feb 2001 19:12:28 GMT, "pat" <bahn@tgv-rockets.com> wrote:

>I had a guy quote me $300 to climb two trees in my front yard, and cut out
>some busted/dead limbs and
>cut up the wood and take it away. Now granted, I won't climb that for ten
>times the amount, but is this a fair price?
>It can't be that tough of a job. He also wants $200 to trim some 18 foot
>tall barrier trees (Evergreens) and
>make them look better.
>
1) Can't tell from here about the price.  You need to get a few more
estimates locally to see how they compare.  Now, if the bid was
$298,000 than I COULD say it's too much, and if it was $1.98 too
little.  But a few hundred?  Can't tell.

2)  So "it  can't be that tough a job" to justify $300, but it IS so
tough a job that you wouldn't do it for $3,000?  WHO THE HELL DO YOU
THINK YOU ARE PRINCESS????  Why is it that people who can't or won't
do some physical work look down upon those who can?  I have 4 (count
'em, four) university degrees and never had that attitude.  The work
is worth what people will do it for, and if you think that's too much,
learn to DIY, smarty. 

3)  On a more objective note, the tree guy should have: a truck.
equipment.  time to haul to a legal dump after finishing at the
property.  office expense.  insurance expense.  reserve expense for
mishaps on the job.  hazard pay for the chance he takes climbing.
need to make enough money on jobs he does not get, to make up for time
spent giving free estimates on jobs he doesn't get.  All that stuff
has to be paid for by what he charges for his jobs.  That's what
"overhead" is.  How much does your boss charge customers for your
time?  Generally a lot more than your hourly pay.  Or do you work for
the government and have no clue?  You can't fairly say "that kind of
work should only get $15/hr and he was only here 2 hours so it should
be $30".

-v.