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I'm a self employed gardener, for those of you that didn't already know. I have many qualifications and 47 years experience in many facets of horticulture, work hard and am in my opinion very fair on pricing, both hourly and day rate. I reluctantly increased prices modestly from the beginning of this month to cover fuel and the other overheads incurred. This is the first time i've done so in 5 or so years and the majority of customers have been very supportive and appreciate the work i do for them. One, however, has told me "You're biting off your nose to spite your face". I have a bit of a dilemma as his monthly standing order has gone into my account today at the old rate and i am due to do the garden next week. Don't want a big falling out as been working there for several years and the working relationship has been good, but now feel that i should just pay the money back and take up one of the other offers i've recently had. Advice needed and gratefully received
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 16:28 - Apr 7 with 2271 views
Do his garden next week, but say you'll be doing it less often in future - say every 3 weeks instead of every 2, or whatever equivalent matches the rise in rates?
Just one small problem; sell their houses to who, Ben? Fcking Aquaman?
Depends why he's paid you at your old prices I guess. If you think it's a mistake I would probably do the work because you've worked for him for so long, but 100% say from next month the new prices need to be reflceted in his payment. If you think he's taking the p1ss and trying to dictate your fee despite you telling him it's gone up then I would let him know it's short by £X, and ask for the difference to be transferred and future payments to be the new amount. If he says no then send it back and tell him you can't afford to keep working at those prices.
Also tell him it's cutting off your nose. Bloody hard to bite your own nose off.
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 16:28 - Apr 7 by Steve_M
Maybe do the next one after that many years but then ask him to make sure the increase goes through next time.
Yes, you've got to given them the benefit of the doubt at least once.
I have the odd client who is deliberately difficult. They sometimes get an email to say my book keeper has pointed out a mistake and then give them the chance to pay up. I don't have a book keeper, it just helps diffuse the situation.
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I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 16:41 - Apr 7 with 2176 views
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 16:33 - Apr 7 by clive_baker
Depends why he's paid you at your old prices I guess. If you think it's a mistake I would probably do the work because you've worked for him for so long, but 100% say from next month the new prices need to be reflceted in his payment. If you think he's taking the p1ss and trying to dictate your fee despite you telling him it's gone up then I would let him know it's short by £X, and ask for the difference to be transferred and future payments to be the new amount. If he says no then send it back and tell him you can't afford to keep working at those prices.
Also tell him it's cutting off your nose. Bloody hard to bite your own nose off.
"Also tell him it's cutting off your nose. Bloody hard to bite your own nose off."
Damn straight.
Pedantry is the most important thing here and I'd be tempted to tell him I don't even want to work for someone who doesn't know the difference.
Inflation is a realty. They have had a continued discount from the moment you set prices five years ago, as the money you judged your services has dropped in value. I'm obviously being simplistic about the decline in value, for ease of making the general point. If they cannot recognise this point, then you'll need to judge whether someone else would value your services in line with your needs and expectations.
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Check that they haven't just not updated the bank as yet. If it is that then they can make up the difference. If they are being awkward then move on as the working relationship will not recover. We also upped our rates after 4 years or so which means it is a fair percentage but less so in annual terms. There are plenty not as good as us charging more even now.
Anyway, I'd rather....
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 17:25 - Apr 7 by BanksterDebtSlave
Check that they haven't just not updated the bank as yet. If it is that then they can make up the difference. If they are being awkward then move on as the working relationship will not recover. We also upped our rates after 4 years or so which means it is a fair percentage but less so in annual terms. There are plenty not as good as us charging more even now.
Anyway, I'd rather....
Cheers. I haven't been at all unreasonable either, as other customers have demonstrated in their willingness to accept the rises with good grace. Perhaps we undervalue our skill set bankster as i also know of several charging more.
He's not willing to pay more. Had a polite exchange of opinions on the matter just a short while ago and will refund his money.
Parting comment "Do you know any one who can take over from you"
I chuckled and said " No, but you'll get what you're prepared to pay for"
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
4
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 17:40 - Apr 7 with 1939 views
My advice would be to print off some flyers explaining why you have had to increase your costs, with a list of your overheads and how the increases have affected your ability to keep offering your services at the same price.
Also note that you have kept your prices at the same rate over the past five years, despite your overheads rising consistently over that period, but how these latest increases have made it is no longer feasible to continue absorbing those increases whilst offering the same first class service.
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 17:40 - Apr 7 by StochesStotasBlewe
Cheers. I haven't been at all unreasonable either, as other customers have demonstrated in their willingness to accept the rises with good grace. Perhaps we undervalue our skill set bankster as i also know of several charging more.
He's not willing to pay more. Had a polite exchange of opinions on the matter just a short while ago and will refund his money.
Parting comment "Do you know any one who can take over from you"
I chuckled and said " No, but you'll get what you're prepared to pay for"
Very disappointed here TWTD
Where is the “do his garden, but leave a huge dump in the middle of his lawn” suggestion.
I'd do it this once but remind him that going forward it needs to reflect the new rate unless he no longer wants you and if he says no thanks I'd say no problem thank him for his business and take up one of the other options.
If he says yes but doesn't pay the right amount again I'd give him a reminder and if not rectified quickly I'd do as you suggest and send back and move on
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 17:40 - Apr 7 by StochesStotasBlewe
Cheers. I haven't been at all unreasonable either, as other customers have demonstrated in their willingness to accept the rises with good grace. Perhaps we undervalue our skill set bankster as i also know of several charging more.
He's not willing to pay more. Had a polite exchange of opinions on the matter just a short while ago and will refund his money.
Parting comment "Do you know any one who can take over from you"
I chuckled and said " No, but you'll get what you're prepared to pay for"
He sounds like an unappreciative, miserly fool, and for all you say that your relationship's been good with him, it appears to this outsider that the goodwill's all been going pretty much one-way ...
All trades & services are like gold dust these days, I've only just found a qualified electrician able to fit work in after 5 months of looking. One thing the pandemic should really have taught people who hadn't been previously aware, is that jobs they'd previously regarded as 'lowly' are actually of really high value.
You're obviously well regarded by your other cutomers who'll recommend you, you'll never be short of work, & how nice it'll be when *all* your customers appreciate you, not just 99% of them!
Glad you had the last laugh with his parting comment too!
I'm "Biting Of My Nose To Spite My Face" Apparantly. on 18:31 - Apr 7 by Ryorry
He sounds like an unappreciative, miserly fool, and for all you say that your relationship's been good with him, it appears to this outsider that the goodwill's all been going pretty much one-way ...
All trades & services are like gold dust these days, I've only just found a qualified electrician able to fit work in after 5 months of looking. One thing the pandemic should really have taught people who hadn't been previously aware, is that jobs they'd previously regarded as 'lowly' are actually of really high value.
You're obviously well regarded by your other cutomers who'll recommend you, you'll never be short of work, & how nice it'll be when *all* your customers appreciate you, not just 99% of them!
Glad you had the last laugh with his parting comment too!
Thanks for the kind comments.
Now you come to mention it, it does appear to have been somewhat one sided on the goodwill front.
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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