Incomplete info on pickups

**mthomasdev** · 07-24-2015, 05:54 PM

Do others also frequently get incomplete information about pickups?

Had 2 to do today. First was a claw foot tub in the garage. Sounded easy enough. Put in on a dolly and roll it out. Got there and couldn't go out the overhead door. Had to go thru the side door and down two steps. Then thru a narrow path. Was able to get it, but needed a little extra muscle.
second was a washer and 2 hot water heaters located in the basement near the hatch way. Got there and it was a stackable that couldn't be moved as is. Asbestos wrapped pipe behind it, copper pipes in front. Top of machine 1 inch away from light. One water heater was a solar unit that was huge and again about 1 inch from cieling. Hatch way had stairs that were tipped and the top step was about 18 inches tall. Will be going back Monday to attempt to get some of this.
just wish people would give complete information before I show up.

**AuburnEwaste** · 07-24-2015, 06:13 PM

This happens all the time, which is why I ask a ton of questions. The biggest offenders are churches. The one I did yesterday was supposed to be "over 50 computers and a bunch of printers". When I got there it was a small pile of audio equipment and about 5 computers.

There is a reason people leave out certain information. They are taking advantage of you.

**justdon** · 07-24-2015, 07:12 PM

Iam new at this and get this all the time.Today a guy called me and said he had 5 awnings that were on his windows he wanted removed.I got there he had 2 but he said I had to take the two trees he had cut down to get them.I just turned around and left.Iam so tired of this.

**harsas** · 07-24-2015, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by AuburnEwaste

This happens all the time, which is why I ask a ton of questions. The biggest offenders are churches. The one I did yesterday was supposed to be "over 50 computers and a bunch of printers". When I got there it was a small pile of audio equipment and about 5 computers.

There is a reason people leave out certain information. They are taking advantage of you.

Yup. They know if they give you all the details up front you will not come out but if they get you there they think you will not want to leave empty handed and will do almost anything. It is just part of the deal in this business. Just have to be ready to give them a price for your services or turn around and walk away.

**DakotaRog** · 07-24-2015, 10:20 PM

I suppose you could always state there is a service charge for coming out to compensate for whatever hassles you may encounter. Then again, you have to balance out that you will probably get less calls because people want to be cheap and/or are being willfully deceitful to get you out there. Maybe do a test for a month or so getting real data on how many times you go out to a pick-up call and score big from what you were expecting and how many times you get burned with aggravating circumstances or untruths. Everybody has their own threshold of bs they will put up with. You need to decide what's yours??

P.S. We still have a guy around here who advertises on CL that he'll pick up any scrap metal for free. Considering that light steel around here is .02 a pound, he's willing to do potentially a lot of work for little pay. Maybe he has other angles going like fixing up appliances and re-selling them. Then again, perhaps not...

**cummins** · 07-24-2015, 10:55 PM

happens to me all the time. i find once i explain the "free pick up for easily assesable items " items part know my cards n ads i normally find people are willing to help out so its free. no more slugging appliances up hills and stairs unless they work and are free. basment removals aren't cheap anymore because i dont want to do them. i get calls every week for garden sheds. if their assembled i better be able to back my truck or trailer up and flip it over or im charging for the job.

your allowed to walk away from jobs even after showing up.

i look at the job junk removal guys at the scrap yard and was jealous new truck paid labour....they get paid for the removal paid for scrap paid for resale items. parts from cummins aren't free

**travistemple202020** · 07-25-2015, 06:36 AM

I am picky on appliances as I do charge and must be either outside or right by a door to just dolly out if anything else I charge more as my insurance winged devil is like hey bud put a hole in their wall. I got it for that purpose but don't want it to go up for the same reason lol. most of what I get for surprises in regular pick ups of electronics is the oh I also have 5 tvs in the basement one usually is at least 25in and I got the other stuff loaded and they want to argue about me charging while I just took $100 from them for free lol.
until regulations hit I pick them up for free all the time cause it was decent money. now I sit on at least 20-30 most days as I can only get rid of 2day maybe 4 if best buy likes me enough but even they limited me to 2 per week now

**HT1** · 07-25-2015, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by travistemple202020

I am picky on appliances as I do charge and must be either outside or right by a door to just dolly out if anything else I charge more as my insurance winged devil is like hey bud put a hole in their wall. I got it for that purpose but don't want it to go up for the same reason lol. most of what I get for surprises in regular pick ups of electronics is the oh I also have 5 tvs in the basement one usually is at least 25in and I got the other stuff loaded and they want to argue about me charging while I just took $100 from them for free lol.
until regulations hit I pick them up for free all the time cause it was decent money. now I sit on at least 20-30 most days as I can only get rid of 2day maybe 4 if best buy likes me enough but even they limited me to 2 per week now

Charge for TVs sooner or later Best buy will start charging or demanding a receipt. CRT's are going to get into the same deal as tires and oil "environmental disposal fee"

V/r HT1

**DakotaRog** · 07-25-2015, 03:16 PM

Until the city folks run their little scan sheets for yearly data and say, "you can't bring in any more CRTs", I have a place to get rid of them. Until then, I'll keep picking them off a few at a time.

**EcoSafe** · 07-25-2015, 04:35 PM

was going to write a long diatribe to this but I won't. I will just say, it's part of the business you have chosen always has been always will be. If it was easy or highly profitable most would do it themselves. You have the choice to charge or not to charge, to walk away or not to.

**mthomasdev** · 07-25-2015, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by olddude

was going to write a long diatribe to this but I won't. I will just say, it's part of the business you have chosen always has been always will be. If it was easy or highly profitable most would do it themselves. You have the choice to charge or not to charge, to walk away or not to.

And I may still walk away from it. Just kind of suck when you try to fit something in on your lunch break because they have a new washer coming the next day and you get there and come away empty handed. Had I had all the information, I would have been prepared with the proper tools and alotted sufficent time to do the job.

**pjost** · 07-26-2015, 07:45 AM

A lot of the time (at least in my case) it is purely innocent. I've gotten calls from regulars and they will say "OMG bring a bigger truck! You can't fit all this in your trailer!!!" Get there and it's just a huge mess, but with a little planning and strategic placement it all fits on the trailer. I don't even pay any attention when they say bring a bigger truck anymore. Stack it high and strap it down is my motto.

**bigburtchino** · 07-26-2015, 09:18 AM

I have no experience in "haul away" service business, so can't give specific advise for that type of service business. I have 25+ years of running service type businesses. First thing that comes to me is a old saying "The devil is in the details", that mysterious element "details".

The hardest and most expensive lesson I had to learn, is every potential customer is not always going to be my customer, nor do I want them to be. Each business has to decide and seek their type of customer. Not just what works for the business owner, you also have to be able to satisfy the customer base. Provide a profitable service at the same time give professional, competent work in a timely manner and to a high degree of a customers compete satisfaction. You want and need your customers to be "HAPPY" with you. Most people hate spending money, have many "need to pay" expenses and need to prioritize "other expenses". When a customer pays you for a service, they need and you want them to know they made a decision in choosing your service business.

I have two basics that guide me in business: 1. Any endeavor has to be good for me, my employees and my customer. 2. If my customer is not satisfied with the level of service. I don't want them to pay me. Every customer is told that in our service contract, that same contract includes a lot of other details, including how much and when to pay me (almost always a percentage before start of service). Details, detail and more details (both parties should be asking and answering questions as part of any business).

The first two questions I ask a potential customer, How did you learn about my company and why do you want it done by me? What do I want to hear? That another customer referred me, because I'm the best at what I do. Does every job go perfect, seldom ever, but we keep working to get even better!

If you desire to own a service company and be the "boss", you will need to learn how to work smarter and better than others, because someone else is already doing it and many more want to.
Just my $0.02 for what it's worth.