Issue with landscaper WWYD

There is a local landscaper who has done some plantings for me in the past. He's nice , his work is good and prices are reasonable. I texted him in mid-April asking for a quote. It took about a week for him to get to my house and give me an estimate. I tell him, in text, that I want to go ahead with the work but I need it done by Mother's Day. No response. I text again, he gives me a date. I text him the day before to confirm, he never texts back and doesn't show. I text again and he says he will come Saturday (tomorrow). I wrote him back this morning and told him the forecast calls for not only rain but thunderstorms and I wanted the work done today. Again, no response.

So, it seems like the planting will not be done until AFTER Mother's Day. Is it pushy to ask for a discount? I honestly think I gave plenty of notice for the project and he wasn't prompt with responding to me.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

Honestly, sounds like he is busy with plenty of jobs so if you ask for a discount I wouldn't be surprised if he just blows you off entirely. Either that or he's just flaky and may blow you off for that reason. It sucks that he took so long to respond and didn't show on the first date you agreed to but to expect him to come a day early bc of the weather is kind of unreasonable. He probably already had jobs booked for today.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

It is obvious that he doesn't need your business so I would be looking for someone else. Not communicating is one of my biggest pet peeves and if he can't take the time to answer you then he doesn't deserve your money. There are so many landscapers out there. Find someone else.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD

if you really like his work, suck it up.

if not, i would cut my loses.
i have found out the hard way that when these situations arise, the person wanting (the customer) always comes out losing. either he'll just flake on you or do a bad job out of spite.

it's his business. if he feels he has nothing to lose by not responding in a reasonable amount of time and not showing up, then he clearly doesn't care to lose you as a customer.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD

I would get rid of him, and find someone else. Landscapers are a dime a dozen, and the good ones ((in my experience)) respond right away. I had 2 previous landscapers that were awful, and I wish I fired them sooner than I did, now I am so happy with my current guy. I live OOS or id give you his info.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

Both our landscaper and our sprinkler guy are extremely backed up because the season started so late this year. It looks like our next door neighbor's landscaper was as well because he lawn was just mowed yesterday and it was starting to get super high. So it could be the same with this guy.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

Ugh, hate this and I would find someone else. I feel like between landscapers and contractors who are good are bad on communication because they are busy running around and doing good work. I wouldn't hold it against him but I would find someone else. His loss. They all need secretaries.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

I would understand if he just couldn't get to you yet bc he's backed up with a lot of other jobs. But he should have at least responded to your texts. It's rude and unprofessional that he didn't respond to you wanting to confirm the date and that he didn't show up on the agreed date. Maybe he doesn't mind working in the rain. Give him a chance to show up tomorrow if you really want the work done by Sunday. But if he doesn't show, then if I were you I would text tomorrow evening and say you're moving on to a different landscaper.

Issue with landscaper WWYD

Honestly, the next landscaper you find will probably be just as crappy. I've yet to meet a landscaper, contractor, etc who isn't a hot mess.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD

I'm struggling with our landscaper too. I've been told 4 dates for a spring clean up that haven't panned out. Today is his last chance, then I am hiring someone new. The only reason he got this many chances is that he is a friend of my husband's. I would have fired him the second time he didn't show. I feel like landscapers are plentiful and I won't tolerate someone who doesn't value me as the customer.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD

Issue with landscaper WWYD

Ugh that sucks. I've left messages to get quotes from several landscapers and not heard back so DH and I have been doing it ourselves.

I wouldn't bother asking for a discount. Chances are he won't even show up.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD

I would move on

Issue with landscaper WWYD

This is very typical on Long Island for landscapers, contractors, painters, etc. Especially if the job is small, they put it off. Right now there is a lot of available work on Long Island and labor is hard to find, so I think they take what is going to pay them the most.

I'm having the same problem with my landscaper, and he's a friend who also works for my company and my husband's company. We bring him a lot of business and it can still be hard to get him to show up for a project. He always is reliable about the basics, e.g., my lawn is cut every week, but anytime we ask him to do something extra it's a process even though we're ready and willing to pay him in cash for it.

My FIL is having the same problem with painters. He hired them to do a few rooms in his house. They've rescheduled/not shown up three times now.

Unless you find some unicorn landscaper who reliably shows up (they must exist but I"ve never heard of any), you either need to accept it or do the work yourself.

Re: Issue with landscaper WWYD