[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A Tree = $800.00? (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 8/16/2010 3:21:41 PM EDT
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One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. |
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One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" Demand for tree service is up but the supply is fixed. I bet his price is lower in a couple weeks. |
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Quoted: Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. This guy has a 25 year old pick up and when I asked about his insurance in case he got hurt on my property he laughed at me. I guess you missed the part about his girl telling me between 250 & 450 huh? I guess not |
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I'm in the tree business !
You need a broke down estimate, ask any company to break down the complete cost to man hours, cost per man hours and disposal. Here in KY we charge 75 dollars a man hour, if I were at your house for 10 hours it would be 750.00 bucks, that includes any tools, trucks, chippers, saws, if there was very large logs there would be an added disposal fee. There is no reason a good company can not clearly explain why it will cost what they estimate. Good tree companies will never work just a single guy, the risk of injury is high and as such it is key to have a helper just in case, so figure 2 guys minimum required. Some companies try to get rich off a storm, these are companies that are not good, not professional, and not who you want working on your trees. Call around and get 4 estimates, you don't even need to be home, just have them leave them in your mail box. throw out the cheapest bid and the highest bid and deal with the other 2. This will insure you don't get my work is gold and I charge for it guy, or a got a pickup truck and beer guy, but you get professional service at a competitive reasonable rate. Fore the record, our prices never go up or down, but when a storm hits we give priority like this. Dangerous trees first, if its on your roof and can possible still come trough the house, guess what your priority #1 Blocking driveways, you guys come after the people who could be injured. Regular customers, we take care of our regulars and often drive by there house after a storm just to check. New calls, we will get around to ya in a timely manner. |
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I had one drop and had it cut up for about $5.............my cost in gas and bar oil................and my time...............and my aching back.
Add the cost of my chain saw and JD tractor and $800 is a deal. If somebody wanted $800, I'd go get a top of the line Stihl and do it myself. |
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If the tree is already down then $800 does seem steep, but when you get a storm that knocks everything down, it's to be expected. And depending on size...
I just got quoted right under $12,000 to install 400' of 48" aluminum fence. Now THAT was a funny situation. 
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Quoted: OP = Opening Post.Quoted: Quoted: Chain saw, get one. This. Holy shit! Quoted: Did you even read the OP post?25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. "Did you even read the Opening Post post?" Just pointing out the redundancy. Since I'm in this thread now... I got a palm tree leaning toward my house and would like it removed. If they want to remove it intact and resell it... That'd be great as I'd expect to either not be charged or even paid for the tree. If that can't happen then I just want it gone. So my question is: what term should I use to search the yellow pages for companies that buy/remove trees? |
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Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. Then explain this! "The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree." She shouldn't be giving quotes over the phone with out seeing the tree. |
| agreed,, it cost me $275 to drop one, and I mean he climbed it, limbed it, topped, cut in half, then down, I hauled it off myself. Try and wait a month or two, the price will drop. It took him maybe 20 mins........ (it was close to a neighbors fence) This was an established company in a company truck. |
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Quoted: Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. Yes, I do and it doesn't even come close to justifying $850 for a 2-3 hour job. And apparently the market won't bear it, since he's being sent packing. I bet he was pissed because it's not the first time he was told no. |
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Quoted:
One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. Another story of how people should work for free. 1980 called and said the $250 tree removal price is over. |
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Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. This guy has a 25 year old pick up and when I asked about his insurance in case he got hurt on my property he laughed at me. I guess you missed the part about his girl telling me between 250 & 450 huh? I guess not No joke. Have to wonder if he's any different than the average "gardener" that runs around the suburbs doing lawns for straight cash. I come from a family of folks who always did the majority of the yard work including landscaping as well as big assed tree removal(mostly huge eucalyptus) including post-storm clean up. I can see logic to it if you have a giant tree close to the house threatening to flatten the entire house but I have not ever experienced that need nor will I deliberately plant trees such that they become a threat. |
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Quoted: Not even fucking close slickQuoted: One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. Another story of how people should work for free. 1980 called and said the $250 tree removal price is over. I'm not a Tree guy and it took me 25 minutes. You think the job was worth what? Not to mention I was told the rate was between 250 & 450 ? I'm not cheap but I'm not some sucker either. Well at least I support the site  |
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Not even fucking close slick
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One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. Another story of how people should work for free. 1980 called and said the $250 tree removal price is over. I'm not a Tree guy and it took me 25 minutes. You think the job was worth what? Not to mention I was told the rate was between 250 & 450 ? I'm not cheap but I'm not some sucker either. Well at least I support the site
25 minutes huh? Why did you make the call in the first place? Im curious how much you get paid and for doing what? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Not even fucking close slickQuoted: One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. Another story of how people should work for free. 1980 called and said the $250 tree removal price is over. I'm not a Tree guy and it took me 25 minutes. You think the job was worth what? Not to mention I was told the rate was between 250 & 450 ? I'm not cheap but I'm not some sucker either. Well at least I support the site 25 minutes huh? Why did you make the call in the first place? Im curious how much you get paid and for doing what? Well there are more Trees that i was going to have cut up, now that this guy quoted that $800 each price I'll do them all myself. How much do I make? Apparently enough to buy a Team membership at $24 bucks a year |
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Not even fucking close slick
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One of the Trees that came down in the Tornado here needed to be cut up & removed. The guy came by, says "that will be $800.00" I said how about if you just cut it up and I'll remove it? He said "removing it is the easy part, $800.00 is what I'm charging everyone around here per Tree" I said "no thanks I'll do it my self" He said "WTF are you wasting my time for" I said I had no idea you would be charging that per Tree and I had no idea you'd be a dick either" The Girl on the Phone told me it was about $250 to 450 per Tree. 25 minutes later I had the tree cut up and stacked and will move it tomorrow with the Quad and little ATV trailer I have. Another story of how people should work for free. 1980 called and said the $250 tree removal price is over. I'm not a Tree guy and it took me 25 minutes. You think the job was worth what? Not to mention I was told the rate was between 250 & 450 ? I'm not cheap but I'm not some sucker either. Well at least I support the site
25 minutes huh? Why did you make the call in the first place? Im curious how much you get paid and for doing what? Well there are more Trees that i was going to have cut up, now that this guy quoted that $800 each price I'll do them all myself. How much do I make? Apparently enough to buy a Team membership at $24 bucks a year Have at it. Don't run the chain in the dirt. Next time we need a lot cleared to frame a house I will call you, fuck the tree guy. |
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Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. Uh......$500.00 three times an hour? 
For many years I paid 7% of my yearly gross on unemployment alone. I think many of you would benefit greatly from a small business experience, not a class where you talk about what you read in books, but actually living it. You scratch and scrape to keep in the black and profitable. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy.
for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. |
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Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. Uh......$500.00 three times an hour?
For many years I paid 7% of my yearly gross on unemployment alone. I think many of you would benefit greatly from a small business experience, not a class where you talk about what you read in books, but actually living it. You scratch and scrape to keep in the black and profitable. most tree guys around here aren't that responsible. also, when you compete with a skill that many people can do on their own, you aren't going to get to charge a premium. plus it's not like there is a shortage of tree trimmers. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy. for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. sounds like money well spent on the customers part |
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Any idea what liability insurance costs for a tree guy? any idea what workman's comp costs for a tree guy? obviously not. Uh......$500.00 three times an hour?
For many years I paid 7% of my yearly gross on unemployment alone. I think many of you would benefit greatly from a small business experience, not a class where you talk about what you read in books, but actually living it. You scratch and scrape to keep in the black and profitable. most tree guys around here aren't that responsible. also, when you compete with a skill that many people can do on their own, you aren't going to get to charge a premium. plus it's not like there is a shortage of tree trimmers. Unfortunately, by many of the houses I have taken apart certain men think they can do the same thing a pro can, but they cannot. A good tree guy is a godsend. Here, you need bonds in certain municipalities to drop trees and if it drops in a street, you are in trouble. In typical arfcom fashion, there is a lot more to this then the OP knows. Why the fuck anyone would call someone to drop a tree that he could do in 25 minutes is beyond me. To drop, cut, haul away and grind a stump in 25 minutes, the OP is a typical arfcom superman. I cut down my own stuff, I have dropped tress for years. A sappling takes 25 minutes. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy. for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. sounds like money well spent on the customers part hardly any brush on the tree. i guess i should say we had the whole job done in about 4-5 hours. customer was very happy. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy. for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. Do you really believe this was a 25 minute job if the guy quoted $800? It's kind of hard for an office chick to quote a gig on the phone, you have to see the job, you know that. Your price sounds spot on but a 50' willow seems like a small willow? No? Those bad boys get friggin huge around here. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy. for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. Do you really believe this was a 25 minute job if the guy quoted $800? It's kind of hard for an office chick to quote a gig on the phone, you have to see the job, you know that. Your price sounds spot on but a 50' willow seems like a small willow? No? Those bad boys get friggin huge around here. I don't know, i've been quoted some crazy prices for clearing trees. some estimates are easily half of others. |
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i run a tree removal business of my own. sounds like the right choice by not going with the guy. for what its worth, i recently removed a 50 foot tall, fallen over willow tree for $1100 the base / 15 foot log was so wide i had to cut from both sides of it with my 24" bar chainsaw. it filled my 18 foot long, 8 foot wide dump trailer 2.5 times, loading it 7 feet high or so in the trailer. the tractor ran for 4 hours that day just loading it up. if YOU had the tree cut and stacked in 25 minutes, that tree guy wont be in business very long. Do you really believe this was a 25 minute job if the guy quoted $800? It's kind of hard for an office chick to quote a gig on the phone, you have to see the job, you know that. Your price sounds spot on but a 50' willow seems like a small willow? No? Those bad boys get friggin huge around here. I don't know, i've been quoted some crazy prices for clearing trees. some estimates are easily half of others. I have taken bids from subs for years. I too have seen many crazy prices. I guarntee it wasn't a 25 minute gig and $800 for a bigger tree is not a bad price when demand is high. arfcom swallows for "supply and demand" until it means paying someone to do non white collar work. |