SPEAKER_06 0:02

What up, what up, what up, fam. Welcome to another episode of the Stripes and Stories podcast.

SPEAKER_05 0:16

Are you the host?

SPEAKER_06 0:17

Go ahead, Jake.

SPEAKER_05 0:19

Please introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_06 0:20

I'm your co-host. See baby.

SPEAKER_05 0:22

I'm the main host, Stripe Daddy.

SPEAKER_06 0:25

Well, you would be a co-host. If we're co, that means two.

SPEAKER_05 0:29

Oh I don't really know how this world works.

SPEAKER_06 0:31

But you can be a main, I guess, if you like. Alright, what's up, guys? It is uh Friday night for us when we're recording this podcast. And boy, have we had a rough week. So today's just gonna be a little story time about our week, the different customers we've experienced this week.

SPEAKER_05 0:52

Uh some new beauties, right?

SPEAKER_06 0:55

What has happened, what hasn't happened, just the whole shebang. We'll basically give you like a week in the life of business for us this week.

SPEAKER_05 1:04

Do you want me to play that that uh on your phone? That Instagram.

SPEAKER_06 1:10

No.

SPEAKER_05 1:10

It's so funny that story.

SPEAKER_06 1:13

But we have had just a crazy week. First of all, apparently Michigan is hit with this like smoke from these Canadian wildfires, which I think started Wednesday, right? Or was it Tuesday? I think Wednesday.

SPEAKER_05 1:26

I think Wednesday.

SPEAKER_06 1:28

And so it was like impossible for Jake and the team to breathe while they were working.

SPEAKER_05 1:33

Thanks, Canada.

SPEAKER_06 1:34

Yeah, masks the whole time. Which I didn't know, but apparently Canada does not have like a forest um clearing like department that like that we do.

SPEAKER_05 1:46

So like they don't do natural burns and stuff like that. Oh. So when it goes, it goes.

SPEAKER_06 1:52

So apparently, like Trump did this post where he was like, you know, this is Canada refuses to participate in like the natural burning and like the cutting down of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

Canada's at fault.

SPEAKER_06 2:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

I I hate to say it, but they don't do the natural burn.

SPEAKER_06 2:08

Well, I mean, it's just crazy. We haven't been able to take our child outside for two days because the air quality is so bad.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

So like It's really bad out there.

SPEAKER_06 2:16

I get it that you know it's a wildfire, but also like, come on. This has happened pretty this happened last year too, I want to say.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

Trudeau is he's out, he's not prime minister anymore. Then who's the prime minister? I don't know. I think. See, I don't even I don't even know.

SPEAKER_06 2:31

Either that or he's on his way out. Well, I only know about him because I know he's dating Katy Perry.

SPEAKER_05 2:37

God, there are two peas in a pod. I know. Oh my god, disgusting.

SPEAKER_06 2:40

Yeah. So um When did we lose her?

SPEAKER_05 2:43

Because she, you know, was a big Christian and everything, and then she became the pop star and everything. Was she always mentally challenged politically?

SPEAKER_06 2:51

No, I think when she married Russell Brand back when he was like a very big, like secular guy. I think that's when she started kind of turning and spiraling. And then when they got divorced, she just like He was probably too conservative for her.

SPEAKER_05 3:06

Wow, he's really screaming up there.

SPEAKER_06 3:07

No, he was very liberal at the time. I think like he didn't come to his conservative values until I think within the past couple years. I think it was like during COVID or like maybe a little bit before COVID.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

When he found Jesus.

SPEAKER_06 3:20

Yeah. So the crews are battling that this week.

SPEAKER_02 3:24

Russell Brand.

SPEAKER_06 3:24

Oh my god, okay. Drink your tequila.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

I'm just saying there's a lot to talk about, and it's just it's crazy.

SPEAKER_06 3:34

That sounds more like McJagger than it does Russell Brand.

SPEAKER_05 3:37

I don't even know how McJagger talks. I just know how he dances.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

No, Russell Brand.

SPEAKER_06 3:41

I want to do this, I want to do that.

SPEAKER_02 3:45

You're right, because Russell, he kinda he has this, yeah, he does this thing with his lip, and it's more eloquent, and he does something like this, and he'll talk about Jesus. And you know, the 33rd year is the most special year because of Christ, and that was his yeah. See, we call it the Jesus year. Alright, we'll work on that one.

SPEAKER_05 4:06

That's a fun one. I might yeah, I'm gonna fine-tune that.

SPEAKER_06 4:08

Clearly, you're gonna be a little bit more.

SPEAKER_05 4:09

I'm gonna keep listening to uh him talk.

SPEAKER_06 4:11

Yeah. So um crews are battling that this week. That was really rough. Um just sucked. Along with the heat from last week that kind of like drifted into a little bit this week, because I think like Monday and Tuesday were both like 90 degree days, almost a hundred.

SPEAKER_05 4:27

So was a hundred. Yeah, it was just both were um right at a hundred, I think.

SPEAKER_06 4:31

Yeah, so it was just a it was a rough week condition wise. And then obviously that transfers into the lawns where like most of the lawns we service are fertilized and irrigated, but at the same time, you know, you have something.

SPEAKER_05 4:44

Yeah, it's hard to keep up with that. Exactly.

SPEAKER_06 4:46

Yeah. So I mean, we fertilize and or yeah, we just fertilize our lawn. Yeah, and then daddy handles the irrigation with the yeah, and even ours is still getting brown, even though we water it almost every day. So anyway, battling that this week, but it's been a crazy week customer-wise.

SPEAKER_05 5:08

You've said that about five times. So do you want to just get into that?

SPEAKER_06 5:11

Sure.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

Yeah, it's been a crazy week customer-wise, just so crazy. Guys, you wouldn't believe the customer from the customer stand so crazy.

SPEAKER_06 5:22

Do you have any ones that you want to share before I go into mine?

SPEAKER_05 5:25

Um, I've been dealing with the really happy ones.

SPEAKER_06 5:28

Yeah, you have been. Yeah, I've been on like new customer duty, which has been a lot of the uh the ups and downs.

SPEAKER_05 5:34

Guys, and these new customers, I swear some of them got like a touch of the Tism.

SPEAKER_06 5:40

Do you want to know what a coincidence is, which I didn't realize? They were all 586 area codes. So there's something in the 586 area code.

SPEAKER_05 5:47

Where they grew up. Yeah. Yeah. Where they got that phone number.

SPEAKER_06 5:51

So I'll just like start right off the rip. So this didn't really get bad until like Tuesday. Tuesday rolls around. Jake sends me a guy who um asks him for a quote for a property in Troy.

unknown 6:07

Oh god.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

I forgot about him.

SPEAKER_06 6:11

So we're really starting off with a bang here. So um he needs a he needs lawn service. And so we weren't sure based on like how he was talking if he needed a one-time cut or if he needs weekly service. And of course, Jake is too busy, so he's like, Hey, can you just take it from here? And I'm like, sure. So I'm communicating with him via text. Um I said, okay, I said, are you looking for a one-time cut to just you know get the property down to regular growth, or are you looking for weekly service?

SPEAKER_05 6:44

Which Catherine knows I don't want one times.

SPEAKER_06 6:46

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 6:47

And if I do, you are paying the prettiest penny you can find.

unknown 6:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 6:54

Well, because we're we already have our routes established, they're established on Monday, and like we have recurring clients who sign up in advance for this purpose.

SPEAKER_05 7:01

You mean they're established on Monday? What do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_06 7:04

Well, we typically know like as of Monday what the routes are gonna look like for the week should be. Because of the weather and stuff. Yeah, sure. Like we can move people around, but like for the most part, we're pretty solid. Yeah, yeah. Like we know Waterford and Clarkston are on certain days, and you know, the whole thing. So anyway, the guy's like, um, I would be interested in the weekly service, but really I'm just looking for a one-time cut. So I give him the price for the weekly service, and then I say for a one-time cut, it would be this fee. And then we would also add on a $79 trip fee because he needed it done this week, I think, because he was in danger of getting a violation from the city.

SPEAKER_05 7:47

Oh, did he say that?

SPEAKER_06 7:48

Yeah, yeah, because it was so high. So he flat out tells me, Yeah, I I just need it cut and weed whipped. I really don't care about the health of the lawn. Because he was asking me about a bi-weekly schedule, and I said we typically don't do bi-weekly because our lot the lawns that we handle are fertilized and irrigated, and that demands weekly service based on the growth. So he goes, I really don't care about the health of the lawn, I just need it cut. I said, Okay. Gave him his price for a one-time cut, and he was like, Let's just do the one time and we'll see how it goes for the weekly service.

SPEAKER_05 8:26

I said, We'll see how it goes with your five-star ratings that you have on your side.

SPEAKER_06 8:30

Yeah, exactly. Like, there's a reason you called us. So um, we settle on that. Then I go, Okay, I'm gonna send you the link to input our card on file, and that secures you a spot on the schedule. So I do that, and then he responds, I'm actually gonna pull it up because I'm gonna go.

SPEAKER_05 8:50

Just read it word for word.

SPEAKER_06 8:51

You need the like dramatic effects.

SPEAKER_05 8:53

And guys, you can imagine if she's finding this. I I pull up to this property, and it looks like it's on eight mile in Detroit. I mean, just disgusting conditions. Clearly, people who one don't know what they're doing, two, don't give a flying fuck about their property, no pride.

SPEAKER_06 9:12

And it's just like, I can't believe that I'm rolling up in my beautiful rig that's all lettered up, and like, don't get me wrong, it feels good to restore order and help people, but like this is their own doing, and it's just like and also And I just know like they're not gonna be happy because you know they're hiring a service finally, and you know, they're gonna ask me to do extra shit and all it's just yeah, because they're gonna think it's included, and it's like we're doing a one-time cut, it's not like this is a weekly service type thing that you're doing. So I'll just read the decks. I give him the information. He said, When is the soonest they can be out here? Price sounds good. Would I be able to switch to every other week or on an as needed basis?

SPEAKER_05 10:00

Price as yeah, as needed. Just shoot me a text when you need me to cut your lawn.

SPEAKER_06 10:04

Price sounds good. What does it all include?

SPEAKER_05 10:07

So I go So what day is this that you're this was Tuesday. Okay. So this is Tuesday afternoon. You're talking to this club, Scott.

SPEAKER_06 10:13

I would go through the whole spiel. I tell him that um, you know, being that these are in the hot months, we can certainly skip a week if we feel like it's for better for the health of the lawn.

SPEAKER_05 10:25

And then that's when he says I don't give a shit about the health of the lawn.

SPEAKER_06 10:28

So I said we're in your area on Mondays, so that would be your typical route day. But if the proper needs to be main maintained urgently, I can see if there's a day we can fit you into the schedule once your card is on file. Uh thanks for getting back to me. I'm not really concerned with the look or health of the grass.

SPEAKER_05 10:46

Very clear.

SPEAKER_06 10:47

Just looking to get it cut. Yep, I'm kind of looking for an every other week cut. Yes, I'd need it done hopefully sooner than Monday since I've already missed that day this week. And I said we can add a trip fee to get it done if this week, if that works for you. Otherwise, it would be Monday. Is it overgrown or did you only miss this week? I usually cut it every other. So we're getting to the point of a potential jungle or rainforest. So I'm guessing the trip fee turns that regular fee into way more.

SPEAKER_05 11:15

There's no way he's the one cutting it. Right. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 11:18

And I said, Yes, that price is given under normal growth conditions. If it's gr overgrown as stated above, we will price accordingly. A special trip outside of our scheduled route would be a $79 fee. And he goes, So the first mo could be close to this, yikes. And I said, Correct. Our routes are for the week are established on Mondays, so this would be a rush request for service, hence the increased fee. So after the first cut, it would be possible to do every other week. When would they be able to get here? Would I know a total cost before I'm charged? So you can imagine. Like, yeah, I told Jake, I said, I like working for it because I feel like that much happier when I make the sale, but like this is getting a little annoying. So I said it would be on an as needed basis as we are typically a weekly service provider. I can certainly say the same thing in July and August in our hot months. We will we can ski we sometimes we skip due to the extreme heat the lawns are experiencing. Uh the card will be charged post visit, but I can certainly tell you beforehand what the final cost will be before it is charged. Okay, let me know, even with the fee, what day you can be here this week. So after this cut, it will be on an as needed basis. Sounds good. I said he can be there tomorrow. He can fit it in his route. Would you like me to send you the link to upload the card on file, which secures you a spot on the schedule? Sure. I'm still curious how the charges might work.

SPEAKER_05 12:47

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 12:48

Am I charged after the I would have thrown my phone at the wall after the work or before? I just don't want a surprise charge. And if possible, do we have a time for when he'd be here? Got work around 11 a.m. Just wanted to make sure I'm here before. As if he's gonna be the one that's mowing the water.

SPEAKER_05 13:06

Like, what are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_06 13:07

You don't need to be there.

SPEAKER_05 13:08

Are you gonna go out there with your tape measure and like exactly? Okay, so we're at 26 inches tall.

SPEAKER_06 13:13

Do you need me to show do you need to be there so you can show them where the property line is? Like what the hell? Yeah. So I said, again, you are not charged until the service is completed. I don't have an estimate as it will be fit in on the route where they can, but I would guess that it will be late morning, early afternoon. Okay, sounds good. I just sent you the link to upload the car on FIDO. Once that is completed, we will be all set for tomorrow. So no charges will be made until the work is done.

SPEAKER_05 13:42

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 13:44

Will I get a notification of when they're showing up or almost here? And do I get told the price before the charge is made?

SPEAKER_05 13:50

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 13:52

So if I want services again, do I just call? And as you can tell, I didn't make Jake privy to this whole conversation.

SPEAKER_05 14:00

Oh my, I would not, I would have just said cancel.

SPEAKER_06 14:04

Because of how annoying he was, and I knew it was gonna just like I didn't want to bother Jake with it, so I was like, I'll just handle it, whatever. So I said, as indicated in our above exchange, we do not charge the card on file until service is completed.

SPEAKER_05 14:18

I would have just if I had known all this, I would have just laid down and have Alex ran me over with tomorrow.

SPEAKER_06 14:24

See above. I let you know they will be there early morning or late morning, early afternoon. This conversation was based on weekly pricing, not a one-time cut. And I said, I asked that we do the one-time cut and see where we go from there. And I said at this point, I'm just done. I said, that's fine. Please input card on file so we can get you on the schedule for tomorrow before the end of business day.

SPEAKER_05 14:49

Did you say EOD or did you say end of business day?

SPEAKER_06 14:52

I said end of business.

SPEAKER_05 14:53

Good for you.

SPEAKER_06 14:54

So on Wednesday, following day, hey Catherine, they got here today. Do you know when I'll be charged? How long might it take? And I said, Hello. You will be Hello. I said, you will be charged this evening when all routes are completed, most likely. Okay, thank you. The next day. Good morning. I still haven't been charged.

SPEAKER_05 15:19

Because now, at this point, this motherfucker is complaining about literally guys, landscape beds that are just now whatever you want to call them because they're not grass. They're so overgrown, they're growing into a lawn. So he's like, Yeah, there's uh there was some stuff missed in the back. And I looked at, I asked Alex, I think I was still with him. I was like, Did you miss something in the back? He's like, I know exactly what he's talking about. And he's like, bro, it's like this landscape bed that's just disgusting. I'm like, oh my uh I was like, so I was so he's texting me, he's texting Catherine.

SPEAKER_06 15:57

I was like, Michael, just send me a picture of the Every time he's texting one of us, he's texting both of us at the same time. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 16:03

I'm like, so go ahead and just send me the picture.

SPEAKER_06 16:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:06

And I was like, I said, I apologize. I was busy tackling the front, and I sent him a picture of the 12 inches that was overgrown on the sidewalk, and this motherfucker goes, Yeah, the front looks pretty good.

SPEAKER_06 16:17

Yeah. I love it when people say pretty good. It's like yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_05 16:21

Pretty good.

unknown 16:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 16:22

Pretty good. It's like they don't want to admit that it looks great, so they just say, Yeah, it looks pretty good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:27

So this guy texts me, because I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna charge this guy until he's like happy. You know what I mean? Like within reason. And I'm waiting on the picture of what's not completed.

SPEAKER_06 16:38

Correct. But also, we have very um what's the word? Very soft hearts for people who were in the military. And Jake noticed when he was there that he was a Purple Heart veteran, and so we gave him a discount more than he even was quoted because of that, because we appreciate any military service.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 17:01

So he says, just checking in because I'd like to take my card off file after y'all get paid for the work you already did. Meanwhile, at the same time, he's wanting to get charged when he's texting Jake, being like stuff didn't get done.

SPEAKER_05 17:15

And so then he still doesn't even get his lazy ass outside, take a picture of whatever area. Yes, and then he sends me the picture, which was the bed that Alex said, and then he's like sending pictures of like the patio with weeds that are you can imagine. And so what I did was when I was around the driveway, the side of the house, I took care of all the weeds. Then there was a weed that was in the corner by all this electrical, and it's not like I could just unplug the electrical. This is like loose wiring that's not secured down. I'm not touching that because I just knew kind of I knew a brief synops of what Catherine was dealing with, and I'm like, I'm not damaging anything at this guy's house. Like, he's neglected this house for 10 plus years. It's not my job in one visit to get this cleaned up. Like, no.

SPEAKER_06 18:08

Okay, so next person. Jake sends me another quote. This woman had reached out to him a month ago to get lawn service. Jake responded to her within five minutes, and she responded back and said, Oh, I already found um another company already called me back, but thanks so much. I'll reach out if I if I need anything. Surprise, surprise, they did not show up.

SPEAKER_05 18:36

So a month later she texted me.

SPEAKER_06 18:38

Month later she texts Jake.

SPEAKER_05 18:39

Hey, are you still interested in copying the lawn?

SPEAKER_06 18:41

She didn't even Oh yippee! She didn't even say that. She was like, Do you want to cut the lawn or something weird like that? No, like trying to like dangle in a front of your face.

SPEAKER_05 18:49

She said that the other company didn't show up. Yep. Shocking. Yeah. Okay. Shocker. Um, and I said, and are would you still be interested? And I said, I don't know, how did I respond to that?

SPEAKER_06 19:00

You were just like, um, yep, please forward me the property address. I'll send it to my office admin and she'll be in touch with pricing. Perfect.

SPEAKER_05 19:07

So not my problem, Catherine and Joy.

SPEAKER_06 19:09

Yep. Enjoy and did I.

SPEAKER_05 19:13

Enjoy did I.

SPEAKER_06 19:15

So um, meanwhile, before this, or when we were texting, I asked her, I said, Are you because she had mentioned to Jake that her husband cuts like a piece of the lawn still? Here we go. Like all the way in the back.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

You can handle all the satisfactions. My husband likes to do the southeast corner of the property because he likes to still do this thing.

SPEAKER_06 19:37

And I think it was like almost an acre. So I um I pull up like an aerial photo and I'm like drawing it out. I'm like, is this what you're talking about? And she's like, Yes. So quote her the price. And she goes, um, she goes, no. She goes, uh, thanks for getting back to me so quickly, but that's double what I was paying. And I was like, well, you weren't, well, I didn't say this, but I was like, you weren't paying anything because the people didn't show up. So like your uh half price that you were getting, you weren't actually getting because nobody was there.

SPEAKER_05 20:10

Your clearance lawn care.

SPEAKER_06 20:12

Right, exactly. So I said, no problem, best of luck in your search. And so then she texts me about four hours later.

SPEAKER_05 20:22

This is at like 7:30 at night, right?

SPEAKER_06 20:24

Yeah. Just to be clear, the half the property is 22,000 square feet, and there is a 12-foot pool on the property and a 24-foot.

SPEAKER_05 20:37

So how is it 22,000 square feet?

SPEAKER_06 20:38

I think she was calculating her own little like thing that she was doing.

SPEAKER_05 20:42

She probably pasted off herself.

SPEAKER_06 20:43

Yeah. She's just giving me what she wants to buy. And so I said, Um, and she goes, she goes, I just want to make sure you have the correct dimensions. And I said, Yep, you confirm the area photo, which is what I used to price it. Like, that is the price. No response. So that was person number two. Person number three. Jake sends me uh somebody who has a house in Clarkston, the guy that you did today. And so I'll just read that one too, because it was just as comical.

SPEAKER_05 21:17

Had some common ground with this guy. It was a fun phone call.

SPEAKER_06 21:21

Yep.

SPEAKER_05 21:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 21:22

So usually in those cases, I'm kind of like, okay, they've already talked to Jake, they already like him, so it's probably pretty much a done deal once they find out the pricing. So I send him the the whole introductory quote that we um that we send out. And uh thank you, Catherine. Just to be clear, this is the price per cut. Yep, that's what weekly means. And I said, um, I said uh, and actually this was a bye week. Weekly price that he wanted. We made an exception for him because of the common ground that Jake and him had to do a bi-weekly basis.

SPEAKER_05 22:07

Well, and also too, like most of his house is southern facing.

SPEAKER_06 22:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 22:12

And, you know, it's a big piece of property too. So I I get where he's coming from.

SPEAKER_06 22:17

Yep. And I said we um I said we give a range, and I said because our software that we use um could be uh a couple of years old, a year old, whatever. And so there could be modifications that have been done to the property that we have to work around. So that's why we give a range. Okay. Appreciate the clarification. This seems a little bit high to me, but if you can schedule for this week, we can go from there.

SPEAKER_05 22:43

Seems a little high to me. Based on what?

SPEAKER_06 22:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 22:45

Based on what?

SPEAKER_06 22:46

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_05 22:47

Why are you reaching out in July for lawn care?

SPEAKER_06 22:49

Because again, his previous guy didn't show up. This was the second person this week where the guy didn't show up.

SPEAKER_05 22:54

So you're basing it off of shitty service.

SPEAKER_06 22:56

Yep. And I said, we completely understand. JLC is a premium service provider with an emphasis on quality and reliability. Two of the major issues, major bottlenecks within this industry. We'd be honored to serve your property this week. Thank you. Let me know when you are coming so I can make sure to keep my dogs inside. And I said, Sounds great. Are we thinking Thursday? I believe that's what Jake had said to me. Even though in the previous text I had told him, um, I believe that Jake had mentioned to you that you would be on the Thursday route. So I said, Yes, that is what we have you down for. I spoke to Jake and he said we can let you know an hour beforehand so you can keep the dogs inside. He says, Thank you. And I said, You're welcome. I also just sent you the link to input your card on file. And then the next day, no card on file yet. Good morning. I didn't see that we have your card on file yet. And then I just gave him an update. I said crews are out this morning and are going to complete as much as they can with the air quality. If your property has not been maintained by early afternoon, please know that it will be added to our route for tomorrow. Our number one concern on days like this is the health and safety of our team members.

SPEAKER_05 24:04

So again, you went above and beyond. Yep. You sent him a random text letting him know what the status is with JLC and all the team members. Yep. And also reminding him, hey, you didn't upload the card on file.

SPEAKER_06 24:17

Correct.

SPEAKER_05 24:17

That was all in the JLC introductory text.

SPEAKER_06 24:21

So cards should be, and this was at 8 41 this morning or that morning. So like I let him know as soon as business had started that what the update is. Cards should be good now. Appreciate you letting me know. I said, okay, thanks. And then at 424, which is well after early afternoon, which I had indicated if it was not mowed by, it'd be on the route for tomorrow. I assume mowered.

SPEAKER_05 24:45

Because at this point, I'm stoned out of my mind.

SPEAKER_06 24:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:48

I text you and I'm like, look, I gotta call it. The other guys, they're finishing a couple, we're calling it.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:54

Um, which I had already told you in the morning, hey, let the guy know there's a possibility we might not get there with it.

SPEAKER_06 25:01

Which is why I sent the update.

SPEAKER_05 25:02

Yeah. And so but then you had already said if it's not been maintained by the early afternoon, please take this as they will be there on Friday.

SPEAKER_06 25:15

Yeah. So he texted me, I as at 424. I assume mowers will be coming tomorrow now. Like, it's after early afternoon. We're in early evening.

SPEAKER_05 25:24

We're in evening now, buckaroo.

SPEAKER_06 25:26

And I said, Correct. They called it early afternoon as it was getting harder to breathe with the air quality. And so he responds, I should have not even like a oh, you know, I totally understand. I should expect them in the morning, then question mark. And I said, most likely mid to late morning. And then I texted him a second time. I spoke to Jake. Service will be between 9 and 11 a.m. He just says, Thank you, but says TY.

SPEAKER_05 25:53

Can't even write a full thank you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 25:55

The next morning at nine o'clock, which is today, I said, the crew is 30 minutes out as requested. I'm letting you know so you can keep your dogs inside. Again, TY. And I said the, and then this is when we were talking about a fertilizing company because he had so many different types of products.

SPEAKER_05 26:12

Oh my god. It was just like there was crab grass, there was um all these different blends of grass. I mean, it just like it was such a nightmare because I'm trying to get this maintained because then there's healthy grass that's shorter, and so I'm constantly feathering the deck, and I'm just going by feel, and uh, you know, I'm I'm the striped daddy, so I didn't have any problems doing that.

SPEAKER_01 26:35

Right.

SPEAKER_05 26:35

You know, that's that's just that's what the striped daddy does. Totally. It was actually really fun though. I meant to call you and just be like, I was in my element.

SPEAKER_06 26:42

Like it looked beautiful, the pictures that you sent me. It really did look beautiful. I mean, I looked at it and I was like, wow, that looks nice. Thanks. Which I mean, I normally don't do unless it's like come stay while's house. Because like, you know, when you got that big property where you just like it's a real emphasis on the stripes, it's really, really nice.

SPEAKER_05 26:59

Talk dirty to me, babe.

SPEAKER_06 27:02

Okay, so then this is the grand finale, guys. Buckle up for this one. Oh my gosh, that was funny. Yeah. And meanwhile, like this conversation with this next guy was happening at the same time as those two other conversations were going on. So you as you could probably have to.

SPEAKER_05 27:23

So she's Catherine's just like, she's calling me, telling me a little bit about everything.

SPEAKER_06 27:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:28

And she finally just calls me with this clown and she goes, What the fuck?

SPEAKER_06 27:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:32

What the actual fuck.

SPEAKER_06 27:34

And I just told Jake, I said, I have so much more of an appreciation for what you do because I don't know how you could possibly deal with these types of people and Mo like you have before I started, because like there's not enough time in the day. Like, I I don't know how you would have done it before. So this guy calls Jake, says that he's got his kid's birthday party this weekend, and this was on a Wednesday, and he needs his lawn cut by that time.

SPEAKER_05 28:04

By Saturday, and then also I need the bushes trimmed.

SPEAKER_06 28:08

Correct.

SPEAKER_05 28:08

And I was like, what? Like, it's Wednesday.

SPEAKER_06 28:13

Correct. Wednesday mid-morning. I texted him at 11:30.

SPEAKER_05 28:17

So took the call. Yep. Handed it off to you.

SPEAKER_06 28:20

So take the reins. I'm texting him. Yeah, we here he goes. He lets me have all the fun. So I said, um, because Jake wasn't sure if he wanted weekly service or just this one-time cut. And so I reach out and I said, Um, are you looking for a weekly service or a one-time cut? And I said, weekly service, or he goes weekly service, but I also need the lawn cut by Friday for a party on Saturday if possible. And I said, Okay, the weekly price would be blah, blah, blah. He can get it cut by Friday. However, moving forward, it would be on a Monday schedule. If the lawn is overgrown, please expect additional charges to get it back to regular growth. Jake did indicate that you needed some bushes trimmed as well. He can stop by today to take a look and quote that out on his on the way to his rock.

SPEAKER_05 29:01

Again, like going above and beyond for this guy. Took the call, you immediately are texting him, giving him a rough idea of how we can tackle his projects. And also, I'm able to swing by today and look at your stupid bushes as well. Right. Okay, I'm just making sure we're all on the same thing.

SPEAKER_06 29:20

Jake is such a nice guy. The guy mentioned that it's for his kids' birthday party. So, like, of course, Jake is gonna like try to make it happen because he's dad now. Like, he gets it. You want it to look good for your son. And he goes, Okay, yes, that's fine. He can swing by today. I'll be home all day. Okay, you don't need to be there, but okay. Great. I will go ahead and get you added to our system. We do a card on file, so I will send you a link for that. What is your best email? He gives me his email. Thank you so much. I just sent you the link for card on file that secures you a spot on the schedule. And then I said, Jake is arriving now to take a look at the bushes. And then I uh text him with the quote.

SPEAKER_05 30:00

So I get there. Do you want me to tell my point of view?

SPEAKER_06 30:03

Well, hold on. Oh you can say that in just a minute. Okay, does lawn mowing come with edging the grass as well? I said absolutely. Weekly service includes lawn mowing, trimming, edging, and blowing off the grass clippings off the walkways and driveways. Okay, thank you. Can I make payment tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.?

SPEAKER_01 30:21

These people and they're payments.

SPEAKER_06 30:24

I said that should be fine, but I will confirm with Jake. We do not charge the card on file until after the work is completed, and I don't see them with their route being there before 11 a.m. tomorrow. However, I will check in with Jake and let him know about that. Okay, thank you. I'll fill out the form now. My pleasure. Now you can go ahead.

SPEAKER_05 30:42

So I'll continue. I roll up. I see the bushes in the front, just some bad U-bushes. I mean it they weren't terrible, but like clearly neglected. And then there's these daylilies that look just disgusting. And I was like, I'm just looking at this shit storm. You know, the weeds in the sidewalk cracks are, you know, four feet wide because they just stretch, they haven't been taken care of. So I'm like, okay, this isn't too bad. Like Blaker can definitely knock this out. And so I wrap around the back. So I was like, you know, I'm just gonna check the back. And the gates open, and I kind of peek my head around, and he's actually out there. And I was like, hey, how you doing? I'm Jake, Jake's Lawn Care. I said, I believe you spoke with Catherine. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And like he couldn't shake my hand because he had something on his hand. I didn't know what it was. He didn't know what it was. I was like, Okay. I was like, so anywho, um, took a look at the U-bushes in the front. We'll get those all trimmed up for you. I see that you have two burning bushes back here. Would you like these trimmed as well? And he said, Yeah, that'd be great. And then his little man comes out and just adorable kid. And then he points to this one bed. And ugly juniper bush, which wasn't super overgrown, but you guys just know how junipers are. They're just kind of a little crazy. And then babe, these weeds, they were as tall as you. I mean, they were between five and six feet tall.

SPEAKER_06 32:17

Oh, based on the ones that I saw, I can imagine.

SPEAKER_05 32:21

And I was like, he's like, Yeah, so I want this trimmed, and like I think I want those trimmed. I was like, the weeds? You you want the weeds trimmed? I was like, how about removing them? And he's like, Oh, those are weeds? Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 32:38

And I was like, and then you that's how we got to this situation.

SPEAKER_05 32:41

And I was like, and then you got two weed trees in here, and we better get these out of here before they become full-blown trees. He's like, Oh, okay. And you know, just clearly. So I said, Okay, so just to clarify, you want this bed cleaned out with these six-foot-tall weeds. The juniper, it's not super bad, but I'll have the guys just kind of touch this up, give it a little haircut. He thought that he thought that terminology was cute. And I said, then we got the two burning bushes right here. I said, these weeds that are in the cracks and stuff, those gotta go. Like you're having a party for your son for the pool party. We'll get those taken care of. And then the U bushes out front, we'll get those trimmed, and then uh I'm gonna I'm gonna do my best to uh get this cut by Friday because was it Wednesday when I went or Thursday?

SPEAKER_01 33:35

It's Wednesday.

SPEAKER_05 33:36

And I said, I don't like I think I could swing Thursday, but at the same time, I just don't want to promise you that because I know I can for sure get it done on Friday. And he's like, Oh, okay, great, thank you so much. And I see, yep, so I'll have Catherine shoot you a uh an estimate on the items we just discussed. Any questions for me? No. Perfect. Well, I'll have her send that information over to you, and uh we'll go from there. Then I jump in the truck and continue my workday.

SPEAKER_06 34:07

Okay. So the next day at 12 56 p.m., he said, Hey, how's it going?

SPEAKER_03 34:14

Hey girl, what's up?

SPEAKER_06 34:16

And I said, Hi, blah, blah, blah. Are you looking for a status update? Like, hey, how's it going? Like, what are we? Like, what are you trying to do? Are you my BFF? And say you up or something? Like, what the heck? So I said, I I already knew he was looking for a status update, but I wanted to point out, like, why are you saying how's it going? Like, just say when do you expect it to arrive?

SPEAKER_01 34:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 34:38

So I said, I just spoke with Jake. Landscape crew is on site because it was weird timing. When I talked to you, you were like, I think Blake is actually pulling up right now.

SPEAKER_05 34:47

They were just they had just wrapped up um Connor's dad's house landscaping. And so I'm like, I'm almost certain they're en route. Like, they're probably almost there. And I checked Blake's location, I was like, he's there.

SPEAKER_06 35:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:02

Like, what what what is this guy? Why is this guy bothering you?

SPEAKER_06 35:05

Right. So he said, Okay, yes, I do see them now. Thank you for the update. Just look outside. I was also inquiring if I can do a $400 payment upon completion and the remainder tomorrow morning. And I said, I don't believe that's possible, but I will check with Jake. And I said, So just so I'm clear, for the total of blah, blah, blah, you want to charge $400 today and the remainder tomorrow. And so, meanwhile, Jake and I were talking, and I'm like, yeah, no. I said, I I don't want to do this. I'm not in the business of chasing down money. I I just don't want to.

SPEAKER_05 35:45

And also, he agreed to the price.

SPEAKER_06 35:49

Correct.

SPEAKER_05 35:50

And like, guys, I know what you're gonna say or think, well, why don't you do a 50% down and 50% amount of colletion? Because anything around a thousand dollars, like I'm I'm not worried about correct. When we get, you know, when we're in the range of five, ten, fifteen, twenty thousand dollars. Yes. And plus totally different story.

SPEAKER_06 36:09

Along with that, you we weren't buying any supplies. So like this was just labor. Yeah, it was just labor. Yeah. So I said, um, I said, we prefer to charge the full amount upon completion, so it would be the landscaping for today and then tomorrow for the laundry. And he goes, Okay, well, no, they can just do the complete job today. And I called Jake and I'm like, Do you think that in the Suzu there's a mower in there?

SPEAKER_01 36:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 36:37

Where where do you think it is?

SPEAKER_01 36:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 36:41

So I said, and then he goes, I don't want them to have them come out at to come out twice and be too inconvenient. Meanwhile, you're texting me non stuff about when we're gonna be there. And I said, Okay, landscape crew will complete their portion today for the blah blah blah, and then tomorrow lawn maintenance will occur and we'll fall between the blah blah blah as quoted above. It's no trouble at all to come twice. It actually works out great for our schedule this week, trying to fit it in for you.

SPEAKER_05 37:08

Again, bending over backwards for you.

SPEAKER_06 37:10

Sorry to be such a hassle today, but is it possible to send a Zell or uh uh update the payment to a different card? Either option is good for me.

SPEAKER_05 37:19

So you uh then I remember you sent me that screenshot. Yeah. And I sent you a picture of just my face, like WTF.

SPEAKER_06 37:26

Yeah. I said we do not do Zell, but I just deleted your card you had on file and sent you a link to upload a new car per your request above. And at this point, I'm just trying to keep it short and sweet with this guy because like I'm starting to get irritated. I don't want to.

SPEAKER_05 37:41

New card on file link sent. Fuck you very much. Have a good day.

SPEAKER_06 37:44

Exactly. And I said, Okay, thank you. And he goes, Okay, thank you. I see the email here. And I said, Perfect, not a hassle. People switch asked to switch cards all the time. Like, I'm trying to make him know that like I get it. You know, sometimes you gotta switch it, whatever, you move some money around. I don't care. I don't pretend to know anybody's financial situation.

SPEAKER_01 38:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 38:05

So same day, after I'd already indicated the lawn would be tomorrow, he goes at 4 03. Are they still coming to do the lawn today? I said, at this point I'm so annoyed. I was like, and I just said, Nope, lawn is tomorrow. And then today at 1 09, hey, good afternoon. Do you know what time for the lawn? And I said they are just now in the area, so within an hour I'd say.

SPEAKER_05 38:35

Okay, so can you guys this guy's itching to have his lawn mown, right? Yeah, he's probably staring out the window.

SPEAKER_06 38:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 38:42

Continue.

SPEAKER_06 38:43

Okay. So you go ahead because you got the call from Nico and Alex.

SPEAKER_05 38:49

I texted the group, Nico and Alex. I said, hey, we got a uh a squirrel that needs a ETA of such and such. Oh, and Alex was like, oh, we'd probably be there in like 45 minutes.

SPEAKER_06 39:02

No, you texted me, or I texted you and I said, This guy's wanting an ETA. And you were like, Text Nico and Alex, I'm way too busy. And I knew you were, so I was like, I think I even told you, like, I'll just text Alex. I just wanted to make sure it's being cut by Mokru 2. So then I go ahead and I text Alex and I'm like, hey, can you just let me know when you're at this address or let me know when you think you might be there? And he's like, Oh yeah, no problem. I said 45 minutes max. So I told the guy within an hour to like give them a little bit of you know, leeway just in case. You know, you just never know. Not glad.

SPEAKER_05 39:39

So they get there. I'm not too far ahead, right?

SPEAKER_06 39:42

No, because you're like, you were on the phone with me, and you're like, Why the hell is Nico calling me? I will call you right back.

SPEAKER_05 39:49

So Nico goes, Hey Jake, um, so what do you want us to do about all the trash in the yard? And like eight, like over half of this is like saturated, like too wet to mow. And I said I said, wait, I said, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Nico, what do you mean there's trash everywhere? He goes, Oh, there's shit everywhere. Like, there's an unopened package just in the middle of the yard. There's just he said, literally trash. And I said, Are you serious? I said, This other fucker has been bothering Catherine like no one's business.

SPEAKER_06 40:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:26

I was like, so he doesn't even have the common sense or the decency to have his fucking yard cleaned up.

SPEAKER_06 40:32

And the worst part is that I gave him an hour notice. So if you knew that there was shit in your lawn, why wouldn't you be like, okay, they're coming in an hour? I need to run outside to pick it up.

SPEAKER_05 40:45

So then I'm thinking, what's not clocking? Yeah. And I'm like, why the fuck is the yard wet? Like, we're it's we got a wildfire that's you know blowing and stuff. Like it has to be.

SPEAKER_06 40:57

Meanwhile, we're like in a drought. It only sprinkled last night. And I was there Wednesday.

SPEAKER_05 41:02

So I'm like, why is this wet? So then I'm looking, I'm what's going on?

SPEAKER_01 41:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 41:09

And so then I'm like, I'm trying to explain the situation to Eric. And he goes, Oh, yeah, he was he had his pool like drained yesterday or something and refilled. I said, What? And he goes, Oh, yeah, they were just dumping it in the yard. I was like, Oh, okay, this makes sense. I was like, So I tell Nico, I was like, hey, just do what you can. Um, not our problem that this guy is doing 15,000 things at once. Um, so do what you can, and we'll go from there. I'll have Katherine update this guy.

SPEAKER_06 41:44

No, so so you called me afterwards, and you were like, Can you just handle it with Alex and Nico? And I was like, of course. So I call Alex and I said, or Alex calls me after you had talked to Nico. And he's like, hey, so like here's the situation. I know you've been talking to this guy, like, what do you want us to do? And I'm like, I'm like, sit tight, sit in the truck. I said, I will call him and I'll get this sorted out and I'll let you know what he says.

SPEAKER_05 42:13

So at this point, you feel bad that like the day's being held up, you feel bad that they're in this situation of the waiting game. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 42:20

I literally was asking them to like give me a heads up to try to be there in a timely manner, and then you have the nerve to have shit in your yard. Like, what the hell?

SPEAKER_05 42:29

So then you call them.

SPEAKER_06 42:32

I call him and I say, Hey, blah blah blah. Um, the crews are there and there's items all over the yard. And I said, and at the same time, the left side is wet, they can't even walk on it without sinking in it. And I said, and the front ditch is also too wet to put a mower on. And I said, So I just wanted you to know to know. And I said, Would you like us to just do what we can? But just know there will be certain areas we cannot put mowing equipment on because it will ruin your lawn. And he's like, Oh, you know what? Like, I see the guys there, I'll just go out and talk to them, and you know, they can let me know when I'll talk to them.

SPEAKER_05 43:13

So then so you hang up, you call me.

SPEAKER_06 43:16

No, I call Alex. Okay, and I said, Hey, I said he's gonna come outside. I said, um, I said he's gonna tell you, like, you know, go over everything with you. I said, if he starts anything or tells you that he wants you to do something you know you can't do, you call me and I will call him. Because Alex is like very soft spoken, you know, whatever. So he's like, okay, so I didn't hear from him, then you call me.

SPEAKER_05 43:43

So so I'm like, okay, like it's getting sorted out because he's gonna come out and he's gonna talk to the guys.

SPEAKER_02 43:50

So then Nico calls me again, and I'm like, hey, what's up?

SPEAKER_05 43:54

And he's like, What do you want me to do about this trash that's in the yard? I said, W the trash is still. The yard. I was like, he came out and talked to you, right?

SPEAKER_06 44:02

But he didn't pick up.

SPEAKER_05 44:03

And he's like, yeah, and I said, he didn't pick up the fucking trash. And he's like, no. I was like, all right, all right, all right. I was like, Nico, I am extremely frustrated, and I feel very badly that you are you guys are put in this position. And so here's what I'm gonna ask you to do: grab all of the trash and just put it in the driveway. Don't put it in our trash bins, don't put it in his trash bin. Put it just in the driveway.

SPEAKER_06 44:29

Because that would be the next thing that would happen with this guy is we would put something in a trash bin, and then he'd be like, Yeah, no, I wanted to keep that.

SPEAKER_05 44:35

Yeah, exactly. And that's what Nico said, because Nico, he's so smart, he goes, Well, some of the stuff is like unopened packages. And I was like, Yep, just put it in the driveway.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

Yep.

SPEAKER_05 44:43

And you just send me a picture of all of the debris that you remove, and we're gonna charge this guy uh a a debris removal fee. Or I think debris relocation or whatever. Yeah. And he's like, Yeah, no problem. I was like, God, I love this kid. Okay, cool. So he does that, and the amount of shit, it was just unbelievable.

SPEAKER_06 45:05

Yeah. So anyway, I after the service is completed, I don't hear anything, so I assume like everything was good, whatever. So then I get a text from this guy. Hey, my card was just my card, my card was just charge my card an additional blah blah blah. First of all, that sentence doesn't even make sense. My card was just charge my card. And I said, yes, as indicated yesterday, you would be charged for lawn maintenance today, which was blah blah blah. And we also charged an additional cleanup fee to pick up the debris that was left in the yard that I've got.

SPEAKER_05 45:40

Sop in $30.

SPEAKER_06 45:42

Yep. The price was supposed to be, and then he gives me the price for the landscaping for the full service. Let me double.

SPEAKER_05 45:50

So now he's going, he's referring, he's giving you the price for the landscaping that occurred yesterday that has already been charged.

SPEAKER_06 45:56

There were two different quotes that I sent him, by the way. Not not one quote, including everything. So he sends me a picture of my text, and I said, correct. I said that for bush trimming and weeding, that was discussed, and to get it done by Friday, it would be blah blah blah. And I said, My second text to you was that lawn maintenance would be in this range. Yes, I assume that was for weekly service. It was blah blah blah just for the bushes. Like, oh, now you're gonna say it's just for this to try to like discount how much work we did. And I said for the bush trimming and weeding, along with a rush fee for making it sh making sure it was done by the weekend, like you asked, as indicated above pricing. So now he's gonna send me some videos and some photos, which by the way, and he's gonna say he's gonna be talking in the video, saying that some stuff was missed, some stuff wasn't done, which one of the spots that was completely weeded, it wasn't even grass, it's just weeds, and then grass growing in or weeds growing in a retaining wall. In no way was that discussed with Jake that that was what he wanted to be done as well. So he's sending me this video, and I'm like, You didn't even ask for this. Had you asked, we would have priced that into your quote. And then he sends me pictures of the bushes in the front yard, which are clearly trimmed. And I'm like, the bushes are trimmed, question mark. Like, what are you talking about? So he goes, just for the price, I was expecting more of a flawless job. Front lawn is okay, the back was more of a priority for me. And at this point, I'm starting to get pissed because now you're insulting my team. You're trying to say that you were expecting a flawless job. It is a flawless job for what you asked for. You didn't ask for all this extra stuff.

SPEAKER_01 47:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 47:48

And the spot that he said that wasn't cut because it was it was be was the spot that was wet where they drained the pool. So they couldn't get a mower on that to cut that, which he knew about. I had told him they'll just do what they can't. So I said the bushes were tripped, were trimmed from those photos. The weeding in the back by the pool that you were referring to was not discussed with Jake when he came to quote out the weeding and bush trimming. And when we spoke on the phone, I let you know that there were certain areas that were not going to be able to be mowed because of the moisture in the lawn. And I never got a response.

SPEAKER_05 48:23

Oh, it finally stopped?

SPEAKER_06 48:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 48:25

Oh, thank God.

SPEAKER_06 48:26

Yep. So a three-day fiasco finally ended at 4 14 today. So the way that this week was with these customers, it makes you think like, am I an idiot? And I'm so glad that I have everything in writing because so many people will be like, wait, I thought it included this. It's like, no, I sent you a quote. It's in writing what the price was, how we were gonna do this.

SPEAKER_05 48:58

When it was gonna occur.

SPEAKER_06 49:00

When are you talking? What are you talking about?

SPEAKER_05 49:02

Yeah. And I just remember because it it wasn't getting bad, but I just remember you were like, when you were texting me, you're like, I don't know how you did this. And I was like, Welcome to Lawn Care and Landscaping. Like you just you have a couple idiots here and there. Yeah, and it gets extremely frustrating, but then you get the one compliment. Yeah, so we got a really nice text from a new client um who received service for the second time uh on Thursday. And he just he went to town on complimenting the team, how great they did.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

Such a nice guy.

SPEAKER_05 49:36

Um, despite even the wildfire smoke that we're getting. Really appreciate um the communication, the quality. And it's like, Bob, it's our pleasure. We're we're working hard. Thanks for the recognition. Team's working hard, everybody's working extremely hard, especially with these conditions. So thank you very much for your kind words. It's very, very much appreciated.

SPEAKER_06 49:58

Yeah, it was super nice and very much appreciated. And it's just like I told Jake, I said, I don't know like how I'm gonna continue this because, like, in my job, for instance, the reason why I was getting so frustrated is because in my job, there is a transaction taking place, right? So, like, there is an end to this working relationship. If the person is annoying and just really frustrating to deal with, I know that there will be an end because this transaction will close.

SPEAKER_05 50:29

Closing's on Friday, and I'll never have to hear from this person.

SPEAKER_06 50:32

And that's the end of it. But in these types of situations, like sometimes they're recurring clients, sometimes they're like landscaping jobs where it's like you're con you're in communication with them multiple times, whatever. And I was just like, I am getting so frustrated with these people, and it's like I'm spelling everything out for you. I don't know what else I can do. I'm over-communicating with you about everything that we're doing, and you still There's still a problem. Like, reading is fundamental, people. Just like look at the above text if you have a question. And I think that's the most frustrating part because I was saying the other day, like, in what other industry would you be able to just be like, hey, here's what I want to pay?

SPEAKER_05 51:21

Or or I'm willing to pay this today. Can I pay this next week? Or the like then why are you getting the work done? Why do you want a quote?

SPEAKER_06 51:31

Like when we had our electrician Why'd you approve the quote? Like when we had our electrician out on Monday and he did a couple things around the house. He installed my EV charger. Do you think that I told him, hey, you can take out $1,000 today and then $1,000 tomorrow? Like, no, they get paid upon completion of the job. That's how it works, that's how life works. And it's it was like, and also, if this was the payment arrangement you needed to make, that should have been communicated way in advance. So we could have talked about it.

SPEAKER_05 52:08

We could not while my landscapers are actually there working.

SPEAKER_06 52:11

Exactly. And then you're almost like, oh my gosh, like with him trying to like switch his card on file, like, is he actually gonna like pay for this job? Like, is this card gonna decline, you know? So then it just brings up a whole thing in your head. And you want to believe the the best in people. Like when he was asking me when they were gonna be there today, I was like, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. I'm like, okay, I know he's got this birthday party. Maybe he's stressed, maybe he's got vendors that are coming, you know, bringing like a uh bounce house or whatever the heck may be. So I was like, you know, I get it. Like he wants to know, giving him the benefit of the doubt. And then the nerve you have that I do that for you, and then there's trash in the lawn, and then I say it to you on the phone, and you have nothing to say, not even like a oh, I'm sorry, or like a oh, I'll get out there right now and clean it up. Like, excuse me. You can text me all day long asking me when we'll be there. Put that, you know, time to good use and get out there and pick up all the stuff that's on your lawn. So I just like it was quite a week with all of that, with dealing with all of that, and then just you know what.

SPEAKER_03 53:26

Should we talk about the additional jewelry he had on?

SPEAKER_06 53:30

No.

SPEAKER_03 53:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 53:31

Um, but then like, you know, we get compliments like the one that Jake just mentioned, and then we got a compliment on Monday from this guy who we were handling service on his lawn until the house was sold, that he had it listed.

SPEAKER_03 53:46

And he said about the Google review we got yesterday.

SPEAKER_06 53:50

No, but hold on, I want to finish the story. So we were handling this property for him until he sold the house. He finally sells it. So on Tuesday was the last service that we had performed for him. And he texted me after the service and he said, um, he said, Hey, um, this is the last week that I'm gonna need service. I just wanted to let you know. And he's like, Um, I'm just absolutely so impressed with your with your team and your communication. Is there a link that you can send me to give you guys a Google review?

SPEAKER_04 54:23

Oh, yeah, yeah. The other military guy.

SPEAKER_06 54:25

Yeah, so of course, like I'm sending him the link and I'm like, oh my gosh, thank you so much for your kind words. I'll share it with the team. Like, really appreciate it. So then he doubles down and he leaves a really nice review on Google just saying that like his only regret was that he didn't find us sooner. Like, he can tell that we all really care about our jobs and care that the customer feels good, and it was just a very, very kind review.

SPEAKER_00 54:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 54:50

So now, no, I did not know about this extra one.

SPEAKER_00 54:52

So go ahead and then this gal, I don't know if this is an investment, a rental, or whatever, but she sold it, and so she left a review.

SPEAKER_01 55:07

And she said five star.

SPEAKER_04 55:15

I had hired another lawn company who had not been coming to my property but charging me. Once I hired Jake's lawn care, they came out the next day, cleaned my entire property up. They were very sweet and helpful. Exclamation point. I appreciate them and the way they treat their customers.

SPEAKER_06 55:30

Oh, that's so sweet.

SPEAKER_04 55:31

So I said, Ashley, thank you so much for the review. We're so sorry to hear about your previous experience. We do our absolute best to communicate and deliver the highest quality to every client. So we greatly appreciate your kind words in the review. Thank you for being a part of JLC.

SPEAKER_06 55:45

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 55:46

Yeah. Man, it's just so mentally draining dealing with this. But hey, the week is over, work is done, everybody's alive, we're breathing. But I get it, I understand the frustration.

SPEAKER_06 56:08

Well, it's kind of just like I think the frustrating part for me is just that like I'm dealing with so much on a daily basis. Not to say that you aren't, but I just mean like I'm getting pulled in so many different directions. Like I'm working for my current job from eight to noon every day to finish out my part-time until the end of July. And then while I'm doing that, I'm also doing JLC stuff while I'm taking care of Zeke.

SPEAKER_05 56:34

But you love the JLC stuff, you really do.

SPEAKER_06 56:36

Yes, I do. And then, you know, also while trying to like keep the house up and all that stuff and take care of the home. So it just is very frustrating when this is the kind of stuff that I'm dealing with. When I'm like, I could have spent the hour that I was communicating with you nonstop and you were texting me. I could have spent that, you know, doing a couple loads of laundry, like cleaning the floors, whatever, spending more time with Zeke, and like you're taking that away from me because you can't read a text message, or you know, you have the nerve to like do this to me when we're doing you a favor by fitting you in, you know. So I just it's just not my it wasn't my week.

SPEAKER_03 57:21

As Catherine would say, it leaves something to be desired. Leaves something to be desired.

SPEAKER_06 57:25

Yes, absolutely it does. So, all that to say, guys, if you've had a rough week this week, we are right there in it with you.

SPEAKER_05 57:33

And we love the stories.

SPEAKER_06 57:35

We do love the stories, yes.

SPEAKER_05 57:37

Oh, I gotta read you this. This was from uh oh, I don't want it to cut out the podcast. If I open Instagram, you think it'll stop the audio? Probably, yeah, never mind.

SPEAKER_06 57:47

But um just tell it.

SPEAKER_05 57:49

Well, it's it's Malik on uh Instagram, and uh I was like, oh bro, I'm telling him like some of your responses to these stories, and he's like, Oh bro, it's the wild west out here, and people don't believe the stories you tell them. No, it's just hysterical.

SPEAKER_06 58:05

It's crazy to me, like the stuff that we deal with, you know, with people, because it almost makes you think, like, is this what the general public is like? Like, to where you're just like like I don't get to go to my job, or people don't come up to me at my job and are like, hey, I was paying 50% less for this somewhere else. Like, can you do that?

SPEAKER_03 58:35

And just so you know, I was not happy with the service, right?

SPEAKER_06 58:38

Or they just didn't show up and didn't do the job.

SPEAKER_03 58:40

Like, so I just why are you double?

SPEAKER_06 58:42

Yeah, there's a reason why you're coming to me and I'm able to fit you in. Like, and I think just like I almost feel like the takeaway from this is like moving forward because it's like later in the season, maybe we should just like quit it with the one-time cuts and stuff because it's just like uh it's hard to it's not that it's even like hard, but it's like people want to be fit into the schedule, but then they don't want to pay a rush fee, and it's like, well, what do you expect? These schedules are built out, and it's not fair to the other customers who signed up well in advance and are on an established route, but yet, you know, we're trying to Yeah, you just get to cut. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 59:27

You're more important than everyone else.

SPEAKER_06 59:28

And then there was another guy this week who I mean, a super really nice guy. So, like, this isn't even a negative story, but just to add on to like the whole thing with the one-time cut, he had just bought this house, and he had messaged us maybe two weeks ago, and he was like, I just closed on this house. Um, is there any way that you can cut it for me really quickly? And Jake just happened to be in the area like that day. So I was like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:57

Oh, I was 20 minutes away. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:00

So I was like, Yeah, absolutely. Like, here's the price for a one-time cut, and you know, he's like, I don't want to.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:06

Congrats on the sale.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:08

Right, exactly. So then he texts me again like two weeks later, and he's like, Hey Catherine, is there any way that you guys would be able to stop by and cut the lawn again?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:19

And that was in the text today. He said today. Yes, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:24

So I told him, I was like, um, I said, I don't know if they're in your area today, but I'll certainly ask Jake and I'll I'll let you know. So Jake just happened to be in the area that day. I think he was like, like Jake said, I think like 20 minutes away.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:39

Oh, and Larry's like, man, he's got the luck of the air road. Yeah. I said, Yeah, I can actually make it work.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:43

I even told him that. I was like, wow, you're like really lucky because Jake is literally like just in the area um to get it done. So then, so an example of like a healthy interaction with somebody. I'll read the um text with him. And so he says, I said, You are lucky. I just spoke to Jake and he is able to fit it in today for that same price we quoted last time. I'll get it added to his wrap for today. We already had his card on file, so I didn't need to resend the link. He said, Okay, thank you. And I said, My pleasure. And so afterwards, Jake is like, I mean, he's asked for it twice now, like maybe just offer to get him on like a bi-weekly schedule since Well, no, because that's what I've told you.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:31

I was no, I didn't say bi-weekly. I said, You need to encourage this guy. He either needs to get on our schedule for service.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:39

Oh, yeah, that's right. I gave him the option. I said weekly or bi-weekly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I was trying to get the sale.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:45

Oh. Yeah, yeah. Okay, you hustling. Yeah. Because I was like, I'm not doing this.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:49

He's either on the schedule or he's not.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:52

Well, and that's what I told them. I said, I understand that the guy's completed service for you today. Would you like me to add you to our weekly or biweekly route? This way that gets you on a set schedule, and we wouldn't run into an issue about availability when you need your next cut. And he says, No, thank you. Our new mower actually comes in on Friday, but we just needed a quote before that, or needed a cut before then. And I said, Oh, perfect. And then because of this nice interaction that we had had where we went above and beyond for this guy, he texts me and says, I'll be sure to reach out when we need further landscaping. I want to eventually get the backyard cleaned up, hedges trimmed, and likely aeration and sand. And I said, We will be here for you whenever you're ready.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:32

There you go. So, like an example of a healthy interaction where we went above and beyond for somebody, and now we know he kind of wants to go above and beyond for us and so a life customer for stuff that they need lawn-wise.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:50

And even better, he saved the number in his phone because two weeks later he reaches out to me again asking for another cut. So, you know, going above and beyond for your people is also very important. And that kind of stuff, like Jake said, does make the terrible people that you deal with worth it.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:10

Yeah, you can deal with about 20 to 30 bad ones for every appreciative text you get.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:15

Yeah, exactly. So just your crazy week, guys.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:19

Normally I don't have this many stories, but the Lord just said, buckle up, buckaroo.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:26

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:27

Yep. He's like, Yeah, you think you want to stay on with ATA part-time? Nah, girl, you're gonna be way too busy with DLC.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:36

Yeah, you even said I need a raise.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:38

I know. I told him I said, when is my annual review? Because I'm planning on asking for Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:43

We're supposed to have your performance review today.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:45

Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:46

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:48

So, yeah, anything you want to add to the episode, babe?

SPEAKER_05 1:03:52

No, I'm brain dead from these people.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:55

This was a fun one.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:57

All right.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:57

We'll have to do this every so often when we just have some wild stories from the week. It's stripes and stories. So we have. I'm sure it'll come. Yeah, but this week it just happened to be that there were a ton. So alright, guys. We will catch you on the next one.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:12

Toodles.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:14

Toodles.