If I knew the bid range, and and wanted the work, I could always bid lower than the lowest and figure that being innovative would make up for the lowballing. I quickly discovered that some low bids were simply stupid and couldn't possibly be salvaged without winning the lottery.
I'm sure that this is going on here. A large percentage of low bids are caught in a vicious circle where they don't make money, and maybe even extend those losses into the workers. We'd never see that, but we would feel the pain of "there goes another job."
In the meantime, we might struggle and curse, but there is a built-in correction at work in these circumstances that weeds out the incompetent and the dishonest. That's little comfort when it comes time to pay the bills, but it is available and we should take advantage of it by how we treat--and educate--customers.
It is important to expalin not only the specifics of the job, but to explain yourself and how you conduct your business and your ethics.
People generally understand and respect that discussion, and it builds a trust that should end with a well done job. Referrals grow, built on the networking of people just talking, and one has to consider that new style as no different than a yellow pages listing, smaller spread, certainly, but maybe a lot more dependable for repeat business from different neighbors.
Somebody said, all politics is local, maybe the vein to mine is local too. If you have a passion about your work, it will be felt, and remarked on later to others.
But stupidity is there, not far away handing out low bids that hurt everyone, including the client--who may never know it. Make yourself stand out in contrast to these bozos; be proud of your craft; and learn to talk about it with prospective clients.
Tree work is a solitary activity, even with a crew, so it may seem awkward to get chummy. Advertising and beating the competition happens on many levels, so take some risks and extend yourself as someone with ethics--who happens to have a chainsaw...
Bob Wulkowicz
