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Billing the customer when stuck?

John DiMartino

Super Moderator
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
94
Location
Walden, NY
Occupation
Greenskeeper/mechanic
IMO,it depends on the agreed terms of the work to be done.If the contractor expresses the machines limitations,customer still wants them to try it,rather than wait or pay for more expensive tracked machine,then they should pay.On the other hand,if you are paid to do a job hourly,the operator should know the limitations of his machine,and work within them.If the operator makes a bad decision or has poor judgement,the customer is paying hourly for professional equip and operator,I think as the operator,id shut my mouth and get it unstuck as quickly as possible,and not bill for the stuck time.
 

wary

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
5
Location
ny
i agree with thejdman04 because if you tell them it's TOO wet for your machine and they tell you to go in anyways THEY pay either extra or they pick up the tow bill if there is one.

i agree by hr is by hr
 

ok dirt witcher

Active Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2008
Messages
27
Location
Oklahoma
Occupation
owner operator dozer service
show them in writing

I'm not sure if this will help any in your type of business but it seems to work well for me. If you want to keep your customer base but not go broke doing it, on your invoice show start date tach reading and end date tach reading. in the following I'm rebating the customer (deduct) $200.00 if your pencil is sharp you'll know how to recover $100.00 or more (if you feel greedy) of the deduct. They will see you are treating them fairly and you won't go broke .example
start 01/01/10 tach 6545 .
end 01/04/10 tach 6580

deduct 30 min per day for warm up,
cool down, phone calls and
brake down or stuck time

Rate $100.00 hr
Hrs 35
total $3500.00
30min x 4days = 2hrs = -$200.00

total $3300.00
 

Greg Ellis

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2010
Messages
14
Location
Southern Indiana
Would depend on the customer attitude.

If the guy helped or atleast was there to assist in getting things moving again, I'd give him the time free othewise I'd probably bill it in the hourly rate.
I've went the extra mile for a lot of customers when they had a great attitude and tried to help. And I've gotten some really big tips because of it. To me it was big tips.
 

smokey1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2009
Messages
114
Location
West Bridgewater,MA.
Occupation
Builder/Owner
wow! if I do a job and my equipment breaks down, or even gets stuck , well thats my problem. If I warn my customer up front that the job is a bit hazardous because of heavy muck or poorly cut trees or sharp ground objects , well fine that job might cost them a bit more, and I will let them know of the exposure. I Feel it's all up front. You have to take responsibilty for your own equipment. If it breaks gets stuck or needs service thats your problem , not the customers...
 

Willis Bushogin

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
855
Location
NC
Occupation
owner
stuck

i agree with thejdman04 because if you tell them it's TOO wet for your machine and they tell you to go in anyways THEY pay either extra or they pick up the tow bill if there is one.

I agree with most of them, but this is the simplest put. When I had my mulching machine, I had everything up front, if the owner said go there, I would try it and the towing was on him. This just saves a bunch of hard feelings. Remember, you dont get repeat customers, from unhappy customers.
Just put yourself in their position.
Good Luck
 
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