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DOG OWNERS: Love your dog -- hate poop?
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THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF DOG WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES
Scoopers & Friends Discussion Board Archives
Messages archived from the Scoopers & Friends Discussion Board,
going back to May of 1998. The discussion board board is an online forum about the business of pet-waste removal.
Browse the messages, CLICK HERE TO SEARCH
by keyword, or click here to participate in current discussions.
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Page Sixty-Eight
Dirty Job
Vacations
Fri Oct 26 06:44:18 2001
A question for those of you well into the business. If you want to go on a two week vacation and not scoop, how do you tell your customers? Do you offer any special rates when you return, as an incentive to keep your customers? Any info. would be appreciated.
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ashlee
vacations
Fri Oct 26 10:56:40 2001
I took two weeks off last year for my honeymoon and let everyone know in advance by sending out a calendar with their name on it when they would be scooped (first names and last initial only). I scooped everyone (regardless of day of service) the day before I left and scooped them all again on the day I returned. If I noticed they had not scooped at all while I was gone, I chaged them a bit more for that visit. If they had scooped it was just another visit. I know that there have been postings from people who actually take a paid vacation by letting their customers know in advance-perhaps they will reply to let us all know how they communicate that will their customers.
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Pooch Pal
vacations
Fri Oct 26 09:42:38 2001
When we took a vacation in August we hired a trusted friend who was able to do our routes. Of course we are in startup phase and didn't have huge numbers.
Judy
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CA Mike
Re: vacations
Fri Oct 26 23:17:19 2001
I did the same thing as Judy - apparently at about the same time. We took three weeks vacation in August. I hired a friend for a month - one added week before vacation to ride with me and learn the route.
It worked out great.
Mike
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Pooch Pal
PP Manual
Sat Oct 27 21:06:51 2001
One more thing. We also had our friend do the route with us
beforehand and paid for that as well--well worth it. And we created a PP manual (that stands for policy and procedures!) that we gave her with explicit details about how we do things. This isn't rocket science but it's our business and we want our customer service to be tops so we put everything in writing. We figured it was a good thinig to have for when we have regular employees.
Judy
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: Vacation
Fri Oct 26 07:57:17 2001
Hi Erin,
When Tidy Pets was PooP b Gone I sent out notices to my clients that I would be shut down for 2 weeks for vacation. I sent them out the beginning of January and my vacation was in July. I didn't have any problems with any clients. They were very appreciative of my advance notice. Only problem was for me. I was just super busy cleaning yards after I got back, catching up, since it took longer to scoop.
Pat
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Erin, Dirty Work
Re: RE: Vacation
Fri Oct 26 16:45:30 2001
Hi Pat -
Thanks for your reply, but I didn't write the post :) I am not sure who "Dirty Job" is!
Erin
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: Vacation
Mon Oct 29 06:13:26 2001
Hey Erin,
Sorry! I guess I was in a hurry and just saw the "Dirty" part of the busines name.
Pat
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PoopScoopKing
Lobby Pans Lined with Bags
Fri Oct 26 07:29:29 2001
How many of you use the lobby pan lined with a bag as illustrated in Matthew's great book? We do, and when it's really windy, it's very difficult to operate. We are having our second day in a row of very windy conditions.
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Mark
Solution w/picture (hopefully)
Sat Oct 27 19:58:32 2001
I pretty much follow what Matt described. I leave the handle of the lobby dust pan free to tilt so that I can compact the waste by bumping it on the ground and so stuff doesn't roll out.
I put a rubberband twice around the handle (supplied by newspaper carrier on a daily basis) and just tuck a little of the bag under the band. It stays while I work but releases automatically when I pull the bag out.
I always use Costco brand bags with the drawstrings because they open sooo much easier.
When the wind blows, I just tighten the drawstring on the rear of the scoop and tuck it under the rubberband too. It always prevents the "Marilyn Monroe on the sidewalk vent" situation.
Sometimes when its not raining (rare), I spray a good amount of the disinfectant throughout the inside of the dust pan to make the bag cling to the inside. When its raining, the bag clings anyway.
Here is a picture of my "rainy day" solution:
If no picture shows, try clicking HERE
Or cut and paste this into your browser:
http://www.scoopdoggiedog.com/scooper4.jpg
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Rachelle
Mark - What size bags do you buy?
Sat Oct 27 22:46:23 2001
Mark
What size of bags do you buy? I keep getting the wrong size. I am dumping my pan into extra large bags until I use them all up.
Thanks
Rachelle
What's Left Behind!
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Mark
Re: Mark - What size bags do you buy?
Sun Oct 28 01:59:18 2001
I use the Kirkland brand (Costco) 13 gallon kitchen bag with the drawstring.
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minesweepers
nice lookin pan eom
Sat Oct 27 21:33:00 2001
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p.e.t.s. floyd
tools
Fri Oct 26 12:59:11 2001
i use the rubber maid brand that i have locked in the scoop position also have a clip to hold the bag no real problems w/ the wind yet ? once you have a load in the scoop doesnt the bag stay put?
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Catherine
lobby pan setup
Fri Oct 26 12:52:20 2001
Yes, I pretty much follow Matthew's design. I also have the handle locked into position but have not tried the duck tape idea yet. Only time I have had any problems (windy or not) is if the bags are too large.
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PET PICKUP
SHOVEL AND RAKE, BOY.
Fri Oct 26 11:45:57 2001
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ashlee
Wind
Fri Oct 26 10:52:39 2001
I do use the lobby pan and bags. I have never had trouble with the wind, but here in Connecticut we dont get too many terribly windy days. I dont know if this is why, but I do always keep my lobby pan in the "locked position" meaning I dont allow it to swing and I have tape inside that kind of hold the bag in the pan but doesnt hold tight enough to not let go of the bag easily when I want it out. One tiny strip of duct tape lasts forever in there and does the job.
Happy scooping,
Ashlee
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MINESWEEPERS
ANOTHER GREAT USE FOR DUCT TAPE
Fri Oct 26 11:59:06 2001
AND I THOUGHT ALL I DID WAS HOLD IN HEADLIGHTS!!!!!!
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Pooch Pal
yes and yes! EOM
Fri Oct 26 09:44:53 2001
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PoopScoopKing
Nimby's competition
Fri Oct 26 07:49:48 2001
The first time I had ever heard of a scooper business was a newspaper article about a guy in Seattle. This was back around 1993. I wish I had the article to know his name. However, I do recall, after nearly ten years, that he charged extra for the winter months. After becoming a scooper myself, I can see why. Keep in mind, too, that Seattle doesn't stay as cold or get nearly the amount of snow that Michigan does!
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NIMBY
Re: Nimby's competition
Fri Oct 26 21:24:55 2001
HI! Here in the Great Northwest, we usually don't have snow sticking around for more than a day or two, like Melinda. We don't often freeze, and it is rainy year round (however we have been in drought conditions lately). I personally would not charge extra to go out in the rain, BUT I am not in an area that gets the harsh conditions like you. I am not even sure I would be scooping in those conditions (I am a wimp) I hate the extremes cold or hot. Seattle is perfect! It would take a large winter price jump for me to even attempt it... So I personally again feel that you should charge more, but not me..it is too easy here. Laura
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PoopScoop King
Response to Pat in Cincy
Fri Oct 26 08:10:30 2001
I don't have my almanac handy, but I'm sure the snow in Cincy is much less than Detroit. Let me go check. Ok,
Avg Min Jan Temp: Detroit : 16
Cincinnati: 20
Avg Annual Snow Fall Detroit: 40"
Cincinnati: 19"
The above statitics should illustrate an awful lot of how the areas differ. We literally get twice as much snow. Last December, it snowed all December here. I charged per the visit and did not bring in 20% of what I normally do. If that happens again, I'm out of business. If I truly care about customer satisfaction, I have to have the funding in order to provide it. It takes a lot of money to operate a succesful business and to keep customers happy. There's more to customer satisfaction than low low prices. If you don't charge enough, you will short change something. That's one aspect of the matter.
The other aspect of the matter is how hard we work when there's 10 inches of snow on the ground. There are times when it's 15 below wind chill and ten inches of snow on the ground day after day. I'm out there trying to get 30 customers per day caught up. I'm in each yard two or three times as long as normal. I'm sifting the waste out of the snow and constantly uncovering more waste as I do so. It goes on and on and on. I can't charge $11.00 to pick up 3 weeks worth of waste and for 45 minutes of my time in these frozen conditions. In closing, please don't forget we get two inches of snow for every one that Cincy gets.
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE Response to me
Fri Oct 26 13:42:00 2001
Thanks for the clarification. I understand we are not talking apples and oranges here - cincinnati is much different than detroit. In my first year of scooping, Ohio had a terrible winter and I lost a lot of money during the winter months because I did not have a flat rate. I know first hand what that can do to a business.
I guess what I'm saying is, if I was the client and my scooper didn't show up to do my yard because of weather, I wouldn't want to pay him for no service at all.
Now I understand what you are saying - thanks!
Pat
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the bomb squad
possible snow solution
Fri Oct 26 19:43:33 2001
I decided to go with the following for my winter snow issue...hope it works! Granted, my region (Central Oregon High Desert) usually doesn't get snow that sticks around for more than a day or two. (Unless it's 1992 all over again, Anna!) I grew up in Alaska so I know what a white winter is like--you're just not going to find it until break-up, so this may or may not work for you.
"If it snows more than 2" on your service day, I can't find it. Your service may be postponed for a day or two. If the weather is such that a week must be skipped, your bill will be adjusted to the every-other-week rate."
You could also adjust to the once-a-month rate which is something I've started offering the clients that are calling to cancel until spring...so far they're buying it!
Have a crappy day!
Melinda
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: SNOW SOLUTION
Mon Oct 29 06:21:40 2001
Melinda,
Thanks for the input. That's a good idea. I usually wait a couple days for the snow to clear out and then scoop. The problem I ran into was it would snow 2 inches on and off for a straight 2-3 weeks. I never got very deep just continuously, enough to stop you from scooping. That really hurt me in the wallet badly.
--------------------------------
Anonymous
Re: RE: SNOW SOLUTION
Tue Oct 30 23:43:03 2001
Hello all, I had this same problem three winters ago. It was suggested to me that i bill continually through the winter. I send out the notice as the first snow flurry falls. Something like thisAas "you know we will work in most weather but snow or heavy rainfall can stop us. In the case of snow accumulation we will continue to charge weekly and either come out and clean when the snow settles or wait until the snow clears and do a thourough clean up without an additional charge. Remember no matter what mother nature throws our way, the dogs continue making there messes and we will be there as soon as possible to clean up." OPen this letter with how much fun your dog is having in the winter wonderland of 23' inches. Close with a little info on your business welcome new clients and thank them for there continued suport. Make sure your dogs get presents for the holidays. I had 35 customers first year, everyone stayed on and paid. Second year 75customers all stayed on. This year 120 customers yet to see. Bye Kevin Happytails inc
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PoopScoopKing
Re: possible snow solution
Sat Oct 27 08:32:37 2001
That's not a bad idea, and in fact I use that method for rainouts and such!
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the bomb squad
puppy policies?
Fri Oct 26 20:12:39 2001
I met with a new client this week and when I got there I found out that the dog is only 10 weeks old! I told them that I cannot start regular service until their pup has had all of it's shots. There is Parvo in my area and it is for their safety.
I've had this situation before and the person never called me back or returned my calls to start service. Hopefully this one will! I'm not going to change my policy and risk a pup getting sick. And YES! I do disinfect my tools & shoes between yards.
Does anyone else have a puppy policy?
~Melinda
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NIMBY
Re: puppy policies?
Sat Oct 27 14:36:27 2001
I just got a new puppy and found that the first set of shoots should be given @ 6 weeks. I think that as long as they have started the shots proces, you should not turn them away. If the pup has been to the vet for the first visit, they should have run tests and given it a clean bill of health,and it's first shots. I personally would just make sure it is going to the vet regularly..6,9,12 and 15 weeks are the correct ages for pups to get shots...
Good Luck
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Kim
Re: Puppy policy
Fri Oct 26 22:05:06 2001
This article mentions cleaning equipment. Can I ask a possible silly question....where exactly do you do your disinfecting of your shoes and tools? In the yards? The street? Does it discolor anything, like lawns or leave a stain on the street? Do you wipe tools down after spraying, etc?
I wouldn't mind cleaning up after puppies as long as they have had their shots. Does anyone stipulate that in their service agreement? Better yet, do people have service agreements or contracts.
Gosh, I better stop with all my questions...thanks to all, as always, every one of you have been a help to me.
Kim
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the bomb squad
cleaning
Sun Oct 28 13:06:53 2001
I spray off my tools in the street behind my car. I have a scrub brush that gets used only if necessary. No stains and I avoid the grass after I've sprayed my shoes...also watch which way the wind is blowing cause and avoid skin contact.
My preferred solution is called Zep Attack...it'll kill everything as it's manufactured for hospitals. Home Depot carries Zep products but I bought mine through the Zep distributor that my boarding kennel uses.
~Melinda
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floyd
clean
Fri Oct 26 21:54:11 2001
what do you use as a disinfectant my vet told me a solution of 10 to 1 bleach was good enough plese help
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minesweepers
disinfect
Fri Oct 26 22:46:47 2001
go to new england serum co. on the web.search yahoo i can't find the exact address.they sell a parvo kennel solution for a good price.bleach does not kill parvo
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