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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 Seventy-Eight
Pooch Pal
Big Honking Yards
Thu Nov 29 16:40:34 2001
I live in a town that has had alot of development on the outskirts. People are building huge homes on big lots.
I went to price one today (for scooping not buying!) and the yard size is probably 2-2.5 X what our typical yard is. And I'm gathering that compared to say Seattle or Atlanta or other urban places, our lots are already bigger in the city. Is anyone else running into very large properties and how are you pricing? It may be the same amount of poop but if you have to walk the whole thing in two directions, it's still takes 2x the time.
Judy
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CA Mike
Re: Big Honking Yards
Thu Nov 29 17:41:02 2001
Judy - My price chart has a disclaimer at the bottom that yards with unusual configurations or unusually large yards will be subject to an added fee.
I recently got a new customer in a house like you described. I bumped my fee up by $15 per month for a weekly visit to accomodate the extra time. No problem. My feeling is that people in houses like that probably aren't fee sensitive, anyway. So, price it according to what you think you should be paid.
Mike
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PoopScoopKing
Question Judy
Thu Nov 29 16:51:52 2001
Could you give me in idea of how many feet long and wide these large lots are?
PoopScoopKing
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Pooch Pal
The Big Honking Yard
Thu Nov 29 21:35:23 2001
Gene, I'm not the best estimator but I'm guessing 150 by 80.
I figured it would take me about 25 minutes to do, maybe 20 if I 'm really hauling. After much discussion we decided to price it at $20/week (2 dogs, called the cutomer and she
signed on.
Mike, in theory I agree with your comment about land barons being less price sensitive. But it's also been my experience that in fact they are. I'm not sure if it's because they think poop scooping isn't particularly valuable or what. But I've had a few decline. I'm thinking that it's a mistake to tell them your base price first. I think in the future I'll find out the area they live in and if I know it's a big yard locale, just tell 'em I'll come by and call with a price. Nobody like having to pay "more" so it's probably better psychoology not to mention any price ahead of time.
Judy
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CA Mike
Re: The Big Honking Yard
Sun Dec 2 00:15:45 2001
Hi, Judy -
I like your idea of going by to see the house first. But why not just meet the prospect at that time and give them a quote? Unless you can only get by there when they are not home.
As to losing a few, we all do. I have had five inquiries from my ads in the last week and was only able to close two of them. I seem to be running at about that rate - closing 35 - 45% of the inquiries. It's lower than I have experienced in my other businesses, but I know it's not because of my pricing. As a test I sent out 4,000 mailers earlier this year offering a special $19 per month rate. My response and closing rates were exactly the same as my normal pricing.
Mike
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PoopScoopKing
Mike's $19 monthly experiment
Sun Dec 2 09:22:02 2001
I hope all of you other low priced scoopers are taking notes!
PSK
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PoopScoopKing
Re: Mike's $19 monthly experiment
Wed Dec 5 05:07:46 2001
Mike, I don't think you are a low priced scooper. I was referring to your experiment and pointing it out to the low priced scoopers that lowering the price doesn't necessarily bring in more customers.
PSK
PS I'm assuming you are not particularly low priced.
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Linda Maultsby
Tools
Fri Nov 30 10:07:05 2001
I am the entrepreneur of "Doggie Waste" and I'm running into a problem. Business is booming, offering more dog waste and I don't have the adequate tools to clean it all up. All I have is a pair of gloves and a newspaper. What tools do you recommend?
Respectfully,
L. Maultsby
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minesweepers
yuck!!!!1
Fri Nov 30 17:11:33 2001
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimitedq
RE:Tools
Fri Nov 30 10:32:36 2001
Hi Linda,
I use a rake and lobby pan (like a dust pan) and it is very effective for me. In the winter when there is snow and ice, I usually turn in my rake and exchange it for a shovel.
What's the name of your business and where are you located?
Best of luck!
Pat
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Red
Crank calls that set appointments...
Sat Dec 1 00:11:13 2001
Have you had any?
I don't want / will not make someone meet us on their first cleaning. I thought perhaps I could have them leave a note authorizing us to clean but this seems too much of a hassle on both ends. I have never had it happen but suspect that it is bound to one day. Surely someone has gone to clean a yard only to discover that it was the yard of some teenager who's friends wanted to play a joke on them at the scooper's expense. Please share. Let's figure some easy way to avoid getting our time, money and dignity trampled on.
Thanks,
-Red
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CA Mike
Re: Crank calls that set appointments...
Sun Dec 2 00:04:28 2001
Hi, Red -
Early on in this business I had a crank call just like the one you described. It was a high school girl playing a prank on one of her friends - only the prank was on me.
She had all the right answers to my questions on the phone, so I set the appt and went over to the house the next day only to find out that the name she had given me was that of her girlfriend. The girl's mother was quite upset that I was looking for her daughter who was in school until we both figured out the prank. She promised to give the girls a good talking to when they came home.
I don't know how I could have avoided this one, because the girl who phoned sounded like a young housewife. She even asked some questions about the service and answered my questions O.K. So... "win some, lose some". The good news is that I got two good new customers yesterday.
Mike
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minesweepers
re;win some
Sun Dec 2 15:18:53 2001
if we won them all we would have no stories to tell
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PoopScoopKing
one time
Sat Dec 1 05:04:14 2001
It happended one time that I looked for an addy that did not exist that in hindsight was a crank call.
PSK
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minesweepers
hindsight
Sat Dec 1 10:24:08 2001
strange hindsight is always 20/20
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minesweepers
pizza anyone?
Sat Dec 1 00:28:26 2001
it happens from time to time i guess in all businesses,how many pizza parlors have delivered 15-20 pies only to find out it was a gag.best bet is have someone competent answer your phones make sure the info sounds correct and ask questions.talk about thier dog or even your dog .most pranksters unless they are pro's will start to laugh or not have sensible answers ready.after a few minutes you should know alot about them ,i can usually tell how long a customer will stay with me just by the fist call.after that hope for the best
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PoopScoopKing
Scooper Ingenuity
Sun Dec 2 11:13:13 2001
I'd like to commend all the successful scoopers out there, that are making good money scooping. You could have gone into something that failed, but you chose a field in which you could prosper on some level. I'm wondering what you folks feel are other good business ideas. Whether you're talking about related pet services or something totally unrelated. If you could, what other kind of business would you like to run?
PSK
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minesweepers
other work
Sun Dec 2 15:17:13 2001
anything where i don't have to work hard ???.Actually i work for a towing company out here and he has triple A contract and most other motor clubs,plus he does towing for most of the service and body shops around us.we also do repair work ourselves.seven trucks out all day and at least 2-3 at night 24/7.add impound contracts to that and some parking enforcment and you can have a new custom house built on a private street also!!!
P.S. don't forget the 24 ft searay
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minesweepers
advertising agency?????
Sun Dec 2 18:52:33 2001
has anyone had expierience...experience....expireience... #$%#*^$ past use for them.what do they charge ,do they make a difference ,etc.
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Rachelle
Advertising agencies
Sun Dec 2 20:54:34 2001
Minesweepers
I checked out an advertising agency earlier this year. They find out how much money you are willing to spend (thousands that is) and spend it. They said, they would research my business first, and the competition etc. I already did that. Then they help design business cards, logo, tell you what service clubs to join and how to market your services. It is a very expensive venture. I don't think you would get your money's worth at the end. Not when our profit margin isn't that big.
Just my opinion
Rachelle - What's Left Behind!
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jjfehr
ad agency
Mon Dec 3 00:29:17 2001
Why not do your own CREATIVE advertising? Not only is it less expensive, but it can also be alot of fun! I own a service business and I use a few differant methods of advertising that I have found great response from. Here is a hintof my favorite; lose your business cards, there is a more effective way! I do have products that I sell, and don't want to clutter your board with ads, so if your are interested email me for more info.
JJFEHR
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minesweepers
that's what i thought eom
Sun Dec 2 22:08:37 2001
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Tech
Sweet
Sun Dec 2 23:52:07 2001
This is the coolest message board I have ever found..
I am telling all my friends!
Sic'em Bears
Tech
http://shiftfinder.com
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minesweepers
did anyone else misread his website????eom
Mon Dec 3 12:56:22 2001
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minesweepers
litter boxes
Mon Dec 3 13:09:01 2001
i know a few of you clean litter boxes .could you give me an idea of how you do it and how much.do you do it at the house or what .i had an idea of a litter box exchange program in which the customer would leave the old box outside for me to replace with a freshly cleaned one.i could clean and fill the replacment boxes at my house and saave alot of time on the road.the only problem i see is what do the cats use while the old one is outside unless i use three boxes in rotation giving two on the first visit.any ideas
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: litter boxes
Tue Dec 4 06:26:42 2001
We normally service clients once a week. We remove old waste and litter, clean the boxes with disinfectant, fill with new litter, clean up area and spray a little air freshner. We charge $10.00 for 1 cat/1 box, additional cat and box are $5.00 and if they want use to use our litter, it is $2.00 more. We provide them with a lockbox to enter the property or keep a key in our files.
Pat
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scoopity doo dog
Litter Boxes
Mon Dec 3 19:44:24 2001
Hi,
I use the three litter box method. The first time I visit, I leave two full pans. Then the second visit, I pick up one used pan and leave a clean pan. That way I can take it home and clean, disinfect and refill the pan for the next visit. I put the filled pans in large trash bags and tie the end and that way I can leave them where ever the customer wants it and it is dry and can't be used by stray cats in the area!!
This method has been working great.
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Jackie
litter boxes
Mon Dec 3 22:08:23 2001
What a great idea. I scoop litter boxes as part of pet sitting and every once in awhile have to change them completely, but I know some of my clients really hate doing it. How much do you charge for this. I guess with the three boxes you go once a week. Does everybody want a different kind of litter? How does that work? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks,
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Mark
Ditto Jackie and how do get in their house?
Wed Dec 5 03:05:11 2001
How involved is kitty litter? Why would anyone need to hire it done? I've thought about doing that but never "got" the big picture on.
Would love to know more about it.
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minesweepers
in the house
Wed Dec 5 12:13:54 2001
i would want nothing to do with going in the house,to many problems.if they can drag it outside or put it on a porch fine.otherwise they can do it themselves i'll get rich a day later.
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