This homeowner in Phoenix wanted me to 'just top it' to save $500

I was out giving a quote on a massive old mesquite tree in their backyard. The thing was a beast, maybe 40 feet tall with a huge spread. I explained the deadwood, the crossing limbs, the whole proper reduction plan to get it healthy and safe. The guy just looked at me and said, 'Can't you just chop the top 10 feet off? My buddy said that's way cheaper.' I had to explain, again, that topping creates a million weak water sprouts and basically dooms the tree. He got all huffy and said I was just trying to upsell him. It's so frustrating when people think they know better after watching one YouTube video. How do you guys handle clients who insist on bad practices to save a buck?

3 comments

3 Comments

victorb1713d ago

Ever try showing them a picture of a topped tree a few years later? I keep a few ugly ones on my phone from jobs I had to fix. Pointing out the rot and all those weak new branches sometimes makes it click for them.

miamitchell13d agoMost Upvoted

Oh that's such a good idea from @victorb17. I started doing the same thing after a client called me back, really upset because their topped maple was just falling apart. I pulled up a photo of it from three years prior when they insisted on the chop, and then showed them the huge cavity and all the spindly growth that snapped in a light wind. They went quiet and finally said, "I get it now." The visual proof just hits different.

lee722d ago

My old barber used to keep a photo album of bad haircuts he had to fix. Same idea. People need to see the long term damage to understand why the quick fix is so bad. It works for way more than just trees.