Pricing
#3184261
06/13/12 06:39 AM
06/13/12 06:39 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129 Dudley NC
Muddawg
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Dudley NC
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Hey, Y'all!
I'm new here. Just come over from the Bass-Pro forums where they talk hunt and fish but scant few trappers over there.
I got lots of questions and little time so I'll just jump right in it.
I'm new to the damage control business and have no clue to what agents normally charge. I do plumbing repair and light construction as a mainstay and really feel like I should be paid as much for ADC work as I would charge for plumbing repair. But they are two entirely different businesses and I'm not sure they charging system would be the same.
I can tell you that in the plumbing repair world, I charge 85 bucks for a service call. That takes care of the first hour. 40 dollars an hour after the first... Plus materials.
The 85 dollars is the trip charge which covers my first hour and driving expense. But if I'm running a 10 day coyote line, that's 10 trips. I can't see charging a 850 dollars. No body around here would pay that.
What do y'all suggest?
Last edited by Muddawg; 06/13/12 06:40 AM.
Muddawg
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3184497
06/13/12 12:01 PM
06/13/12 12:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129 Dudley NC
Muddawg
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Dudley NC
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Thanks for the quick response.
I'm not so far out of line on set up fee but I doubt I could get that much per critter here.
I know that things are more expensive in some places than in others. Just for comparison sake, what's the average plumbing service call up your way?
Is that the same price for any critter or just coyotes?
Muddawg
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3184522
06/13/12 12:30 PM
06/13/12 12:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649 Portsmouth Va.
aprophet
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649
Portsmouth Va.
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Hey, Y'all!
I'm new here. Just come over from the Bass-Pro forums where they talk hunt and fish but scant few trappers over there.
I got lots of questions and little time so I'll just jump right in it.
I'm new to the damage control business and have no clue to what agents normally charge. I do plumbing repair and light construction as a mainstay and really feel like I should be paid as much for ADC work as I would charge for plumbing repair. But they are two entirely different businesses and I'm not sure they charging system would be the same.
I can tell you that in the plumbing repair world, I charge 85 bucks for a service call. That takes care of the first hour. 40 dollars an hour after the first... Plus materials. Up here in tidewater Va this would be cheap more then a few of us charge 85 $ /HR for every hour we are there you might find the guys in the local "penny papers" are only charging $40 most of them are not licensed
The 85 dollars is the trip charge which covers my first hour and driving expense. But if I'm running a 10 day coyote line, that's 10 trips. I can't see charging a 850 dollars. No body around here would pay that.
What do y'all suggest?
how good of a yote trapper are you are you required to get all of them including the last one or are you just "giving it your best shot" if you are not good enough to catch the "last one" your $ 40 price might be appropriate, offer not to write an in voice if you do not catch any of the target specie just a few random thoughts
Last edited by aprophet; 06/13/12 12:32 PM.
I TRAP PETA'S FRONT PORCH
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3184618
06/13/12 02:03 PM
06/13/12 02:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,807 southern Minnesota
BUD25
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,807
southern Minnesota
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I can't see charging a 850 dollars. No body around here would pay that.
What do y'all suggest?
find a niche species that customers are willing to pay to have removed. it may not be coyote, how about beaver? skunk? coon? bats?
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3185791
06/14/12 07:48 AM
06/14/12 07:48 AM
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DaveK
Unregistered
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DaveK
Unregistered
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Pricing in a service business is much different than selling a widget. Charge the rate you desire, and make sure your level of service matches the rate. There is nothing wrong with being the lowest priced guy...or the highest price guy. Often, these two bussinesses are not competing with eachother. They are attracting a customer with different expectations.
The difference in pricing will impact your business in the quality of equipment, or the amount of growth you can afford. Each business has different capital needs, depending on the chosen strategy.
It is easy to underestimate your capital needs, because risk can be difficult to assess. What happens when you need to replace a truck? What if the animal returns? What if you get injurred? What if a customer gets injured? What if you damage a house? What if a population decreases and impacts your business? What if fuel prices increase? What if competition increases?
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3185802
06/14/12 08:22 AM
06/14/12 08:22 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 843 NH
sgs
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 843
NH
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The 85 dollars is the trip charge which covers my first hour and driving expense. But if I'm running a 10 day coyote line, that's 10 trips. I can't see charging a 850 dollars. No body around here would pay that. "No body around here would pay that."That's the important part. It doesn't matter how much you think you're worth if no one is going to pay it. The best idea is to find out what others in your area are charging for the type of work you want to do. If you're a member of your local/state trappers association, you should be able to get a good idea of pricing by talking to the folks there.
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Re: Pricing
[Re: sgs]
#3185860
06/14/12 09:37 AM
06/14/12 09:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
Robb Russell
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875
Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
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"No body around here would pay that." There has to be market for a service. If the homeowner can't pay what about a group of concerned neighbors, home owner's association? If they can't afford to pay then maybe someone else will. If your a hobbyist go for it but no business can afford to just give away services and expect to keep its doors open.
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3185903
06/14/12 10:11 AM
06/14/12 10:11 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 843 NH
sgs
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 843
NH
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...no business can afford to just give away services and expect to keep its doors open. No business can afford to charge so much that they don't get any work either. I don't think anyone here is talking about giving away services. I know I'm not. Finding out what the going rate is in your area is far more important than how much you think you're worth. You're only worth what people are willing to pay. Muddawg will be well served by finding out what the other operators in his area are charging so that he doesn't waste time under or over charging for his services. As time goes on he can adjust his pricing to suit his situation.
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3185920
06/14/12 10:25 AM
06/14/12 10:25 AM
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DaveK
Unregistered
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DaveK
Unregistered
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I think that we are saying that a given market is made up of different price points. The range of prices may be wide...and might be wider than you yourself might realize. Then, do not forget suggestive selling....would you like fries with that?
Last edited by DaveK; 06/14/12 10:49 AM.
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3186390
06/14/12 05:08 PM
06/14/12 05:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 311 West Virginia
The Trapster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 311
West Virginia
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In most cases your talking about a home or landscape.Whats their home worth whats their landscaping worth???Thats an easy way to start figuring pricing.I do some local jobs for 75.00 drive an hour or so down the road and it isnt nothing to get 275.00 for the same job.The area will tell you what to charge.Its different allover noone can use the same pricing here as they do in Denver for example.You could try but will find your setting home more than your working.Just my 2 cents.Youll figure it out just know all of your overhead also comes out of those prices.
Member of NTA,WVTA Lifetime
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3186716
06/14/12 08:53 PM
06/14/12 08:53 PM
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DaveK
Unregistered
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DaveK
Unregistered
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I was not suggesting that one base price on the value of a house, that would invoke a morale issue...don't you think?
The idea was that company A may have a lower price structure than company B. The two companies may operate in the same area, but not compete with eachother on price. It would be silly to think that the primary way companies compete is on price. Some people do not care that it costs $200 or $400 to trap a coyote. Some might think $200 is too good to be true...while others can not afford $50.
Perhaps, they perfer to have someone with alot of experience...or unmarked truck..or a national chain...or a mom and pop...or a company that gives back to the local community...or an authentic trapper in camo...or someone with backup trucks. To think that price is the primary reason a customer chooses you is a bit short sighted.
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Peskycritter]
#3189359
06/17/12 07:15 AM
06/17/12 07:15 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129 Dudley NC
Muddawg
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Dudley NC
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If your target is a problem coyote then they will pay it . If people are just wanting it gone because its a coyote they will not pay it. Now there's a statement that makes sense! Thanks, Dude! I've already had issues with folks that see some critter in their back yard and want it gone just because it's there. I tell them that there must be verifiable damage done before I can remove it and they come up with what it could do. "I have little children!" or "What about our pet labradoodle?" That's when I would really love to get sarcastic and say "Oh, I'm sorry, Lady. I thought you said you saw a fox. Not a cougar!" Thanks much, Pesky. I'll keep this in mind when I'm setting my prices. To everybody else. Thanks much! I've got some good advice out of this thread.
Muddawg
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3190067
06/17/12 06:20 PM
06/17/12 06:20 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
Robb Russell
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,875
Gainesville, Alachua, Florida,...
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Lady called today and described a jaguarundi http://t4studios.com/thefloridajaguarundi.html as in like a panther or cougar but smaller with a long tail black-melanistic. I have known they existed locally and told the lady how lucky she got a chance to see a very rare small cat that predates prehistoric times in Florida fossil records . Every now and then they surface. I did not want to trap this - it was not even a nuisance anyway and just a sighting. The best advice did not have a price . I said enjoy it and if its not bothering anyone to just leave it alone and she did!
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Re: Pricing
[Re: Muddawg]
#3190450
06/17/12 11:20 PM
06/17/12 11:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 25 Glenwood Springs Colorado
nighthunter2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 25
Glenwood Springs Colorado
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I learned the what to charge the hard way my first summer in business I had ideas of what other arc guys were charging and then just played the numbers on each call till I found the cap that 80% of the calls in a certain area turned into jobs and that's about where my service and animal charges have stayed since then
Joe Herrman Paramount Wildlife Management Glenwood Springs (970)309-0865 paramountwm@yahoo.com
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