I did a beaver removal last year, and this year got called back. I removed the beavers, and informed the home owner that they were most likely coming from another body of water on the property. I checked, and sure enough, its got an established beaver population.
I told them they will be calling me again next year if I don't take care of them. The owner asked if they could get a discount. The job is going to be more difficult as there is no road access, is heavily overgrown, and very deep water as it's an old quarry. Need some advice please.

charge accordingly. Don't sell yourself short. You already know the challenges. Sarge

I have to agree with SGT.C. You are not sell a product you are selling a service.

Raise your quote by 25%, then offer him 10% off that price. That orta learn him.

What reason did he give for qualifying for a discount?

Stick to your pricing... as he is not out there fighting the bugs and heat nor has he learned the ways of beaver trapping.

Because he's a repeat customer.

I probably wouldn't give a discount if I had it priced correctly but I would try to do something that showed I appreciated his repeat business.

I never take a job without first visiting Google Earth for some aerial up and downstream scouting often followed up with a reconnoiter on the ground.
If potential for quick recruitment they get offered a quarterly service.

Here is what you say:

Due to the continued effects of the Coronavirus, you have already received our discount.

When they ask what that means, you just repeat it.

If you cut your price then what's to say he doesn't let others know he's getting a discount and then they all want one too! Like MChewk said, summer work is harder in my book because of the heat and bugs. Tell him your already giving him spring/fall rates as summer rates are higher due to extra work. Or make him come along on the hottest day so he can carry that 65 lb. beaver back to the truck....

Lol yeah, hauling em out after resetting is killer. I check early, but it's hot in Texas as soon as the sun come up. I sled them now.

I get the discount requests frequently doing ADC work. Especially from the folks from India. They always ask me for a reduced price.

. Most have been retired Doctors or Anesthesiologists doing this. I say to them did I ask you for a discount when I came to your office for a visit or when you performed a procedure on me?. They say that's different, I said how do you figure that. I am a specialist also with more years of training and field work then you most likely.

You are paying for my knowledge and training as well. If they don't take my bid I walk. I don't need the work that bad I am busy enough. Most pay my price when I begin to walk back to my vehicle. Some even have given me a tip after the work is completed.

Amen to that 20scout and Bob J...find someone else then.

Awfully hard to justify a discount of any kind during summertime beaver work.




I do give discounts at times, it really depends on the situation

Well I told him the price is the same. Said he'd let me know.

When someone wants to think about having me do the mole job I tell them the price is only good for 10 day. A mole can dig 80 feet a day. In 10 day there could be 800 more feet of tunnel to trap. 99% of the time I get the job at the price I was asking.

If its physically more work to get in and out of there, he's lucky you gave the same price.

Nope. Never.

Most of the people I meet in this business are wonderful. They are friendly to work with and sincerely appreciate the work and willing to pay. However there are a few each year who are to be avoided.

When discussing the price for beaver removal, I tell them that the price is valid today. Sometimes they say they first want to try an Amish guy, a hillbilly, or their brother in law. (These must be other people who are of no value to them.) I tell them that is fine, but when that does not work and they call me again, the price will be double today’s price because one of the above has made the beavers skittish so they will be more difficult to catch. I also tell them that when they call me, I may not be available so they will go on my waiting list.

It seems that I encounter a few “very special” people each year. When I encounter a “special” type of person who is entitled to and demands a discount, I tell them that I have reconsidered my price and decided that yes they do warrant a special price - $50 higher than originally quoted because they are wasting my valuable time. After the second demand for a discount and now $100 higher, I tell the person that I am not interested in working for him. I prefer to weed out bad customers before beginning a project.