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ChrisS
Member
United Kingdom
70 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Dec 2008 : 23:35:30
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I was in a hospital the other day where my soon to be wife was giving birth, when the midwife turned to me half way through the birth and in her lancashire accent said
"What do you do for a living chicken?"
Not used to this northern terminology I replied politely and informed her that I was involved in the pest control industry.
"Great.......maybe you can help me.... chicken ba-bie kins" she said.
(not sure if the last bit was in response to the baby showing its head!?)
Oh no, not someone else wanting something for free I thought but then she proceeded to inform me of her disgust that she had been charged the grand sum of...........�41.00 for a wasp nest earlier in the year.
Politely and without wanting to bring the North/ South politics into the conversation i informed her that she probably would not get a plumber out for �60.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh" she said, "but they are skilled workers"
What can I say (I was too tired and emotionally drained!). Needless to say she was a lovely midwife who done her job magnificently and who probably needs to be paid more!
This made me think-
Is there still a perception that pest control should be cheap or is it human nature and the economic climate?
Is this the result of the stupidity of certain servicing companies and their pricing policies?
I personally do not think that every/ any contract is a good contract and that we should take the money for the sake of taking it, but this is often mis-interpreted as being negative rather than possible good business practice.
Are commission paid surveyors really the only way/ answer?
Sorry for the ramble and deep thought, so thanks for reading about my good news and
Merry Chrismas and a Happy New Year.
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Dusty
Hyperactive Member
Australia
889 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2008 : 03:01:12
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I doubt it is any different the world over.
Unfortunately it is too easy to become a pest controller. (anywhere)
Not sure what happens in UK , but here, a plumber, carpenter, electrician, in fact anyone who works in the construction industry is a tradesman, having served time as an apprentice for four years.
Even in OZ, a pestie can become fully qualified in under 6 months, and be fully licenced. An apprenticed electrician would not be doing much more than sweeping the floor, putting on the kettle and getting the lunches in 6 months. Not easy to promote opposition to the mid wife's point of view without mentioning the L word.
Either that or the certification mentioned earlier may assist in promoting the security and confidence the general public can have in engaging a professional.
Your associations should be pumping up pesties in the eyes of the public, mentioning insurance, training, the resources available to them, experience and they should be issuing press releases and mentioning same every chance they get.
Perhaps because the days are still here when someone can call themselves a pestie, take out an ad in the paper, own a hand sprayer and be one, doesn't instill confidence, let alone respect for skill,talent and know how.
JAFA
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au
or blog us on http://blog.ridpest.com.au |
Edited by - Dusty on 24 Dec 2008 03:02:50 |
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Fenn Man
Hyperactive Member
Ireland
731 Posts |
Posted - 25 Dec 2008 : 02:41:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Dusty
Perhaps because the days are still here when someone can call themselves a pestie, take out an ad in the paper, own a hand sprayer and be one, doesn't instill confidence, let alone respect for skill,talent and know how.
Chris; Bouncing off Dusty's comment ~ if only for continuity ~ I cover this very issue on my own web site. I illustrate it with the true life example of a local Butcher.
The sound bite version is that he said he had mice. I stared at him, meaningfully. " Oh, no! I'll just buy some traps! " He said.
Three weeks later, he whined to me how the complete Re Wire had cost him �2000. I may or may not actually say, out right, on my site:
" Should've bought himself a f*ckin' Screw Driver! "
My point being; There's still a Very strong perception that 'Any MAN' can buy some traps / bait. Slap it down and become the conquering hero. I honestly don't (Nods to Dusty) believe for a moment that Any amount of " Licensing " will take away that notion.
License us, in the current political climate, and Mr Bloggs will simply bluster; " Licensed?! Huh! One more nail in Our civil liberties! Now we can't even catch our own Mice without having to pay some jumped up, stuffed shirt with a bit of paper! ".
Without belabouring all this; Just the other day I got a mouse in the kitchen call out. Surveyed. Set traps. Next morning? One very mature Houser. Two days later? Not a dropping to be found. Survey had suggested it was an open door dasher. So it was.
But there's Granddad, sat in his corner puffing; " What? ONE mouse?! ". Obvious inference being He'd have expected 'them all' caught, by this vaunted 'Professional'.
But the professional had caught 'them all'. In hours. Job done. Family safe and ecstatic.
I'll bet it's still bugging Granddad though. " And you Paid him? For One mouse?! ". And what would Granddad have done? Because he Could Have. If asked. Any Man can catch a mouse.
It's a Cultural thing.
Most 'Urban Myths' are  |
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Dusty
Hyperactive Member
Australia
889 Posts |
Posted - 25 Dec 2008 : 12:56:11
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Steve, a licence or a certificate. It matters not, although the difference might be the amount of change out of a hundred quid.
It is the push behind the certification that one would hope the associations would mount that would make the difference. So what if you have to pay for the right to slay a mouse. Happens in most other English speaking countries.
Mind you, not labelling a product so that the general public can get their hands on it might also help, but there-in is another story. They can tell all the bull**** they like about difficulty in labelling and registration, but they don't seem to want to help at this stage in time.
Re: The single mouse. Important to tell them that just one mouse might be a distinct possibility, and that they are paying as much for your know how as they are paying for your skill. Push the wise old head aspect of your craft.
JAFA
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au
or blog us on http://blog.ridpest.com.au |
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Fenn Man
Hyperactive Member
Ireland
731 Posts |
Posted - 25 Dec 2008 : 14:17:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Dusty
Mind you, not labelling a product so that the general public can get their hands on it might also help, but there-in is another story.
Another story indeed, Dust. I'm qualified to buy " Professional Use Only " products from the proper suppliers? Big deal! Anyone capable of walking into the local creamery here can buy exactly the same! Place looks like Killgerms warehouse at this time of year. Bromadialone, Brodifacoum, Flocoumafen stacked to the ceilings and walking out the door like Army Ants.
'Money Talks', methinks
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Up Hill Struggle?
