I love my tree guy. I love him.

[magical thyme]

Dave.

My old maples are dying faster than I can save the money to bring them down before they fall on my house. Last year was the 1st one. I called the 6 tree people closest to my house. Dave was #6. The price he quoted was literally 1/3 of what the others were charging. He's a transplant too, and a former forest ranger. It was too good to be true, so I called his insurance company and confirmed he's 1. got insurance and 2. never had a claim. He says what he's got is better equipment than the locals.

He showed up on tree day with a crew of 2 young men, hired away from either the power or phone company, one of them brand new to him and in training. He tried to tease me by telling me the new guy would be supervising. I one-upped him when I turned to newbie and told him not to worry if he dropped a tree on the roof because I'd knew they were insured and as he could see I could use a new roof. Ha! Dave couldn't back-pedal fast enough Anywho, the 2 young guys did a great job and left me with a nice stack of firewood that I was able to sell to a neighbor, bringing the price of the job even lower. Instead of $1500 (the highest quote) it cost me $400 in the end.

In the meantime, another tree has died. Dave just gave me the quote. I was worried because it's a bigger tree and in the back, so he can't reach it with his bucket truck. $450. $450!!!!

Then I showed him another one that is dying and is next to my permanent pasture fence. This one is even bigger than the other two -- he said its a good 4 cords and will he a medium sized house for a year. Once he realized he could bring his truck into the pasture, though, it all became easier. $950.00. That won't come down until next summer, though, unless we have a dry spell.

I feel like a charity case, and don't like that. But he told me he ties my jobs to other, bigger jobs in the area so he can cut me breaks because he knows I'm struggling. He has at least one billionaire/1%er client, and he said he can't see charging more for a job he can do in 2 hours.

He's also incredibly personable. Turns out his stepfather was a techwriter and engineer, lost his career and went back to school...for nursing. He was so proud of his stepfather for doing that in his early 50s. Then I told him essentially the same thing happened to me, I went back for med lab tech in my mid 50s. I graduated summa cum laude, got a single B+ but I didn't mind that. Then he told me his father was straight As, valedectorian. Suddenly I got really pissed about my B+. Explained the oral communications teacher really hated me. Told him the story of how she started screeching at me in the middle of class, and slandered me to the class, half of them never returned and she lost her job as a result. It's NOT FAIR. I should have had straight As too. I should have been valedectorian too!!!!

Anyway, you all would like Dave too. Not only was he a forest ranger, but he'd like to see government run healthcare so everybody would get their basic needs met. He's not sure how ACA is going to affect his business, but he gives his employees health care.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear magical thyme!

You tell this wonderful story so well! I'm glad you found Dave...

He obviously knows that taking care of the customer is the right thing to do. Trust is built this way, and a long-term relationship happens.

You guys take care of each other, OK?