Extractions!....I've never done one before..

[Acebird]

ones that can't pay are are ones that want to give you at least something and the ones that have the money to pay for the service are normally the ones who want you to do it for free.  Guess it shows you how most people now adays get rich lie and cheat to get whatever you want.

It is ingrained in the corporate thought process.  Take advantage of every situation.

Third one was the easiest and the guy gave me $125 without batting an eye.

If you were happy with 125 then you should be happy with 150, then 175 and so on.  There is a risk in bouncing prices around and raising them substantially.  That doesn't mean you can't justify charging more for the guy withs the Mercedes vs. the elderly with a Corolla.  First of all if you don't charge enough for the guy with a Mercedes he is going to think you don't know what your doing and go to someone else.  Then there is the risk of damaging expensive property.  And as much as I hate to say this he is more likely to sue.

Keep in mind that if you are not a legitimate business, do not have insurance or not bonded you are potentially risking every thing you own on every job you do.  In this case your prices should not be more than half the going rate IMO.  If you are not professional it is best that your client understands that you are not right up front.

[Stone]

Hi Everyone,

My apologies for not having posted sooner. I've been running around a lot and didn't realize the feedback I'd been getting to my question. I really am grateful for your replies and I'm learning a very great deal from them. 

Mostly I've learned that there is much to consider for each job.  My mistake is that I answered a request for a price range before I took a look and before we were able to meet and speak with each other. All communication had been done via email.

Regarding the "greedy" comment: I think I understand what JP was trying to say (and I certainly don't want to put words into his mouth). "Ignorant" means many things to many people and the meaning of the word has a wide range both culturally and geographically.  Some people might take this " "greedy" comment as an insult - but I won't.  I just think it was a poor choice of words and I'll leave it at that..

I gave that price after reading many posts on the subject in the archives.  Maybe it was a mistake.  I agree with many who have here said that they'd rather do it for free than have a person pick up a can of insecticide.  In fact, if I don't hear from this person in a week or so, I think I'll tell her just that and that I'd leave the price to her good conscience.  I'm not in this for the money.  I'm excited by the sheer experience of it and for the opportunity to learn.  With that said, I'm also aware of what jobs like this involve and I respect people who have to do things like this for a living.  I respect the sweat people put into their labor.  Others ought to, as well.

[Tommyt]

 Stone
I did my first this past week (thanks to All right here on BeeMaster) I did it for free
however now I did it HANDS-On and that was very rewarding.
I mean what I'm about to say,I can build a decent stick or metal house with a tape,
square, skill-saw, hammer, nail gun, pencil and pretty quick.
I don't do it for a living but I just enjoy building.
With that said the colony was about 6' to 8 feet by 18 inch
It took me 5 hours maybe a bit more. I did not put the soffit wood back up.If it was just a repair of remove
and replace maybe 1hr. and I had a Helper.
  I feel I will free-bee for little old lady's or super Hooter Discount.
I am not into pest control or much bee control so from now on, I will pick and choose and pass the rest
too the folks at my bee club.
It was way more than I thought

Good luck Enjoy the learning curve

Tommyt

[iddee]

You're right, Tommy. Most of those who think it should be done free have never actually done one. Welcome to the real world.