[Quick Hits]

Do you charge a trip fee?

March 2010

Gerald Schappert , Bug Doctor, Ocala, Fla.

I’m not aware of anybody in the industry that charges to come out for estimates or even "complaint" calls, but I’m not sure why we don’t. HVAC men do, plumbers, electricians and many other service industries do, but not "bug guys." I think if it takes a license to run a business people should have to pay for our time. What say you?
 

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Ronald Keehfus, Bugs-4-less, Virginia Beach, Va., and Moyock, N.C.

I started to charge a service charge fee in our termite contracts — there is a clause where if we need to come out and retreat, there may be a $90 service fee. This does not include any yearly inspections. For pest control, I was looking at it, but I really do not have that many callbacks. And if I do, I try to schedule it on a day with other regular stops in that same area. I already started to charge my Virginia customers a fuel surcharge; my N.C. customers have been used to that since day one, so nothing new for them. Now, from time to time I do charge for estimates if I have to go out there, especially for second opinions on real estate inspections. It’s a modest fee of $35-$45. I know I lose calls on that but it keeps me from spinning my wheels and wasting my time. The ones that do not mind paying for an inspection fee I usually sell with no problems. Lately, with the calls coming in for termites, the first thing some are asking is what is our service call fee for coming out? Wow, I like these people already.
 

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Jeffrey Ledford, Eco-Pest, Wichita, Kan.

Maybe one thing the national association should push for is a more professional standard, such as a 2-year apprenticeship or minimum of two to five years of experience before you can get a business license.
 

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Todd Boich, On Target Pest Solutions, Williamstown, N.J.

I have been advocating this with my fellow PCOs for some time now. We have overhead costs that go unpaid when we do a free inspection or estimate and callbacks. My time, fuel, insurance, etc., cost plenty. That being said, we all know that we can’t get everyone on board with this because some have the "go ahead and charge and they will come to me" attitude. It’s a frustrating conundrum.
 

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Harold Clifton, Pest Pro Services, St. Peters, Mo.

I don’t do termite work, so no estimates for that. As far as pest control, I give my fee — costs for everything — over the phone. If they want me to come out and give them an estimate, then I would charge half my normal charge for doing a job. And tell them the cost of the estimate will be taken off the cost of the job, if they buy from me.
 

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Mickey Ferrell, HomePro Pest Control, Chesapeake, Va.

I can understand the thought behind asking for an estimate fee, but I think you’re hurting yourself more than helping. You might weed out a few price shoppers, but could lose on the big one. I sell 50% of the homes that I walk into, because I have experience that the sales guys from the large companies can’t match. So It makes sense for me to get in the door and then prove our worth. But to each their own.
 

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Keith Lewallen, Union Exterminating Company, Monroe, N.C.

We charge a modest inspection fee that will be dropped if we sell a job. Estimates are free if they already know they have termites.