Curbman & Home Depot

[Mbella]

Curbman, in your intro., you posted that you install for Home Depot. What do you install for Home Depot?

[curbman]

We are installing curbing, acid stain, decorate overlays, concrete sidewalk and patios, and landscape. I have brought in my sprinkle guy to install some sprinkle system for some folks that wanted them, more drip systems for the landscape we've done. Why do you ask???

[Mbella]

We are installing curbing, acid stain, decorate overlays, concrete sidewalk and patios, and landscape. I have brought in my sprinkle guy to install some sprinkle system for some folks that wanted them, more drip systems for the landscape we've done. Why do you ask???


I wasn't aware that they had landscape/hardcape intallers.

How has it worked out for you so far?

[curbman]

It has been really good for us you always get paid and its not that hard they send me the leads and i do everything else. I've got eight homedepot stores in my area for the curbing and concrete. They also sending me pavestone and landscaping. I talked to my rep for my area and she asked if i'd do christmas light aslo for them.

[mrusk]

I tell you the story about home depot hardscapes. In the Nj region, the same company that does their windows and door installation is incharged of the hardscapes. Because windows and so much like hardscapes.

Its getting late so i will make it quick. Basicly home depot gets there cut, the storm door company gets there, their salesman gets his cut, then you get your cut which is 5.50 a sq ft labor no matter what. You have to take a fence down? So what.


Oh yea base material comes in 1 yard sacks!

[Mbella]

I tell you the story about home depot hardscapes. In the Nj region, the same company that does their windows and door installation is incharged of the hardscapes. Because windows and so much like hardscapes.

Its getting late so i will make it quick. Basicly home depot gets there cut, the storm door company gets there, their salesman gets his cut, then you get your cut which is 5.50 a sq ft labor no matter what. You have to take a fence down? So what.


Oh yea base material comes in 1 yard sacks!


and you know this how??

[mrusk]

and you know this how??


Because i was approached by them and met with them.

[Mbella]

Because i was approached by them and met with them.

So, you did work for Home Depot?

[curbman]

Sorry you feel that way..you lose...I bid it as if it was mine then put the depot's percent on the end...i still get what I'm suppose to and the home owner gets what they wanted.

[mrusk]

So, you did work for Home Depot?

NOOOOOOOOOO.

Its a good deal for some one, just not the installer. I would not do work for home depot regardless of the $.

[Mbella]

NOOOOOOOOOO.

Its a good deal for some one, just not the installer. I would not do work for home depot regardless of the $.

Why???...........

[Mbella]

Curbman, can you post some pics of the projects you are installing for Home Depot?

[mrusk]

If you do one job for home depot you will get branded a orange apron wearer for life! I do not think any of my prohardscaper.com friends would take me serious again.


Home Depot is a joke.

[curbman]

I have no problems with them and they keep sending me work and i'm still getting paid. Its December and I'm installing all week for homedepot, no windows on this one. ha hah ah ah haah:):):)

[mrusk]

Whats the average house value that you work at for HD.

[Mbella]

If you do one job for home depot you will get branded a orange apron wearer for life! I do not think any of my prohardscaper.com friends would take me serious again.


Home Depot is a joke.

You could be right Matt. I don't know. That's why I asked Curbman to post pics of what he is doing for Home Depot.

Could be B.S., or a good business opportunity. I feel it is our responsibility here at prohardscaper to do our homework before we pass judgement.

[Mbella]

I have no problems with them and they keep sending me work and i'm still getting paid. Its December and I'm installing all week for homedepot, no windows on this one. ha hah ah ah haah:):):)


Curbman, will you post pics of the work you are installing for Home Depot?

[mrusk]

You could be right Matt. I don't know. That's why I asked Curbman to post pics of what he is doing for Home Depot.

Could be B.S., or a good business opportunity. I feel it is our responsibility here at prohardscaper to do our homework before we pass judgement.

Home depot has been trying this off and on over the last 10-12 years in my area. The main thing is, they square foot price everything. No two hardscape jobs at the same and that is where the issue is! Maybe its the storm door guys proablem and not corporate HD, i do not know.

I do know the majority of their jobs are between 5-7k. One major reason why people use them is because they charge the entire job to their home depot cards since they can not afford to write a check.

MBella does that sound like your ideal client?

[Mbella]

Home depot has been trying this off and on over the last 10-12 years in my area. The main thing is, they square foot price everything. No two hardscape jobs at the same and that is where the issue is! Maybe its the storm door guys proablem and not corporate HD, i do not know.

I do know the majority of their jobs are between 5-7k. One major reason why people use them is because they charge the entire job to their home depot cards since they can not afford to write a check.

MBella does that sound like your ideal client?

How do you know that?

Matt, different companies have different strategies. It appears, you target a very high end clientele. Agree with it, or not, there are other markets. I am not ready to pass judgment on Curbman without seeing pics of the work he is performing for Home Depot.

[mrusk]

Mbella- I sat accross from the guy and he said " Majority of our jobs are between 5 and 7k"

[Mbella]

Mbella- I sat accross from the guy and he said " Majority of our jobs are between 5 and 7k"

OK.....Are you saying that they were underpriced?

[curbman]

Mike, believe it or not its the middle income folks that want the work done. I look at it this way Homedepots jobs have ranged from 2000.00 to 15,000 this is business we've done that we have not had to look for they sent it to me and I closed the deal. We advertise in the phone books but its nice when this is just another source of of getting leads that I don't have to do anything for except to spend a little time with the homeowner and talk to them like their a human being. Shoot me you email address and I'll get ya so photos.

[Mbella]

Mike, believe it or not its the middle income folks that want the work done. I look at it this way Homedepots jobs have ranged from 2000.00 to 15,000 this is business we've done that we have not had to look for they sent it to me and I closed the deal. We advertise in the phone books but its nice when this is just another source of of getting leads that I don't have to do anything for except to spend a little time with the homeowner and talk to them like their a human being. Shoot me you email address and I'll get ya so photos.

Curbman, I will PM you my email address. I look forward to receiving the photos.

[mrusk]

Curbman you are lucky to have the set up with them that you have. I guess they do things different is certain regions.

[Mbella]

Curbman you are lucky to have the set up with them that you have. I guess they do things different is certain regions.

Hold the horses Matt!!! Maybe, the work is junk and you were correct. Curbman has assured me that he will send pics, which I will post.

Let's wait and see.

[curbman]

Matt, don't know why you get so bent out of shape, I don't care who we install for as long as they pay when were done. I don't gouge my prices because you have a 500,000 dollar house or a 20,000 dollar house. I always try to do more than to try to pay for christmas off one job and that probably why I stay so busy with or with out HD. That was just extra jobs that came to us via other avenues than my own advertisement or word of mouth. Sorry you don't approve.

Duane

[mrusk]

I guess I just feel the way I do because I take my work very seriously. Its as much about what I am creating as it is making money. I like dealing with wealthy clients because I get to do much more interesting designs. That is what I enjoy. That is one reason I proably never will chase large scale commerical srw's or anything of that nature.

[curbman]

Thats all good everybody has their way of doing business and with whom. HD is just another way for us to aquire more work, no job to big or too small, the numbers all add up at the end of the year.

[SCgreenscapes]

MATT, GOT A QUESTION. WHY ARE YOU BRANDING CURBMAN WITH BORING DESIGNS AND POOR CRAFTMANSHIP JUST BECAUSE HE IS DOING WORK FOR HOME DEPOT. I RECENTLY HAD HOME DEPOT INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORS FOR ME AND THE GUY DID A GREAT JOB AND HAD BEEN DOING IT FOR AMOST 30YRS. ARE YOU SAYING SINCE I HAD HOME DEPOT DO MY FLOORS AND NOT THE LOCAL CONTRACTOR, I GOT AN INFERIOR PRODUCT?

LET'S LOOK AT A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION: YOUR COMPANY HAS BEEN DOING A FEW BIG PROJECTS EACH YEAR AND THAT DRIES UP AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE COMING IN B/C YOU DON'T DO SMALL JOBS. YOU FIND YOURSELF NEEDING TO FEED YOUR FAMILY AND PAY FOR YOUR HOUSE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HOME DEPOT COMES INTO THE PICTURE, TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN HAVE PROMISED AMOUNT OF WORK AND NONE OF THE HEADACHES OF COLLECTING MONEY FROM CUSTOMERS OR FIGURING OUT YOUR NEXT MARKETING PUSH AND YOU CAN MAKE SOME PRETTY DECENT MONEY. IF YOU DECIDE TO BE AN BUSINESS MAN AND GIVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY A TRY...DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU CHECKED YOUR SKILLS AND PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AT THE DOOR?

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE GUY WORKS FOR HOME DEPOT TO PASS JUDGEMENT. NOT TO MENTION, THERE IS ONLY ONE BEING THAT HAS THE RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON OTHERS.

I AM NOT ATTACKING YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS OR TRADE SKILLS, I AM SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE A FEW POINTS.

1. DON'T JUDGE WHO YOU DON'T KNOW.

2. DON'T KNOCK A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY UNTIL YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RIGORS OF RESEARCHING IT. nOT FROM A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE OR A THREAD ON A WEBSITE.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD TAKE ON THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AND I CAN'T SAY THAT I WON'T, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IF I DID DECIDE TO DO IT, I WOULDN'T CHECK MY CRAFTMANSHIP AT THE DOOR.

THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY RANT...

[CaptainsLS]

curbman, if I'm not mistaken when you are the installer for home depot you are forced to use Homedepot products. That would be Pavestone in my area, and their Homedepot line doesn’t support a product that accepts geogrid for SRW. How do you handle this situation? Garden walls only?
Chris

[mrusk]

In my area the home depot guys were installing cambridge pavers even though home depot does not sell them. I have no idea what curbmans deal is. All I know is they were going to pay me 5.50 a sq ft and I was responsible for all turf repairs, garbage and spoils removal.

[GreenMonster]

If you do one job for home depot you will get branded a orange apron wearer for life! I do not think any of my prohardscaper.com friends would take me serious again.


LMFAO, I wouldn't rush judgement.....


how can you be so sure you're taken seriously to begin with.

[kootoomootoo]

LMFAO, I wouldn't rush judgement.....


how can you be so sure you're taken seriously to begin with.


OUCH. ................................

[yardpro]

ooooo...burn....lol

[curbman]

Homedepot install is different from the stores. I am not bound to buy my products from them. In fact the only material I buy from them is 47lb bags of portland and then i special order a pallet at a time. I buy boulders, flagstone etc from a stone company, sand (by the trailer load) from the concrete company that furnishes all my concrete. All my plants come from a local nusery. I buy my material where I have accounts. Look at as I have a company that offers installation on things and you are a big company looking to add more options to your customers because people get tunnel vision, or don't know how to do somethings or just don't have time to do it, so you offer this service for you customers. You have the store and then you have the install side of home depot , whom contracts another company to handle this side of their business for them and to find contractos in that area to complete the installs for the customer wanting the service. I tried to explain this the best I could.

[Mbella]

Thanks for being a stand up guy Curbman.

I think it's time to close this thread.