Here's why my preference for a one-man gardener biz (home, transfer to)

[Voebe]

I'm still doggedly looking for an inexpensive low-end gardener who's fluent in English. Since what I need is more like yard work, I don't feel like paying fancy prices for a "landscaper," and it would be nice to again find someone who works out of his home with no overhead.

A nursery recommended a guy, who came by to look the place over. But he had a sidekick who he didn't bother to introduce, and about 90% of the conversation was between the two of them, not with me. I gradually got the impression that he'd be sending the sidekick over on his own, and I said I wasn't thrilled about having someone who didn't speak English. Oh, he does speak some English or he can call me, the boss assured me - although even then the sidekick hadn't said a single word, just grinned.

But the funny part was that when I asked him what it would cost to cut back my neighbor's encroaching tree, the boss went into another long Spanish discussion with the sidekick, and even though I don't speak Spanish, the sidekick clearly had said $150. Then the boss turned to me and smilingly said he could do it for $200.

That's why I prefer one-man operations, where the boss isn't marking up the worker's price.

[TempeAZnative]

Every thought doesn't need a post!

[DAXhound]

Higher a high schooler...possibly through their guidance office. Landscapers mostly don't do tree work. 200 for any tree service is cheap. A fallen tree can be thousands...in addition to what it hit. Making an issue out of blue collar worker's lack of English in AZ kind of makes you come across as a wanker..the alphabets are nearly identical...try Google Translate.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by DAXhound

Higher a high schooler...possibly through their guidance office. Landscapers mostly don't do tree work. 200 for any tree service is cheap. A fallen tree can be thousands...in addition to what it hit. Making an issue out of blue collar worker's lack of English in AZ kind of makes you come across as a wanker..the alphabets are nearly identical...try Google Translate.

That's actually a good idea about a high school kid - and I tried it. I once found a kid on Craigslist, who was so swamped with replies that he very sensibly only chose people nearby. I once found a kid near me, but he doesn't have a car, so usually only works for people on his own street. And I called a few schools, but they shied away, worried about liability issues.

And, sorry, but I think you should learn the language of the country you live in. In any case, my point was just that it was such a perfect example of even a low-level boss marking up his profits for his worker's labor.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Voebe

I once found a kid near me, but he doesn't have a car, so usually only works for people on his own street. And I called a few schools, but they shied away, worried about liability issues.

You called High Schools looking for a landscaper? WTF

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by asufan

You called High Schools looking for a landscaper? WTF

It's better than pool boy, I guess.

[wit-nit]

You get what you pay for. BTW many poorly speaking English people do excellent work at reasonable prices.

[DAXhound]

Originally Posted by asufan

You called High Schools looking for a landscaper? WTF

Besides encouraging students to go into massive debt to take courses that wont transfer to ASU, part of their job is to assist students in finding after school work.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by DAXhound

Besides encouraging students to go into massive debt to take courses that wont transfer to ASU, part of their job is to assist students in finding after school work.

LOL no, helping students find part time jobs is absolutely NOT part of the job responsibilities of a High School administrator.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by DAXhound

Besides encouraging students to go into massive debt to take courses that wont transfer to ASU, part of their job is to assist students in finding after school work.

I think you are confusing internships with "assisting students in finding after-school jobs." Here are some internships that I could see a counselor recommending. https://blog.collegevine.com/high-sc...ix#internships . i.e. Cyber, medical, science, and engineering experience, etc. Notice that cutting down Voebe's tree which was marked up by $50 doesn't show up on that list.