Im on the higher end in my area and hear some owners dont like it, but they pay the bills.

It been my experince that if you lose a customer due to money, that customer wasnt worth it anyway. Think about it and Im sure youll feel the same.

The best new customer is the one that just ask for an appointment not for the price!

If you are fully booked or nearly so the best strategy is to charge your new customers at a higher rate. Pick a rate that is 20% to 30% higher than what you are charging your current customers. Quote that rate to everyone that calls, ESPECIALLY the price shoppers - those are the ones who will call all the othe farriers and complain about how much you charge. That's how you start the snowball

Meanwhile let your current customers know that you are charging your new customers a lot more. They'll be greatful that you are giving them a break, but they will also be aware that someday they will be paying those prices as well. Let them know that you have no intention of raising "their" rates for at least a year.

Any new customers referred by your current customers will be forewarned that you are "high priced." That referral is also a recommendation that you are "worth it." If they call you, they are already prepared to pay your fees.

Don't negotiate - EVER. If you do, word will get out that you can be talked down.

One last thing. If you wind up as the highest priced farrier in your area, you better damn well make sure that you are delivering the highest value. Service your customers like your life depends on them. Act like you can't wait to see ol' dobbin again. Call your customers every few months just to let them know that you are thinking about them and how's ol' dobbin gettin' along.

Make 'em love ya! Make their horses love ya! Make their dogs love ya! Make their kids love ya! Make 'em a hoof pick out of an old shoe. Sweep the floor and pick up your nails when you're done. Fix the busted latch on the gate or stall door while you're resting up between horses. Use some of your leftover "Superfast" to glue the handle back on their muck fork.
. . . AND my favorite . . . repair their Windows XP registry so their computer doesn't crash anymore - well maybe that's a little much, but you get the idea?

Tom Bloomer, CF

Tom

Can you come shoe my horses? My Farrier hates shoeing his own and there are a few things that may need fixing.

Jeff

J.H. shoeing wrote: I'd be happy to do that, but you might not like the trip charge. Once you factor that in, you might find a "local" like Tom Stovall's rates a bargain. Besides that, he can do a lot more than just fix your gate (gait too), he can build you a pretty fancy new one that would be the envy of all your neighbors

Tom Bloomer, CF

I had to fly Jaye up here to get my wife's horse done, and I know the only reason I go to Atlanta is to shoe his wifes horse. There is something to this I think, just not sure what it is yet.

Dave

Just wondering if any of you New Mexico fellas are near Silver City. Im taking off a week to drive my Sisters horses down there from Colorado, Theres 15 or 20 of them mostly TB's and Arabs, she competes in Dressage and eventing but also uses them on 40,000 acres on the cows becuase she has an aversion to Quarter horses. She needs a new farrier because of the move that why I was asking.

Struth Tommy boy when do you get time to shoe if ya doin all that he he he

Bloomer

I have been in Tom S. shop and it is an adventure. He is an absolute artist. I'll be back over at Tom's in late April or may for a little forging with Bob.

I could not afford Toms trip charge either, but I will get him to build me an entrance into our place.

Jeff

Red Amor wrote: Well if you charge enough you don't have to shoe as much now do you?

Tom Bloomer, CF

Sorry Horseshoe1, I am 3 to 4 hours from Silver City. I may consider but there has to be someone closer.

T.L. Buck wrote:

Same here. I'm too far away.

tbloomer wrote:

Just wondering how thats going for you Tom?

SlowShoe wrote:Josh, I was on schedule, but I had to bump things up a little lately due to some sport horse accounts relocating to my service area. I don't know why, but several others (at least 3 that I know of) in my sandpile have also found the market receptive to these rates. All heck broke loose at the end of April. I'm comfortably covered, but it's starting to burn a little at the end of the day. Talked to Mike Bailey, CJF phone last night. He is buried in horses and gasping for air, LOL!

I hear ya. I've been getting more large stable account calls than backyarders lately. How many you crawling under per day? I did 6 all around on my day off (saturday) last week. ( Then drove 150 miles home ) Which is unussual for me. If I get under more than 5 I know it. Guess I'm kind of a sissy!

SlowShoe wrote:It depends. On trim only days I try to keep it under 10. On shoe only days . . . 3 all around, drilled and tapped with clips, plus before and after watching the horse on the lounge. All the rain has made for big changes in baselines. What worked 5 weeks ago might not work today. Add in the time to gather performance information and time to point out and explain changes in baseline to the owner or trainer or both. The extra time and attention to detail is part of every "package." So it isn't "extra" it is included.

Put a 24 hour shoe replacement guarantee, 4 hour emergency response, returning telephone calls in less than 4 hours to cover emergency response and provide "notification opportunity," INCLUDED in the package, then leave enough time in every day to actually be able to back up your guarantee of high availibility service.

Wrap all that stuff up in a shoeing job, then guarantee it, deliver it, and put a price on it. How many horses can you service?