Snow Plow service
- Thread starter blopar
- Start date
Let me know if you find one - they all promise the world and half the time don't show up, don't have premises, only have a cell phone and have your money up front. Good one to stay away from is the "Gardiner" in Thornhill.
From my limited knowledge, I think it's usually a scam. It's definitely a crap shoot. I had a relative who did the snow plow thing one winter. You get all sorts of contracts and hope it doesn't snow much. But if it snows a lot, you lose your shirt. And when it does snow, you're working practically 24 hours a day to meet all your obligations. And when that happens, dollars to donuts a lot of the unscrupulous contractors will cut n' run.
You'd be better off hiring some local kids to clear your driveway. Or hiring a professional organization that has plenty of trucks, ironclad guarantees, contracts, etc.
You'd be better off hiring some local kids to clear your driveway. Or hiring a professional organization that has plenty of trucks, ironclad guarantees, contracts, etc.
There are serious contractors who plow snow but they are expensive and usually will not do residental work. Also they will have clauses inside their agreements that limit the service for a given price. After a given number of events and or tonnes then the price goes up in extra charges. Lastly anyone who takes your money upfront is probably not a contractor you want. All of the reputable contractors (seemingly) send monthly invoices and accept monthly payments. Good luck in your search.
In the years it didn't snow much I lost out with the pay one fee in advance guy I have used. Last year however the guy had to come basically every day (sometimes twice a day) as it pretty much snowed all winter long. At first I thought this was very funny (since he came maybe 5 times the entire previous winter) that he was plowing my driveway every other day, but when it became every day I felt sorry for he guy...he'd be plowing all night sometimes doing mine at 4am---he must have lived off of Red Bulls last winter as it appeared he was plowing all day and night. I hope he saved some of the money he raked in the previous years.
It is a crap shoot really.
Get reccomendations from neighbours who have theirs done.
Most plowers WILL want to be paid for the season up front, that is just how it works, it doesn't mean they will scam you.
You have to remember that you might not get your driveway done the minute a f**king snowflake touches the ground, you are not the only one on the list. You could be on a route with 40 other people, which is a pretty decent route for one person to handle and if we get dumped on it may take 8 hours to get plowed if you happen to be at the end of the list. Some also don't even come out until a certain amount of snow falls. And they should come back around after they are done their route to make sure the end of your drive is still clear.
If you are in thrornhill/ richmond hill area I can reccomend someone to you.
Get reccomendations from neighbours who have theirs done.
Most plowers WILL want to be paid for the season up front, that is just how it works, it doesn't mean they will scam you.
You have to remember that you might not get your driveway done the minute a f**king snowflake touches the ground, you are not the only one on the list. You could be on a route with 40 other people, which is a pretty decent route for one person to handle and if we get dumped on it may take 8 hours to get plowed if you happen to be at the end of the list. Some also don't even come out until a certain amount of snow falls. And they should come back around after they are done their route to make sure the end of your drive is still clear.
If you are in thrornhill/ richmond hill area I can reccomend someone to you.
I'm going into my fourth season this year with the same guy.
He gives you the option of paying in two installments for a little more money, or all up front, for a little less. I have always paid for the whole season upfront and crossed my fingers.
The first two years he was great...the driveway was always clear when I went out in the morning at 7:00am, and he would be back in the daytime to blow the end of the driveway after the plows came before I got home. Of course, the snows were pretty light those years, and I'm sure he made money.
Last year, the service wasn't quite so efficient. Of course, it snowed a lot more in 2007/08, and I think he lost some customers on my street because his prices were always a bit higher than most other guys. So, he probably put me on the route to do last.
However, the one time I called him because it was imperative I had the driveway cleared because of a 6:00am flight out of Pearson, he was there at 2:00am to make sure I could get out.
I'm pretty sure he will be looking at asking for a price increase for this season because I'm sure he must have lost money last season. Having said that, I wouldn't want his job for "love nor money".
He gives you the option of paying in two installments for a little more money, or all up front, for a little less. I have always paid for the whole season upfront and crossed my fingers.
The first two years he was great...the driveway was always clear when I went out in the morning at 7:00am, and he would be back in the daytime to blow the end of the driveway after the plows came before I got home. Of course, the snows were pretty light those years, and I'm sure he made money.
Last year, the service wasn't quite so efficient. Of course, it snowed a lot more in 2007/08, and I think he lost some customers on my street because his prices were always a bit higher than most other guys. So, he probably put me on the route to do last.
However, the one time I called him because it was imperative I had the driveway cleared because of a 6:00am flight out of Pearson, he was there at 2:00am to make sure I could get out.
I'm pretty sure he will be looking at asking for a price increase for this season because I'm sure he must have lost money last season. Having said that, I wouldn't want his job for "love nor money".
