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I am a cancelled TruGreen customer. Never to go back. Even though TG keeps calling me & sending me mailers trying desperately to lure me back. A quick summary of my problems with TruGreen is that they did not ever follow up or follow through on anything they did. This was because their salesmen over-promised, and the technicians under-delivered. Basically the salesmen were overly aggressive in trying to get my business. And then the technicians were always in a hurry and cut a lot of corners just to get done and leave as quick as possible.

CONSUMER REPORTS magazine did a review of TruGreen back in May 2008. Here is a summary of CR's review of TruGreen in the May 2008 issue of the magazine.

TRUGREEN (58 franchises, 220 company-owned branches). The company pitch emphasis emphasizes service. "Our Grass is Greener," assures TruGreen. ("We take pride in our, so your can take pride in your lawn") as well as reputation. ("Trust is the cornerstone of superior customer service.")

HOMEOWNER IMPRESSIONS OF TRUGREEN; Had to call several times. In one instance an estimate was sent without anyone visiting the lawn. In another case, after the initial consult, our staffer (CR) was called numerous times and strongly urged to start service immediately.

WHAT OUR (CR) EXPERTS SAID; TruGreen uses a very detailed lawn-analysis form. But not all of its technicians [salesmen?] follow the form accurately. In one case, only the word "mixed" was entered under grass type. Another technician [salesman?] overstated the presence of insects and disease and recommended a lime application even though our independent soil test indicated that no lime was needed.

CHEMICAL CHECK; The written contract does not state the pesticides that will be used during the course of treatment. There is no mention of integrated pest management in literature our staffers received.

In a general summary of national lawn-care services, here's what we (CR) learned:

SERVICES WERE SIMILAR. Despite claims about "tailored" and "specialized" programs, we found that the prescriptions were surprisingly alike. That's because most major lawn services use widely accepted lawn-care practices designed to cure a wide rage of problems. [In short, it's all one tank of spray mix. So every lawn gets sprayed with the same "weeds & feed" mix]. "It's a cost-competitive, high-volume business." [The lawn-care industry has become a '''commodity'''.]

TECHNICIAN COMPETENCE VARIED. The companies described an intensive training process that combines classroom education with field training. But standards can be hard to enforce with franchises. So ask if the technician is from a franchise or company-owned branch. Ultimately, the quality and specifics of any lawn service depend on the individuals who make the analysis and apply the treatments. [Too true! And TruGreen is sub-par in all of these areas!!!]

See if your local library subscribes to "Consumer Reports". If so, then they will also have all of the CR back issues too. Ask for the May 2008 issue to see Consumer Reports full recommendations on lawn care. Just take your time, do your research, and educate yourself first. Be advised that TruGreen is a greedy, corporate bad-seed!!!!!!!!!

Location: Monroe, Michigan

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Guest

To find a good inside source of reviews from professionals inside the lawn-care industry, just Google "lawnsite trugreen". This will take you to a series of archived Discussion Boards from all walks of people working in the lawn care profession. Some of these people are past employees of TruGreen, and you will read a lot of good incite on how TruGreen conducts their business.

Guest

I had True Green for three yrs. The first year my lawn was beautiful after that it progressivley had gotten worse every year after.

I've called them they came back to my house

and spot treated areas. I had more weeds then I ever had and they did nothing so I cancelled and they call me all the time to get my business.

I tell them never again. Poeple couldn't believe that I had a lawn service with the way my lawn looked.

Guest

I worked for TruGreed for 5 years before leaving and starting my own lawn care business. My employment with TruMean was a crash course in how to NOT treat employees & customers!

My old Collage Business Professor use to say that "A company's progress moves no faster than the cpmpany's pride, which in turn provides motivation and energy." TruGreen's management doesn't seem to get this. The TruGreen/ServiceMaster Corp instead lives by the "Wall Street" Michael Douglas character Gordon Gekko rule that "Greed....is good".

Do yourselves a favor and do business with a local company where you can deal directly with the company's owner that cares! Instead of a Corporation with a "facless" CEO in another state!

Guest

I tried Trugreen [and their pest company Terminix] for an entire year. Both companies were nightmares to deal with.

Their salesmen tell lies and make promises that they don't keep. Their servicemen do a poor job & rush through their work as quick as they can. Again their salesmen constantly call back(weekly) telling me about another problem, and that I need to buy more of their services. Their customer service and billing are out-sourced to a centralized office, and are a major pain to deal with.

And all this is just a quick summary of the problems that I've had with both Trugreen & Terminix. My entire story is already posted on www.consumeraffairs.com

Avoid TRUGREEN & TERMINIX at all costs!

Guest

Give us a shot - we're much smaller, have local owners all over the country, and use organic fertilizers (Not nasty chemicals) to treat lawns.

cleanairlawncare.com

888-969-****

Guest

I got a back issue of the May 2008 Consumer Reports. And it is very revealing!

In most cases it is probably in everyone's best interest to avoid doing business with really big lawn treatment companies. Whether they are a Corporation or a Franchise. Such companies would be: TruGreen, Scotts, *** Man, Lawn Doctor, NaturaLawn. These large companies are just way too impersonal and profit driven to do a good job.

Instead find youself a local lawn-care company, that values good customer service.

This way you can deal with the owner directly, instead of a "faceless" multi-state Corp. A local lawn company will value his need to have a good reputation in the community.

He knows that his customers drive his business, and put food on his table! :)

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-415908

The dude left TG to start his own business. I bet its failed by now. How can you claim you even have an education "collage professor" wow bro just wow.