[poleman]

I have been a window cleaner for 26 years and in the past four or five years seen a big explosion in joe public getting into this much loved industry of ours, yes you can blame WFP as its a lot safer, but WFP has been good to us, however I have personal lost in the past 6 months 20 domestic customers to others undercutting, one customer said he would do the first clean free and half what I charge on the next clean, now my point is....for me and many other window cleaners I come incontact with over many years its a unwritten rule that you DON'T undercut on houses, if you do a bad job or are unreliable then fine but undercutting will kill this much loved industry  sorry rant over its just I have worked hard to build up my business and to see it going down likes this is soul destroying
 

[Dave Willis]

I quoted a three storey mid terrace today £15
Previous quote was £60!!!!!!

Am I guilty of undercutting?

[poleman]

I quoted a three storey mid terrace today £15
Previous quote was £60!!!!!!

Am I guilty of undercutting?

well with out seeing the house that is a lot of money and is over priced in the first place, we normal charge that price for a block of flats

[C o z y]

Here you go mate, seems to be the norm at the moment.

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=182679.0;all

[bobplum]

business is business.......sorry

[Dave Willis]

The only way to undercut would be if you know the current price. If the guy is pricing your work up but doesn't know your price then I guess in his eyes he isn't undercutting.

He's probably new and thinks £8 and hour is a cracking price.

[poleman]

business is business.......sorry

Yes has always been the case on commercial work but on houses not on....if we all do it then it will kill it for all of us

[Clever Forum Name]

So many iff's and butts tho.

A canvassed customer will drop you way before a recommendation job will.

Are you actually doing a good job OP (dont mean that in a horrible way)

How much are they undercutting on the prices. Forget the first clean rubbish and half price this rubbish.

For them to swap i would image a house you are changing £15 for they must be coming in at like £7 - £9

[South Window Cleaning Ltd]

have you had a bad day Andy ?

[PoleKing]

I did a huge over cut today.
Went along priced up. Huge 3 storey house bit of a flat roof so need the steps too for a few.
I quoted £50 every 2 months.

Customer said, 'seems expensive, our current guy only charges £17.50 every 3 months'
I said 'no wonder he's not doing a very good job, i'll leave it with you'
Went to walk away, customer stops me says: 'no, no, no, we want them doing, can you do them now'?
Yes i says. Cleans, gets paid, no probs.

OP, in 26 years you must've had some ups & downs?
Try and look at it as though you may just be having a little down, an up is only around the corner.
I actually think that a few downs every now & then does us good.
Keeps us on our toes.
It'll only be short term bud. Stay positive

[roundbuilder]

I agree with bob plum. Its just business! If was paying £20 a month to have my windows cleaned and someone said they would do it for £10 id save myself £120 a year and swap to the £10 guy.
I lose customers to undercutters all the time! Such is life i just go out and replace them to keep the ball rolling.
I guess the trick isto charge a fair price instead of a chancer price!
I charger £10 for fronts so have high risks of being undercut which does happen however with millions of customers out there it realy doesnt bother me as 1 customers money is as good as anothers! Flip side a customer would simply just want there windows cleaned and the cheaper the better! Loyalty doesnt always come into it.

[jmb]

business is business.......sorry

Yes has always been the case on commercial work but on houses not on....if we all do it then it will kill it for all of us

It's the same with commercial as with domestics tbh there has always been an understanding to a lot of commercial window cleaners in bristol about undercutting, the problem like poleman has posted is that since wfp has come out we've all seen an influx of so say window cleaners who can only clean a window via wfp.

It can only be damaging to all of our business's by doin stuff to cheap because to try and get the prices back up to what they should be is a nightmare and at the end of the day our running costs to any business isn't going down ie Diesal ect.

Ps I hope this doesn't sound like I'm a wfp hater cus I'm not, it all has it's uses like being able to squeegee a window inside instead of like some people have posted on this forum " I've been asked to clean some inside windows what's the best way to do it "

[Tom-01]

There's cheaper prices in every industry though, window cleaning shouldn't be any different. It's business. I 'over cut' all the time. It sorts the wheat from the chaff.

OP when you're quoting new jobs you should put extra £5 on what you would normally quote, the ones who say yes will be the best customers and won't go for the cheapest guys, providing you do a great job and offer great customer service.

[Tom-01]

As an example if I needed a gardener and was looking for quotes I would probably go for the £15 per hour guys rather than the £8 or £10 per hour guys. The £15 per hour guys would probably have uniforms, sign written vans, insurance and actually be able to hold a conversation, basically be professional. I'm not Mick Kent

[roundbuilder]

As an example if I needed a gardener and was looking for quotes I would probably go for the £15 per hour guys rather than the £8 or £10 per hour guys. The £15 per hour guys would probably have uniforms, sign written vans, insurance and actually be able to hold a conversation, basically be professional. I'm not Mick Kent

Lol fair point, cant argue with that.
Some like profesionalism and others like a bargain, the only thing is though the majority of people just want there windows cleaned for a reasonable price.why would the customer pay her window cleaner £20 a month if another offered to do it for £10 saving her a massive £120 a year halving the cost to have the same simple job done of cleaning her windows?.
I just look at it from a customers point of view which is why i accept being undercut as its business at the end of the day Some you win and some you lose.
Would you pay £200 a month gas and electric with british gas if you could half it to £100 a month with ion???   You would be a fool not too.

[Scrimble]

put it this way i recently went to a barber shop had my hair cut for £6, the young lad barber did a poor job, i wasnt happy when i got home, i usually pay around £9 to £10 which is the going rate around here it seems, next time i needed a hair cut I drove past the £6 barber shop and went to one i know is good and is what i think is a fair rate £10

I left the barbers happy that my £10 was better spent than the £6 i wasted previously, end of the day you get what you pay for and there are people who want to pay rock bottom rates but there are plenty more who want to spend good money and have a good job done,

never ever sell yourself short, thats a mugs game

[Dave Willis]

I had a close shave with a barber once.

[Frankybadboy]

I had a close shave with a barber once.

[richard groves]

As an example if I needed a gardener and was looking for quotes I would probably go for the £15 per hour guys rather than the £8 or £10 per hour guys. The £15 per hour guys would probably have uniforms, sign written vans, insurance and actually be able to hold a conversation, basically be professional. I'm not Mick Kent

Men in uniforms don't do it for me and I certainly wouldn't want to hang around and chat with them  

[poleman]

many thanks chaps, seems its changing times out there, I was this year going to do a price increase but thats going to have to be put on hold now  I just hope its worth being a window cleaner in say 5 or 10 years time if this undercutting continues 

[poleman]

have you had a bad day Andy ?

not the best lol

[richard groves]

many thanks chaps, seems its changing times out there, I was this year going to do a price increase but thats going to have to be put on hold now  I just hope its worth being a window cleaner in say 5 or 10 years time if this undercutting continues 

Its all the more reason not to be discussing hourly rates and pricing on such forums.
Also flashy vans and wfp were once mainly seen in the commercial sector, now its presence has become common place in suburbia and so the public's perception of window cleaning is changing. Unfortunately the more cleaners there are, the cheaper prices will become. Good for customers - not so good for us.

[tlwcs]

As an example if I needed a gardener and was looking for quotes I would probably go for the £15 per hour guys rather than the £8 or £10 per hour guys. The £15 per hour guys would probably have uniforms, sign written vans, insurance and actually be able to hold a conversation, basically be professional. I'm not Mick Kent

Lol fair point, cant argue with that.
Some like profesionalism and others like a bargain, the only thing is though the majority of people just want there windows cleaned for a reasonable price.why would the customer pay her window cleaner £20 a month if another offered to do it for £10 saving her a massive £120 a year halving the cost to have the same simple job done of cleaning her windows?.


I just look at it from a customers point of view which is why i accept being undercut as its business at the end of the day Some you win and some you lose.
Would you pay £200 a month gas and electric with british gas if you could half it to £100 a month with ion???   You would be a fool not too.

We think they're a fool not to change. The truth is not everybody is that concerned with the price, its they're perception of value against the level of service they are getting.

Yes gas and electric are faceless and I have no problem with finding a better deal, but in this business people buy people and thats where loyalty kicks in.

How many people drive Decia or Kia Cars as a market share, its not massive as people like to buy something they perceive as better quality. The same could be said with supermarkets.

I try not to second guess what the customer can afford.
Tony

[C o z y]

many thanks chaps, seems its changing times out there, I was this year going to do a price increase but thats going to have to be put on hold now   I just hope its worth being a window cleaner in say 5 or 10 years time if this undercutting continues  

Its all the more reason not to be discussing hourly rates and pricing on such forums.
Also flashy vans and wfp were once mainly seen in the commercial sector, now its presence has become common place in suburbia and so the public's perception of window cleaning is changing. Unfortunately the more cleaners there are, the cheaper prices will become. Good for customers - not so good for us.

I agree with some of that. However, shiney vans make little if no difference to a custy. When I'm knocking doors, the person stood in the door can't see my van, and can only see me. I'm dressed casually but neatly. I look 'em in the eye and ask if they got my flyer recently, and are they interested in having a windy.
IMO, because I collect about 75% of my money from custies, I get contact on a regular basis. They know who cleans their windows. So when I get the odd summer brigade trying to build a round in the areas I work, they're on an uphill struggle regarding getting my work.

Some of you don't even see your customers on a regular basis. A lot of you have your custies on Standing Order payments or PayPal. So contact is a minimum. I find they're less likely to change windies if they know their windy.
In the past, my ex wife would never have swapped windies if she was happy with the service. Better the devil you know, what happens if she swapped and the service was crap, or they stop coming?

So it's not just about price, and anyway, who wants custies that drop you for a couple of quid?

By the way, Mick Kent handled that shot from Tom 1 quite well I thought.  

[SeanK]

many thanks chaps, seems its changing times out there, I was this year going to do a price increase but thats going to have to be put on hold now  I just hope its worth being a window cleaner in say 5 or 10 years time if this undercutting continues 

Poleman, I work in an area where there isn't a fortune in window cleaning.
Don't know if its down to under cutters or was it always that way.
But I can still earn a lot more than if I was working in a factory or similar so I think window cleaning will always
be worth doing.
Plus with wfp we no longer have to risk life and limb to achieve this.
The problem is wages are falling in all the different sectors of employment so window cleaning has to follow.

[dazmond]

id still put your prices up if you think their too low IMO.when was the last time to you put them up?

some of mine ive not put up for 4 or 5 years.they are going up this year.quite a few i put up 2 years ago.they are going up again too.

everythings going up.nevermind low wages.you work for yourself not anybody else and you have overheads that employees dont have.

[SeanK]

How can you not mind low wages or in what direction your customers wages are going ?
I got over 40 inquiries last week from customers who think their window cleaner has got to
expensive.
These where loyal customers that have been with this guy for many years.
Made me think again about putting up my prices this year.

[Pro-Poler]

Some window cleaners are complacent. Supermarkets under cut, so do insurance companies or in fact any industry, it's called competition, yes I have read all the arguments about looking more professional or having a nice sign written van and getting payed by bacs, read a post on here where someone said they prefer manual collecting as they like to see their customers face to face now and again, fact is if you do a decent job, pass the time of day with your customers and  accept a cup of tea now and again you'll get more respected instead of whipping through a job before they've finished writing the cheque out, I was slagged off for doing £6 jobs once that take 10 minutes, I wouldn't have kept them jobs if I charged 12 quid like some suggested. But in forum land the truth is not often spoken just look at the amount of posters who never lose any work.   

[DaveG]

I have been a window cleaner for 26 years and in the past four or five years seen a big explosion in joe public getting into this much loved industry of ours, yes you can blame WFP as its a lot safer, but WFP has been good to us, however I have personal lost in the past 6 months 20 domestic customers to others undercutting, one customer said he would do the first clean free and half what I charge on the next clean, now my point is....for me and many other window cleaners I come incontact with over many years its a unwritten rule that you DON'T undercut on houses, if you do a bad job or are unreliable then fine but undercutting will kill this much loved industry  sorry rant over its just I have worked hard to build up my business and to see it going down likes this is soul destroying
 

It's cos your'e rubbish 

[Perfect Windows]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

[roundbuilder]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

Bmw vs ford is different to a window cleaner named dave and another window cleaner called john who both charge totally different amounts but still both have the same end result which is clean windows for the customer.
I always buy a nice car as i work hard to be able to have 1 but if i wanted my lawn cut and got 2 different quotes and 1 was half the price of the other then i sure as hell wouldnt go for the most expensive quote for exactly the same job to be done id go for the cheapest as cutting a lawn/ cleaning windows etc etc isnt rocket science and nomatter what you pay any half decent window cleaner will do a good job if they want repeat custom,
When insurance hunting, do you shop around for a low premium like most or do you ring around and pull your hair out trying to find the most expencive quote??.

[robbo333]

I've only lost a few to 'cheaper prices' but on the flip side, i'm picking up a quite a bit of work from 'cheaper window cleaners' not doing a proper job. And i'm pricing it 'correctly'.
The way I see it is:
If the cheap boys want to have a few of my customers, then those customers were only ever interested in a cheap job and probably not worth having anyway.
If I can get some of their customers, those customers are interested in a better quality job (and are prepared to pay for it), so will probably be good long term custys.
What goes round, comes round  

[roundbuilder]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

[Perfect Windows]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

Bmw vs ford is different to a window cleaner named dave and another window cleaner called john who both charge totally different amounts but still both have the same end result which is clean windows for the customer.
I always buy a nice car as i work hard to be able to have 1 but if i wanted my lawn cut and got 2 different quotes and 1 was half the price of the other then i sure as hell wouldnt go for the most expensive quote for exactly the same job to be done id go for the cheapest as cutting a lawn/ cleaning windows etc etc isnt rocket science and nomatter what you pay any half decent window cleaner will do a good job if they want repeat custom,
When insurance hunting, do you shop around for a low premium like most or do you ring around and pull your hair out trying to find the most expencive quote??.

All assumes that the job required is just clean windows.

Some want a call before a visit.  Some want flexibility on timings.  Some want their windows done every fortnight, some every four weeks, some every eight, some every twelve.  Some want a CRB checked cleaner.  Some want trad, some want WFP, some don't care.  Some want someone who doesn't ever hassle them, some want someone who stops for a cup of tea and a chat.  Some want to pay cash, some chequye, some by BACS, some by standing order.  Some want the same face every week, some don't care.  Some want a one man band, some want a company.  Some want a guy in a recognisable van.  Some want to know that the guy who comes has key insurance.  Some want the frames done as well as the glass, some just want glass and don't care about frames.

And, yes, they all want clean windows.  But amongst that lot are some requirements that will make someone pay more for the cleaner of their choice. So if they want their windows cleaned every fortnight and you only offer 6-weekly, price goes out of the window; you're not going to get the job even if you're cheaper.  (That's an example, so don't get too fixated on the detail).  If they want a trad guy and you're only WFP then you can halve your prices and not get the business.

Ref insurance, no, only a madman would look for the most expensive quote; that's a ridiculous straw man.  However, last renewal, about a month ago, I took a premium hike for a replacement WFP van if I'm off the road.  So, once again, it wasn't price.

Vin

[robbo333]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

Hi Mick
Sorry mate I thought I'd sent it. Give me your email and I'll do it now.

[robbo333]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

Hi Mick
Sorry mate I thought I'd sent it. Give me your email and I'll do it now.

Just checked and I sent it on 21 Feb at 6.30.
No probs i'll resend it.

[roundbuilder]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

Hi Mick
Sorry mate I thought I'd sent it. Give me your email and I'll do it now.

Cheers mate
Mikestav82@icloud.com

[robbo333]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

Hi Mick
Sorry mate I thought I'd sent it. Give me your email and I'll do it now.

Cheers mate
Mikestav82@icloud.com

Email sent.

[roundbuilder]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

Bmw vs ford is different to a window cleaner named dave and another window cleaner called john who both charge totally different amounts but still both have the same end result which is clean windows for the customer.
I always buy a nice car as i work hard to be able to have 1 but if i wanted my lawn cut and got 2 different quotes and 1 was half the price of the other then i sure as hell wouldnt go for the most expensive quote for exactly the same job to be done id go for the cheapest as cutting a lawn/ cleaning windows etc etc isnt rocket science and nomatter what you pay any half decent window cleaner will do a good job if they want repeat custom,
When insurance hunting, do you shop around for a low premium like most or do you ring around and pull your hair out trying to find the most expencive quote??.

All assumes that the job required is just clean windows.

Some want a call before a visit.  Some want flexibility on timings.  Some want their windows done every fortnight, some every four weeks, some every eight, some every twelve.  Some want a CRB checked cleaner.  Some want trad, some want WFP, some don't care.  Some want someone who doesn't ever hassle them, some want someone who stops for a cup of tea and a chat.  Some want to pay cash, some chequye, some by BACS, some by standing order.  Some want the same face every week, some don't care.  Some want a one man band, some want a company.  Some want a guy in a recognisable van.  Some want to know that the guy who comes has key insurance.  Some want the frames done as well as the glass, some just want glass and don't care about frames.

And, yes, they all want clean windows.  But amongst that lot are some requirements that will make someone pay more for the cleaner of their choice. So if they want their windows cleaned every fortnight and you only offer 6-weekly, price goes out of the window; you're not going to get the job even if you're cheaper.  (That's an example, so don't get too fixated on the detail).  If they want a trad guy and you're only WFP then you can halve your prices and not get the business.

Ref insurance, no, only a madman would look for the most expensive quote; that's a ridiculous straw man.  However, last renewal, about a month ago, I took a premium hike for a replacement WFP van if I'm off the road.  So, once again, it wasn't price.

Vin

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.
Just the way it is.

[roundbuilder]

Hi robbo, if you get a chance to mail me about the sold board thing from the other post id be well greatful.
I got a map from that other guy but. It wasnt realy much to write home about as doesnt tell me what the addressesactualy are so i wont be paying £2 per house lol..

Cheers mate.

Hi Mick
Sorry mate I thought I'd sent it. Give me your email and I'll do it now.

Cheers mate
Mikestav82@icloud.com

Email sent.

Got it, cheers mate.

[tlwcs]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

Bmw vs ford is different to a window cleaner named dave and another window cleaner called john who both charge totally different amounts but still both have the same end result which is clean windows for the customer.
I always buy a nice car as i work hard to be able to have 1 but if i wanted my lawn cut and got 2 different quotes and 1 was half the price of the other then i sure as hell wouldnt go for the most expensive quote for exactly the same job to be done id go for the cheapest as cutting a lawn/ cleaning windows etc etc isnt rocket science and nomatter what you pay any half decent window cleaner will do a good job if they want repeat custom,
When insurance hunting, do you shop around for a low premium like most or do you ring around and pull your hair out trying to find the most expencive quote??.

All assumes that the job required is just clean windows.

Some want a call before a visit.  Some want flexibility on timings.  Some want their windows done every fortnight, some every four weeks, some every eight, some every twelve.  Some want a CRB checked cleaner.  Some want trad, some want WFP, some don't care.  Some want someone who doesn't ever hassle them, some want someone who stops for a cup of tea and a chat.  Some want to pay cash, some chequye, some by BACS, some by standing order.  Some want the same face every week, some don't care.  Some want a one man band, some want a company.  Some want a guy in a recognisable van.  Some want to know that the guy who comes has key insurance.  Some want the frames done as well as the glass, some just want glass and don't care about frames.

And, yes, they all want clean windows.  But amongst that lot are some requirements that will make someone pay more for the cleaner of their choice. So if they want their windows cleaned every fortnight and you only offer 6-weekly, price goes out of the window; you're not going to get the job even if you're cheaper.  (That's an example, so don't get too fixated on the detail).  If they want a trad guy and you're only WFP then you can halve your prices and not get the business.

Ref insurance, no, only a madman would look for the most expensive quote; that's a ridiculous straw man.  However, last renewal, about a month ago, I took a premium hike for a replacement WFP van if I'm off the road.  So, once again, it wasn't price.

Vin

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.

Vin i get what your saying. No offence, but I don't think you do.

Your Gardener comparison, if the half priced guy looked a bit rough or dodgy or made eyes at your mrs, would you still use him because of the price?

Its just the way it is. Only in your head Mick, people buy people.

Tony

[IDEAL50]

DON'T FORGET THAT WE ARE ALL JUST CLEANERS!

And not a very good one's after all we only "Clean" one thing... "Glass"   WOW!

When YOU started out, did you know the "Going rate" or did you just quote yourself happy?

Try and insure your "Round" and you will see the "True Value" of it!
If it's not "Tangible" it's of no value!

Customers come customers go, when you run out of customers... you go too!

And NO I don't under-cut anyone, if someone asks for a quote and then drops the bombshell..."I already have a window Cleaner and he charges..."
I tell them to first contact the cleaner, finish with his service and then call me!

Business does not have to be "Cut-throat" that is just a myth!

[Perfect Windows]

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.
Just the way it is.

I agree; I should have clarified - yes, you'll lose some, but ten a year is a drop in the ocean.  Reading some people on here it feels like they are saying that if someone undercuts your whole customer base will desert.

I think a bigger point is hidden in your post.  Once a customer's lasted two or three years you'd have to bugger the dog to get them to drop you.  I'm not recommending it, by the way.

Vin

[poleman]

Had a email from the canceled customer today and this was my reply

Hi John
 
Thank you for your email and yes I received your called yesterday, I would have liked to chat some more but was in the middle of paying for my van to be serviced
 
I would like to add, I have been cleaning your windows over 7 or 8 years and have been a window cleaner for over 26 years and its sad to see that someone has come along and under cut me, I network online and speak to many local window cleaners and its a unwritten rule not to under cut someone on domestic properties, I full understand business is business and its total up to you who you have to clean your windows but it adds bad feeling within other window cleaners (like the ice cream wars) short term the customer wins but long term with being in a service sector with fixed cost that go up each year it kills our industry and no one wins
 
I do wish you all the best and please pass this email on to your new window cleaner and maybe he might think twice when undercutting other window cleaners

[Perfect Windows]

Next time an alternative response might be: "Thanks for letting me know.  If you ever want to come back, just give me a call.  Meanwhile, thank you for your business in the past".

If you really never want to hear from him again, ""Thanks for letting me know and thank you for your business in the past".

Vin

[Clever Forum Name]

Nice email, if he does pass it on to his new window cleaner i bet it will spur him on even more to undercut.

[paulben]

If I get asked to give a quote and I know they have a windy already I give a quote but only ask price of other cleaner after and never change my quote. Only want to know what others are charging to see if my prices are about right. Only undercut once on purpose as it was another cleaner who took some of my work when I was off sick

[Johnny B]

I discovered that my prices are a tad lower than some in my locality, but this is because when I started up I had prices in mind which I was happy to earn, not to undercut anyone. When speaking to potential customers I make it a point to never ask what others are/were charging.

John

[rosskesava]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

[roundbuilder]

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.
Just the way it is.

I agree; I should have clarified - yes, you'll lose some, but ten a year is a drop in the ocean.  Reading some people on here it feels like they are saying that if someone undercuts your whole customer base will desert.

I think a bigger point is hidden in your post.  Once a customer's lasted two or three years you'd have to bugger the dog to get them to drop you.  I'm not recommending it, by the way.

Vin

Yes exactly what i meant the only customers that wont drop you over price are loyal ones that respect you, it doesnt bother me at all the fact that they do bugger off for a cheaper quote, im not cut throat with my prices at all, in fact i charge more than most with my fronts hence risking being undercut a lot but im not scared to go out and replace the dropouts so im never realy down on custom. i just look at it through the customers eyes more than me being a biased window cleaner, another way to think about it is that our customers will start thinking we are ripping them off due to others quoting such little amounts! I have had some of my customers over the years drop me to guys charging just £4 for the whole house where i was charging £12 making me look like a conman, the fact they dropped me for the other cleaner and openly told me that they were much cheaper even made me feel like a conman for a split second but then it kicked in that the other cleaner will still have to clean 3 houses to match my 1 (mugs) but the customer would see it as having there windows cleaned 3 times instead of my 1(happy days for the customer)which is the bugger for me/us.

[PoleKing]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

Spot on Ross.
This week I priced up a job at 4 times their existing price. (He charged £17.50 3 monthly, I charge £50, 2 monthly)
Last year, a £12 job I had got quoted at £8. Customer stayed with me 'because I do a good job'
The sort of money we're talking about, couple of quid here and there. No-one is really gonna dump their WC to save that kind if money unless they're unhappy with another aspect of the service.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

we picked up three this week due to the swearing and mouth on a window cleaner , they made a beline for our female member and stood talking to her like they had known her years .

 i think a lot of window cleaners walk round thinking bin em , bin em  fooo em . bin em  i am king but when you work in a service industry you have to go that extra mile for your customers this way you wont ever get under cut or lose that customer because they become friends