Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Spruce on September 01, 2011, 03:57:08 pm

Title: meet the competition
Post by: Spruce on September 01, 2011, 03:57:08 pm
My customer had this stuck through the door on a 100mm square piece of paper. It got crumpled up in the letter box.

This is for a 3 bed semi with a little toilet extension downstairs off the front door entrance.

I have just put the price up from £7.00 to £8.00.

Spruce
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Andy Prittchard on September 01, 2011, 04:00:38 pm
Maybe by, 'doing', he means chucking a brick at them?
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: H S and Son on September 01, 2011, 04:13:44 pm
Nice.
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Frankybadboy on September 01, 2011, 04:31:38 pm
aint you lucky ;D :P
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: colin purewater on September 01, 2011, 04:58:32 pm
didnt no my writing was that bad ;D :)
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: andyM on September 01, 2011, 05:44:37 pm
No doubt he will be going into hibernation soon anyway and is just trying to top up his beer money before the big sleep  ;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Spruce on September 01, 2011, 06:13:18 pm
For me this has been an experience into 'unchartered waters.' This customer is happy with the service they get and insist they will never change us. But despite the way this 'leaflet' was presented, just quoting this price has 'rattled their feathers'. Its as though they are saying that we could never trust a window cleaner that presents himself like this, but that price is interesting!

It's a magnet. Through the whole conversation, they just couldn't let it go, even when I suggested it must be every fortnight. So maybe advertising a price on our leaflets is they way to go.

The old guy had seen them in the courtyard and didn't recognise them at all even although he has been in the village all his life. But he says they must be local - just look at the phone number.

Spruce

Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Steve Sed on September 01, 2011, 06:27:12 pm
What do you charge them?

Even though I have nothing like a full round, if I felt that the customer was using a scrap of paper to try to renegotiate the price I'd bluntly ask them what they are implying.

I had one today. Second clean. In truth I did it cheap and matched the previous WCs price as I was picking up the mother's and daughter's house. The guy came out and said I've never seen them done so quick. It could be that he was impressed, but more likely he thinks that they should have been cheaper. The conversation went no further, so we shall see next time.
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: cozy on September 01, 2011, 06:47:26 pm
Steve, next time he says you're fast, ask him if he would like it if you took longer by working slower!  ;D Usually shuts them up. ;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on September 01, 2011, 06:51:21 pm
I wondered where my 9 year old had been today!
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: G Griffin on September 01, 2011, 09:42:57 pm
Is that a bet, written out on a slip?
I`ve never heard of that horse, if it is. You`re only supposed to use 18 letters.
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: bobby p on September 01, 2011, 10:19:24 pm
handwritten notes have got me lots of work-


but not so low a price as that   .  ive heard of lads using the low price to get a toehold then jack it up once theyre in  on the 2nd clean  using a bullying approach
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on September 01, 2011, 10:26:25 pm
if they dont wont my service can i at least have my flyer back? its the only one ive got!  ;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: mci services on September 01, 2011, 10:33:56 pm
fair play to the guy, maybe he is on a budget, we all started somewhere.

any time a customer has shown me something like that, I always say well give him a go as I can't compete with that. And the reply is ohh no we were just showing you so you knew

but what they really mean is "we will just show him so he knows we have a choice and he should be grateful and do lots of extra's for nothing"

but the reply well use him, it is no skin off my nose I am over loaded with work usually shuts them up

anyway you are running a business so to get competition at cheaper rates is normal and nothing to worry about
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on September 01, 2011, 10:39:28 pm
So you have got your hands on one of my new leaflets spruce!!!!!!!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on September 01, 2011, 11:28:57 pm
I asked my 7yr old daughter to put this on the bottom of the note

'ask your window cleaner if he can beat me'

Will have words with her in the morning .... 10p an hour and she's missing bit.

Saying that my 10yr old lad should have spotted this when he delivered 2000 of them today

;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Spruce on September 02, 2011, 08:00:12 am
So you have got your hands on one of my new leaflets spruce!!!!!!!  ;D ;D ;D

It wasn't your number  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: bobplum on September 02, 2011, 07:46:17 pm
as you indicated the price becomes the hook regardless of the paper,etc and i am sorry to say some people will go for it.
i would just concentrate on your own business and keep your prices reasonable but profitable
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: oliver collins on September 02, 2011, 08:04:28 pm
Hi spruce

Thats your handwriting i would know it anywhere. ;D

Oliver Rise & Shine Cleaning
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: pure tech on September 02, 2011, 08:13:54 pm
fair play to the guy, maybe he is on a budget, we all started somewhere.

any time a customer has shown me something like that, I always say well give him a go as I can't compete with that. And the reply is ohh no we were just showing you so you knew

but what they really mean is "we will just show him so he knows we have a choice and he should be grateful and do lots of extra's for nothing"

but the reply well use him, it is no skin off my nose I am over loaded with work usually shuts them up

anyway you are running a business so to get competition at cheaper rates is normal and nothing to worry about

Very perceptive :)
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Dave Willis on September 02, 2011, 11:41:44 pm
I asked my 7yr old daughter to put this on the bottom of the note

'ask your window cleaner if he can beat me'

Will have words with her in the morning .... 10p an hour and she's missing bit.

Saying that my 10yr old lad should have spotted this when he delivered 2000 of them today

;D

surely you are not allowed to beat seven year olds?  :o
Title: Re: meet the competition
Post by: Spruce on September 03, 2011, 07:33:36 pm
Hi spruce

Thats your handwriting i would know it anywhere. ;D

Oliver Rise & Shine Cleaning

Hi Oliver
I don't even know my own name then or telephone no, but I did get the area code right, so can I have a point please - just one.  ;D ;D ;D