Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mike roberts on October 08, 2011, 02:34:33 pm
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Had an email enquiry thursday aprox 3.00pm after quote for lounge, hallway and possibly 2 beds carpet cleaning. I arrived back late Thursday evening after 8.00 pm decided to return call Friday.
Unfortunately, were I was working on Friday there was no signal (orange >:()
--on my return to office returned call around lunch time (Friday) ....
Was expecting 'customer' to of received other quotes .. maybe ... however someone had been out Thursday to quote and completed job Friday morning took about 3-3.5 hrs. :o
Just no way I can compete with that sort of turnaround ....
Is the work so sparse at the mo for carpet cleaning ??? ???
Managed to get alot of info out of customer .. this guy was contacted same time as me ... used a TM was totally free Friday.
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He may have had a postponement or cancellation, or been generally busy but simply couldn't fill that one day, it happens.
If you are busy then why let it concern you, it may be you nippin in before him next time.
Dave.
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I've done it myself mate, I've gone into a week with next to no work booked in but still ended up working flat out that week. Often had a spare afternoon or morning that gets filled the day before.
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Wouldn't worry, you were busy. I've had new customers tell me before now that if I could do it at very short notice they wouldn't use me. Their view being that if i'm not booked up, I must be rubbish. You can't win.
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Bob,
why dont you tell them you have had a postponment if they did it urgently , non the wiser ,
or simply tell then you have a booking that can be put off as a regular and doesnt mind when you fit it in ,
i have even gone as far as saying ,i have a quite week next week, was due to go away but the trip was cancelled , always a way of giving the immpression you are busy when infact you may have a quite week coming up
geoff
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or simply tell then you have a booking that can be put off as a regular and doesnt mind when you fit it in
The shuffle about bluff hahaha one of my Fav
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Hi guys
Not worth worrying about jobs you couldn't get too, it's when you can respond straight away on a regular basis that you need to worry!
Cheers
doug
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Hi guys
Not worth worrying about jobs you couldn't get too, it's when you can respond straight away on a regular basis that you need to worry!
Cheers
doug
yer fair play - what I didnt say is how much he charged £70 all in :'(
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more fool him sounds like he`s desperate for the work.
john
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This wasn't in Northants by any chance was it Mike?!
Because I had an enquiry Thursday that I did Friday, I had blanked the morning off to get some other things done but it was a case of strike while the iron's hot ;) I could have lost it if I'd told her she'd have to wait until next Wednesday!
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Jim
Did you do it for £70?
Cheers
doug
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Oh, didn't see that bit!
Would have maybe got the lounge done for that! So no way it was me then!!!!! :D
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Oh, didn't see that bit!
Would have maybe got the lounge done for that! So no way it was me then!!!!! :D
;D ;D didnt think so ;D ;D job was in Toddington
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He has a TM, and it took him 3.5hrs....all for £70 :o :o Unbelievable. A porty would have probably taken 5hrs. All that for £70! Who was the company just out of interest?
Better off working at Asda's tbh, as he still has to take off his wages and business running costs - inc petrol for all that running time.
Mark
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3 rooms and a hall in 3.5 hours - did he start the tm??
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I have got 2 rooms and a hall down to 45 mins with a rotary now
;D ;D
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£70, 3.5 hrs, 3 rooms & a hall
sounds like a porkie-pie to me,
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£70, 3.5 hrs, 3 rooms & a hall
sounds like a porkie-pie to me,
thks :-X ... seems like long time agree... But thats what customer said ??? ???
I will ring her back and argue point with her ??? ??? because U disagree ;D ;D
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How do you know what he charged and how long it took him?
You asked!!?
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To be honest amazed it had been done already when I phoned her .. took me by surprise and yes asked her .... nice ederly lady happy to tell me ;D ;D
Wish i did ask.. who did it ? but didnt as I say took me by surprise. Kicked myself later!
We always chase up quotes... if we dont get the job we ask what the other company charged ... some more than happy to tell u some dont :P
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Why do you want to know what others are charging, if it's for undercutting that's a really daft way of setting your price.
I don't think knowing what others are charging will help you, I would not have asked.
Just worry about what your getting.
You can't win them all.
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You can't win them all.
good job airline pilots don't have that attitiude when trying to land a plane
;D ;D
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I'm not the one running around for pennies! ;D
People in glass houses...
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wind yer neck in muppet
:P
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Hit a nerve did I?
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Hector do you work as a one person cleaner ie no helper?
45 mins for 2 rooms and a hall is impressive.
Shaun
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The Mrs works with me, but if there are no stairs to do, she talks to the custy whilst I get on with the work.
Simon was there today when I did a large lounge 2 bedrooms and a hall, in about 40 mins, however the place was empty, which makes it a lot quicker, as no furniture to move about.
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Had a call today for a quote. Living room, stairs/hall. Asked if she was looking for the cheapest price etc, and she replied £25. :o Someone doing a buy 1 get 1 free deal.
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The Mrs works with me, but if there are no stairs to do, she talks to the custy whilst I get on with the work.
Simon was there today when I did a large lounge 2 bedrooms and a hall, in about 40 mins, however the place was empty, which makes it a lot quicker, as no furniture to move about.
40 mins to do all that Hector now your talking splash n dash :o
So obviously no prep work there then, straight in and out?
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Do you clean stairs like Jason with hwe?
I've lm cleaned for 20 odd years on various jobs but I must admit Jason has got it to a fine art IMO furniture is still a time consumer.
Shaun
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The Mrs works with me, but if there are no stairs to do, she talks to the custy whilst I get on with the work.
Simon was there today when I did a large lounge 2 bedrooms and a hall, in about 40 mins, however the place was empty, which makes it a lot quicker, as no furniture to move about.
40 mins to do all that Hector now your talking splash n dash :o
So obviously no prep work there then, straight in and out?
please define splash and dash for me
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Hector. phil won't be able to answer you for a few days as I've temp' banned him. Not because of his posts but because of his constant name changing which although is allowed was done to ridicule fellow members and was not in the positive spirit we try to encourage on the forum.
But i' m sure he' ll give you a full explanation on his return
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thanks Mike
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Do you clean stairs like Jason with hwe?
I've lm cleaned for 20 odd years on various jobs but I must admit Jason has got it to a fine art IMO furniture is still a time consumer.
Shaun
No Shaun, I LM stairs as well
with a brush to agitate and then a small OP machine
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Why do you want to know what others are charging, if it's for undercutting that's a really daft way of setting your price.
I don't think knowing what others are charging will help you, I would not have asked.
Just worry about what your getting.
You can't win them all.
Amazed by that daft quote !! Who said I used it to set my prices?
So you have no idea what other people charge ... er ok!
Always good to know what local comp charges in all aspects of our business.
We will always try to beat like 4 like quotes but must be like 4 like and sensible!
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Mike, back to the original question.
Nowadays, the use of e mail has lead to a potential customer's expectation of an almost instant reply.
Here's what I set up for a client (who is a nightmare for not answering e mails quickly!).
Every e mail enquirer triggers an instant answer from an autoresponder (where the site is hosted). By return they get this message...
"...Hi,
This is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Many thanks for contacting us. I hope you enjoyed looking through the website. I also hope we can work together shortly and have your "pride and joy" looking fantastic.
Maybe you could have your own "before and after" photo's on the site?
At this point we must explain something to you about what may look like a delay in replying.
We are (thankfully) quite busy at the moment, which means that both myself and my technicians are "on site" virtually all week.
Many of the locations that we are working in are remote/rural areas, where both mobile phone and broadband reception can be poor or even none existent.
If you do not hear from us straight away this may be the reason so please bear with us, and we will contact you as soon as we possibly can.
Regards,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx .."
We've found it works well and potential customers DO wait for a reply (as long as it is not left for days!). The main thing is that their question has been acknowledged.
It would be fairly easy to come up with a similar message, customised for carpet cleaning.
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I recently bought a battery operated op buffer for leather cleans I find it adds a bit of professionalism tried it on stairs it's okay but I think a full rotating brush not oscillating is better, which buffer do you use? The one I use is from eBay came with a lambs wool pad I also have a maguires op but it shakes the bloody hell out of my arms.
Shaun
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Can't remember the make at the moment, it is mains powered and also came with lambswool bonnet.
I use that for leather, but use these bonnets for the stairs and upholstery.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370532066383?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
(there are other bonnet providers) ;D
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Mike, back to the original question.
Nowadays, the use of e mail has lead to a potential customer's expectation of an almost instant reply.
Here's what I set up for a client (who is a nightmare for not answering e mails quickly!).
Every e mail enquirer triggers an instant answer from an autoresponder (where the site is hosted). By return they get this message...
"...Hi,
This is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Many thanks for contacting us. I hope you enjoyed looking through the website. I also hope we can work together shortly and have your "pride and joy" looking fantastic.
Maybe you could have your own "before and after" photo's on the site?
At this point we must explain something to you about what may look like a delay in replying.
We are (thankfully) quite busy at the moment, which means that both myself and my technicians are "on site" virtually all week.
Many of the locations that we are working in are remote/rural areas, where both mobile phone and broadband reception can be poor or even none existent.
If you do not hear from us straight away this may be the reason so please bear with us, and we will contact you as soon as we possibly can.
Regards,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx .."
We've found it works well and potential customers DO wait for a reply (as long as it is not left for days!). The main thing is that their question has been acknowledged.
It would be fairly easy to come up with a similar message, customised for carpet cleaning.
At present if an enquiry is sent via website the website acknowledges it ... with std text ....a thankyou plus someone will contact you shortly etc.... something we may have overlooked is an 'acknowledgement' email .... would you expect this as well ??
Most if not all email enquires are from site..
thks mike
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Where'd you get the battery operated buffer Shaun.
Looking for something like that myself.
John
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Hector is your mains buffer op or rotary? Be interesting to know which one it is or similar as I want one for upholstery.
Shaun
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It is op Shaun.
It was not designed for upholstery or carpet cleaning in any way, but does the job very very well.
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There must be really tuff times out there for some cleaners.
I got a call just as was done on last job of the day, woman wanted quote for L/RM/DM small top landing and stairs.
said i would be there in 20 mins as it was on my way home it was a new build small house gave her my Price she says way too dear another guy over the phone says £65.00 for it all.
Says well if he can do as a good a job as this, shows her video from phone job id just been too.
customer goes on to say I will wait and see if he comes to quote!!!