Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 06:12:58 pm

Title: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 06:12:58 pm
evening all.

 i got stopped by a nice well dressed retired looking couple the other day when i was cleaning the windows on a big house. said there window cleaners was rubbish. missed loads of window out etc
so will i call round and give them a price?

so i said ofcourse. and they said whilst your there will you quote another 2 houses in the street as they have same cleaner and un happy, so gives me the addres and i pop round,

pulls up and these house are victorian detactched 3 story big boys (you no the type) so a smile appears on my face as i love theese jobs and do a fare few in local area. :)

so the bloke takes me round all 3 house all with a conny on, big bays, 40 odd windows so im thinking £35 each per month. he has already told me the company who do them now, there a fare size wfp company local to me from bootle do loads of commercial ( those from round liverpool should no who) so i asked him what they were charging as somtimes this worked out really well in the past

and he said £8 per month :o :o :o i thought he was joking till he showed me the invioce!!!

then i told him my price and he nearly fell over ;D

i said to him at the end of the day you windows ar manky and you get what you pay for!!
i just cant understand such a pro outfit charging pennies... it cant pay

many thanks colin
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Tom White on February 09, 2012, 06:32:38 pm

i said to him at the end of the day you windows ar manky and you get what you pay for!!
i just cant understand such a pro outfit charging pennies... it cant pay


A possibility is that the lads are working this job 'on the side'.  £8 quid for a half hour job might be better than the £7 they're paid an hour?

Just a thought.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: deeege on February 09, 2012, 06:41:15 pm

[/quote]

A possibility is that the lads are working this job 'on the side'.  £8 quid for a half hour job might be better than the £7 they're paid an hour?

Just a thought.
[/quote]

Not really if the custy has invoices.

We have a similar big firm near us doing the same col, low prices, splash and dash.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: geefree on February 09, 2012, 06:43:20 pm

Window cleaners charging peanuts, do a very very poor job,  they never last long. as word of mouth spreads quickly , building them a very poor reputation.


Embrace them,...they are working for you, and providing you with new customers.  free!!

And in the process you can do an excellent job, and enhance your reputation....rubbing their noses in it a little further.

 ;)
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: deeege on February 09, 2012, 06:46:09 pm


Window cleaners charging peanuts, do a very very poor job,  they never last long.


Embrace them,...they are working for you, and providing you with new customers.

 ;)

Exactly.

Picked up loads of customers from them. Customers that would rather pay more for a better service.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Steve Sed on February 09, 2012, 06:56:45 pm


Window cleaners charging peanuts, do a very very poor job,  they never last long.


Embrace them,...they are working for you, and providing you with new customers.

 ;)

It's a big jump from £8 - £15. Did the Op pick any up?



Exactly.

Picked up loads of customers from them. Customers that would rather pay more for a better service.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: bobplum on February 09, 2012, 06:57:41 pm
evening all.

 i got stopped by a nice well dressed retired looking couple the other day when i was cleaning the windows on a big house. said there window cleaners was rubbish. missed loads of window out etc
so will i call round and give them a price?

so i said ofcourse. and they said whilst your there will you quote another 2 houses in the street as they have same cleaner and un happy, so gives me the addres and i pop round,

pulls up and these house are victorian detactched 3 story big boys (you no the type) so a smile appears on my face as i love theese jobs and do a fare few in local area. :)

so the bloke takes me round all 3 house all with a conny on, big bays, 40 odd windows so im thinking £35 each per month. he has already told me the company who do them now, there a fare size wfp company local to me from bootle do loads of commercial ( those from round liverpool should no who) so i asked him what they were charging as somtimes this worked out really well in the past

and he said £8 per month :o :o :o i thought he was joking till he showed me the invioce!!!

then i told him my price and he nearly fell over ;D

i said to him at the end of the day you windows ar manky and you get what you pay for!!
i just cant understand such a pro outfit charging pennies... it cant pay

many thanks colin



did he accept the quote from you?
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 07:00:01 pm


Window cleaners charging peanuts, do a very very poor job,  they never last long.


Embrace them,...they are working for you, and providing you with new customers.

 ;)

Exactly.

Picked up loads of customers from them. Customers that would rather pay more for a better service.
But the thing is there a company who have been going for years!
Smart silver high aces and top equipment in the back
And they no the owner so deffo not the staff pulling a fast one!
It just can't pay at £8! I no I'm expensive but at more than 4 times
More than them I just don't get it!!
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 09, 2012, 07:01:03 pm
Who was it?

Is he a 'winner' by any chance?
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 07:03:11 pm
Nar bob he almost had a heart attack!!

I'm not even kiddin mate
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 07:04:13 pm
Who was it?

Is he a 'winner' by any chance?
Spot cleaning Colley you no them?
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 09, 2012, 07:07:09 pm
I can't believe they're doing jobs like that for that money. They do the municipal buildings in town. They seem to have big jobs everywhere and the MEWP looks brand new as do their vans. Thought it was either them or Winners.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Tom White on February 09, 2012, 07:15:51 pm
Nar bob he almost had a heart attack!!

I'm not even kiddin mate

Someone who lives in a house with forty windows (I think we've about nine in my house) and thinks £35 is too much to have them cleaned needs a good look at themselves.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on February 09, 2012, 07:20:05 pm
Nar bob he almost had a heart attack!!

I'm not even kiddin mate

Someone who lives in a house with forty windows (I think we've about nine in my house) and thinks £35 is too much to have them cleaned needs a good look at themselves.

loool this one got you worked up Tosh?  ;D
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Steve Sed on February 09, 2012, 07:25:18 pm
It's the expectation. £8 to £35 a month isn't going to happen. Two monthly would have softened the blow.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 07:29:29 pm
Colley I didn't believe it either so he showed me the invoice !

And I'm still gob smacked!!

Tosh you right this fella had 2 jags as well, I was gona drop in the
John Prescott joke but thought better of  it  ;D

My price for this type of job is£40 but thought I'd go in a
Bit cheaper to get all 3..... As I say I'm still gob smacked mate
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 09, 2012, 07:32:09 pm
I got asked to do a coverted cottage for a local property developer. I was told that I should give him a cheapish price to try and get in with him to do all his apartment blocks. I walked up his drive past his AMG merc with private plate parked next to his Porche 4x4 parked in front of his double garage. I knocked on his door and had a chat, then walked around the property and went back to see him. I told him that the job was going to take me about an hour and I'd want £20 for if. He asked he to do the paganda which I said I'd do for £5. I was guessing I was looking at £25 for an hour and a halfs work. He asked if that was the best I could do it do.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: richard jagger on February 09, 2012, 07:40:40 pm
The customer is spoilt for life they need a bigger mes to make them come to there senses.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 07:53:55 pm
I got asked to do a coverted cottage for a local property developer. I was told that I should give him a cheapish price to try and get in with him to do all his apartment blocks. I walked up his drive past his AMG merc with private plate parked next to his Porche 4x4 parked in front of his double garage. I knocked on his door and had a chat, then walked around the property and went back to see him. I told him that the job was going to take me about an hour and I'd want £20 for if. He asked he to do the paganda which I said I'd do for £5. I was guessing I was looking at £25 for an hour and a halfs work. He asked if that was the best I could do it do.

 ???great arnt they colley! some people will haggle over the price of a penny sweet
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 09, 2012, 08:07:31 pm
It annoys me when these people have massive houses and top of the range sports cars and then they haggle. I always think to myself, I'm sure you can afford your Aston Martin turning over £20 an hour.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 08:10:12 pm
thats why there rich mate! still make ye sick tho ay!

dont get non of that on council estates... or so im told i dont go near them ;D
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 09, 2012, 08:14:22 pm
Yeah I can't stand tight fisted gits, I'd rather go and buy myself a Bronto and park that on my drive. No matter how rich in life I got I'm proud of being a window cleaner!
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Wc Solutions on February 09, 2012, 08:18:32 pm
i priced up a com job last week.

i priced at at £90

the last chap was £81 cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on February 09, 2012, 08:20:01 pm
i priced up a com job last week.

i priced at at £90

the last chap was £81 cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 :o  :o  :o
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 09, 2012, 08:20:24 pm
i priced up a com job last week.

i priced at at £90

the last chap was £81 cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 ;D lol!!! classic mate
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Wc Solutions on February 09, 2012, 08:24:23 pm
i know its sound like bs but its true!

its a national store aswell.

they asked for national prices aswell as local prices.

no suprise the old man with his tea towel and dirty black mop is still doing the job
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Ste M on February 10, 2012, 12:53:01 am
Bloody hell Colin is that honestly how much they charge  :o I believe their targeting the domestic market more now and their trying to offer the complete package which includes the cleaning ladies for the houses, I've just got one of their old contracts in bootle and when I found out how much they charge for their 'packages' then I can sort of understand how they can make losses on the domestic side of things.

I also thought they were moving to Speke now?

Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: richywilts on February 10, 2012, 01:03:19 am
hes prob the owner of spot cleaning and used one of his own invoices to get a cheap price out of ya!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Window Washers on February 10, 2012, 07:16:39 am
It annoys me when these people have massive houses and top of the range sports cars and then they haggle. I always think to myself, I'm sure you can afford your Aston Martin turning over £20 an hour.
just because they live in a big house and have nice cars does not mean they can afford it, they could have a massive mortgage the cars on loan and be struggling to keep up with the jones. You could well be getting more profit than them.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 10, 2012, 07:32:53 am
Bloody hell Colin is that honestly how much they charge  :o I believe their targeting the domestic market more now and their trying to offer the complete package which includes the cleaning ladies for the houses, I've just got one of their old contracts in bootle and when I found out how much they charge for their 'packages' then I can sort of understand how they can make losses on the domestic side of things.

I also thought they were moving to Speke now?



Yes, honestly Ste I should of took a photo of it, I get the impression that he'd had there's jobs for donkeys years and just never put the price up.
Well done on the com work mate, I no they have
Some monster prices on work, so that why this canes as such a shock
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Window Washers on February 10, 2012, 07:36:26 am
Bloody hell Colin is that honestly how much they charge  :o I believe their targeting the domestic market more now and their trying to offer the complete package which includes the cleaning ladies for the houses, I've just got one of their old contracts in bootle and when I found out how much they charge for their 'packages' then I can sort of understand how they can make losses on the domestic side of things.

I also thought they were moving to Speke now?



Yes, honestly Ste I should of took a photo of it, I get the impression that he'd had there's jobs for donkeys years and just never put the price up.
Well done on the com work mate, I no they have
Some monster prices on work, so that why this canes as such a shock

they will be just fitting these small jobs in to fill gaps, it pays the staffs wage rather than losing it would be my guess
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: bobby p on February 10, 2012, 07:39:57 am
and it keeps them visible so folk see them ,thats worth a few quid on its own
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: dazmond on February 10, 2012, 08:11:01 am
so did they go for your price then? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

im sure you could of talked them round.i find by offering a longer frequency they go for it 9 times out of 10.


honestly anyone charging £8 for large houses with connies are not making any money from these accounts.absolutely pointless.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: H S and Son on February 10, 2012, 08:15:07 am
Daz is right there. I picked up a place that the previous cleaners used to charge £26.00 for on a monthly clean. It was way underpriced. I explained that was the reason they were getting a bodgit job and my price was £65.00 every other month. They took my price.
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 10, 2012, 08:48:45 am
No daz I didn't get it ;D

I only really offer monthly cleans mate in this area as I have so great
Work there and I don't want a few to go by monthly
As I feel news would spread like wild fire

And I'd be out of pocket,  :'(
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: DaveG on February 10, 2012, 09:01:38 am
Daz is right there. I picked up a place that the previous cleaners used to charge £26.00 for on a monthly clean. It was way underpriced. I explained that was the reason they were getting a bodgit job and my price was £65.00 every other month. They took my price.

Back on the council houses then Matt?  ;D
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 10, 2012, 09:08:01 am
Perhaps the £8 didn't include the conny - or it gets done every six months (right!).

It's a funny old game really - as you may know I now employ one guy who works with me and he's a good worker but he doesn't have quite the "oomph" that I have so although he is half my age he's won't naturally go fast for a couple of hours to clear the work or get to a certain figure - and why should he?

So let's say he costs me £10/12 per hour (inc tax insurances and running costs etc)- well where as I want £30 per hour for me - I'd be happy if he earned £20 an hour rather than sat on his behind.

So I might price him up lower than me to get a commercial or a run of "marginal work".

Take it to extremes and some "gangmaster" from a large port in Lancashire ( ;D) might think if "dab-in-hand sloppy joe" can do that house in an half an hour for £8 that'll do me.

Now you might think £35 for you to do a proper job in an hour and so both ends of the market have met.

Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Crystal-clear on February 10, 2012, 09:16:12 am
the only reason i can think of as to why they are doing jobs that size for silly money is to keep the staff in work and no management end of the day if you are paying £8 for a £40 house you wont be making issues as long as the job is mediocre, but its about profit and i cant see much in it for them so beats me.

i once a while ago now quoted for a commercial building this was back in the days when i was going in cheap to get work today would say £60 back then i said £35 but then he says he getting a better deal pulls out invoice i couldn't believe my eyes i knew i was cheap but i see £98 for 3 cleans including the INSIDE so pretty much for my £35 he wanted the inside done too................. even thou i needed the work i had to walk

Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: H S and Son on February 10, 2012, 09:22:40 am
Daz is right there. I picked up a place that the previous cleaners used to charge £26.00 for on a monthly clean. It was way underpriced. I explained that was the reason they were getting a bodgit job and my price was £65.00 every other month. They took my price.

Back on the council houses then Matt?  ;D

Yea! Been downsizing  ;D
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: ray mck on February 10, 2012, 11:19:49 am
never worth it?
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: Ste M on February 10, 2012, 11:45:11 am
Bloody hell Colin is that honestly how much they charge  :o I believe their targeting the domestic market more now and their trying to offer the complete package which includes the cleaning ladies for the houses, I've just got one of their old contracts in bootle and when I found out how much they charge for their 'packages' then I can sort of understand how they can make losses on the domestic side of things.

I also thought they were moving to Speke now?



Yes, honestly Ste I should of took a photo of it, I get the impression that he'd had there's jobs for donkeys years and just never put the price up.
Well done on the com work mate, I no they have
Some monster prices on work, so that why this canes as such a shock


I think it may as people are saying here Colin that its just simply to cover the hourly wages, if the domestic quality is as good as the comercial then the people mustnt care as i know spot are crap. They get a lot of work through the fact of how big they are and they have a cherry picker
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: groundhog on February 10, 2012, 05:12:36 pm
This is nothing, I picked up a job a couple of years ago at £65.. their window cleaner was charging £8!!! They actually kept the old window cleaner on as well as me, even though they weren't happy with his work as the 'felt sorry for him'.. I had to phone them before I came to make sure he wasn't about as the 'didn't want to hurt his feelings' !!!  ;D
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colin purewater on February 10, 2012, 06:21:26 pm
This is nothing, I picked up a job a couple of years ago at £65.. their window cleaner was charging £8!!! They actually kept the old window cleaner on as well as me, even though they weren't happy with his work as the 'felt sorry for him'.. I had to phone them before I came to make sure he wasn't about as the 'didn't want to hurt his feelings' !!!  ;D

funny that hog! just goes to show the lengths people will go to not to upset some one
Title: Re: Local big boys charging buttons!!
Post by: colley614 on February 10, 2012, 07:24:39 pm
We've got an old man doing all the shops in our town centre. I canvassed them all once and they all said he was terrible but they didn't want to let him go as they felt sorry for him. I kept saying "Oh thanks I can't get any work because people feels sorry for him and he's taking the Mick. I did pick up one shop on the high street from someone who'd just took the lease on. Funny I used to drive down the street and could see the one shop gleaming in a row.