Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: John Kelly on February 13, 2012, 09:38:06 am
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http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/215/deals/230130-deep-clean-for-two-carpets
Why do these companies accept businesses with illegal websites. It is illegal to have a trade website without the trading address being available. Why aren't the NCCA and other cleaners badgering the trading standards and department of trade about this.
These guys are ruining this industry.
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What's the offer John? when I click through the latest deal comes up which was personal training.
Some people think they are clever undercutting their competition, but they rely on they competition not being so stupid as to follow their lead.
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When I did Groupon, I had to change my phone number because of the abuse I was getting, from Groupon customers who were not going to get the deal..... (groupon oversold by 151).
If my address was on the website (I took it off for the promotion) I would probably be inside now from kicking irate people who were not going to get their carpets cleaned (through no fault of mine) and demanding their money back.... I am sure they would have turned up at the door.
Where does it say that it is illegal for trade websites to have an address?? (do you have a link to the legislation?)
What is a trade website?? is it one that sells directly? with a shop? then I can understand that an address would be needed.
If it is just to promote a family run business, then I would not call that a trade website...
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Since 2007 it has been law that any company trading online whether selling products or services must have details of there address where they trade from as well as some other information. Otherwise how do customers have any redress in law if they don't even know who they are dealing with.
Quote:
However, the wording in the E-commerce Regulations is ambiguous compared to the new provisions. Further, many organisations' sites currently omit the information, perhaps making the mistake of thinking that the E-commerce Regulations do not apply to websites that do not sell online (in fact they apply to almost all websites).
Information that must be on your website: an aide memoire
The following is the minimum information that must be on any company's website (from OUT-LAW's guide, The UK's E-commerce Regulations).
The name, geographic address and email address of the service provider. The name of the organisation with which the customer is contracting must be given. This might differ from the trading name. Any such difference should be explained – e.g. "XYZ.com is the trading name of XYZ Enterprises Limited."
It is not sufficient to include a 'contact us' form without also providing an email address and geographic address somewhere easily accessible on the site. A PO Box is unlikely to suffice as a geographic address; but a registered office address would. If the business is a company, the registered office address must be included.
If a company, the company's registration number should be given and, under the Companies Act, the place of registration should be stated (e.g. "XYZ Enterprises Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 1234567")
If the business is a member of a trade or professional association, membership details, including any registration number, should be provided.
If the business has a VAT number, it should be stated – even if the website is not being used for e-commerce transactions.
Prices on the website must be clear and unambiguous. Also, state whether prices are inclusive of tax and delivery costs.
Finally, do not forget the Distance Selling Regulations which contain other information requirements for online businesses that sell to consumers (B2C, as opposed to B2B, sales). For details of these requirements, see our guide, The Distance Selling Regulations - An Overview.
For help with email notices, such as disclaimers, see OUT-LAW's guide on Email notices.
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fair enough
;D ;D
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Hector, those that dont get a carpet clean do Groupon not refund them?
Why are the so irate they getntheir money back surly?
Is not do you still get paid for the ones you have not done?
Btw I believe it's law your address has to be on all your stationary, letterhead business cards, leaflets etc.
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Craig
Yes groupon do refund those that do not get booked in, however they are quite slow to do it, and the "customer" will then most likely have to pay more to get their carpets cleaned.
They were getting irate because they were leaving it till the last month of the 3 month offer and were getting told we were fully booked up.
We only got "paid" by groupon for each job 2 weeks after each job was completed.
As per the private address.....
for me it remains that way.....
My website is not a trading one... it is for information purposes only ;D ;D ;D ;D
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It's about generating leads which is what these companies do, Paul King had an offer for a rug cleaned for £20 the other week now would these people who took the offer up come to Paul if he charged his normal price probably not but when you have an employee doing these type of deals pays their wages.
Lets be honest would you use someone who has a website with no home number or address the customers who would are not the type of customers I want or need.
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I wouldn't even think of looking for the address if I'd found a plumber, chippy or gardener's website...
But I can assure you, I am a good customer who pays up and doesn't try and beat tradesmen down on their prices.. :)
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This one advertises alot on the buy/sell pages on facebook always has a sale/offer on, at the min its 3piece suite + 1 carpet for £38.50. Last month was 3 carpets for £35
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Can someone please explain to me what Groupon is all about and how it can benefit the carpet cleaner and not just the tight fisted customer who basically wants the cheapest price?
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Can someone please explain to me what Groupon is all about and how it can benefit the carpet cleaner and not just the tight fisted customer who basically wants the cheapest price?
Oh why did you have to say that ;D
98% of us think it's of zero use to us whilst 2% have managed to word their advert in such a way that they can upsell. ie sell the first 60 sq/ft at £22 which sounds quite good to an unsuspecting customer until they find out 60 sq/ft is about the size of a kitchen, which means they then have to buy the extra 180 sq/ft they wanted doing (on that day) at an over the avergae price.
Therefore the CC has got his foot in the door and is likely to get a £100 job each time.
All depends on if you want to go down that route or not.
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Can someone please explain to me what Groupon is all about and how it can benefit the carpet cleaner and not just the tight fisted customer who basically wants the cheapest price?
Oh why did you have to say that ;D
98% of us think it's of zero use to us whilst 2% have managed to word their advert in such a way that they can upsell. ie sell the first 60 sq/ft at £22 which sounds quite good to an unsuspecting customer until they find out 60 sq/ft is about the size of a kitchen, which means they then have to buy the extra 180 sq/ft they wanted doing (on that day) at an over the avergae price.
Therefore the CC has got his foot in the door and is likely to get a £100 job each time.
All depends on if you want to go down that route or not.
Thanks Neil
Sounds like a heap of hassle to me! so its a kind of bait and switch thing then in order for the CC to make any money at it?
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John
The NCCA are not interested in carpet cleaners doing Groupon, even their own members who claim to do 3 carpets in 1 hour for £29..... all to NCCA standards. :o
Bob
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It's about generating leads which is what these companies do, Paul King had an offer for a rug cleaned for £20 the other week now would these people who took the offer up come to Paul if he charged his normal price probably not but when you have an employee doing these type of deals pays their wages.
Lets be honest would you use someone who has a website with no home number or address the customers who would are not the type of customers I want or need.
Toilet, not worth the efforts. And they bring the rugs to us, we also get all the £20
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I wouldn't even think of looking for the address if I'd found a plumber, chippy or gardener's website...
Great unless they caused major damage to your house or worse still injured a family member and then just disapeared off the face of the planet.
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No pain no gain Paul, thought you did this offer last year? was it just a poor return this time?
Shaun
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Customers wised up ringing directly and trying to haggle the price as they know groupon or whoever take commission on lady cam in with three rugs and two vouchers as the two smaller rugs were the same size as one big one "so that means its the same as two!". Upselling on the offer was minimal, generally not worth the effort, and wouldn't really want to attract more than 50% of that type of customer to return.
Also most of them said they would use us at offer price but not at full price and when this was 40 compared to twenty pound that came as a shock.
Apart from that it was great !
:)
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" When we return rugs they can be to 25 kilos lighter due to dust and soil being removed."
Just read this on your website Paul, sounds a bit OTT.
John
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totally do-able and very noticeable how much lighter it is when you return it, we go up to 8 by 5 meters the amount of debris that comes out of a heavy pile is staggering bucketful's, Thats the whole idea of dusting them prior to cleaning as we don't get a wick back problems. I'm not one for gimmicks but the badger does work well.
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I have to agree with John's statement...these guys are ruining the industry.
Why ?
I noticed that 'ad' on my facebook feed last night. One of my friends has booked it. (It must automatically come up on the wall once booked).
The annoying and upsetting thing about it is I've known this girl for years, cleaned her carpets twice before and she was happy with my service, yet she has gone down the 'extremely cheap' route this time round :'(
Considering the majority of my work comes from previous customers, and lets say they all decide to desert us, I can only see worrying times ahead.
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Ive just had an email from livingsocial today,these are doing deals for £9!!! So does thhat mean they will get £4.50 per room?
www.carpet-cleaning-in-manchester.com
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Hi Terry
Dont know if you keep an eye on Groupon but theres a guy in our area who has sold 100s of Deals, well over 500 :o
Theres quite a few in our area who advertise on the buy/sell pages on facebook each one has a constant "sale/special offer".
I cant tar them all with the same brush because ive never seen all there work but theres one where ive been called in after him on a few occasions and the customers are astounded at the differance that can be achieved.
They arn't getting the cheapest if they have to have it done twice but how do we drum it into them?
My mothers a prime example i had this conversation with her yesterday, she didnt take my reccomendation on something and has now spent more trying to "save" money. But I dont think she'll ever learn.
Some people will waste £££ of fuel driving around petrol stations to save a few pence a litre ;D
It guys like these (spray some water suck it back up) that also help turn customers toward the demon laminate, believing carpeting is not practicle and maintainable.
We could always assemble a lynch mob and round them up ;D