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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 06:28:18 pm

Title: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 06:28:18 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1329243886_006.JPG)



No fancy letter explaining the price increase, just tell them! Working for me.  ;D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Smudger on February 14, 2012, 06:36:02 pm
James - i like the ticket - very nice.

not sure on the note tho... :-\   'hope this is still ok - bit wimpish  :-*

Darran
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: rscleaningservices on February 14, 2012, 06:36:45 pm
James was that a self portrait lol !!!!!!!
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Sean Dyer on February 14, 2012, 06:40:03 pm
Great but as said id just leave it at "price increase of £1"

dont sound apologetic
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 06:40:19 pm
James - i like the ticket - very nice.

not sure on the note tho... :-\   'hope this is still ok - bit wimpish  :-*

Darran


Cheers mate.

I just think instead of a serious/fancy letter, just tell them like this and they will just pay it without questioning it. !00% success rate so far  :)
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: andyM on February 14, 2012, 06:41:53 pm
"Hope this is still ok"
Makes it sound like you are asking for their acceptance.
 
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Tom White on February 14, 2012, 06:44:04 pm
I quite like the 'Hope this is okay?'; it's polite and not arrogantly expecting the price to be taken.

I like the tactic too; I normally do a 'battleship' of a letter, but I prefer this way. 

I'm going to do the same; thanks, James.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 06:47:32 pm
"Hope this is still ok"
Makes it sound like you are asking for their acceptance.
 


Well I am I guess, but am quietly confident that 99% will be ok about it.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 06:48:56 pm
I quite like the 'Hope this is okay?'; it's polite and not arrogantly expecting the price to be taken.

I like the tactic too; I normally do a 'battleship' of a letter, but I prefer this way. 

I'm going to do the same; thanks, James.

No probs  ;)
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: andyM on February 14, 2012, 06:49:12 pm
The thing is there is no need to ask.
You have made the decision to increase the price. The customer will either accept the increase or decline your services.
Im with smudger on this one.  :D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: rscleaningservices on February 14, 2012, 06:51:44 pm
just say due to the increase of fuel & other stuff as you have kept the prices down for so long you will need to make a slight increase of £1 they will be fine !!!!!! you go for it Jamesy !!!!! You go for it !!!!! & hay hay hay lets be carefull out there !!!!! lol !!!!!!
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: colin purewater on February 14, 2012, 07:06:11 pm
"Hope this is still ok"
Makes it sound like you are asking for their acceptance.
 
[/quote
Acceptance is what you are asking for tho,
Your asking them to accept a price increase
And they could tell you to sling your hook
So polite is rite instead of just "price increas £1"
I wouldn't like that so I don't do why customer should

"manners cost nothing" and are well received by all
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Steve Sed on February 14, 2012, 07:08:17 pm
Perhaps better an apology than asking permissio. Along the lines of Sorry, but a price increase is necessary. I dunno.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Smudger on February 14, 2012, 07:08:41 pm
 8)  somebody agrees with me  ;D

james - if it's working then keep up the good work - i prefer a little more formal style myself

Darran
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Smudger on February 14, 2012, 07:11:03 pm
Perhaps better an apology than asking permissio. Along the lines of Sorry, but a price increase is necessary. I dunno.

yep - still polite but not up for negotiation

Darran
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: james peters on February 14, 2012, 07:14:24 pm
very nice james....
dont think its wimpish putting "hope this is ok" I think its proffesional, and polite.
afterall its their money right? and you want it!
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: andyM on February 14, 2012, 07:15:18 pm
"Hope this is still ok"
Makes it sound like you are asking for their acceptance.
 
[/quote
Acceptance is what you are asking for tho,
Your asking them to accept a price increase
And they could tell you to sling your hook
So polite is rite instead of just "price increas £1"
I wouldn't like that so I don't do why customer should

"manners cost nothing" and are well received by all

But the point im making is that James isn't asking for acceptance!
Look at his ticket again, he has already put the price up £1 and I presume without giving them notice!
So why is he asking for acceptance when the deed is already done?  ???
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 07:20:05 pm
"Hope this is still ok"
Makes it sound like you are asking for their acceptance.
 
[/quote
Acceptance is what you are asking for tho,
Your asking them to accept a price increase
And they could tell you to sling your hook
So polite is rite instead of just "price increas £1"
I wouldn't like that so I don't do why customer should

"manners cost nothing" and are well received by all

But the point im making is that James isn't asking for acceptance!
Look at his ticket again, he has already put the price up £1 and I presume without giving them notice!
So why is he asking for acceptance when the deed is already done?  ???



They could just send me a cheque for a tenner and say no im not happy with it and cancel?!
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: johnny bravo on February 14, 2012, 07:42:11 pm
get ready for      just do them once a month     moneys tight.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: richard jagger on February 14, 2012, 07:53:01 pm
I walked in to ASDA tonight there was a big sign That went like this " TO ALL CUSTOMERS SORRY ALL FOLLOWING PRICES HAVE GONE UP BY MORE THAT A POUND IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE LINING UP. THE MANAGER WILL APOLOGISE TO EACH ONE AND THEN TELL YOU TO GET STUFFED" NICE DREAM IS IT NOT. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: dazmond on February 14, 2012, 07:56:02 pm
i think its better to tell them face to face and tell em the price will increase in april.thats what im doing anyway!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: AS Window Cleaning on February 14, 2012, 08:51:38 pm
I quite like the 'Hope this is okay?'; it's polite and not arrogantly expecting the price to be taken.

I like the tactic too; I normally do a 'battleship' of a letter, but I prefer this way. 

I'm going to do the same; thanks, James.

Im the same, i like the simplicity of this.  I would probably say if thats alright, too!  out of politeness tho.  Let us know if you get any problems!
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 14, 2012, 08:58:04 pm
Will do A.S.

Ive still got the vast majority to inform, but the ones who I have, have not had any issue with it. Ive even had customers tell me that its about time I put my prices up as I never have in roughly 8 years.... so I am  ;D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: sunshine windows on February 14, 2012, 11:21:48 pm
I think there are a lot of arrogant attitudes replying to this thread. As was said earlier, manners cost nothing and it's james's way of saying the price is going up regardless in a polite way.

Personally I inform the customer the month beforehand and then charge them the new price on the following visit, using much the same method as James.

To just inforce a price increase without prior knowledge is rather risky though.  I for one would be a bit p****d off if it happened to me.

I bet you retain a hell of a lot more customers than you lose James, good on you.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: GDwindowcleaning on February 14, 2012, 11:32:08 pm
In my opinion james is right in all ways apart from enforcing it without notice, it would be better to tell them its going to happen next month....

Good luck with it though fella...
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: weetot on February 15, 2012, 01:15:17 am
Thats the way I've always done it and been in game 29 years now.
Well done mate.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Johnny B on February 15, 2012, 10:43:44 am
Looks good to me James.  :)

When I increase my prices, I write a similar note as you, only adding that the increase will take effect from the following clean.

John
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Richard iSparkle on February 15, 2012, 10:47:36 am
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1329243886_006.JPG)



No fancy letter explaining the price increase, just tell them! Working for me.  ;D

Hey James,

I like this.  It's simple and effective.  I see why you have out the 'is this ok' comment, but agree with the others it;d be better without it.

HOWEVER, the most important thing is that you are just DOING IT.  You're not worrying about should i or shouldnt i????  Well done  :D
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: wolfee101 on February 15, 2012, 04:15:51 pm
 :) 100% thats very good can`t fault that.....i like it.
thanks for posting...helpfull
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on February 15, 2012, 06:39:55 pm
Yes 'Sunshine' there are alot of arrogant replys on this thread, but to be honest I was expecting it...

JUST TO UPDATE EVERYBODY, this particluar customer, sent me the cheque for £11, no quetions asked... along with a couple others today.

So.... still have 100% success rate using this method!! (so im clearly not going the wrong way about it, am I )
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 15, 2012, 07:31:23 pm
I quite like the 'Hope this is okay?'; it's polite and not arrogantly expecting the price to be taken.

I like the tactic too; I normally do a 'battleship' of a letter, but I prefer this way. 

I'm going to do the same; thanks, James.

Agreed - that's good James.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: keyser soze on May 05, 2012, 09:55:25 pm
i like it james . a tactic i think im gonna use... but i would say (due to rising costs) but i like your style
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Window Washers on May 05, 2012, 11:22:12 pm
thats great James, nothing wrong with a little customer services rolled into a price increase, it shows you care. being formal is not always the best way to go.
100% hit rate is awesome
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: lee_dewing on May 06, 2012, 09:07:00 am
Quote
The thing is there is no need to ask.
You have made the decision to increase the price. The customer will either accept the increase or decline your services.
Im with smudger on this one.

Not knocking you james, well done for putting your prices up.

I'm a coward now, done all letters, explaining on the door.

Most people are ok but does leave the door open to a debate or every other month  :(

So i simply put on my bill new price £___ (i.e   50p on fronts  £1 extra all round) and i wait til custies out and leave increase on bill in s.a.e.
Instead of having talk on door.

As said cowardley i know but if custie has ump over price increase usually forgot next time they see you
or deal with fall out then.

As said dealing face to face can feel like your asking permission or get into explaining why it's gone up.
Can't be doing with lenghty letters explaing why also; if you were sticking price up £3 plus then yes.

Lee    ps. price increases around 18 months, i think every year can seem a bit much in my opinion.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: pncleaning on May 07, 2012, 01:31:24 pm
James you say you been window cleaning for 8 years? have most of your customers been with you as long as that?
because I think if you been cleaning same customers windows for quite some time they would be more understanding with the price increase.
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: dazmond on May 07, 2012, 03:53:21 pm
i lost 2 customers with the price increases that kicked in last month(april).2 also went every other month.out of around 150 customer increases thats not bad and im quids in.

most went up a £1,some 50p,others £1-50/£2.one a fiver (£25 instead of £20)and one up £8(£60 instead of £52).

the 2 i lost were underpriced and id been cleaning them for years.one i wanted to put up from £8 to £10.the other from£6 to £7.

i told all my customers face to face,eyeball to eyeball through the course of feb-march.this is the way i always do it.i put some of these up 2 years ago.

every year i look at my round prices in january and put some up in april.


regards


dazmond
Title: Re: This is my tactic... and its working.
Post by: Ian101 on May 08, 2012, 08:23:19 am
Im in the process of putting mine up.

So far no problems.

Doing all the underpriced stuff to proper prices ... mainly my first jobs with connies that I had underpriced as well as most everything else with a general price increase.

Some gone up £4 but mainly £1 / £2

If theyre home I tell them if they're out leave a note for em.

Rekon I will be about £250 a month better off when done.