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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AshWhite on July 05, 2012, 11:08:11 am

Title: Rug Doctor
Post by: AshWhite on July 05, 2012, 11:08:11 am
They've started advertising Rug Doctor on the telly. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Discuss!  :)
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Ian Gourlay on July 05, 2012, 11:24:06 am
Some cleaners use Richard and Judy on Carpet Cleaning on Web Site which was a Rug Doctor PR stunt.

Judging by the number of outlets now hiring Rug Doctors in my town I would say most carpet cleaning is done by this method.

^ years ago aprox there was just homebase  now there are at least six outlets
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on July 05, 2012, 11:39:47 am
I know the advert your on about, its been on for a few months now off and on. I was in Newcastle the other day and one of their vans went past. Beautiful looking I have to say, really grabbed my attention!

Booked a job in yesterday (carpets and upholstery). She called this morning while I was in the shower and left message telling me she was going to hire one instead to 'save money'. I politely text back to say they were rubbish and expect wet carpets for days but have had no response.

You would think people would do some research before spending their hard earned...
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Kinver_Clean on July 05, 2012, 12:10:11 pm
If it's on the telly, it must be true. ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Kev Loomes on July 05, 2012, 03:47:51 pm
Yeh, and the marketing message is 'professional' - so joe public presumes that this is the standard i.e. professionals must use the same too (lol, I know - some do!). So they naturally think that if they do it themselves - they will save money and have it to the same standard.

I wish there was something that could be done about this word - as its a far cry from reality as we all know. But they get away with it because they can't be challenged.

I would like to though  ;D

Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Robert Watson on July 05, 2012, 04:04:41 pm
I suppose it`s a good thing in the long run with resoling issues and all the hassle involved.  :-\
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on July 05, 2012, 04:18:38 pm
I was in Tesco the other day and as I walked past the Rug Doctor hire stall I said to a lady "Don't Do it" She asked if I had used one before, I laughed and told her what I did for a living and let it rip about the dredid Rug Doctor. She asked me how much I would charge to clean her Living Room. I told her I would charge less...£60. She said it only costs £24 to hire this, so I said... don't forget you will have to buy the shampoo (priced at £15) to use in it and then theres the fuel in your car to collect and bring back... oh and the electric and then I said to her how much is your hourly rate at work. She said £8.50. So I said then theres that to add X3 as by the time you have done it will take you atleast that amount of time. So thats £24+£15+£5+£25.50 total £69.50 oh and you still won't have a clean carpet... a wet one but not clean...    "OK" she said, and so did 1 other person and I also handed 4 cards out, 1 was to a member of staff.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Kev Loomes on July 05, 2012, 04:21:42 pm
The trouble is Rab, people wouldnt necessarily associate the re-soiling with the machine because they dont understand - and also not look in to 'professioanl' carpet cleaning because they think that the machine they just used was 'professional' - and subsequntly no point.

Just my opinion!
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 05, 2012, 04:34:30 pm
Not to worry, most people think they are a joke anyway.
The kind of people we deal with can't be bothered doing it themselves and recongnise that if you want a top notch job done, get a professional.

Simon
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: *Hector* on July 05, 2012, 04:37:06 pm
Not to worry, most people think they are a joke anyway.
The kind of people we deal with can't be bothered doing it themselves and recongnise that if you want a top notch job done, get a professional.

Simon

So they thank you for the information Simon ....  8) 8)

And ask you for MY number  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 05, 2012, 04:39:01 pm
No, the other way around. We've been inundated with customers wanting a proper job done since you took up Goosing Ducks for a living ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: *Hector* on July 05, 2012, 04:41:55 pm
You're Quackers mate  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Len Gribble on July 05, 2012, 06:37:02 pm
They must do a blinding trade always seeing there technician van around my neck of the woods. :o
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 05, 2012, 06:38:46 pm
Hector,
Duck off ;D ;)
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: David MK Cleaning on July 05, 2012, 07:14:22 pm
Has anyone ever tried using a rug doctor then going over it with a proper machine and video'ing the difference during and after. Then would just need to get that video to every person in the UK lol. Would love to stick a video like that all over facebook and on my website.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Paul Moss on July 05, 2012, 07:17:44 pm
I love it because 8 times out of ten they mess it up ( by the way did you know that 78.45% of statistics are made up  ;D) and then their eyes pop out their head when you pull up in the truck  ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Kinver_Clean on July 05, 2012, 07:25:22 pm
I do a lot of EOTs and sometimes the exiting tenants have tried  RD.
I must take some more piccys sometime, I can't find the ones I have.
Looked like a Wimbledon lawn with its stripes.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: robert meldrum on July 05, 2012, 09:32:31 pm
A job I was called out to last week had hired a R D and spent most of the day cleaning with it ..............they thought it was clean but realised the next morning it was not.

Worst of all.............the lady of the house broke out in blisters which spread during the night and caused her pain and panic. Went to their GP who referred them immediately to a dermatologist who gave her cream to apply which calmed the redness but the blisters were bursting and skin was coming off in large and thick lumps like a napakm bomb would have caused.

They had no contact with any other chemical and had never left the house on the day in question.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Jamie Pearson on July 05, 2012, 09:36:24 pm
I wonder which products from the range the used.

The main in tank cleaner is a microsplitter.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: derek west on July 05, 2012, 10:03:35 pm
i love this, always makes me laugh. shame he swears or i'd use it on my website.

and remember, "look at this, its got a trigger" ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztwOTw4Tis

oh and 50k views. nice
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Kev Loomes on July 05, 2012, 10:06:38 pm
The main in tank cleaner is a microsplitter.

Interesting, I thought they used detergents!?
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: john martin on July 05, 2012, 10:50:45 pm

 so it evolved from this ?     
 looks like a conventional porty with a ' vibrating brush '  :)
 have to admire the company for growing the business to a global scale ..

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rug-Doctor-R40-Carpet-Cleaning-Auto-Detailer-Setup-/380362493460
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: cannon on July 05, 2012, 11:16:22 pm
i love this, always makes me laugh. shame he swears or i'd use it on my website.

and remember, "look at this, its got a trigger" ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztwOTw4Tis

oh and 50k views. nice


Im in kinks  ;D  be great if we could sabotage there marketing stands in morrisons etc and replace there excellent marketing vid with this
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 06, 2012, 11:41:18 am
Love it. Titan 875 for sale  ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: William Sharpe on July 06, 2012, 02:31:07 pm
Is that that scotish commic  :)
It might be an idea to actualy hire a RD and do a compare with a pro! kit without the effing & blinding to put on all our websites under "WARNING" or could it be put on the TACCA site????

I think most people are aware of the RD but are not convinced they work as advertised and prefer to use a professional service better result & less hassle! :-*

The more retail advertis RD and the likes of Bissel the more favour they do us 8)
Positive Marketing is our survival and way forward and the old "edge on technique"
Happy days
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: AshWhite on July 06, 2012, 03:14:57 pm
How about we all chip in a fiver and someone goes and rents a machine and records a comparison - then whoever contributes gets a copy to watermark before uploading?
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 06, 2012, 04:18:41 pm
That's a good idea, trouble is people you rent rug doctors aren't going to look on our sites as they're obviously not interested in professional cleaning.

Simon
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: AshWhite on July 06, 2012, 05:14:33 pm
Maybe, but you can promote it on youtube, facebook - plus there are ways to get people who are searching for rug doctors to take a lok at your site..
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 06, 2012, 05:26:17 pm
There's also a potential legal issue to consider. These big firms tend not to take too kindly to their products receiving bad publicity. Just a thought
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: AshWhite on July 06, 2012, 05:56:50 pm
Of course, you'd have to make sure it wasn't libelous - a factual video showing the difference - side by side on the same carpet, same soiling.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: peter maybury on July 06, 2012, 07:16:54 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=efjiOxWdZeg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=efjiOxWdZeg)
has been done already.
I do get a lot of work from people that have messed up with rug doctors.

Peter
www,carpetcleanercardiff.com (http://www,carpetcleanercardiff.com)
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: John Milnes on July 06, 2012, 07:50:21 pm
I'v been to many Rug Doctor cleans.....pulled the dirt to the surface and caused a nightmare for the customer.

The last one I went to was a bedroom carpet that looked like the remains from a farm yard!

In actual fact it can be good marketing for b4 and after pictures on your website and perhaps persuade customers not to use them.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Neil Williams on July 06, 2012, 08:55:12 pm
I can't say I get work on the back of a RD fookup, but I have been to enough who have suffered in the past from the experience.
Actually I had one today who didn't want to recreate the mess after their last attempt. I think it would be fair to say her expectations weren't that high before the job but was amazed by the result afterwards.
The thing here is that to the inexperienced customer they think carpet cleaning is all the same no matter what the machine, and this catogry of person will always be there, mostly in the 'cheap' bracket as 'Mrs double-barrel' in her 5 bed country detached isn't likely to do anything involving manual labour anyway.

I have been known to leave business cards in the RD stands and even hand a card to the sad person as they leave the store dragging the dreaded machine out ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: William Sharpe on July 07, 2012, 07:36:40 am
Neil -I like that pure cheek, I will be popping into morrisons later and accidently drop a few clipped on to their stand  ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: elite mike on July 07, 2012, 07:55:30 am
i love this, always makes me laugh. shame he swears or i'd use it on my website.

and remember, "look at this, its got a trigger" ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztwOTw4Tis

oh and 50k views. nice

thanks for that derek, funniest video i have seen for a while   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Ian Caddy on July 07, 2012, 07:29:35 pm
Hi, The only thing I would like to add is that the chemical they give you is alkaline based, which when dry leaves your carpets tacky, hench attracting the dirt!!!:)
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: Simon@arenaclean on July 07, 2012, 08:30:10 pm
Quote
Hi, The only thing I would like to add is that the chemical they give you is alkaline based, which when dry leaves your carpets tacky, hench attracting the dirt!!!:)

Residue is not necessarily linked to alkalinity but detergent residue or inadequate rinsing. There are many rinse agents with a Ph between 9 - 10.
Title: Re: Rug Doctor
Post by: neil 47 on July 07, 2012, 09:14:04 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1341692002_FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg12.jpg)


seen this a few times this month tracks left by rd