Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Klean07 on October 09, 2012, 07:55:56 pm
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Had a custie text me earlier saying she doesn't want me to clean her windows again. I asked her why which she replied someone knocked her door and offered to clean them for £10!! That's £6 cheaper than me!!
Can't see him lasting long at those prices!
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How big was the house?
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Had a custie text me earlier saying she doesn't want me to clean her windows again. I asked her why which she replied someone knocked her door and offered to clean them for £10!! That's £6 cheaper than me!!
Can't see him lasting long at those prices!
Igot one last week. the same as you actually more or less £10 for what i charge £17. its bad access too, you have to drive round another road to get to the back. whoever nicked it off me is welcome to it :)
i honestly these days dont mind loosing work, its a chance to canvass knew stuff and have a change of seanary. or else this job gets far too boring doing the same houses year in year out
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It has 18 windows and sold last year for £400,000!! Lady is Asian and part owner of a local bathroom company!!
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I quoted someone £32 x8 weeks on Saturday... She said "oooh, my last window cleaner was only £16.50".
I asked her why she didn't use him anymore... She said he hadn't been in 9 months... I said he probably wasn't making any money at those prices.
We settled on £30 in the end ;)
Andy
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It has 18 windows and sold last year for £400,000!! Lady is Asian and part owner of a local bathroom company!!
I'm in your area and what you was charging sounds fair.
He won't last long at those prices :o
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Thats exactly what I told the customer Ive seen it happen before.
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Lost two last week. 1 for £85.00, customer offered £40.00 and 1 for 82.50 customer has emp,loyed house keeper and she is going to do the windows! I woyuldn't mind so much but he is in the rich list valued at £54,000,000. I have hopes of getting this one back!
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Under cutting is underhanded and a sign of ignorance by the window cleaner for not studying his market he is about to enter. One should not even thing you will catch on a undercut price. Five quid could take you 5 years to catch up with the market prices and by that time its moved on again. This practice will only benefit the customer and kill our industry.The under cutter will be another skeleton along the road to failing business. Ever new comer and windy moving to a new area has a responsibility to check out the pricing.
It is only a fool that would not realize that the prices build up by window cleaners in an area are that way for a reason.Its soul destroying when some one comes along and damages a market they have never worked in and it a sure fire way to been an out cast in your area.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WORD FOR THESE STOOGES, IGNORANT.
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I woyuldn't mind so much but he is in the rich list valued at £54,000,000. I have hopes of getting this one back!
that's not rich , that's only loose change .
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What one needs to do with these guy s is undercut them on the house they just sole off you, do it once or twice and drop them. Anyone stealing business will find how I roll.
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It has 18 windows and sold last year for £400,000!! Lady is Asian and part owner of a local bathroom company!!
And she still pulled the plug on you? :o
What a shower!
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I wait for loyal custys that pay what I need to live in south east.
If I'm undercut I point out I'm a tax paying business and live
Local , and money stays in this country, then thank them for their
Business upto now but inform them I won't be price matching.
Cross them of list and replace..... Simple
Most people are now realising that any business needs
To make min of £25 per hour to survive.
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It has 18 windows and sold last year for £400,000!! Lady is Asian and part owner of a local bathroom company!!
I live in a pre-dominantly Asian area and they are completely different to deal with when it comes to windows!
Mostly they want one-offs or every few months 4 weekly is rare.
Always want to bargain you down.
One cost me 3 houses by finding a cheaper cleaner then telling half the street!
Got a call yesterday wen to quote 17 Windows including 2 sets of patio doors.
Minging not been done for months. £20 I thought was not too bad.
Last cleaner only charged £10!!
Did he clean the frames and doors?
Yes he did (no way they had'nt been done for months and months)
Eventually came down to you can always get the £10 window cleaner to do them - Why has he stopped turning up?
Silence.
End of conversation.
G.
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it makes you mad but its a free country where i live theres a lot of unemploment and people going round canversing if i see a new cleaners i go over and ask if they are tax reg
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Most Asian custys are good payers but ones from the Pakistan
Afghan area are a total no go for me, not had one reliable one
Yet..... Taken on four in past and have been messed around each
Time , not worth the hastle.
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Be fair its dog eat dog i have underpriced many times a d got the job. If i clean 10 houses in a road for £10 and recanvas the road and get 5 custies say they pay there window cleaner £15 id undercut and offer to do them for £10.
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Be fair its dog eat dog i have underpriced many times a d got the job. If i clean 10 houses in a road for £10 and recanvas the road and get 5 custies say they pay there window cleaner £15 id undercut and offer to do them for £10.
And I hope one day you meet a bigger dog.
Is there any need for that or do you like working for less than what appears could be the going rate?
Art
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|One day he will find his brain and that will be the day he wakes up to see.What goes around comes around.He has no round as it will be stolen by the next mongrel. IGNORANTMuppets ??? ??? ??? ???
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|One day he will find his brain and that will be the day he wakes up to see.What goes around comes around.He has no round as it will be stolen by the next mongrel. MICKY Muppet ??? ??? ??? ???
He could tell all his current customers in the street that 5 of his neighbours pay £15 and he could increase his price on the 10 he has to £11 or £12. Thus an increase off the back of another windy.
But hey, wtf.
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|One day he will find his brain and that will be the day he wakes up to see.What goes around comes around.He has no round as it will be stolen by the next mongrel. MICKY Muppet ??? ??? ??? ???
He could tell all his current customers in the street that 5 of his neighbours pay £15 and he could increase his price on the 10 he has to £11 or £12. Thus an increase off the back of another windy.
But hey, wtf.
Was using that as an example. I charge highter than my local competition so never get a chance to undercut. I have been a victim of undercutters many times its just life but also it is business. Commercial is all about the best price too. If you find out a window cleaner is charging £300 for a block of flats and get a chance to tender for the job you would be mad not to go in cheaper if was still a good days earnings. Some people on here are up there own arses.
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|One day he will find his brain and that will be the day he wakes up to see.What goes around comes around.He has no round as it will be stolen by the next mongrel. IGNORANTMuppet ??? ??? ??? ???
I find this remark rude. Who are you to call me anything?? all i did was comment on a post giving my view!!.
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|One day he will find his brain and that will be the day he wakes up to see.What goes around comes around.He has no round as it will be stolen by the next mongrel. MICKY Muppet ??? ??? ??? ???
He could tell all his current customers in the street that 5 of his neighbours pay £15 and he could increase his price on the 10 he has to £11 or £12. Thus an increase off the back of another windy.
But hey, wtf.
Was using that as an example. I charge highter than my local competition so never get a chance to undercut. I have been a victim of undercutters many times its just life but also it is business. Commercial is all about the best price too. If you find out a window cleaner is charging £300 for a block of flats and get a chance to tender for the job you would be mad not to go in cheaper if was still a good days earnings. Some people on here are up there own arses.
Maybe, but first I would try and find out how long they have been done at that price, why they are looking to change and then work out if me selling better benefits would allow me to quote dearer.
Too many people think this service is bought on price alone.
But Mick it's your business fella.
Art
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Thats right it is my business and prob why it is going from strengh to strengh the way i run it. although we are all in the same game we are all also eachothers competition. I help many local guys out giving them work etc but if a big job came up and i could win it by under priceing then 100 percent id hit for it. If you wouldnt then more fool you. That is how i have got most of my commercial work all about the price at the end of the day. Window cleaners are 10 to the penny all over the place.
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Thats right it is my business and prob why it is going from strengh to strengh the way i run it. although we are all in the same game we are all also eachothers competition. I help many local guys out giving them work etc but if a big job came up and i could win it by under priceing then 100 percent id hit for it. If you wouldnt then more fool you. That is how i have got most of my commercial work all about the price at the end of the day. Window cleaners are 10 to the penny all over the place.
Yes, I am a fool
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To be honest I have not bothered reading the whole post, but the chap who picked up the house may not of actually undercut anyone. If he has simply given a price he is happy to carry out the work for without prior knowledge of the exsisiting window cleaners price how could he undercut? For all he knew he might well of been putting in a higher price. Its a different story if he knew the price and deliberately went in lower then yes he has undercut, but sadly that is part of the industry we are in, it is always going to happen
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To be honest I have not bothered reading the whole post, but the chap who picked up the house may not of actually undercut anyone. If he has simply given a price he is happy to carry out the work for without prior knowledge of the exsisiting window cleaners price how could he undercut? For all he knew he might well of been putting in a higher price. Its a different story if he knew the price and deliberately went in lower then yes he has undercut, but sadly that is part of the industry we are in, it is always going to happen
I agree. Top speech
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Well my motto is once they dump you that's the end of it for me. In the past similar situations have arisen when after a few months they call you and ask me to reinstate them on my round because their undercutter didn't turn up for months!
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Be fair its dog eat dog i have underpriced many times a d got the job. If i clean 10 houses in a road for £10 and recanvas the road and get 5 custies say they pay there window cleaner £15 id undercut and offer to do them for £10.
Mick
I've respected you're comments on here so far - I think you have a lot to offer but this time I beg to differ as has been said on here time and time again there are millions of houses.
Someone asked me to quote the other day then said "Oh but I've got a window cleaner who comes I just want to see if I can save some money."
Sorry I said - but he might have a mortgage and kids and debts to pay - I'm not taking his work - if he lets you down then contact me.
From what I've read here you have £100 jobs in Central London etc.. Why would you undercut for a fiver?
G.
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I never knowingly undercut anyone. Other window cleaners have families to feed and look after, and if that's the price they charge then fair play to them. There's enough business for everyone. Usually the customers that want you to price cut are no good anyway (they'll simply do it to you too)! People don't just pay to have their windows cleaned; they pay for someone who comes onto their property who is reliable, does a good job, is honest, respectable, is always happy and nice to have around, is insured and cares about what they do and most importantly, someone they can trust. Windys who want to undercut me...good luck to you!!!
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Thats exactly what I told the customer Ive seen it happen before.
Hi Klean i live in kingswinford where was the customer because i know at leased 15 other windys round here so mite know the guy. i have a feeling it could be a chap called Scott he has done that across me before.
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Be fair its dog eat dog i have underpriced many times a d got the job. If i clean 10 houses in a road for £10 and recanvas the road and get 5 custies say they pay there window cleaner £15 id undercut and offer to do them for £10.
Mick
I've respected you're comments on here so far - I think you have a lot to offer but this time I beg to differ as has been said on here time and time again there are millions of houses.
Someone asked me to quote the other day then said "Oh but I've got a window cleaner who comes I just want to see if I can save some money."
Sorry I said - but he might have a mortgage and kids and debts to pay - I'm not taking his work - if he lets you down then contact me.
From what I've read here you have £100 jobs in Central London etc.. Why would you undercut for a fiver?
G.
Was using it as an example. I only used to undercut domestics when was canvassing for others. I now only undercut on commercial where it would still benefit me with a good price. Last week i had to price up a big church I quoted £350 for which the manager tells me thats the same as another guy is doing it for so i instantly said i can do it for £300 as is local to me. Got a call this morning and got the job 4 times a year.
I have lost far more commercial than i have gained over the years due to undercutters which annoys me but at the end of the day business is business.
I wouldnt undercut for the sake of it but if i get asked how much would i charge or if i could do it cheaper than they are getting it done for then i try to make a deal as that customer is obviously not happy with there current service.
Maybe i made myself sound a bad guy here but im so not, if i canvas and they say they have a cleaner i walk away, only if they mention they are not happy do i use the charm.
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It sounds to me like too many people on here care too much about other window cleaners.
If I could I'd wipe out every other company in Plymouth and have it all to myself; as would everyone else.
I started a business to make money, as simple as that; not to give a damm about other cleaning firms.
If I can win a contract by charging a little less than the next guy whilst still making enough to be happy with I'll do it cause the customers money looks beter in my pocket than another cleaner's pocket.
Bloody Hell, I can see it now. Mr Sainsbury telling his staff to make sure their prices aren't any cheaper than Mr Tesco's so as not to upset them.
Get a grip folks, there is no standard price, you charge what you're happy with; I couldn't give a stuff what others charge; if I'm happy with my takings and they provide me and mine with a comfy life style that'll do for me.
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There is another windy local to me. We get on really well and always have a chat when we are working the same street. We know how much each other charge, and as it happens, I am a little cheaper.
That said, I don't try to take his work and he is the same with me. We are both family guys trying to make a living, and have implicit respect for each other.
When I canvasssed my work, I set my own prices and didn't even consider what others would charge. If someone wishes to undercut me, they can try. If I lose customers as a result, then so be it. I find that most customers remain loyal if they are happy with me.
John
John
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Be fair its dog eat dog i have underpriced many times a d got the job. If i clean 10 houses in a road for £10 and recanvas the road and get 5 custies say they pay there window cleaner £15 id undercut and offer to do them for £10.
Mick
I've respected you're comments on here so far - I think you have a lot to offer but this time I beg to differ as has been said on here time and time again there are millions of houses.
Someone asked me to quote the other day then said "Oh but I've got a window cleaner who comes I just want to see if I can save some money."
Sorry I said - but he might have a mortgage and kids and debts to pay - I'm not taking his work - if he lets you down then contact me.
From what I've read here you have £100 jobs in Central London etc.. Why would you undercut for a fiver?
G.
Good points mate
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Under cutting is underhanded and a sign of ignorance by the window cleaner for not studying his market he is about to enter. One should not even thing you will catch on a undercut price. Five quid could take you 5 years to catch up with the market prices and by that time its moved on again. This practice will only benefit the customer and kill our industry.The under cutter will be another skeleton along the road to failing business. Ever new comer and windy moving to a new area has a responsibility to check out the pricing.
It is only a fool that would not realize that the prices build up by window cleaners in an area are that way for a reason.Its soul destroying when some one comes along and damages a market they have never worked in and it a sure fire way to been an out cast in your area.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WORD FOR THESE STOOGES, IGNORANT.
Give it a rest, Wizkid.
There is a lot of cheap labour about, at the moment, because of the state of the economy. If someone is prepared to do them for less, then you've got to deal with it. This is a situation that goes beyond window cleaning.
We've got to adapt to the situation. If you can't compete on price, then beat them on quality.
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Thats exactly what I told the customer Ive seen it happen before.
Hi Klean i live in kingswinford where was the customer because i know at leased 15 other windys round here so mite know the guy. i have a feeling it could be a chap called Scott he has done that across me before.
I know Scott though wouldn't of thought it would be him!
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Thats exactly what I told the customer Ive seen it happen before.
Hi Klean i live in kingswinford where was the customer because i know at leased 15 other windys round here so mite know the guy. i have a feeling it could be a chap called Scott he has done that across me before.
I know Scott though wouldn't of thought it would be him!
sorry to say this mate but scott would do that i know because he did it across me but also another guy up woodsetton called mick. if you see me about stop and have a chin wag for 5 mins i am driving a vivaro with shine4u window cleaning all over it you can not miss me.
james
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Will do mate! Don't suppose it was Clarity was it?
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It's always worth asking yourself whether the person at the door is fibbing.
also you have to work how you need to make or want to make and then charge accordingly. If you keep failing to win jobs then you may need to review it.
If you never get turned down then I would think youre not charging enough.
You sometimes have to sell the job to people so they know you're worth it. Tell them about insurance, tax paying, I'll still be here next year, I won't nick your lawnmower etc.
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Will do mate! Don't suppose it was Clarity was it?
Hi mate it could be but i had another window cleaner about a month back i was cleaning 12 houses down this est and he just come along and put one of his flyer though the customers door that i was cleaning at the time. i did not know at the time untill customer came out to pay me and give me the flyer that he had posted its a good job he had gone because i would have kicked his xxxx
james
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I did street today but no one else has dumped me so not really bothered. She was a newbie anyways!