Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lee_dewing on April 15, 2013, 07:31:28 am
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Been putting prices up.
Alot 50p and £1
But have quite a few under priced £2-4.
40% of theses custies have dropped me.
Funny I know they can afford it too.
Don't mean to sound arrogant but you know the custies that have got money.
All said thanks for a great service can't fault etc.
But gonna leave it do myself ::)roll
Where i live the new prices i have give them are fair and i'm wfp so doing frames and sill.
Oh well lucky i've got too much.
One old boy cancelled for 50p increase, i know when i see him i'l get a lecture.
Oh well.
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After a month or two when their windows are filthy and they are asking you to clean them again you can choose your custies at your price.
I know, been there. ;)
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Been putting prices up.
Alot 50p and £1
But have quite a few under priced £2-4.
40% of theses custies have dropped me.
That sounds a lot. I've only ever lost, say (as a guestimate) 1 or 2 customers out of every 50 I've increased the price on.
Just out of interest, how are you increasing the price? Face-to-face or letter? And what's the actual figures; how many customers have you increased the price on and how many have declined your service?
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40% is very high. I expect to lose 10% but have never actually lost that much, normally around 5%
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How are you informing them of the price increase?
Is it - "Nah mate, this time its £1 extra", or
"Sorry to tell you, but because of the increasing fuel/insurance costs, i'm going to have to increase prices a small bit for future cleans,.. only by £1 though".
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ive put most of my prices up 3 years in a row but decided to not increase any this year.
ive only ever lost a couple of customers every year.
i alway tell them face to face that next time they will be going up.i never explain its because of higher inflation,insurances etc,etc.they either accept or not.most do.
40% of customers??never ever.less than 1%!!
i have no idea what your doing wrong lee but somethings not right somewhere. :( :(
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40% is not a problem if you've put your prices up by that much!! I doubt you have though!
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Basically put up about 20 custies so far and lost 5.
So sorry thats 25%
But the ones that are under priced by more than £3 Have dropped me like hot potatoe
I expect to lose 40% of the under priced stuff over £2.
At moment just been telling face to face but i think will post letters now
I am polite and explain prices have not been reviewed for a couple of years.
Maybe letter will vive custie chance to think things over before giving me the sack
I speak to one windie in my area and his very professional and been doing the job for 20+years
But he tolde he's frightened if he puts any up he'l lose
I'l keep you all posted.
I hope your right Richard.
Had custie wanted to go from monthly to quarterly.
Told him sorry NO.
Lee
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I forgot to say i have 230 custies so 5 lost so lost around 2% ish so far.
Excuse my stupidity.
As i saying % of who i have given price rise to but i have a hunch that if i put everyones price up
I would lose 10% of my total custies.
It's tough out there my mrs has been out of work since october and has been told there is upto 500 people applying for the same job :o
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I would lose 10% of my total custies.
If you lose 10% of your customers but have increased the prices by 10% you have lost nothing. All you need to do then is fill the gaps.
It's called bottoming out.
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I think i'm bottling out ;D
Just had a stewards inquiry over frequency last ther 6th march
Custie said thought it was 6 weekly.
No monthly but do run late.
She suggested a few different frequencies but said sorry i do everyone the same otherwise too complicated.
In the end she laughed and said oh what's £15.
Nothing when you got a porsche jeep and a b class merc and a nice extended 3 bed semi with conservatory
;D
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I think it's psychological, custies expect things to go up by £1 they think it's a lot when it's £2 or £3.
Also the ones who are under priced probably think they are paying a fair price.
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I would lose 10% of my total custies.
If you lose 10% of your customers but have increased the prices by 10% you have lost nothing. All you need to do then is fill the gaps.
It's called bottoming out.
+1 Keep your nerve Lee
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I think i'm bottling out ;D
Just had a stewards inquiry over frequency last ther 6th march
Custie said thought it was 6 weekly.
No monthly but do run late.
She suggested a few different frequencies but said sorry i do everyone the same otherwise too complicated.
In the end she laughed and said oh what's £15.
Nothing when you got a porsche jeep and a b class merc and a nice extended 3 bed semi with conservatory
;D
Lee, I've got loads of youngish custies with luxury motors who cancel because they "Can't afford it" or "want to save a few quid as holidays are coming up" :o You can't judge them by their cars mate!! Some people look great above the surface, but under the surface, their legs are going like hell ;D Some people are bothered about having clean windows, some aren't. So it's the same old game mate, just remember, some will, some won't, so what, who cares, next please! ;)
Set your prices yourself, and charge what I charge. (Whatever I can get away with) ;D
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In the last four weeks I've had two "can't afford it" cancellations and three house moves adding up to £70 every other month sent back with the cheque in the last two weeks. Quite high that - all different areas and types too.
I've still had four new ones totalling £63 every other month but this is the first time I can remember I've lost more than I've gained in a spring month.
I've has some selective price increases but none of them resulted in the above cancellations.
Watching this space. It's not as easy as it was.
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It's not as easy as it was.
Agreed.
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Had custy cancel 4 wkly £16 when I asked for another £1
6 months later emailed me about going to an 8 wkly clean.....
"Dear mrs smith,things have moved on quite a bit with my pricing structure,I'm very happy to re commence cleaning.
The new price would now be £24 per clean.
As its been 6 or more months since my last visit, the first clean will be £35.00, as I'm sure you'll appreciate they will be very heavily soiled......."
She has been back for 3 cleans so far....
Happy days!
Mr B
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I quoted a detached house a couple of weeks ago at 25 euro for 16 windows plus the front and back doors, which is very reasonable round here.
I called back today to follow it up. She said I was a little expensive, and decided to do most of the windows herself, except for the upstairs rear. I requoted these at 6 euro (slightly higher rate per window) and she was happy.
Don't let the posh car on the drive fool you. These people are up to their necks in HP etc.
Back on topic, I don't lose many customers, I tend to drop them. I've let more customers go than I have gained recently, a first for me in 16 years. Yup, it's definitely getting tougher out there.
John
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Thanks guys.
Yes i suppose there are alot of wannabies out there flash cars etc.
But i think there is still alot of custies out there who have money and are jumping on the recession bandwagon.
Look to hammer down the workmens prices.
£10-15 a month i don't think is alot of money people will gladly pay that for a takeaway pizza, bottle of wine.
Alot more on mobile phone.
As Chris bacon said some will some won't.
Keeping the windows clean is not high priority.
I do laugh at people in the bigger houses that won't pay to maintain them not just window cleaning.
Painting house maintaining gardens, even some houses i'm suprised how out of date the kitchen is.
My kitchen is old hat too!
But i'm not having 3 holidays a year. (going majorca A/I august, last time i went abroad 2008 :'( :'( )
lee
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There is definitely a shift going on regarding window cleaning. I have never had as many cancellation's in 22 year's as I have had in the past 6 month's. Most have been honest and told me they were going to do it themselves to save a bit of money. It's all sort's of owned properties and I am not expensive. I recon folk's are just nervous about the future.
Increasing prices is always a risk, but for now, it's not one I am prepared to take, but that's just me.
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I've still had four new ones totalling £63 every other month but this is the first time I can remember I've lost more than I've gained in a spring month.
Same here, March that happened here.
Watching this space. It's not as easy as it was.
True, but it's still okay out there. Ive picked up something along the lines of £1,000+ in gutters the last two weeks.
It seems to ebb and flow a little more as we are at the moment.
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I think i'm bottling out ;D
Just had a stewards inquiry over frequency last ther 6th march
Custie said thought it was 6 weekly.
No monthly but do run late.
She suggested a few different frequencies but said sorry i do everyone the same otherwise too complicated.
In the end she laughed and said oh what's £15.
Nothing when you got a porsche jeep and a b class merc and a nice extended 3 bed semi with conservatory
;D
Have you not considered offering these custies a longer frequency between cleans if they are quivering over the price rise?
They would save money annually and you would earn well out of them if you offered them a 2 monthly clean with a 50% price hike over the monthly price.
And you may well keep them.
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yep thats what i do andy.then you get to keep the customer and enjoy cleaning their property when its due!! ;) :) :)
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Did try that apart from running 2 different frequencies which
I found hard to do; no one wanted to pay 50% more.
In my experience by halving the frequency the custie thinks
They've halved their bill then you tell em it's 50% more;
Just ends up in a haggling price debate.
Quicker and easier to say no.
I think your just giving the customer the green light to mess about
That's been my experience.
Lee
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Did try that apart from running 2 different frequencies which
I found hard to do; no one wanted to pay 50% more.
In my experience by halving the frequency the custie thinks
They've halved their bill then you tell em it's 50% more;
Just ends up in a haggling price debate.
Quicker and easier to say no.
I think your just giving the customer the green light to mess about
That's been my experience.
Lee
Yes Lee, to change the rythm means it should cost more etc, however, I found that going 6 weekly made a massive difference to my custy base staying with us. It means you need more custies, but the loss rate is minimal. Sometimes, I've tipped up 4 to 6 days early to fit around hols etc, and never had a moan about it yet!! Sounds like 6 and 8 weekly with only a minimum price rise may be the way to go for you mate. Give it some more thought.
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Its the result of under pricing that you have to deal with Lee. These customers are used to getting your work for nothing.Best to rid yourself of this type of customer. No body really needs them. Find new customers that are prepared to pay a fair price.
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I agree Smithie, made a rod for my own back.
Chris I have toyed with the idea of going 6 weekly.
But I think what ever i do someone will moan I'm either too early or late according to customers.
I found 5 weeks seemed just right.
Now i just tell people I'm monthly but can run a week late ocasssionaley.
I think most people would have their windows cleaned 8-12 weeks if i'd let them.
which is great if you can charge double!
Time to canvass me thinks ;)
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I agree Smithie, made a rod for my own back.
Chris I have toyed with the idea of going 6 weekly.
But I think what ever i do someone will moan I'm either too early or late according to customers.
I found 5 weeks seemed just right.
Now i just tell people I'm monthly but can run a week late ocasssionaley.
I think most people would have their windows cleaned 8-12 weeks if i'd let them.
which is great if you can charge double!
Time to canvass me thinks ;)
Go for it mate. You always have options.
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rather than up the prices I find its better to increase the workload which then forces expansion of the business .new jobs priced a tad higher than the erlier stuff but not by much
Each spring I dole out fliers for a few months ,this also allows me to get rid of any messers as new work rolls in .
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yep a spring clean to rid the messers Rob ;D
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For an 8 weekly schedule i will add between 20-40% typically depends on custy and area i offer 4-6-8 weekly cleans and will be targeting certain areas near me as i have picked up a few custys because their previous windy said no
He told custys in no un-certain terms 4 weekly or not at all even stuck a note through one door saying he would not be told what to and they had to abide by his rules . Mike
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Hi Mike,
I hope you don't live near me ;D
How do you manage with all that chopping and changing?
Just thought it is easier doing everyone the same.
Would of thought more driving to jobs than cleaning them.
Don't mean to be sarcastic just curious.
Lee
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lee you say you have 230 customers.i have 340 and most of em monthly cleans and i can easily get them cleaned in any given month with days to spare(even a full week spare some months!).
mines a mixture of very compact 3 bed semi estate work,millionaires houses,larger domestic,a few commercial,offices etc and country stand alones.
how on earth are you taking 6 weeks to get round sometimes?or is most of your work big domestics?
i usually do around 5-7 hours "on the glass" most days.
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Hi Daz,
I do wonder how you push through 340 custies in 3 weeks.
Yes i have 230 custies.
When i look on george all custies get 10 cleans a year, so on average 5 weeks getting around but yes it can be 6 weeks.
customer value £2680
Monday i got £172 tue £164
This is good for me as i'd say usually £120-£140 a day.
I think it's a mixture of work being spaced out I have roads with just 1 custie but then others with 5 in.
I suppose an average through my round is probably 2 custies per road.
So I think the reasons are work is not as ompact as it could be.
Also i don't work in rain (yes drizzle, but not umbrella weather)
The other problem is i was doing school runs.
Now my partner is out of work I am getting round quicker last autum and catching up fast now.
I'm not lazy was out all through winter in ski wear -4 before xmas, been long hard winter AGAIN!
Only time off was a few days here and there with deep snow had 3 lots here through winter.
SO from this i take it fill in gaps canvassing in round price higher (or right).
Yes i am guilty of over cleaning and been looking at this, this week.
Made some alterations to equipment.
Here's my website nearly finished and will be in 2 weeks
http://www.dcswindowcleaning.co.uk/
Done biz cards as blue frog for roads i now work in stated the people door no's in road i already do.
Getting basic disclosure done to display on website (CRB check) called DBS now.
THink thats it for now.
thanks DAZ
ps. as said in previous post custies commenting a lot on frequency people seem to think 6 weeks
even though told monthly.
But odd couple a week,
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sounds like your going the right way mate.good on ya lee.
the problem your having it seems to me is if the custy is used to you cleaning them every 6 weeks but your pulling them back to 4 or 5 weekly(eg monthly)they think your too early then coupled with a price rise(some longer standing underpriced customers can be the worst!)its riled them a bit.
as for compact work i have lots of runs but also have days of good priced stand alones which earn me the same,if not more money!!
have you got a tank and 100m microbore and do you use a high flow lee?this will help with speed as well as working in most weather unless its really raining hard.
its all the little tweaks that i do that keeps me on top of my round most times and keeps me working efficiently.
best wishes mate
dazmond
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Hi daz
Unfortunately do not have tank use 10 25 litre barrels.
My setup is at parents as i do not have garden and also can't park near flat (actually back to back house for what it's worth)
Parking at parents is tricky hence filling ang wheeling out barrels
But pump box and 100 metre microbore.
Just changed to gardiners pencil jets 1.4 mm
So saving on water now.
A barrel does most houses.
Using gardiners white sill brush now not vikan sill.
Your right re-price increase i'l just put up the under priced oned for now and
If i lose em so be it.
Leave other custies alone for now that was gonna do £1
As if i get nearer the month i'l be getting more money anyway.
Daz would you consider changing your round to 6 weeks.
I dither too much, and think 6 weeks would make people happier
But my hope was to get more people onto standing order and monthly makes this a lot simpler.
And of course i'd find it easier getting around quicker than getting 25% more custies.
Think i will always be too early or too late in most peoples minds.
By the way i belive you can get around in 3 weeks; but from my outlook it's hard to comprehend getting through 20-ish houses a day.
I am making notes every week on the little niggles in my day
Trying to claw back the minutes lost.
Just started using medical connectors from aqua dapter instead
Of metal rectus type really good.
Thanks for input Daz.
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well i had a late start today lee(1030am-430pm).5 hours "on the glass" half hour for lunch and about half hour talking to customers/having a brew and still managed 21 houses.some of em were in pockets of 3 and 4.a bit of driving about in between and i still feel like crap with this virus so im not firing on all cylinders!! ;D ;D
most of them were 3 bed semis, some with connys but a few were 4 bed houses.350L used.
the barrels and only having 250L will be slowing you down lee.i tradded the odd ground floor windows but most work was cleaned wfp with a high flow.
if your happy then thats all that matters mate but i would get at least a 350L tank if not 400L in your van.itll make you a lot quicker esp with a high flow on maintenance cleans.
my customers are very happy with a monthly clean and i very rarely get any problems with this frequency.all frames,sills and doors are washed down as well as a standard clean.
regards
dazmond
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Tha nks for the advice Daz
How did you get on canvassing estate that was originally for girlfriend ;D
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i sacked it off as a bad idea lee after 90 mins canvassing.3 windys already on there.most people not bothered due to ongoing building work and one guy said he could get his 4 bed detached with conny and four 3 storey windows cleaned for £8 and thought my price of £25 was a rip off!! >:( ;D ;D ;D
it was a bit out of my way really as well.hey ho!nevermind!! ;D ;D
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Tha nks for the advice Daz
How did you get on canvassing estate that was originally for girlfriend ;D
Dazmond went canvassing for a girlfriend?????
Daz - You told us you were 6ft 2" and looked like Adonis and that your girlfriend looked like a supermodel - all lies hmmmmmmm?
;D
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Sorry to hear that Daz that job for £25 sounds like a real fair price to me.
£8 ;D ;D
Reminds me quoted 5-6 bed house (never asked how many bedrooms, guess) detached with batchelor pad above garage said £40 was worth all of that forgot to say house had 3 levels.
Woman told me i could do it for £20 as last windy did.
Told her that i cleaned her friends house £15 who recomended me and her house was 3 times bigger with the extra of out house.
Could have offered 8 weeks but p'd me off ;D
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My new formula is £5 a bedroom and extra £5-£10 for connie.
Was thinking of putting that as a guide on website.
What do you think to that everyone.
Something worded better than that on a frequently asked questions section.
How often, how much, how do i pay you etc.
Can i muck you about? ;D