Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on March 04, 2014, 05:31:45 pm
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so ive put around 50 customers prices up ranging from £1,£2 and £5.coming into affect from april.
lost one up to now(from £10 to£12).this was an estate work job.smallish 3 bedder with conny.lovely old couple.no rise for 5 YEARS and they cancel.2 monthly job and id been cleaning their windows for at least 10 years.
they said they couldnt afford it although they have a brand new car on the drive and a campervan.
they were always having a little dig that they must be paying me too much as i could afford a van and a car! ::)roll
anyway this month loads are going up.around 250 customers.most going up £1.
ill let you know how i go on!
what about you guys?
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I'm prolonging upping our prices...
Turning up in the new Berlingo I cant be doing with the 'you need to pay for your new van' comments ;D
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We are doing 3 phases of price increases.
Phase 1 terrible under priced work.
Phase 2 Bread and Butter work.
Phase 3 Cream work.
Phase 1 is complete and lost one customer, which kinda puts a damper on my plans. Was hoping to force some customer to cancel but they haven't. One of the last increases was a job from £35 - £70.
It was a £35 for and hour and half so was badly priced (not by me i might add)
All she has done is gone from 6 weekley to 8 weekley and tbh she seems even more happier than before.
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Ive got a load of compact customers at a tenner which in fairness for the area is a little above what most charge (£8) can bang em out and make good bunce in the day .... would like to put em up but think Im pushing it at a tenner ??
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.164161,-3.077532,3a,75y,107.16h,84.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sXccUb8zJxLi3H3z-3KywtA!2e0?hl=en
Gone thru my rounds job by job few weeks back when we had all the storms and highlighted a few big houses that are underpriced and these will be getting an increase.
Other than that I think I will be leaving em as they are.
All new jobs are however priced higher as not bothered if I get them or not.
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Don't think it's a good time to increase.
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April good time to increase if u have a lot of old duffers as that's when state pension goes up ;D ;D
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Don't think it's a good time to increase.
It's never gonna be a perfect time.
Needs must though.
April is good cause you can blame it on the new tax year.
April is bad cause the summer brigade will be out, probably charging less.
I'm waiting until May. Once the sun has been out for a bit.
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i always put some up every year without fail in april these days.
i only put a few up last year.the year before i put 70% of work up and only lost 3 customers.
this year its time for the good paying jobs that i picked up 4 or 5 years ago to go up and the ones i put up 2 years ago(mainly estate compact work very well established 15 yrs+)
i made the mistake of not putting up prices for years a while ago.i was too scared that id lose loads of work.it was all in my head.
i keep my side of the bargain(regular,reliable and do a very good job) and the cost of living keeps going up so prices have to follow suit. ;)
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Don't think it's a good time to increase.
Why????????
People posted on here 12 months ago about not increasing due to economic down turn, I increase my prices at least every 18 months regardless.
My costs go up, if I absorb that myself my wage goes down and that's a no no.
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I'm suprised any of you lot need to put prices up ,
You big hitters .
I'm amazed at what you guys say you charge and earn , yet moan about little expenses of gas etc
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im gonna increase all the jobs i dislike this summer , probably just 1.50 increase , my first increase in 4 yrs . i expect to lose 20% of the ones i increase the price on .
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Put up my crap work and some of my decent work and lost 4 so not bad, have to put them up from time to time otherwise you resent cleaning them, especially after this sh*t winter
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i increased mine may/june time,think i will wait a little ;D
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theres only a handful I'm gonna put up i think mine are all about the max i can get at this present moment.
competition is stiff no point in being greedy.
i have dropped a few this year that get on my nellies,messers that bugger me about with payments,can't be bothered with that sort anymore.
regards
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Yes, imminent rise here in May. Our costs have gone up and, to a large extent, customers expect it.
Vin
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I priced a big house a few years back £35 every 6 weeks.
The chap was reluctant to say yes and asked if i could lower the price.
I looked in the eye and with a big grin i said 'you don't get a house like this on minimum wage'
He laugh and said fair enough. Great customer
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I'm suprised any of you lot need to put prices up ,
You big hitters .
I'm amazed at what you guys say you charge and earn , yet moan about little expenses of gas etc
What's with the soup grapes all the time with your posts?
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a customer today told me: you didn't increase your price since you clean my windows (2 years) so it is the time to do it! i will give you £15 from now (was £12)
lovely customer,does the job for me ;D
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This forum is just full of bull poopters
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OP Dazmond posted that he's gonna put some custies prices up in April - Daz's work - he can do what he likes!
No one has to follow suit - it's an opinion or an action.
If your work is under priced put it up - If you're happy with the price!! leave it till next year.
In the end inflation eats into your money ... You get to decide ... That's the main reason people work for themselves
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This forum is just full of bull poopters
you don't need to increase your prices you saved so much with your China poles ;D
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kempy, you are bang on my friend...
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This forum is just full of bull poopters
You ought not to believe that everyone here is bsing.
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This forum is just full of bull poopters
you don't need to increase your prices you saved so much with your China poles ;D
:D
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I have lost 3 this week who are so tight arsed they cant afford the price rise of £1.
Saying that I got 4 calls this week for new customers.....
the first was the best. The customer called while I was cleaning in a commercial business to say she cant afford me £10 8 weeks)
I said ok thanks, I still had the phone in my hand and looked up and the lady in front of me said "are you the window cleaner, can you come clean my house.."
I just smiled inside :) I dont know how you cant loose in this business.... ha ha
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Don't think it's a good time to increase.
Why????????
People posted on here 12 months ago about not increasing due to economic down turn, I increase my prices at least every 18 months regardless.
My costs go up, if I absorb that myself my wage goes down and that's a no no.
Problem is window cleaners get tunnel vision, apart from bankers nearly everyones wages have took a hit, I think most window cleaners especially the ones that claim to earn Lawyers wages can take it on the chin.
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We can all do what we want in regards to pricing work.
I want more money for the service I provide. I reckon with a few extra decent jobs plus price rises I'll earn an extra 5 grand this year which will pay for my new van.
What's wrong with that? ;)
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We can all do what we want in regards to pricing work.
I want more money for the service I provide. I reckon with a few extra decent jobs plus price rises I'll earn an extra 5 grand this year which will pay for my new van.
What's wrong with that? ;)
Nothing at all. I'm not sure if it was you or someone on another forum, but someone increased their prices 10% the other year and lost two customers.
If you increased your prices by 10% and even a (rather unlikely) 10% cancelled, you'd be doing 4 1/2 days for the same money.
My mobile phone company, gas supplier, electricity supplier, petrol station, garage, car dealer, shoe shop, etc, etc, etc ad nauseam don't run scared of putting up their prices every year. Why should we?
Vin
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Why does one think that window cleaner do not have inflation as all other businesses have.
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Vin I put loads of prices up 2 yrs ago and lost 2 customers.I've gained more though. ;D
Kempy I've read a few of your posts about having too much work and underpriced.why don't you put yours up?
As you know wfp is an expensive game.
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Infation rate was only 2.7 percent last year so a £10 house should only go up to £10.27.
Putting £10 houses up £2 is a 20 percent increase which would be near 10 years worth of inflation or am i dim and missing the point?
I used £10 as an example as easy to work out the percentage.
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True
£10 house to £11 , is a increase of 10% , but it sounds less does a £1
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Infation rate was only 2.7 percent last year so a £10 house should only go up to £10.27.
Putting £10 houses up £2 is a 20 percent increase which would be near 10 years worth of inflation or am i dim and missing the point?
I used £10 as an example as easy to work out the percentage.
You've got £10 houses Mick? Only Kempy charges that low!
;D ;D ;D
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Infation rate was only 2.7 percent last year so a £10 house should only go up to £10.27.
Putting £10 houses up £2 is a 20 percent increase which would be near 10 years worth of inflation or am i dim and missing the point?
I used £10 as an example as easy to work out the percentage.
Depends how long ago his last price rise was effective.
Also, if customers will pay an extra 20%, who are we to say they are wrong?
Vin
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I'm putting my prices up 200% this year.
Going from £2 to £6 and I don't care if I loose a few customers.
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Who said you can't put prices up above inflation?
Also why compare other people's wages to your own?
Just cos Mr Smith hasn't had a pay rise for a while doesn't mean you have to keep your prices the same. if they are struggling I offer a longer frequency at a higher price then their saving a few quid.
I reckon I'm fair with my pricing.
£2 on a job that's had no price rise in 5 years is not too much IMO.
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I reckon I'm fair with my pricing.
Agree. If they have a choice and are paying your prices, there's no problem with the value for money that you're giving.
Daz, ignore the nay-sayers. Plenty of people on here act like they are begging for their customers' money. The better attitude is "I'm offering a good service for a good price, so they are probably happy paying me".
Vin
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Who said you can't put prices up above inflation?
Also why compare other people's wages to your own?
Just cos Mr Smith hasn't had a pay rise for a while doesn't mean you have to keep your prices the same. if they are struggling I offer a longer frequency at a higher price then their saving a few quid.
I reckon I'm fair with my pricing.
£2 on a job that's had no price rise in 5 years is not too much IMO.
Most customers wont remember that you haven't put your prices up in 5 years they will just see a £2 hike
which if your charging ten to fifteen quid could seem a lot.
I'm sure there will be some wondering if this is going to be the yearly increase.
Just because your customers aren't complaining to you doesn't mean they not complaining.
I honestly think you would have been better putting your prices up by 50 pence every year.
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Window cleaning is no different to any other consumer purchase for a service or product, people don't "choose" to pay more for, just cause they get told it's a good service, I can get a 21 day matured aberdeen angus rump steak for £3.70 from LIDL and it's better than one for £6 from Sainsbury's, important to keep one step ahead, don't be complacent with your customers by being greedy, this is not the "90s", everyone is looking for value, just cause they've got 2 new cars on the drive it isn't a gauge to set prices, some of these people are feeling the pinch cause they took on more than they could chew and lived on debt. ;)
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Most customers wont remember that you haven't put your prices up in 5 years they will just see a £2 hike
which if your charging ten to fifteen quid could seem a lot.
I'm sure there will be some wondering if this is going to be the yearly increase.
Just because your customers aren't complaining to you doesn't mean they not complaining.
I honestly think you would have been better putting your prices up by 50 pence every year.
Depends how you introduce it, to some extent. If you say, "Mrs Smith, it's been five years since I put my prices up and it's going up £2", you'll be fine. People aren't daft and they know that increases happen.
Vin
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Most customers wont remember that you haven't put your prices up in 5 years they will just see a £2 hike
which if your charging ten to fifteen quid could seem a lot.
I'm sure there will be some wondering if this is going to be the yearly increase.
Just because your customers aren't complaining to you doesn't mean they not complaining.
I honestly think you would have been better putting your prices up by 50 pence every year.
Depends how you introduce it, to some extent. If you say, "Mrs Smith, it's been five years since I put my prices up and it's going up £2", you'll be fine. People aren't daft and they know that increases happen.
Vin
Totally agree, people do expect prices to go up it happens with all our bills.
But like everything it needs to be done tactfully.
Waiting 5 years and putting the price up £2 in one go isn't the right way in my opinion.
I know that most of my customers have less money to spend than they had 5 years ago, this
doesn't mean that I shouldn't up my prices but it should be taken into account when deciding by how much.
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the prices im putting up £2 are £20 monthly jobs.very affluent area.4 or 5 years they ve not gone up.
ive already put some 2 monthly jobs up from £15 to £20.not one problem.
the cheaper very compact estate work are all going up £1.(two years since last price increase).
a few years ago i gave some customer "ultimatums" and put their prices up by £5.not lost one customer.
i have a commercial job thats underpriced at £30. i will be increasing the price by £5 as well.no price increase in 5 years.
another i put up from £22 to £30 and said basically that i underpriced the job in the first place(which i did)no problems.
i just go in confident and with the attitude that i dont care if i lose the job.any that i do lose will be marginal and ill still be up on earnings.
i fully expect to lose 3 or 4 customers.ive lost one up to now.
ill keep you updated at the end of this month when ive made my next lot of price increases. :)
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Good for you Daz you've made a plan and now you're doing it
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I think it's important that when you put your prices up you are wringing your cap in your hands.
As Vin says, some on here act like beggars. It's a service. People either want it at the price or they don't.