Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 02:23:12 pm

Title: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 02:23:12 pm
Went to quote a house in June, told her it’s £30 once every 2 months and she’s just got back to me this morning-

Hi Shrek ,we have had some quotes for the windows, would you be able to do them for £25 every 2 months? Someone else quoted this but we would rather have you as a local business? Many thanks, D.

I’m not budging on price but what’s a nice way of saying it?
It’s the 1st time someone’s tried to negotiate in about 5 years!
Cheers 👍
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Phil J on August 05, 2018, 02:35:07 pm
Hey Shrek,
Just tell her, "thanks for the offer, but that's the best I can do!".
Ball back in her court, don't worry if you don't get the job. If that's your price, that's your price. End of story.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 02:41:35 pm
Hey Shrek,
Just tell her, "thanks for the offer, but that's the best I can do!".
Ball back in her court, don't worry if you don't get the job. If that's your price, that's your price. End of story.

Cheers pal , I wasn’t to sure whether to keep it short and sweet or not 👍
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Go on August 05, 2018, 02:42:08 pm
If you accept, you’ll only regret turning up every other month. Or rush it.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 02:45:32 pm
If you accept, you’ll only regret turning up every other month. Or rush it.

I’m defo not agreeing, just wasn’t to sure how to respond
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Slacky on August 05, 2018, 02:47:54 pm
Ask Nathan to scribe something out for you.

It’ll be interesting, even if you don’t send it m
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 02:48:49 pm
Ask Nathan to scribe something out for you.

It’ll be interesting, even if you don’t send it m

😂
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on August 05, 2018, 03:14:45 pm
I'm with Phil J on the way to reply

Had a guy try to negotiate me down this week.
Quoted him for 4 weekly, he accepted then tried to switch to 8 weekly.
Didn't like it when I ammended the price and tried to bat me down. When I refused he declined to have them done any more.
However, his neighbour was listening over the fence and when I left his property the neighbour engaged my services on a 4 weekly basis.
I was glad I didn't give in otherwise I may have had two underpriced jobs.

Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: nathankaye on August 05, 2018, 04:00:06 pm
Haha, matt you should be a stand up comedian 😂
Arh, but I suppose u need to actually be funny.

My response would be to the point.

Thank you, however £30 is my best price. However I can offer £25 but this would be for once a month.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Simon Trapani on August 05, 2018, 04:26:16 pm
I disagree Nathan.

I agree with the others. The price is the price. That’s the best you can do Shrek for the reasons others have said. And you’ll always be on the back foot if not.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: nathankaye on August 05, 2018, 04:37:00 pm
I disagree Nathan.

I agree with the others. The price is the price. That’s the best you can do Shrek for the reasons others have said. And you’ll always be on the back foot if not.

I've not changed the price. Shrek said £30 for 8wkly cleans and I've agreed with this.  But simply said for 25 it would be once a month instead, which highlights the great price of thirty as I would be very surprised if they accepted the more expensive price of £25 per month.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Stoots on August 05, 2018, 04:51:35 pm
Nathan has this one right.

"Hi, I'm afraid £30 is the best price I can offer for a 2 monthly clean. I could however do them monthly for £25 if this helps?"

Many thanks for your enquiry
Shrek

Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: John Mart on August 05, 2018, 05:23:08 pm
Nathan has this one right.

"Hi, I'm afraid £30 is the best price I can offer for a 2 monthly clean. I could however do them monthly for £25 if this helps?"

Many thanks for your enquiry
Shrek
I like the ones who ask for a 4 weekly price then say great, can we set it up 8 weekly please.  ;D
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Stoots on August 05, 2018, 05:43:23 pm
Nathan has this one right.

"Hi, I'm afraid £30 is the best price I can offer for a 2 monthly clean. I could however do them monthly for £25 if this helps?"

Many thanks for your enquiry
Shrek
I like the ones who ask for a 4 weekly price then say great, can we set it up 8 weekly please.  ;D


I agree

But wait a minute, I thought you only did 8 weekly?

Or is the name misleading ?
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: John Mart on August 05, 2018, 05:52:28 pm
Nathan has this one right.

"Hi, I'm afraid £30 is the best price I can offer for a 2 monthly clean. I could however do them monthly for £25 if this helps?"

Many thanks for your enquiry
Shrek
I like the ones who ask for a 4 weekly price then say great, can we set it up 8 weekly please.  ;D


I agree

But wait a minute, I thought you only did 8 weekly?

Or is the name misleading ?
90%. If I could get people to pay decent prices for 4 weekly I would.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Simon Trapani on August 05, 2018, 06:11:19 pm
Fair enough.

Looks like my bad. We offer 6 & 12 weekly but don't charge more for the 12 weekly like most of you guys. Apart from the odd few I don't find they take any longer, certainly not the glass anyway. Frames & sills near trees etc I find take longer but we normally price by how long it takes on residential anyway. I would normally address it at the next price increase. Think I do need to sort out a simpler pricing structure though.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Walter Mitty on August 05, 2018, 07:03:40 pm
There are various ways around this.

(1)  When you quote, charge more for the first clean - but don't tell them.  If it's accepted you have a well-priced job.  If they try to knock it down, agree but say you do need to charge the amount you quoted for the first clean as it takes longer.

or

(2)  Decline then politely explain that if you worked at their suggested price you would need to work too fast to give a quality job.  Also, that after a while you would find working for their price irritating and you prefer to be happy in your work.

or

(3)  Before walking away explain to them that when someone haggles the price, it makes it difficult for you to increase the price in the future.  Therefore, you would prefer to avoid such a situation by not proceeding.

I've done variations of all three.  Keep it polite and professional.  You might not gain a customer, but you've kept your dignity and maybe even helped someone to review their attitude towards tradespeople.

Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Go on August 05, 2018, 07:08:10 pm
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Stoots on August 05, 2018, 07:09:11 pm
Fair enough.

Looks like my bad. We offer 6 & 12 weekly but don't charge more for the 12 weekly like most of you guys. Apart from the odd few I don't find they take any longer, certainly not the glass anyway. Frames & sills near trees etc I find take longer but we normally price by how long it takes on residential anyway. I would normally address it at the next price increase. Think I do need to sort out a simpler pricing structure though.

I dont find they take much longer generally (some do) but i always offer the 8 weekly at more, sometimes its only a few quid or a fiver but its a bit more money for hardly any more work.

i have 75% 4 weekly, 25%8 weekly, but i would prefer more 8 weeklys, will have to push it a bit more.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: andyM on August 05, 2018, 07:10:24 pm
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.


True.
I consider myself a Serf.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Stoots on August 05, 2018, 07:11:52 pm
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.


I would say we are more like businessmen than tradesmen.

The easiest part of our job is doing the work, the hardest bit is marketting and keeping up to them in all weathers and dealing with messers etc.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: tlwcs on August 05, 2018, 07:18:45 pm
Thank you for coming back to me.
£30 every other month is my best price
Occasionally I’m beaten on price but never on quality or overall service. Best regards.

I pinched the last line from someone on here a while ago!
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Shrek on August 05, 2018, 07:23:48 pm
Thank you for coming back to me.
£30 every other month is my best price
Occasionally I’m beaten on price but never on quality or overall service. Best regards.

I pinched the last line from someone on here a while ago!

That’s a good ‘un ! 👍
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Walter Mitty on August 05, 2018, 07:32:51 pm
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.

I take your point but the more self respect we appear to have, the better we are treated (usually).  That doesn't just apply to window cleaning but to life in general.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: dazmond on August 05, 2018, 09:16:27 pm
I just say "it's not my ambition to be the cheapest window cleaner in the area"

I don't negotiate on price sorry Mrs tightwad....
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: G Griffin on August 05, 2018, 09:35:08 pm
Thank you for coming back to me.
£30 every other month is my best price
Occasionally I’m beaten on price but never on quality or overall service. Best regards.

I pinched the last line from someone on here a while ago!

That’s a good ‘un ! 👍
If you want to end up washing overalls as well  ;D. 
But it is a good 'un and I sometimes use it (cough cough).
I liked the old Stella Artois one too- reassuringly expensive. Before it became inexpensive and less assured  :-\. 
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Smudger on August 05, 2018, 10:54:54 pm
Thank you for coming back to me.
£30 every other month is my best price
Occasionally I’m beaten on price but never on quality or overall service. Best regards.

I pinched the last line from someone on here a while ago!

Yes me! 😁
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on August 06, 2018, 07:09:15 am
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.

???  You trade a service for money and you're a person correct?
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on August 06, 2018, 07:18:43 am
I provide a quality service offering value for money. Unfortuntly if you're looking for the cheapest service i am not going to be right for you as I can't compete against the cheap window cleaners who cut corners.
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: Dry Clean on August 06, 2018, 08:29:03 am
Not sure I’d class window cleaners as tradespeople. It’s unskilled labour innit.

I served a 4 hour apprenticeship to become a qualified window cleaner, how dare you say its not a trade. lol
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: dazmond on August 06, 2018, 11:13:48 am
i think overall my prices are fair for both me and the customer.if they think my price is too expensive then there will always be another window cleaner thatll do them cheaper....theres over 20 different window cleaning companies/one man bands where i work so plenty to choose from...

i lost a £40 job the other month because she found a WC who will clean them for £25....id hate to clean them for that price so id rather not have the job at all..... ;D
Title: Re: How to respond to price negotiators
Post by: *Hector* on August 06, 2018, 05:51:09 pm
Sorry Mrs Yorkshire tightass, I compete on quality and not price, unlike others who can only compete on price and not quality.... The choice is yours, do you prefer quality or price?