Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ianharper on May 15, 2007, 08:23:36 am

Title: highend or lowend customers
Post by: ianharper on May 15, 2007, 08:23:36 am
hi guys

we would all like to work for people that have money to spare, but its a fact that the people that need our services the most are those without it.

so my question is what percentage of your customers are high-end and what are low end?

as Doug pointed out we get the full range, and knocking those that service the low end is selfish as most that do this work are very hard working and know the value they give, it a shame that others can not see this and give credit where its due.

someone that survives the low end will not have any affect on those that service the high end as any customer will make the choice that fits them. you get the the one or two that think that they are getting something cheap but its them that are cheap.

an example is that you don't get people with money driving cheap cars, or buying cheap food or homes to save money.

I say well done to those that serve the cheap-end and good luck to you.

Respect

Ian Harper
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Marly 11 on May 15, 2007, 12:50:36 pm


I am relatively new to carpet cleaning and am just finding my way, but because of where I am located my target customers are all high end I would say they earn on average a minimum of 50k to and to date I have not been in a flat or house that is worth under 300k but I am located next to Hyde Park so it makes a diference
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Osbourne on May 15, 2007, 12:54:26 pm
You best move to a council estate then, big earners on £50k can be intimidating at first.
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Cleaning Resource on May 15, 2007, 03:46:34 pm
I like cleaning scrotes carpets,  ;D

they are usually manky and covered in stains, so you get a chance to try all sorts of chemicals and what not............and they are always happy, even when the carpet still looks $h!t,
 
 you don`t have to move anything, you don`t have to prevac, you don`t have to use corner protectors or even  be careful, they always pay cash (rich people love to write a cheque)

you don`t have to worry about insurance claims or call backs (not that i do :o)

and within ten mins of setting up half the estate know your there and are booking up for their carpet cleans, it don`t get much better really ;D
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: rambly on May 15, 2007, 04:46:34 pm
I dont think house value/external appearances are always a good indicator.

I recently did some work in a house where there was a nearly new Bentley and a Range Rover parked outside. It all looked very flash but indoors was an absolute grubby tip (so bad I declined a cup of coffee) and she wanted to knock down the price which wasnt ramped up because of the cars or crud.

On the other hand retired people will generally be polite, pay up happily and thank you for a job well done.
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: AJB on May 15, 2007, 06:01:10 pm
The more money they have the tighter they generally are.
Obviously there are exceptions to every rule.
I've cleaned many a quality carpet that is falling apart, to be told " just a basic clean were changing it in 2 months". To go back several times over the next few years.
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Halliday on May 15, 2007, 06:13:16 pm
I prefer the middle of the road customers, (teachers,middle management, nurses etc)

high end are too much trouble, low end  can't afford me

but the worst are FARMERS the biggest penny pinching gits in the world! they have 40yr old carpet which the never plan on changing and want them to look like new

Mike
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Osbourne on May 15, 2007, 06:20:41 pm
You have to break through the wannabe barrier. I find 99.9% are fine but usually if I have a snotty one they are the middle management (sh!t in the sandwhich) with the big cars on tick.

These people like the idea of having tradesmen run around and touch their forelock and that's fine. I'll play the role, you pay the premium. Go up a step though and you find these people much more relaxed and at ease with their status. 
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: joey p on May 15, 2007, 07:38:10 pm
gleamservices, what a fine example of a dedicated fu**ing professional you are,
go crawl back under the rock you came from.
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Osbourne on May 15, 2007, 07:45:08 pm
Joey that's a bit too harsh for on here. Not that Gleams bothered ;)
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Halliday on May 15, 2007, 07:51:14 pm
his tag line is;

Passionate About Cleaning--Putting Service Before Profit :D :D :D I'm sure he was just having a laugh ;)
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: joey p on May 15, 2007, 07:51:53 pm
only kidding, i could tell by his picture that he's a fine example of a a true gent   and honourable cc. ;)
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: mark_roberts on May 15, 2007, 09:16:59 pm
I prefer cleaning dirty carpets for middle to high end types.  Clean carpets are harder to meet customers expectations as its the little stain you cant remove that they want removing.

Mark

PS. £300k would just about buy a 3 bedroom semi in Belfast and £50k is middle money not high end.  Dont know whats its like over there though.
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on May 15, 2007, 09:24:06 pm
DINKY's are good customers to have if you don't mind working later of a day or weekends.

Shaun
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Halliday on May 15, 2007, 09:29:16 pm
double income no kids :D :D and I bet you thought we ddi'nt know what it meant

I always find they get the mother in law to house-sit while your working, so you can do it during normal hours

mike
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on May 15, 2007, 10:00:36 pm
nearly
Dual. Income. no. Kids. YET.

I agree Mike with the sister or the Mother outlaw will sometimes let you in, but Dinkys' do have alot of disposable income of their own so they don't always have to ask each other if they want the job done ie 2 decission makers, but to stop them from shopping around you do have to sell yourself as being better than the rest.

Shaun
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: jeff1966 on May 15, 2007, 10:48:25 pm
I'm at the low end, I clean carpet's from £25 & 3pc suits from £40.I would love to charge more but in this kneck of the woods that's the way it is.You lads who are fortunate to live in a more affluent areas don't get it.Some of you come on here slagging lads off for what they charge,it does'nt make you a better a carpet cleaner because you charge alot! It's all down to disposable income people won't spend what they don't have.I don't mind putting in 40 hrs a week working my ars off,I make agood living.You other lads are just fortunate to  live were you do. :)
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Mike Osbourne on May 15, 2007, 11:34:02 pm
I say good luck to anyone making a living cc, it's v competitive.

Not sure about this slagging off, who's doing that? The comments I see the most are more along the lines of those who quote high prices are either swindlers or liars.

Again I say good luck to those who get £200 for a 3 piece or make a grand a day, it's not as if custys have a gun to their head or aren't allowed to get other quotes.

Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Cleaning Resource on May 16, 2007, 01:21:25 pm
gleamservices, what a fine example of a dedicated fu**ing professional you are,
go crawl back under the rock you came from.

did I touch on a sore spot,  I take it your a scrote   :o :o
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Cleaning Resource on May 16, 2007, 01:31:30 pm
his tag line is;

Passionate About Cleaning--Putting Service Before Profit :D :D :D I'm sure he was just having a laugh ;)

I am passionate about cleaning, well more obsessed really but I couldn`t really have obsessed with cleaning as my punch line could I,  and I do always put good service before me making a good profit as any of my customers would tell you.

I have just read my original post and when I wrote I do not worry about call backs or insurance claims, I meant because I don`t get any not that I don`t go back or pay if I damage something.

Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: joey p on May 17, 2007, 09:42:05 am
you feeling guilty or somethin?
Title: Re: highend or lowend customers
Post by: Cleaning Resource on May 17, 2007, 02:05:59 pm
guilty for what?

I have not done anything wrong, other than suggesting that you are a scrote, but then you did come at me with a rather bold comment.

I think I should clarify my post about cleaning carpets for scrotes,

firstly they usually do not want to pay much, as the carpets your cleaning are not worth alot of money, I therefore price as I usually would to which I usually get told that it is far to expensive, to which I reply " if you give the carpet a good vacuum before I arrive and remove any furniture then it will be x amount cheaper" most of the time they say yes they will do it and when I arrive they haven`t (cos they are lazy scrotes) in which case they say "don`t worry about it just go around the furniture" I think it is officially known as splash and dash, which is alright if that is what the custy wants.

in the name of keeping  good relationships on this forum I shall apologize for suggesting that you were a scrote.

 
;Dsorry ;D