Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on February 05, 2005, 08:23:41 am
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A big box advert in the Harrow Times freebie paper offers
Carpet Cleaning. Lounge, dining room plus hall landing and stairs for £36 all in. Bedrooms £5 extra each.
The advert probably cost over a hundred quid!!
What a moron
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Hi
Depends if he makes more money than the advert costs.
Chances are he will be mobbed and make a mint !
Regards
Martin 8)
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Almost certainly bait & switch.
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I'm not so sure. How do you bait and switch when you have already laid out your prices?
Bait and switch usually relies on saying "HALF PRICE" or two for one and things like that without actually stating the price that you are halving.
I'm sure he will be mobbed but he is going to have to do four houses a day to make his money.
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Just a Moron Then!!!!!!! ;D
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Sorry to disagree Vince :-\
A typical bait and switch ploy is to lay a Bait of low prices. No work is surveyed prior to the appointment. Technician arrives to clean a £12 lounge and performs the Switch and says something like: "the traffic lanes are too heavily soiled, so will require a pre-spray @ £10 and those stains will require special treatment and that will be another £10" We now have a £12 lounge costing £32 :o If madam accepts, then fine. If she doesn't then there's the option of a cancellation fee as per terms and conditions, or a quick clean where the tech isn't obliged to produce a perfect result, so speed will be the order of the day.
Something frequently lost on these forums is that low prices is not always indicative of dodgy trading practice. There are many, many cleaners out there who will buy a machine from company X. The training they receive is "Put the yellow stuff in the tank, turn it on and move the wand over the carpet" They're led to believe that the rates we would regard as low are true and fair. They will believe that people like me are rip off merchants with grossly inflated prices. First impressions last, and this is the image they have of our industry/
As a caring and sharing industry, it is partly our responsibility to educate and encourage these inexperienced technicians to improve their skills and knowledge. If, in the light of their new found knowledge, they value their skills more highly, they will increase their charges and hopefully with a more transparent pricing structure.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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if he gets 3 jobs thats the advert paid for, if he's got a truckmount he could do a 3 bed house in 1.5 hrs so he'd make £50 without any extras. he would'nt do the best of jobs but the carpets would look cleaner.
Vince give him a call see what he says, tell him you won't be in but you'll leave the £35 with a nieghbor who inspect the job when he's finished and pay him if the carpet are clean ;)
Mike
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What has always puzzled me is how a truckmount operator is able to work faster
As far as i can make out most use wands so I cannot see where the time is saved apart from uloading filling and emptying.
Maybee Im slow
But i think Mike is only just a little quicker on suite I take 3hrs
I am told that Contract Cleaners have charts etc that tell them how long each task takes. Perhaps there is one for Carpet Cleaners I do know about.
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HEY ALL
I think truckmounts are quicker on the realy big jobs but no quicker on the domestics and small area cleaning.
is it the operators fault or is it a general problem with truck mounts that they suck the carpet so hard that they pull it?, I know they leave it dryer but is the pulling a consequence of the extra sucking power, if this is the case then are they worth it.
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Truck mounts are quicker on the bigger jobs, easier to use, due to no fillling or emptying, and you are guarantee hot water, all the time.
If you do a lounge only, then there is no saving on time, but the results will be better, and the carpet dryer with a TM.
the attitude of spfcleaning is typical of everyone who does not owe a TM, me included until I purchase one, after 2 years of thinking about it.
The TM is not the one and only machine you need, you still can't do sissal, belgian wiltons, sky rise flats, or work on houses were parking is not possible. And I still perfer a portable to clean upholstery.
The TM has its place in the market.
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Truckmounts are quicker on domestics even if its only a lounge, you can clean BW's with them as well in a safer fashion. You can clean high rises as well, and as many will know running hoses 300+ ft up a walk only road is still faster than portys.
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don't want to make this another T/M V portable debate, my comments about a T/M user cleaning faster is based on the own exsperisance I can turn up the heat and flow and blast through a carpet giving a good result with minimum time,
I know some off you will be choking on your tea over this statement but its true
if I wanted I could forget about vaccing, pre-spraying & aggitating and just use the extra heat, flow & vaccum to clean a carpet, while still giving great results.
If I did this and told the customer to move the small items of furniture I could clean a 3 bed house in 90 mins
Ian, you're right about suites T/M are not much faster.
Mike
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Mike,
This is also similar to the effects gained using the Eclipse, though possibly on a slightly lesser scale ;) As the 500+ psi, 249" lift and 250F may not be quite as much as a good TM, but I agree It would be possible to rely on this power and something like Ultimate master to clean sufficently enough if offering a basic clean in record time.
Its not an approach I would take as I prefer MS and like to take my time, but then again I wouldnt charge silly prices either.
Paul
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Opps I did not mean to start a debate on truckmounts and certainly not give the Eclipse yet another plug ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
My humble machine has 240 water lift and I could fit larger pump etc
And it has a Large capacity tank
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Sorry its a bit of a long way back but what Ken said about some people only want to charge low prices is very true.
It might be that he's retired and is just looking for a bit of pocket money.
The thing that gets me is that everyone sees the advert and starts to think thats the going rate.
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Vince
You have to take into consideration that as you get older you simply cannot work at the rate you did when a few years younger...you suddenly discover that you are NOT immortal after all.
The spirit is still willing its the flesh that is weak ;)
My prices reflect the time I take to do a good job and when I want to slow down further and work for 'pocket money' (or if Gordon Brown has his wicked way... my pension) my charges will remain the same.
A great many low price cleaners have a block in their own minds about price thereby imposing their own restrictions... easy done
Cheers
Derek
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Hi Guys,
Why work for £20/hour when you can work for £40?
Why work for £40/hour when you can work for £60?
These prices used to annoy me but as I've aged I just think silly fools.
One thing I've mentioned before is that these cheap end operators vac up all the cheap end customers, you know the one's who we don't want anyway.
There will always be a range of prices , the trick is not too worry about others but to charge what you are happy with.
I never ring to find out what competitors charge because I quote what I am happy with so if they are cheaper than I am , I would'nt work for that anyway.
I know it is more difficult for newer businesses but you really are better keeping prices up.
Cheers,
Doug
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3CHEERS TO THE MAN ABOVE.
I WOOD NOT WORK 4 SILLY PRICES, BUT DID 16 YEARS AGO.
JUST LIKE ALOT OF U PROBABLY DID, TAKES YEARS TO BUILD A GOOD STRONG CUSTOMER BASE, THATS WHY A LOT OF NEWBIE
CLEANERS CHARGE SO LITTLE, GRANTED SOME ARS POOR AT WHAT THEY DO.
BUT THEY WILL BE FEW THAT ARE QUITE GOOD, BUT WHEN YOU ARE THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, U NEED TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS, SO A LOT USE PRICE.
ENCOURAGE THIS PEOPLE DONT PULL THEM DOWN
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Derek,
Speak for yourself ;D
I am 59 soon, CC 25 years, and I now do twice as many jobs a month as I did 10 years ago (TM makes this possible) I still participate in road and fell running and very active in mountaineering when I find the time. I haven't any where near started to slow down or take it easier yet, though I do have plans in the not too distant future, but this will be, so I can spend more time on my active leisure pursuits and not because I cant keep up. Slowing down is a decision its not compulsary. ;)
Dave.
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Come on be fair we all pop at the cheapies how many of you recommend one of the franchise networks to potential customer for a quote, I often do! Dose that make me a cheapie?
The word value for money the customer decides, these words have no meaning unless the customer is happy but you get what you pay for! They don’t mind paying £5 to wash there car per week but get very upset if you charge say £50 for a lounge which has not been cleaned for 5 years!
Re bait & switch two way street, and yes we all go out to survey. ??? ??? ??? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Am very tempted to get the £15 lounge person in to watch but I would have to up my price to next customer to cover it.
Len
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Len ,
just read your last reply, and I must comment on what another good sales
point you have made,
£5 00 per week to clean their car ............ near enough £250 a year ,
a good comparison to make whilst chatting to potential customer,
might make them think a little more of the value they are recieving.
I shall definetly try this on my next quote, and see what sort of reaction
i get ;D
geoff
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Geoff
Check out your local dry cleaner prices and also hit them with that! ;D
Len
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why o why is anyone on here bothered about someone who charges £50 to do a whole house ? the person who calls them would never call u
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p.s anyone who thinks a portable is as good as a truckmount is insane ??? they go on about eclipse being stae of the art porty well i hav had a porty with 2 3stage vacs 2 inline 1000 watts heater 400psi pump for over 5 years so how are they state of art ?
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and they were made by same firm as eclpise with same heaters and vacs and the ecp has only two stage vacs also with the heaters u cant compare them with heat off truck mount if u put stone cold water in them and use over 20ft hose it comes out luke warm i hav to put hot water in mine all the time and turn both heaters on p.s i hav had my heaters catch fire couple times as well when doing 3pc ::) lucky i noticed in time !!!!
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The Eclipse Runs 3 High speed, High temp Vacuum motors in series, this generates 249" of lift therefore head and shoulders above the portable you mention. The Pump in my machine produces in excess of 550psi, Plenty!!
The Heater supplied with the Eclipse Is 2000watts and will heat cold water to boiling point very quickly. I agree with your comments regarding state of the art, after all the concept behind extraction equipment has been largely unchanged for years. But what the Eclipse offers is more in the way of power, which would give some TM's a run for there money. It Is also very well designed and solidly built.
Paul
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must just say, and i am knocking them that there heaters are same as mine ??? and mine dont get to boiling point!!! also the only diff between the two machines is they hav addded a extra vac which needs yet another lead !!! and why i tell u why because they hav still not worked out how to hav all that power on two leads if u turn off your 3rd vac then mine are more powerfull because yours are only 2 stage mine are 3 stage also u cant hav a pump that high powerd in your machines and run two three stage pumps because of the amp draw so to sum it up for 3500 plus vat u are getting a extra 2 stage vac with another lead which if u cant get to another socket in house or it trips the house u are left with a machine that is not as powerfull as their old ones ??? and mine were only 2000 plus vat which i think makes them vastly over priced word of advice as well if u need to use ext lead ever make sure its very very heavy duty, gary
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It would be interesting to know what the difference in power is betreen 3x2 stage vacs & 2x3 stage vacs?
also a 2000w heater might boil water quickly but it won't keep it at boiling when using either a CFR tool or a floor wand, the flow is too great.
Mike
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The domestic cold feed shower is usually a minimum 7KW,
9KW or over is the morm!
2KW is VERY low!
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Gary ( Ashplays)
You may have earlier model, since then thing have changed greatly
1. The vacs fitted to Eclipse are not standard
2. The power draw is within UK limits, and does not trip out
3. The current heater is specifically designed for the Eclipse, heat is almost instantanious and holds good solid heat.
4. The machine has 2 x20 ft power leads, I would be surprised if two socket were not available 40 feet apart!!!
5 There is no other portable machine in the Uk offering thi spec of the Eclipse
As you have had your machine for over 5 years I think we could agree exeptional value for money, perhaps your heater are due for replacement though
Best regards Nick
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If an extracion machine Is using as much water as a shower then something is not right ???
My 2kw heater produces ample heat (way too hot to touch) and will maintain a constant temperature.
Today I hosted a mini CC get together come Eclipse demo with some guys from the forum, one thing we compared was the vacuum generated from a twin 2x3 stage vacuum extractor and the Eclipse, as all would agree the difference was cosiderable, all the guys here today were impressed with the machine in all aspects.
The proof is in the pudding so wait till the show and a demonstration before you pass comment.
Paul
P.S, To the guys I met today Martin, Mark, Stu and Brian It was nice to meet you and put names to faces, hope you all had a safe journey home and I look forward to seeing you all at the show :)
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Hi Paul,
Have to agree with you. The Vac power was considerably greater than your other 2x3 stage Vac' machine. Eclipse is a very impressive machine all round.
Once again, Thanks very much for going to all the trouble for us today. It was really very good of you. :)
Also, glad to see that someone has got a 'Boxer' that's madder and more manic than mine!! Barney was 8) I'll e-mail you a pic' of 'Millie'
Regards.
Martin S
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Hi Paul
Do you work for Solutions? Or are you the local distributor?
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Paul
Just to echo what Martin has already said. The machine is very impressive. The power from those three vacs was amazing, and it certainly surprised me seeing the pressure gauge reaching 750psi. :o
The Eclipse is a great piece of technology, looks really smart, and I'm glad I've chosen to get one. That was one heavy woollen rug you demonstrated on, and the water lift was fantastic.
Thanks very much for the demo today, Paul.
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Hi Lionel,
I'm neither, simply happy to show off my new machine to fellow CC's.
Over the past year Nick at solutions has helped me out on numerous occasions so pleased to give a little back with the demonstrations.
Martin S,
Today was no problem at all, good to meet a fellow CC and pleased you like the machine, I thought you would :)
Thank god your used to boxer dogs! He is mental ;D Look fwd to seeing your pup.
Newbie,
It Is quite a pump ;D The areas of the rug we cleaned were dry within about 2 hours :)
Give me a call when you have given your new toy a good test and let me know how you get on.
Paul
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ok paul put me hands up i leave judgment to i c machine ;) the heater bit iam intrested in most i agree with mike that the flow is to great to keep it anywere near hot if i c it coming out very hot upto 50ft then i would buy one :D cheers gary