Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on November 13, 2008, 08:22:03 pm

Title: Price Drop ???????
Post by: geefree on November 13, 2008, 08:22:03 pm
A Nice old old  lady came out to pay me today.... she said, i may have to stop having my windows cleaned after xmas... i said oh, why is that....?....

She said, welll £8 is quite a lot really , out of my pension.... Unless you are willing to drop it to £5?.......

I laughed , said im sorry but i cant do that love,... i said,  your house is quite large and is slightly cheaper than the same house further up, because you are one of my favourites!! ::) ::) bla bla bla.........

she said , well we will have to wait and see then  ???


It got me thinking though.... when the recessions hits hard....

would you talk some people into a temporary reduction... rather than let them dump you???

Or would you never do that....at any cost.. as you will never know when to put the price back up... and its stuck for good....in effect throwing all the buiding up etc etc etc.. away.....

but dont forget... the alternative is to lose some... .

and re-build  ;D




Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: elite mike on November 13, 2008, 08:33:11 pm
rebuild gazza

after all you have a new pole ;D

and your much faster now ;D ;D 8)

mike
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: geefree on November 13, 2008, 08:34:18 pm
rebuild gazza

after all you have a new pole ;D

and your much faster now ;D ;D 8)

lol,,,, i swear i am quicker.... i certainly dont feel like i am working hardly now....:)

mike
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 13, 2008, 08:34:48 pm
get them to go 6 or 8 weeks instead of 4. gives you time to look for more work to fill the space.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: elite mike on November 13, 2008, 08:40:45 pm
rebuild gazza

after all you have a new pole ;D

and your much faster now ;D ;D 8)

lol,,,, i swear i am quicker.... i certainly dont feel like i am working hardly now....:)

mike

hi gazza

i took the lazy option and ordered the emporium pole like what tosh said £94.95 ;D

but will do the gangster :o


www.mullarkeys.co.uk/fishing/poles-and-accessories/carp-and-match-fishing-poles/0/ron-thompson/8553/

mike


Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: matty72 on November 13, 2008, 08:42:13 pm
every case is different i say fav and all that but in general drop them and keep the prices as good as possible as we have lots of exspenses to pay.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: johns window kleen on November 13, 2008, 08:42:21 pm
I wouldnt reduce the price. Had a few of these lately & dumped them straight away, and went and got more better paid jobs straight away.
If its worth £8 charge £8. Oap's aint loosing jobs, its all the media hype thats bugging people like these. I hate ,begrudge doin a job for cheap money when you know its worth more. So i wont do em. Might regret this in the long run but not 4 now.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Spruce on November 13, 2008, 08:57:57 pm
Hi
sadly for the older ones on pension, they are all concerned about the rising costs, especially heating costs. Last winter was the first time I had heard the expression - heat or eat.
The next concern is for those who have financial investments and rely on the income generated to give them some quality of life - interest rate cuts to 0% (predicted) next year will give them a no investment return.
I heard a comment on one of the News channels today that the old people will suffer a higher inflation rate than the younger ones still in employment in any economic downturn.
IMO we still have to care, not be heartless.
Spruce
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: dmlservices on November 13, 2008, 08:59:46 pm
i think the worst thing to do is drop price,

if others do the same then prices would be driven down,

better to try and get them to go 6- 8 wkly ,

as has already been said

daz
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2008, 09:00:32 pm
All the pensioners will be getting a £125 - £400 heating allowance in their pensions in the next two weeks so that will make them feel better!
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Steve CM on November 13, 2008, 09:02:32 pm
All the pensioners will be getting a £400 heating allowance in their pensions in the next two weeks so that will make them feel better!

only if thier over 80 otherwise its £250. my gran was telling me earlier!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2008, 09:05:39 pm
That's right Steve - I adjusted my post but you're very quick off the draw! ;D
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Steve CM on November 13, 2008, 09:06:14 pm
the quickest in the west  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: lovewindows on November 13, 2008, 09:23:47 pm
What if .............
You dropped your price and kept your customer ............ and in 6 months time she asked you again ????????????
What if.................
She told her neighbours ????????????
What if ..................
you said unfortunatley due to the credit crunch i will have to raise my prices but while your finding it hard i will keep yours the same for now but go to a 6/8wkly cycle .
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 13, 2008, 09:37:41 pm
He already said she had a cheaper deal compared to others, and wasn;t prepared to reduce it anymore. Seems fair. If they have a large house, then it will cost more to heat, clean, etc. Thats why my dad moved into a flat - forward thinking!

best thing is to keep the price the same but to increase interval time.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: tonyoliver on November 14, 2008, 12:03:47 am
i havent put my prices up  for some jobs for 15 years boll''ocks to lowering them i know its commercial sucide not increaseing i have learnt that from the forum  will change all that soon i am the busy fool
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: windowwashers on November 14, 2008, 06:58:03 am
A Nice old old  lady came out to pay me today.... she said, i may have to stop having my windows cleaned after xmas... i said oh, why is that....?....

She said, welll £8 is quite a lot really , out of my pension.... Unless you are willing to drop it to £5?.......

I laughed , said im sorry but i cant do that love,... i said,  your house is quite large and is slightly cheaper than the same house further up, because you are one of my favourites!! ::) ::) bla bla bla.........

she said , well we will have to wait and see then  ???


It got me thinking though.... when the recessions hits hard....

would you talk some people into a temporary reduction... rather than let them dump you???

Or would you never do that....at any cost.. as you will never know when to put the price back up... and its stuck for good....in effect throwing all the buiding up etc etc etc.. away.....

but dont forget... the alternative is to lose some... .

and re-build  ;D





change her to 2m /8 weekly and charge her £10 she gets her £5 price and you get more money when doing the job.  ;D
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Londoner on November 14, 2008, 07:33:52 am
I agree, change her to less often but make it sound like you are doing her a big big favour and only because she's such a special customer.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: jonisondell on November 14, 2008, 08:41:54 am
drop her, go knock on 100 houses and get another customer!!
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: NWH on November 14, 2008, 06:13:55 pm
drop her, go knock on 100 houses and get another customer!!
Knock on a 100 to get 1 eh,no thank`s lol. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: johnny_h on November 14, 2008, 06:21:33 pm
i would offer the 8 week option
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: trike on November 15, 2008, 05:50:07 am
all my oaps get a discount
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Londoner on November 15, 2008, 07:59:17 am
drop her, go knock on 100 houses and get another customer!!

Why not keep her AND go and get another customer as well?
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: barry80 on November 15, 2008, 09:56:18 am
I would do them for £5  :) and still be happy.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: pjulk on November 15, 2008, 08:59:05 pm
Dropping the price to £5.

Never never never never lower your price's.

Get shot of the customer and replace with better paying customer.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Mr. S on November 15, 2008, 11:44:27 pm
Windowwashers does it actually work doing it 8 weekly but raising price!
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Pristine Clean on November 16, 2008, 09:54:46 am
There are companies out their that can do the job for lower than £5.00 So if you dont someone else will.

So what exactly was you over head for that.. customer.. was it already in the same area.. as others you do.

You already have your equipment...pole, water, etc

Yes lots on here say drop her, lose her, never lower ya prices.... mmmm I wonder if they really never lower their price?

I cant believe that this forum does not realise we are in an economic down turn.. everyone is suffering one way or another.

Too many people keep a brave face on here and are too egotistic. Keep your customer, yes lower your price if you have too to a reasonable amount..

Have you thought if all of your customer said we need you too lower your prices.. and you said NO... erm ... guess what you have not got an income! Oh jam role now just because of pride.

rethink your business infrastructure. Not every one can keep up with the jones, not every window cleaner will earn £30 - £50 per hour.

But some income is better than none... unless you want to be under someone at a desk for 9am, lunch at 1. cigerette at 3pm...

Dave
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: Londoner on November 16, 2008, 10:01:22 am
I would always say its better to try and keep a customer if you can. However, if my experience is anything to go by, by the time they get round to saying something they have usually pretty much made up their mind.
Title: Re: Price Drop ???????
Post by: trevor perry on November 16, 2008, 10:25:26 am
if you lower your price for her then your other customers may expect the same and you could end up shooting yourself in the foot, having said that pristine  clean is right we live in an economic downturn with lots of newbies willing to do the job for less and if your customer finds one that does a good job then you will loose a lot of customers in same area when word gets around.
   i would approach the customer saying that as you have cleaned for her along time and value her custom you are willing to do hers for that amount but ask her to keep it to herself as if all other customers expected the same it would force you out of business having said that windowwashers idea of extending cleaning frequency is also a very good idea.
   only you know whether what you are charging is reasonable or not so make your decision based on that.