Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Rob.Hall on January 10, 2009, 03:54:45 pm
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I think some people are being taken for a ride.
An estate which I have stayed clear of because of an existing w/c has put his prices up this year. I feel it is a real rip off.
He charges £10 for 7 windows inc doors. Now its gone up to £11.
I could justify the charge being £7-8or 9 max but to be on£11 is pushing it.
The windows are basic. Easy jobs for trad or wfp and would not take much to do at all.
I had a call and quoted £9 so got the job. I am going to do a leflet drop with my price on.
I can understand people paying higher prices for quality work but excessive overpricing is just asking to be undercut.
I am down south so this reflects this area. I know the north is cheeper.
What are your views?
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i think if he can get them prices then why not maybe it reflects how professional he is and how regular and how good a job he completes, there will always be people who go for the cheaper option
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You quote a price - the custy has a choice - that's it.
If you are too adventerous than you may lose out to a lower priced window cleaner - that's it.
If you are too low you may find that you resent doing the work or you leave or you put your prices up - that's also "it."
No right or wrong.
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I think some people are being taken for a ride.
An estate which I have stayed clear of because of an existing w/c has put his prices up this year. I feel it is a real rip off.
He charges £10 for 7 windows inc doors. Now its gone up to £11.
I could justify the charge being £7-8or 9 max but to be on£11 is pushing it.
The windows are basic. Easy jobs for trad or wfp and would not take much to do at all.
I had a call and quoted £9 so got the job. I am going to do a leflet drop with my price on.
I can understand people paying higher prices for quality work but excessive overpricing is just asking to be undercut.
I am down south so this reflects this area. I know the north is cheeper.
What are your views?
Just make sure you are bigger than him before you take his work :)
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Rob,
I bet you don't get many responses from your leaflet with £9 on. It's only £2 difference!!! That won't even buy you a pint.
Take a leaf out of the more expensive window cleaner's book; remember you've got to be able to cover holidays, time off due to inclement weather, business running costs, the tax man, sickness... and probably other stuff.
But as I say, I bet you don't get much of a response.
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I have taken that into concideration Tosh.
I thought I was expensive with my prices. People are begining to look around now as I have had quite a few calls.
Some I have got the work some not.
Makes me wonder if I should increase my prices.
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I wouldn't consider this a rip off.
IMO credit to the guy for going for a price increase at the mo, I don't think I'm brave enough to do it this year.
I would never target on price alone, not for any moral reasons, just because it leaves you vulnerable to being undercut if the only reason you got the work was because you were cheaper.
Neil
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Food for thought guys.
Very competetive where I am though.
2 new w/c on the block over the past 2 months.
They would charge £6 to £7 for that type of house :-[
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Rob,
Fair play to the guy if he can get those prices... Instead of undercutting his work why don't you build up some similar work in the area and charge more than you currently charge?
As for quoting a price of £9 - Whats the point? Why not just round it up to £10. All my prices are rounded up. Minimum of £15 then it's £20, £25 and so on...
Andy
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Well I have a minimum charge of £10 for domestic and don't consider I'm ripping anyone off. In fact, some of my older £10 jobs are getting a very good deal IMO. I would charge £10 for the type of job you mention. It's not like I hold a gun to their heads.
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even on under priced work sum arss will do it for less , then 3 or 4 muths hes gone , i had one custy brag he got sum one cheper now whos got muky win dows ?
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all my pricing is consistant of the amount of windows we need to clean. then targets can be hit day in day out!
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If you say there are other newbie window cleaners hovering around charging £6-7 then be careful you don't just start a price war. I would say leave well alone but if you get a phone call respond to it.
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Don't undercut. Increase your price for new customers. :)
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I think some people are being taken for a ride.
An estate which I have stayed clear of because of an existing w/c has put his prices up this year. I feel it is a real rip off.
He charges £10 for 7 windows inc doors. Now its gone up to £11.
I could justify the charge being £7-8or 9 max but to be on£11 is pushing it.
The windows are basic. Easy jobs for trad or wfp and would not take much to do at all.
I had a call and quoted £9 so got the job. I am going to do a leflet drop with my price on.
I can understand people paying higher prices for quality work but excessive overpricing is just asking to be undercut.
I am down south so this reflects this area. I know the north is cheeper.
What are your views?
Just one thing, how did you find out his prices and about his price increase?
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£10 or even £11 windows is very fair ???
7 windows at £1.50 thats a good price in anyones book surely , any less than that and you are cheating yourself!!
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I wouldn't consider 10/11 quid a rip off, more a fair price.
A tip when pricing is to think of your price, then deduct 30% for tax + NI, then deduct another 5 to 10% for your overall expenses. THEN re-quote accordingly! ;)
Tony
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The person in question has contacted me twice before and I did not take on the work.
Both of us w/c do a good job however it just seems a bit ott.
I think there will be a price war anyway with new cleaners coming onto the block.
When I canvased at the start, I picked up on a w/c patch who had left the industry His prices were low. I charged more and people were happy.
On another estate around the corner I know the prices are £2.50 cheeper than mine. Its an old w/c who has been around years. He does a lot of work in the area also.
People seem to be used to these prices so dont like paying much more.
I do frames and sills which people are willing to pay for and reflect in my price.
In one year in seing peoples quotes on this forum, we have gone from £1 a window bottom and £1.50 for upper to £1.50 for every window.
Either wfp is becoming increasingly expensive or we are all pushing the boundries on profit making.
When jobs realy start going who will be left standing in this industry?
Stan seems to have been around for years and he does not charge over the odds. Maybe we should take a leaf out of his book.
However I will look at at all the comments posted as they all seem valid in there way. Pause for thought so to speek.
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Who would want to underprice,always better to overprice.
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maybe you should consider moving!!
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Well I have a minimum charge of £10 for domestic and don't consider I'm ripping anyone off. In fact, some of my older £10 jobs are getting a very good deal IMO. I would charge £10 for the type of job you mention. It's not like I hold a gun to their heads.
same here dude.
i will charge what i can get away with.
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maybe you should consider moving!!
Exactly or travel a bit more,don`t S*** on your own doorstep or charge to much on it.
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maybe you should consider moving!!
Exactly or travel a bit more,don`t S*** on your own doorstep or charge to much on it.
set off for work at 0750 and cleaning at 0800, get rained off and i can be home having a brew 5 mins later, and back at work 5 mins after it fining up why would i swop that
Your reply say`s so much your not even aware of it.