Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: markpowell on July 27, 2009, 09:26:18 pm
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I have been getting loads of jobs for the simple reason that when i turned up to do the quote i wore blue over shoes, even though on none of the jobs, was i the cheapest.
I thought all carpet cleaners would wear them, obviously not.
Anyone else had the same experience?
Mark
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Always wear them when I quote Mark, breaks the ice with the client and shows respect for their home.
Definately think it has helped when going for higher prices.
Steve
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Hi Mark,
Always clean with blue over shoes but just take my shoes off at the door when quoting.Most customers say you needn't bother but i always do. Either way gives a good impresssion.
Ben.
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Cleaning in overshoes is not safe due to the increased risk of slipping.
Great to wear when quoting as gives the best impression but buy a pair of trainers or similar for indoor use only.
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I have been wearing them years without slipping, never give it a thought really ???
Mark
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shoes off for me, same as ben, most say you need not bother but i do anyway. i nail a lot of quotes. but i put that down to my chatty personality. customer rang tonight saying, "just checking your still coming and how's sian, hope she's ok, is she still having brackston hicks, blah blah blah blah" there like best mates by time ive left the house. ;Dworks for me.
derek
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mmmmmmmmmmmm!!
Blue over shoes slippery as hell coming down stairs when cleaning.
Shoe of when estimating.
Regards Tony
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I wear crocs and slip them off when quoting but when I go to clean I wear pit boots as teh money is in the bank then.
Shaun
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Never get a job when I where them, complete waste of time. But at least they keep my hair dry. ::)
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Intel Mike
Shaun
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Have just started wearing them to quote and am sure it has helped me get a couple of jobs.
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Might start wearing them when I quote but the client aint going to see them down the phone so it could be a kinky fetish thing for me ;D
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Only wear them when cleaning walk in showers - but thats not on carpet cleaning, just general cleaning.
For quotes, take my shoes off if the carpet is clean but keep my shoes on if they are cleaner then the carpet. ;D
Wear my "normal" shoes whilst doing any pre vac/spray/agitate but when I start to rinse then I change shoes at the door to crocs.
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I buy these by the box load as I always leave a couple of pairs for the customer to wear.
Dont always wear on quotes though, but always when walking back over my cleaned carpet.
There a must have for me.
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bright yellow or blue crocs and they only cost a £1 from my local market
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i buy them on ebay
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Not crocs then at a £1
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nah fakes but they are a steal @£1 a pair i keep 3 pairs in the van
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What are crocs ?
Hope its not what I think they are.
And why do shoe covers have to be BLUE
Whats wrong with just black?
Rab.
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What are crocs ?
Hope its not what I think they are.
And why do shoe covers have to be BLUE
Whats wrong with just black?
Rab.
Why are they Blue? That a question I would'nt have thought of asking. I am not sure why they are blue. But we clean alot of leisure centres/health clubs. The tiling is generaly Blue. The tiling in the showers and pool is blue. So might be as simple as colour coding.
Actually they are available in Blue, red, Yellow Green I think. As well Probably because of the colour coding in h&s areas. Like BICsc colour coding system and food industry.
Crocs - here a link
http://www.rubbersole.co.uk/Products.aspx?CategoryID=909
Not the best looking fasion wear in my opinion. But no one listerns to me in that department.
The designer has made a mint! Its a bit like Painting... Have you ever been to an art gallery. Seen a picture. For example it just has splattered paint on it. Only took 3 minutes if that. No skill but just becasue they have a name, a famous name it worth millions. If I do it or my little girl does it, its classed a crap!! The world is beyond me
Dave
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;D OMG thats what I thought ;D
Sorry but no way ;D
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Certainly not fashion winners but we are carpet cleaners.
These are easy to put on/take off, much easier then shoe covers, they are hard wearing and surprisingly comfy.
Winner for me.
Mine must be "copies" cause I think they were about £4 from a trade warehouse nearby.
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i have heard on the grapevine that cc from essex have white stripes on their booty covers to match the shell suits. lol
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Joe, a tenner says in a year or two you`ll look back and have a laugh.
Personally, I`d be mortified ;D
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They are blue for health and safety reasons incase any breaks off and gets mixed in with food, you can easily see it because there is no food which is blue, same as plasters that are used in food factories and hair nets.
Mark
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girls wear them crocs, you lot will be using bloody glides next.
;D
derek
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I got a glide as well Derek. ;D
My real name is Josephine ;)
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www.rubbersole.co.uk/crocs_aspen_black
These are what i wear for work.
Shaun
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i wear these
derek
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Even when quoting?
Shaun
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I like Derek's
They are exactly the same as my Adidas ones but different :)
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even when quoting, but i take them off at the door.
derek
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I used to wear these but they were a bugger to get off at the door.
Shaun
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brilliant if your called the magic flying carpet cleaner, excellent marketting
derek
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I used to wear these but they were a bugger to get off at the door.
Shaun
Shaun, did you wear these with your Genies?
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Never had the bottle ;D when I cut my toe nails I just wear crocs.
Shaun
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i wear these
derek
are you serious?
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had 3 quotes yesterday for double glazing, 2 turned up in there work gear, one turned up in a suit. i laughed to my self at the one in the suit. he's the one that gets paid for doing no fitting what so ever. why should i pay for his suit. why should i pay his wages when all he's doing is quoting and putting on his wages in the quote. guaranteed he was 400 quid dearer than the other 2.
i wear my work gear to quote, they know i'm the one who'll be doing the job.
i still come across as friendly polite and professional. the only thing i insist on is making sure my tats are covered.
you got a problem with my trainees laa.
derek
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I wear trainers too, I did wear flat non marking trainers but they were doing my feet serious harm for some reason and were bloody uncomfortable!
I couldn't see myself in Crocs, personally I think they look daft and the only people I see wearing them have beards and smell of cabage..... And that's just the women ;D ;D ;D!
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Same here i wear trainers an polo shirt and pants and thats the way i have always worked :)
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Trainers! Listen to what the most successful c/cers in the UK would say about that, but hey maybe you know better.
wonder if Nigel woodhead wears trainers ::)
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What's your point? What's wrong with trainers? Educate me cos I'm at a loss here!!!!!
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They are comfortable
They allow your feet to breath (if you get the right ones)
They are easily washable in the machine
They have good grip so keep the health and safety lot happy.
You dont look an idiot if you call in the pub for a pint after work.
reasonably cheap to replace.
Look ok in summer worn with shorts.
John
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What's your point? What's wrong with trainers? Educate me cos I'm at a loss here!!!!!
Not good if your going after high end (good) clients.
When your walk in wearing shoes not trainers does the client think..
"Great hes wearing shoes, so glad hes not wearing scruffy trainers"
No of course she does not, but SUB-CONSICOUSLY it will play a big part in her valuation of you and your service - and ultimatly effect how much she thinks your service is worth - therefore what you can charge.
Make sure you tick all the boxs if you want the best clients and you want to charge more.
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I learned from a well honed marketer that if you dress professionally you look like a professional so when you say in your opinion that the cost for cleaning will be x2 the price of the other guy they will trust you or when you say that in your professional opinion you can't get the stain out they take you at your word.
If your loved one was injured on the high street and a white coated man walked up to you and said let me help, you would let him but if a man walked up in jeans and a t shirt I bet you wouldn't, it's perception.
Shaun
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I see, but what exactly are you suggesting are appropriate footwear? My well pressed uniform consists of a smart black polo with gold lettering and black (sometimes grey) "Panoply" trousers and what I would consider, smart looking trainers. Would you kindly post a link or picture for us to peruse?
Many thanks in advance, Colin......
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Shaun's avatar picture is what you should wear, possibly leave the tie off, but even better with the tie on.
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I don't have leather shoes as I wear Crocs so I can take them on and off but I do have very smart trousers a collared shirt and a V neck jumper and sometimes a tie, the smart attire allows for the Crocs but customers love the Crocs as I'm taking them off they mostly always comment with a smile.
Shaun
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I learned from a well honed marketer that if you dress professionally you look like a professional so when you say in your opinion that the cost for cleaning will be x2 the price of the other guy they will trust you or when you say that in your professional opinion you can't get the stain out they take you at your word.
If your loved one was injured on the high street and a white coated man walked up to you and said let me help, you would let him but if a man walked up in jeans and a t shirt I bet you wouldn't, it's perception.
Shaun
if a man in a suit tried to help my kid i'd tell him to f off, so your observation doesn't add up as well as you think. you "would" let a white coated man help your kid, so "why" would you let a man in a suit clean your carpets, or fit a boiler or install double glazing.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
can i just point out that i don't turn up in a pair of tatty trainers and jeans.
i turn up in a very nice looking work uniform. proper work trousers, logo'd polo shirt and jumper (if cold) and new trainers, new van which is logo'd to match the uniform. i have a clip board and pen and a tool box full of cleaning chems and the usual lighter scissors etc...
you lot are making out like if you wear trainers your unprofessional, well in that case, if you wear a suit your out to rip off old ladies, cos there the only people left that fall for that bolloxxxx
rant over, piece out........................
derek
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I now wear shorts , Kswiss ( wellies on some jobs commercial ) polo shirt and a base ball cap
I go into some dream pads and Trce and they are happy with the service ppl buy from ppl and they book up for more visits.
each to there own
Ive tested this before in a different job to prove that you dont always need to be suited and booted to get a result but you do need know how to conduct your self and use the English language to your advantage and be able to flow with the conversation with your clients IMO
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all these replies jus for blue overshoes... :o
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The Panoply trousers have a knee pad pocket for when I'm oven cleaning.... Trousers wouldn't cut it especially as my right knee is knackered :'(
I doubt very much any of my custy's have ever thought "What a scruffy sod!" It's a personal choice what we wear and as long as I'm not in the jeans and t-shirt category, I'm happy wearing what I do!
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Derek you are welcome to your opinion but you have to remember that my observations are based on years of carpet cleaning and meeting carpet cleaning customers, perhaps where my analagy goes wrong is because it doesn't go into enough detail but you are clever enough to know what I am saying and not to pick spot off it.
Shaun
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i'm doing all right in trainers, if people think thats un professional then fine.
derek
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Come on Lads wear what you want each to their own Dave Liahona one end Shaun the other they both seem to do ok ANYWAY I THINK DOC MARTINS ;D ;D ;D ;D
tONY
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I'm not falling out with Derek as I'm sure he's not with me, we are discussing the issue and it is one we probably won't agree on but fall out with Derek NEVER! I think we are both a bit too thick skinned for that.
Shaun
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Never even gave that a thought Shaun just sating we all have a different poit of view m8
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why do people assume, just cos we don't see eye to eye we are falling out, i like a good row,ahem! i mean discussion. ya canny beat it.
tony
Doc martins?? is that with or without the drainpipes and red braces
derek
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With m8 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D not kidding
Tony
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I think if your customers are Chavs it's a good move to wear white socks and trainers as you have a common preference. ;D
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Mike past your bedtime :D :D im of now bye ::) ::)
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I wear blue trainers and socks, much more classy ;)
Nighty Night Tony
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trainer socks for me, makes sense don't ya think.
derek
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Round my way wellies are the typical apparel. :D
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velcro on the front of the trousers too eh ;)
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Round my way wellies are the typical apparel. :D
If you're splashing and dashing, wellies are smashing.......! (It rymes, well I am origionally from William Wordsworth's home town ;D)
On that note..... Good night!
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Morning already hay ho its of to work we go :o :o :o :o :o
KNACKERED TONY
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I usually take my shoes off when qouting
I do have Blue Overshoes as Steve says they may help to get a better price if you are into sizzle factor.
Ive heard people rave about them for years, so I thought this must be missing incridient.
Having been in Direct Sales for 20 years now and have been with and talked to loads of in house sales people, Iknow of no other sales organization that suggests to its people the need for Blue Over Shoes.
I have heard of Slippers . that is in case you plan to be there to two in the morning to CLOSE.
I am disapointed with Blue Overshoes I find they split within a few minutes, when cleaning they are slippery.
But as part of the Sales Presentation , together with the burn and bleed test, soil anyliss black light test etc laptop presentation computer qoute. DVD , CD , Information Booklet they do set you apart from the rest of us, and create the sizzle factor.
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Wouldnt you all agree that you should turn up looking like you are there to work, so smart casual attire is appropriate.
As for blue shoes covers they do create the right impresion.
Yesterday a lady i was cleaning a bedroom carpet for said she would be using us again as we wore overshoes when walking accross her new hall carpet.
This was all before she saw how well the carpet had cleaned.
Another thing i always do is to lay a large towel in the enterance as i bring in the porty, dries the wheels and removes any muck.
John
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Think also the age has to come into it if we are wearing trainers ???
I too wear smart ones when am working and its never held me back rom getting higher end work.
Might have to go and get a shirt and tie and some of those front pleated trousers(from 1990) ;D
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A tramp wearing a bow tie still looks like a tramp.
It's not your shoes/trainers/overshoes, it's your whole general appearance that influences "how you look".
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yeah black shades ;D
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The first impression clients get is when we answer the phone to them and then talk to them. It's only when you are invited to their house does the visual element kick in.
I think anything that is out of the ordinary will strike a chord (positive or otherwise)with a client be it the ultra smart or as in the case of Dave Liohana and myself, the somewhat "eccentric" look.
Of course having confidence/authority will help push along the "close" of the sale by a huge margin. That air of "expectancy" that you know the client is going to book you in also helps.
I've never taken my shoes off. Don't you know the sweat from feet/socks is bad for a carpet? I can count on two hands (or should that be two feet) the number of times I have felt it prudent to put shoe covers on or have been asked to remove my shoes (which is when I whip my shoe covers out).