Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dai on February 14, 2010, 02:23:41 pm

Title: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 02:23:41 pm
An advert in our village shop window reads.
WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE, guaranteed to be cheaper than anyone else, member of the window cleaning club no 2389***.
Have anyone heard of the window cleaning club?
I went round to my lads house and someone had posted the following flyer.
                          First Choice window cleaning service
Bungalow 1 bed £1.50
Bungalow 2 bed £2.50
Bungalow 3 bed £3.50
Houses £4.50 [without conservatories]
Note: If there is more than one client on the same street the price will be reduced by 50P
Recommend a friend or relative and have yours done half price.
Telephone: Area manager 07506579228 Calls/ texts recorded.
traditional window cleaning at it's best. at the best rate going.

Now with the first advert by a different company is guaranteed to be cheaper, where the Hell does that leave me?
It's getting competitive out there guys.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: elite mike on February 14, 2010, 02:31:13 pm
i would rather go on the dole, than work for that :'(
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 14, 2010, 02:41:20 pm
i just stick to my price, if someone is cheaper then so be it, they wont offer a better service in my opinion though.  couldnt care less if someone works for £100 an hour or £5 an hour, i charge my rate and thats it, i very very rarely get any complaints about my price and in 7 and half years of cleaning ive only ever received 2 complaints and they were both off the same customer.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ian Mason on February 14, 2010, 02:45:10 pm
It seems legit if it the same one  ::)

http://www.yell.com/b/THE+WINDOW+CLEANING+CLUB-Window+Cleaners-Holyhead-LL651HR-6001494/index.html
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 02:56:13 pm
It seems legit if it the same one  ::)

http://www.yell.com/b/THE+WINDOW+CLEANING+CLUB-Window+Cleaners-Holyhead-LL651HR-6001494/index.html
Thanks Ian, that's a new one on me.
I don't worry about these guys, and charge my own price.
How do they make a living with prices like that?
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: JRDEasiReach on February 14, 2010, 03:01:34 pm
people like that get up my goat big style!! why on earth would they want to be busy fools, just doleys looking at the good weather coming in and they are looking more work again!! scumbags!!
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: andyjm1 on February 14, 2010, 04:10:11 pm
They wont last five minutes at those prices so don't worry about them.
Price is only one of many factors that customers consider when choosing a window cleaner.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Moderator David@stives on February 14, 2010, 04:33:20 pm
Dai

The trick is not to even try to compete.

Let them clean up all the moaners, cheapskates, and disloyal customers, leaving you to keep the more profitable customers.

Just remember they cant clean them all, there is room for everyone, that is why Porsche can survive, while we have the likes of Hyundai etc.

Not everyone wants cheap.

Dave
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: stephen s on February 14, 2010, 04:39:56 pm
An advert in our village shop window reads.
WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE, guaranteed to be cheaper than anyone else, member of the window cleaning club no 2389***.
Have anyone heard of the window cleaning club?
I went round to my lads house and someone had posted the following flyer.
                          First Choice window cleaning service
Bungalow 1 bed £1.50
Bungalow 2 bed £2.50
Bungalow 3 bed £3.50
Houses £4.50 [without conservatories]
Note: If there is more than one client on the same street the price will be reduced by 50P
Recommend a friend or relative and have yours done half price.
Telephone: Area manager 07506579228 Calls/ texts recorded.
traditional window cleaning at it's best. at the best rate going.

Now with the first advert by a different company is guaranteed to be cheaper, where the Hell does that leave me?
It's getting competitive out there guys.
















maybe he's the only w/c in the village  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ian Mason on February 14, 2010, 04:47:28 pm
An advert in our village shop window reads.
WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE, guaranteed to be cheaper than anyone else, member of the window cleaning club no 2389***.
Have anyone heard of the window cleaning club?
I went round to my lads house and someone had posted the following flyer.
                          First Choice window cleaning service
Bungalow 1 bed £1.50
Bungalow 2 bed £2.50
Bungalow 3 bed £3.50
Houses £4.50 [without conservatories]
Note: If there is more than one client on the same street the price will be reduced by 50P
Recommend a friend or relative and have yours done half price.
Telephone: Area manager 07506579228 Calls/ texts recorded.
traditional window cleaning at it's best. at the best rate going.

Now with the first advert by a different company is guaranteed to be cheaper, where the Hell does that leave me?
It's getting competitive out there guys.












maybe he's the only w/c in the village  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


Or an international trader


http://www.companycoltd.com/company_coltd.php?company_id=u290851&HT-international

Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Steve CM on February 14, 2010, 05:02:54 pm
The trick is not to even try to compete.
Let them clean up all the moaners, cheapskates, and disloyal customers, leaving you to keep the more profitable customers.
Not everyone wants cheap.

seconded
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner on February 14, 2010, 05:08:23 pm
They might be thinking this.If I end up getting 5 x1 bedroom bungalows
And 5x2 bed ones,I`ll knock out £20 for a mornings work.Do the same
After lunch and it`s £40 per day.Equals of course £200 per week.
Dos`nt work out like that we know,but tell that to them,especially if
They are desperate and looking for work.No ladder work,just a `V`ladder
At the most,not even that if they are 6 footers.
I did it myself in 1973 only the price then was 30 pence.!

P.S. And I thought it was good!

P.P.S. All I had was the clothes I stood in,a rat tail mop,piece of scrim
And an Ettore 18 inch brass squeegee.Not even a strip washer,could`nt
Afford one.


Lewis  Doubtfire
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on February 14, 2010, 05:14:12 pm
It seems legit if it the same one  ::)

http://www.yell.com/b/THE+WINDOW+CLEANING+CLUB-Window+Cleaners-Holyhead-LL651HR-6001494/index.html
Thanks Ian, that's a new one on me.
I don't worry about these guys, and charge my own price.
How do they make a living with prices like that?



They get a topup of the state its called the dole lol



Matt
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: johns window kleen on February 14, 2010, 05:20:23 pm
Thats a ridiculous price. Peeps was getting £10- £15 per 2 bed terraced in South Woodham Ferrers Essex 20 years ago.
Why do some newbie dole claiming twats charge so low and devalue the trade?
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 05:47:34 pm
must be desparate in angelsey now i was working in broughton
friday an a company fr holywell ad leafleted all my work a gud pound cheaper
than i do em i did ring the number to av a word and found the guy
reasonable but will now av to think seriously bout an increase in april phew !!!!!
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: jr windows on February 14, 2010, 06:07:08 pm
I wonder if he drives a transporter sportline!!!
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: simon knight on February 14, 2010, 08:06:12 pm
They might be thinking this.If I end up getting 5 x1 bedroom bungalows
And 5x2 bed ones,I`ll knock out £20 for a mornings work.Do the same
After lunch and it`s £40 per day.Equals of course £200 per week.
Dos`nt work out like that we know,but tell that to them,especially if
They are desperate and looking for work.No ladder work,just a `V`ladder
At the most,not even that if they are 6 footers.
I did it myself in 1973 only the price then was 30 pence.!

P.S. And I thought it was good!

P.P.S. All I had was the clothes I stood in,a rat tail mop,piece of scrim
And an Ettore 18 inch brass squeegee.Not even a strip washer,could`nt
Afford one.


Lewis  Doubtfire


In 1973 I'd just left school and having nowt better to do knocked door to door offering to clean cars. Charged 50p a car and got a fair bit of work (around 7-8 cars a day...£20ish a week).

Cost= Zero
Profit= £20 ish a week

And this the average window cleaner's problem...ladder,bucket, squeegee, mop and scrim and it's 100% profit so therefore any coconut can set up and call themselves a w/c.  And let's not kid ourselves, many people given the choice of a great job done costing £10 or a just passable job for £1.50 would choose the cheaper option. I think we kid ourselves that the customer wants a pristine job at X cost happy to ignore the cheaper option (why else do "own brand" products in supermarkets do so well)?

It's not a question of "HOW can they work so cheaply?" and more a question of "Bugger they CAN work that cheaply."

If a crew like that set up trade on "my" patch I'd be bloody worried!

Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: ccmids on February 14, 2010, 08:34:14 pm
is that per window ???
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: JSMC on February 14, 2010, 08:55:22 pm
mum livea in 4 bedroom house and it's £3.50 per month. this is the knd of prices in scotland ye deal with. Just the wa it is guys. Ye get some houses which are good money but majority ar epretty low wher ei am based.

guys get hunted around my town if charging too much. A house i do the woman told me the WC tried to move it up to 8 quid every month for 3 bed  house. Told he has lost majority  of the street now and his name is dirt. I charge 5 quid for house and taked me no time to do.

no point in being greedy. money isn't everything in life for me. if i pay my bills and have some left over then great. Money don't give you happiness.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 09:22:42 pm
The problem is that people read the prices on these flyers, and when you give them an honest price they think you are ripping them off.
I live near Holywell so it could be the same lot working in Broughton.
I know that most of these operators Wise up eventually, they usually move to another area and charge higher. By then of course the damage has already been done.
One lot quoting silly prices, and another lot guaranteeing to be lower.
They could well be employing doleites you just don't know.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:25:26 pm
The problem is that people read the prices on these flyers, and when you give them an honest price they think you are ripping them off.
I live near Holywell so it could be the same lot working in Broughton.
I know that most of these operators Wise up eventually, they usually move to another area and charge higher. By then of course the damage has already been done.
One lot quoting silly prices, and another lot guaranteeing to be lower.
They could well be employing doleites you just don't know.
where you fr dai the company was called clear view fr holywell ran by a john ???? im in wrexham C.C.C. Window Cleaners
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 09:36:24 pm
must be desparate in angelsey now i was working in broughton
friday an a company fr holywell ad leafleted all my work a gud pound cheaper
than i do em i did ring the number to av a word and found the guy
reasonable but will now av to think seriously bout an increase in april phew !!!!!

Is that Broughton near Saltney?
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 09:39:23 pm
must be desparate in angelsey now i was working in broughton
friday an a company fr holywell ad leafleted all my work a gud pound cheaper
than i do em i did ring the number to av a word and found the guy
reasonable but will now av to think seriously bout an increase in april phew !!!!!

Is that Broughton near Saltney?

Yes.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:41:54 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 09:44:43 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup

My old man lives in Saltney.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 14, 2010, 09:46:07 pm
The problem is that people read the prices on these flyers, and when you give them an honest price they think you are ripping them off.
I live near Holywell so it could be the same lot working in Broughton.
I know that most of these operators Wise up eventually, they usually move to another area and charge higher. By then of course the damage has already been done.
One lot quoting silly prices, and another lot guaranteeing to be lower.
They could well be employing doleites you just don't know.
where you fr dai the company was called clear view fr holywell ran by a john ???? im in wrexham C.C.C. Window Cleaners

i thought clear view were a franchise as there everywhere, they are definatly in liverpool as my mate has his cleaned by them and said there crap
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:46:15 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup

My old man lives in Saltney.
does he need a windie  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 09:50:06 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup

My old man lives in Saltney.
does he need a windie  ;D ;D

Hah he has one.  You will prob know them if you do around there.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:51:32 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup

My old man lives in Saltney.
does he need a windie  ;D ;D

Hah he has one.  You will prob know them if you do around there.
no m8 lol may ov seen em about though
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 09:53:31 pm
The problem is that people read the prices on these flyers, and when you give them an honest price they think you are ripping them off.
I live near Holywell so it could be the same lot working in Broughton.
I know that most of these operators Wise up eventually, they usually move to another area and charge higher. By then of course the damage has already been done.
One lot quoting silly prices, and another lot guaranteeing to be lower.
They could well be employing doleites you just don't know.
where you fr dai the company was called clear view fr holywell ran by a john ???? im in wrexham C.C.C. Window Cleaners

i thought clear view were a franchise as there everywhere, they are definatly in liverpool as my mate has his cleaned by them and said there crap

This lot is called First Choice, I think your right about Clearview, although I know a guy that works on his own that trades as Clearview too.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:55:09 pm
that the holywell lot all wfp boys
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 09:56:11 pm
mold rd broughton nr to saltney yup

My old man lives in Saltney.
does he need a windie  ;D ;D

Hah he has one.  You will prob know them if you do around there.
no m8 lol may ov seen em about though

I do not live there anymore but know the area very well.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 09:57:40 pm
where u fr jonathan
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dai on February 14, 2010, 09:58:16 pm
that the holywell lot all wfp boys

Not the same bunch then.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 10:00:02 pm
where u fr jonathan

Brought up in Saltney, went to St Davids.  Live near Brum now.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 10:01:40 pm
where u fr jonathan

Brought up in Saltney, went to St Davids.  Live near Brum now.
a gud m8 ov mine grew up in saltney e about 44 ish was in 2 scooters gary thomas top lad
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on February 14, 2010, 10:05:11 pm
where u fr jonathan

Brought up in Saltney, went to St Davids.  Live near Brum now.
a gud m8 ov mine grew up in saltney e about 44 ish was in 2 scooters gary thomas top lad

I think I know him.  He is a bit older than me.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ian Mason on February 14, 2010, 10:08:25 pm
All Window Cleaners Trained, Vetted & Insured. Traditional Window Cleaners.Domestic, Commercial & Retail. Special Rates For OAP's, Single Parents, Unemployed

What does vetted mean ???
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 14, 2010, 10:09:09 pm
think the on about crb checkd
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 14, 2010, 11:06:01 pm
All Window Cleaners Trained, Vetted & Insured. Traditional Window Cleaners.Domestic, Commercial & Retail. Special Rates For OAP's, Single Parents, Unemployed

What does vetted mean ???

I read their advert earlier and was sitting with the misses asking her the same thing. Could not come to a conclusion. Lol.

Punctuation in the advert is dismal to say the best. Something I personally think you should always get right when advertising in business.

Not meaning to sound to opinionated either.

With regards to the cost, Had leaflets like this going around here a while back. No where near as cheap as that. These where gardeners "Flawless" I think, advertising £6 per house, £8 for a 4 bed detached if I remember correctly.

Only them that will fail in the end.

Although the point about potential customers thinking we are ripping them off. I have found my best and least problematic customers are the ones I may have charged a good price for myself, and maybe on some overcharged. They like my service and have never had one problem. The ones that moaned to start are always a bit funny and the ones that moan about sinister things..
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 14, 2010, 11:09:39 pm
im fully CRB checked, comes in handy if you go for school contracts or nursery ones ;D
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 14, 2010, 11:10:57 pm
What does a Crb check show?

What if someone has a minor Criminal record? Im a bit confused about the whole process.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 14, 2010, 11:48:52 pm
it will show your criminal record for the last ten years i think, mine does, there is a new one coming out soon that you pay £80 for life for and you just sign a form each year to say there is no change apparantly. mine has a motoring offence on it from years ago but thats it
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 14, 2010, 11:56:37 pm
I ended up getting a conviction over a year ago for common assult.
It was a absolute disgrace, and to be honest so was Hmcs.

So I am left with a worry about a Crb Check as obviously i wont be completely clear. Thus surely its not even worth getting one.
 >:( :(
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 15, 2010, 12:01:21 am
why not????? if it showed up something more serious like assault of a kid id be worried but if anyone asks then you can explain it as a drunken night out and you were jumped but you gave as good as you got
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 15, 2010, 12:03:24 am
Wasnt even a drunken night out, I dont go out and barely drink due to the aggrivation or problems it can cause.
Do you show it to people often.

Just thought that saying im Crb checked and it not being completely clean sort of goes against the point?

Just to add, common assault is pushing someone. Ridiculous.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 15, 2010, 12:06:12 am
i showed it when i got my nursery job
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dazmond on February 15, 2010, 12:06:39 am
i went to price a job up after work on sat and its a big 3 bed semi around the corner from some well priced stuff.she told me last wc did them for £6 and the bloke before that £3-50!i said £12 she nearly fainted!the last windy wanted to do them every fortnight.anyway in the end i got it on a 2 monthly.i told her id drop the price to a tenner if i get 4 or 5 down her road.lots of windys near me but a lot are rubbish and try and rush the job with a couple of lads working with em.i prefer to sell my service better priced now, but  i have got quite a lot of 3 bedders on 2 estates(bout 150!) at £5-£6 and i still do well on them as their very compact.

im not too worried.ive been cleaning for years and im well trusted and have a good name in the area.its a case of better the devil you know than going for a complete stranger cos he,s a pound or two cheaper.

REMEMBER!why would you have some guy clambering round your house over a guy who is trusted and does a good job and is friendly?most of my custys wouldnt swap im sure as ive had lots of lads canvass my rounds over the years with no success!why now?
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 15, 2010, 12:15:39 am
daz, i priced up a job a couple of months ago, it was on an estate i only had 2 on, now i have over 10 on it, the lady said no as i priced it at 11. i feel thart she was expecting around 8, do you think its worth knocking back and explaing that now i have a few there i can drop my prices a bit ? or shall i just leave it as its not the done thing, bit unsure about this one
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: dazmond on February 15, 2010, 12:28:35 am
up to you ste.i would still earn well at a tenner a throw if i got between 5-10 custys on there.i dont want to push my luck and be too greedy mate.an above average wc but not a rip off merchant is how im selling myself in these times! ;) ;D

best wishes

dazmond
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on February 15, 2010, 11:58:23 am
CRB checks and vetting employees for criminal records are 2 different things.




Matt
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 15, 2010, 12:13:49 pm
CRB checks and vetting employees for criminal records are 2 different things.




Matt

As I have a criminal offence from just over a year ago, Would it be worth me getting Crb checked?
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: jonnyald on February 15, 2010, 03:34:59 pm
CRB checks and vetting employees for criminal records are 2 different things.




Matt

As I have a criminal offence from just over a year ago, Would it be worth me getting Crb checked?

 if i was you id not bother , i know its a minor offence but  JOE PUBLIC  wont listen whether its  peeing up an alleyway ,or a 15year  stretch in Parkhurst , best to keep quiet IMO .
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: krave on February 15, 2010, 05:01:06 pm
That is what I thought Tbh.

Never realised that It could cause me any problems so to say. Obviously was wrong.
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Ste M on February 15, 2010, 08:46:22 pm
CRB checks and vetting employees for criminal records are 2 different things.




Matt

sorry matt your totally right, its the form 99 i have that shows my criminal record. apoligies for any confusion
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: Moderator David@stives on February 15, 2010, 09:13:04 pm
crb shows up things right back to juvinile
Title: Re: Silly prices
Post by: wizard on February 15, 2010, 11:27:31 pm
Vetted means checked out, not for anything specific. E./ G. I will vet you for your values means nothing. Vetted should be followed by some standard or something.

What I would do is phone and ash him for a quote to clean at an address which new did exist and tell him to collect at the end of the day. Tell him as you cannot take calls at work you will phone to get the quote and confirm a day to clean. Leed him up the garden path. Then in a few days latter give my mates wife to do the same just change the details. They will soon get tired of collect money from people that did not want a clean.