Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 03:46:18 pm

Title: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 03:46:18 pm
Just received an email this afternoon.  What would be your reply.

I am wanting a quote for my carpet to be cleaned throughout the whole house. It will consist of a lounge of roughly 6m by 4m, hall stairs and landing, bathroom, 1x bedroom of roughly 3m x 2.5m, 2 x bedrooms of 3m x 6m. Plus ensuite and downstairs toilet. I have had quotes now of around £100 from local cleaners. Can you please advise what the cost would be with yourself and also the costs for sofas, not the cushions as I can wash them in the washer, just the frame.

Be polite please because I may be in with a chance with this one if I get it right.  ::)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: ianharper on March 25, 2010, 03:52:29 pm
Joe

email me and i send you a copy (file) of my consumers guide. should do the trick as far as objections.

Ian
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: richy27 on March 25, 2010, 03:57:27 pm
ian could i be cheeky and have a copy

info@pt-cleaningservices.co.uk

regards

Richard
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Steve. Taylor on March 25, 2010, 04:01:29 pm
Joe go in at £90 if you want to eat soup for the rest of your life

£95 if you want to upgrade to beans on toast ;D ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: craigp on March 25, 2010, 04:12:08 pm
Joe Obvously you dont want the job at 100, more like 200 to 300 then more for Upholstery.

You wont get that replying to the email with prices you need to call and arrange a survey where you can measure up and advise tell him what you do and how and why (your USP and benefits)

Sell YOU.

They might start off thinking they are shopping on price but that can change on a subconcous level.

Or they may just be cheapos! ;D

Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: craigp on March 25, 2010, 04:13:09 pm
or try £99.50 ;D plus your clean the loo while your there ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: cleaningmaster on March 25, 2010, 04:20:12 pm
Joe,

around £250 for the carpets and £60 for each frame.

Tell them that you dont know of any "professional"carpet cleaner who would charge so low surely they cant be insured  ;)

Tell them to go with the other company for £100 but to keep your number as you can go back and put it right, but the price will be £280 for the carpets and £80 for the sofas, as it will take more time to rectify their damn ups ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: sherco on March 25, 2010, 04:24:44 pm
I never price from an email...Explain you need to arrange an appointment to view the carpets to give an accurate estimate for the works....Get loads like this, but i charge for estimates on stone floors, this cuts out the time wasters. But you cant do this on carpets.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: gwrightson on March 25, 2010, 04:32:34 pm
Joe,

A thought !  My reply  

Thankyou for you inquiry, however to perform the cleaning task you have proposed my price would be considerbly  higher than the quote you have already recieved, my app and I am roach and professional methods to do this job correctly do warrant the higher price, and i can assure you you will be delighted with the superior results you would notice against a any company quoting the price you have stated.

However, i may be wrong!  and they may indeed be professional, compatant and do a fantastic job, if this is the case could you please forward me their number so I can book them into do my scheduled work, i can then sit and relax all day thinking where did i go wrong all this time.

 ;) ;) ;)  geoff
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: ianharper on March 25, 2010, 04:50:27 pm
sherco

I used to have a Bultaco Sherpa on the road many years ago. me and some mates had pucker off road bikes on the road. old bill did not like it but nothing they could do about it.

what you got?

respect

Ian
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 05:03:39 pm
Your dead right I dont want the job for £100, nor £200

For the lounge I would be looking for £70.

I would like to do a reply to make her think she aint gonna get a good service for £100 the lot! Cant imagine anyone doing it for that.

Just done a quote this afternoon for a 4mx3m lounge, 3mx2.5m dining area, stairs and landing at £110 and that was because there was a 3 piece suite to be added on as an extra as well.

Keep them coming, Craig, Daryl, Geoff - like em, but need more so I can pick the best bits and piece together.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 05:10:37 pm
dear madame, can i ask what machine the the company with the quote for £100 for. some companies hire rug doctors for day and pass themselves off as professional cleaners, all these machines do is spread the dirt around and saturate your carpets, if you would like me to arrange a free quotation for you so we can see what the job entails, then i can give you an accurate quote and also give you an honest opinion of what results we are likely to achieve. look forward to your responce.
yours
sir joe hatten mbe  ;D

ps... you pay peanuts, ya get monkeys. ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: sherco on March 25, 2010, 05:51:17 pm
sherco

I used to have a Bultaco Sherpa on the road many years ago. me and some mates had pucker off road bikes on the road. old bill did not like it but nothing they could do about it.

what you got?

respect

Ian
I have a sherco 250 that i compete on and my 7yo daughter competes on a Beta rev 5o...Been looking at the 2010 Sherco 250 enduro bike,,,very tempted... ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 25, 2010, 06:11:32 pm
Dear Madam,

Thank you for your enquiry! It would appear that the quotes you have had are suspiciously low and I would question whether or not they are fully insured and indeed, qualified.

Like many things in life, you get what you pay for and the quality of service which I provide warrants my prices to be higher, but still fantastic value for your money.

If you would like a thorough, no obligation survey and quote, I will be only too happy to be of assistance.

If you are going to go down the cheap and cheerful route, make sure you wear your wellies ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: gordon fraser on March 25, 2010, 06:22:11 pm
I've got my Vax and 1001 ready if you don't want the job Joe ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: JandS on March 25, 2010, 06:23:15 pm
Anybody else going to admit that they would have done for less than £200?
Can't believe you'd want £200 + for what amounts to a steady mornings work.
I'd have gone in for £130.
Quoting high prices also puts people off, they think "if that's what it's going to cost I won't bother ringing round
I'll just give them a go myself"
That's me though, I'd rather have a steady couple of hundred quid coming in every day.

John
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: JandS on March 25, 2010, 06:27:07 pm
" Like many things in life, you get what you pay "

Bottles of Bud in Tesco are cheaper than my local but they taste exactly the same.

John
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: craigp on March 25, 2010, 06:28:57 pm
John, I think competing on price is foolish. How will they value you if your cheap?

Next year they will just call the next guy whos ten pound less than you. They'll think anyones just as good otherwise you'd be charging more.

Joe, I would not mention the other companies price, unless they bring it up,

Did they leave a contact no.? just call them say you need to have a look to quote and get out there.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 06:41:11 pm
i'm with john on this, bout £120 to £160 depending on usual factors, 2 hours work and a fantastic job done, not saying my prices won't go up in the future but as i'm just starting up and not fully booked i need to work. i personally don't think i'm cheap but like i care what others think. its my business, i'll run it how i bluddy well like. :P
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 25, 2010, 06:42:44 pm
how I would answer.......

dear Madam.

thank you for your enquiry but  i regret to inform you that I died yesterday so am not in a position to clean your carpet or sofas.

yours faithfully

Joe Hatton ( deceased)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: JandS on March 25, 2010, 06:45:40 pm
" John, I think competing on price is foolish. How will they value you if your cheap? "

I don't think that's particularly cheap.
They'll say he's good and at a reasonable price.
I personally think £200 plus is expensive for what amounts to about 3.5 hours work
and so would many others.
My father is in the building industry.
He was telling me the other day all the expensive plumbers are either sat at home
twiddling their thumbs, have dropped their prices to a reasonable rate or have signed
on the books with a big firm paying a weekly salary.
Why is competing on price foolish.
Don't you shop round for the cheapest price before you buy something or do you
go for the dearest.

John
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: JandS on March 25, 2010, 06:47:22 pm
Dead right Derek 2 hours with a TM.

John
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 25, 2010, 06:51:47 pm
how I would answer.......

dear Madam.

thank you for your enquiry but  i regret to inform you that I died yesterday so am not in a position to clean your carpet or sofas.

yours faithfully

Joe Hatton ( deceased)
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 25, 2010, 06:54:11 pm
I agree with John too actually. In fact I did a similar job today and at £150, she was happy and I was happy..... That's a good result if you ask me :)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: garry22 on March 25, 2010, 06:58:45 pm
Joe,

It's an interesting point. If I look back over the last couple of years, the biggest time wasters and pains in the rear came via e mail enquiries  (particularly directories such as Free Index).

I am seriously thinking of removing the E mail options from my sites on the current rebuilds. If someone can be bothered to pick up the phone maybe they are more committed.

I saw some test results from the USA a couple of years ago and response actually went right up when there was only a telephone option.

Food for thought

Garry
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: The Great One on March 25, 2010, 06:59:45 pm
Hi Joe

Just say that after careful consideration you've had a chat with Jesus and at that price that's a miracle even he can't perform.

(Sorry couldn't resist  ;) )

Regards

Martin 8)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 07:00:38 pm
can i just add, i don't compete on price, theres far cheaper than me round here and far dearer, my price is my price. if they don't like my price i won't drop it, unless its only a smallish amount then i may consider it if the custy is nice.

john
and a helper, we work well together and get shed loads done. i honestly think on big jobs, 2 people can do a job faster than one can if worked out per person per hour. sorry if that sounds confusing but i know what i mean ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: james roffey on March 25, 2010, 07:09:22 pm
Enjoyed our chat joe when i looked at the phone it said 1 hour 30 minutes :o
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: clinton on March 25, 2010, 07:11:45 pm
Il have your prowler joe ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: craigp on March 25, 2010, 07:30:57 pm
to me this is a bit more than 'a steady mornings work'

It would be a mornings very hard work.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on March 25, 2010, 07:36:57 pm
I agree with Craig, you've got 67m2 of rooms plus 3 bathrooms and an HSL, hardly 2 hours work - puts into perspective just how stupid the original price she got is.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 07:41:17 pm
I reckon there is 4 hours work there.

If Derek can do it in 2 hours, but there is 2 of them so thats 4 hours for £120-£160 plus of course you have to get there and back and clean your bits and bobs, say and hour so you total 5 hours.
If Derek wants work at those prices thats fine for him as he says, cant criticise him, but Iwould be looking for more.

Steve - she had more then one at that price by the words of her enquiry.  ::)

Still, the thread wasnt about money, it was about how would you respond.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: cleaningmaster on March 25, 2010, 07:50:48 pm
Joe, ask her if you can go and give her one, quote that is ;D, and give her the quote and just tell her how YOU do it and how long it will take you. 

As Derek as said "its your price" so if you get the chance, just explain.

I couldnt do it in 2hrs with or without a helper and with a TM, im with Steve on that

Regards

Daryl
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: jasonl on March 25, 2010, 07:57:17 pm
£150 here , plus 15 /seat with no cushions, only a short mornings work.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 08:26:30 pm
Thanks for all the input, here is the reply I just sent, be interesting if she replies.

Thank you for your enquiry.

However, for this size of job I do not price without first viewing the conditon of the items to be cleaned. Working this way enables me to offer a complete and final price to my customers, giving them them peace of mind in knowing there are no hidden extras, and giving me an view of the full conditons of the areas to be cleaned. I can also explain the procedures I will use to clean your valuable possessions. You may have noted from my website I am a member of the National Carpet Cleaners Association, currently the only carpet cleaner in the Warrington area that is. Please check out their website at www.ncca.co.uk
I also have public liability insurance including the option of treatment risk (to cover items I am working on).

I am happy to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit your premises to view the task and give a fixed quote for the job. Please call so we can arrange a mutually convenient date & time.

Also, you may wish to visit one of my other websites www.wigancarpetcleaning.co.uk which give a photo of one the machines at my disposal (actually my main machine - it is so powerful it can clean carpets 300' away). A large investment, but worth it as I want to give my clients the best service possible.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Paul W Jones on March 25, 2010, 08:44:33 pm
Unfortunately pricing is always going to be this way.  I priced one last week for a customer for £192.00 and she said she'd got a price of £100.00.  There's always going to be someone CHEAPER but I always say that I offer VALUE FOR MONEY.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: james roffey on March 25, 2010, 08:45:01 pm
That pretty good Joe,

I must say that anyone that can mover furniture, vacuum, prespray agitate,extract, replace furniture and clean all that carpet in the process plus unloading the equipment and reloading it inside two hours are in my opinion not going to get much repeat business for being thorough. even if they do have a truckmount.

its the best part of a days work surely to do a proper thorough job that the customer will be delighted with and want you back again.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 08:57:42 pm
and without a glide, ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on March 25, 2010, 09:05:10 pm
How could anyone quote with so little information.
Hall stairs landing, Bathroom ,Ensuite, Downstairs Toilet no sizes and how many sofas ???
£100 must be having a laugh WHY even bother with a reply.

Cheers Tony
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: from edge2edge on March 25, 2010, 09:10:22 pm
Joe very nice site mate .I would be inclined to agree with the above post as the money is made obvious by the enquirer so would just say well if you are happy with the £100  then use them.Regards Alan(swindon)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 09:16:08 pm
She will either respond or not - I am nit bothered either way,but for the sake of a short reply .... why not.

and we had a bit of fun in the meantime didnt we. ;D

Joe - still alive and wanding.  ;)
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 25, 2010, 09:19:25 pm
I have 2 websites and I got 2 emails from 1 person cut and pasted so I can imagine it's gone to everyone asking for 55 sq metres of carpeting to be cleaned. That's it.

Done the same as Joe and politely asked for an onsite quote and again like Joe 'Bovvered'

Shaun
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 09:30:13 pm
She will either respond or not - I am nit bothered either way,but for the sake of a short reply .... why not.

and we had a bit of fun in the meantime didnt we. ;D

Joe - still alive and wanding.  ;)
and looking 20 years younger than your piccie ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 25, 2010, 09:42:06 pm
Its amazing what the wifes wrinkle filler can do  ;D

Hope she doesnt read this  ;D

too late, she just read it and I got a clout round back of the head  :'(
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 25, 2010, 09:43:53 pm
Go to LTT and they'll fill the cracks and re colour you to the same colour as Dale Winton.

Shaun
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: derek west on March 25, 2010, 09:48:02 pm
just incase anyone is confused, my comments are for the flooring only and not the sofas. i don't think the £100 she was on about was for the sofa's either. but i could be wrong.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 25, 2010, 09:48:23 pm
What's orange and can't get through a door.....?

Dale Winton with a sword through his neck ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 25, 2010, 09:52:13 pm
Colin go to bed

Shaun
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 25, 2010, 09:53:52 pm
Colin go to bed

Shaun

I am in a minute.... Sorry about the bad joke ;D
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: markpowell on March 25, 2010, 09:54:31 pm
I would quote £200 and look to get the job done in 3 hours
MArk
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 25, 2010, 10:00:44 pm
You get people with a price in their mind, may be she's trying it on??

I got an email the other day stating that they had a carpet 9m x 4 m with heavy duty stains and they had tried to remove them with 1001 and made them worse can I quote for a. Stain removal b. carpet clean, and it also went on to say that the carpet was only cheap and that they hadn't alot of money.

Some leads on worth chasing.

Shaun
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: cleaningmaster on March 26, 2010, 12:04:08 am
I dont understand some people,
I was just shutting the computer down, 11.30pm, and had a email come through........ someone asked for a quote for carpet and upholstery clean :o :o

and before anyone ask's no its not the same as Joe's

Regards

Daryl
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 26, 2010, 05:28:53 am
Daryl
11:30pm  ::)   thats why I got a separate business line many years ago..... I got a phone call at about 12:15am,  :o  someone wanting their house cleaned.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Joe H on March 26, 2010, 01:42:07 pm
The lady has replied to my email I sent last night.
She has invited me round to discuss

but told me some info - like its not too dirty, mainly the hall and stairs, its cream and she has a one year old.  Not the best combination, she adds.
So she has a one year old that she obviously loves and is thinking of and wants to look after.......mmmmm
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: cleaningmaster on March 26, 2010, 02:20:09 pm
Joe, Lady who emailed me last night, phoned me up at 11am to book in the work ;)

Regards

Daryl
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: Colin Day on March 29, 2010, 09:08:39 pm
I've just come across this, which I think's quite a good answer....

Are we the cheapest?
Probably not as we put a huge emphasis on quality, punctuality and overall service. Our aim is to deliver the best possible value to you so you can rest assured that booking with us will give you total peace of mind.
Title: Re: How would you respond?
Post by: idealrob on March 29, 2010, 10:02:12 pm
It is a step in the right direction that she is letting you come round, but some chavs or price shoppers cant see the wood for the trees.
Keep us informed what happens Joe

Idealrob