[John Kelly]

Interested to know from you guys who quote at the property, how many customers decline the offer when they telephone.
Just curious as I've always been too busy to quote on site.

[Chris Bailey]

John, in my limited experience not many decline a site visit, especially after I have told them that I need to check construction, stain know what I'm cleaning etc...

Never booked a job over the phone.

I am closing 9/10 jobs, some even comment on how thorough I have been and that no one else came out to have a look!!

Chris

[ianharper]

Hi John

Its the fun part.

Its grat that you are busy, but this might be a sign that you are to cheap. its all about balance for me between marketing and cleaning at the moment .

I advise would be get hold of a copy of joe's cleaning audit as this is great. it put the prospect at ease and lets you ask the questions and then put you in control of the audit. Prospects dont know what to ask thats why they always bang on about price. By showing that its more that that will give your service a more professional image in their eyes.

Whe I show a prospect my City & Guilds they see cleaning differant than before as most tink that no knowlage is needed to clean.

Positioning yourself as an expert on cleaning will pay off in the long run, but if you dont study you will get found out in the long run. ( I have no doubt that you do study).

Be carful that you are not so busy that the truth is that you fear face to face contact with prospects. Its easy and fun. Having a presation that you learn and can do it time after time will make it easier and alow you to relax and have fun with the prospect.

What are you worried about ?

Respect

Ian Harper

[John Kelly]

Ian

When I said I was too busy I meant doing other things. Carpet cleaning is not my main business and most of it is sub-contracted out. I did start 11 years ago as an out and out carpet cleaner and was very succesfull, then I was contacted by a fire & flood company and my world was turned upside down. Still can't decide whether it was a good thing or bad.
As in my post I was just curious, I have no intention of ever doing it. I am entering the supply side of the business and just genning up on various aspects of the business as I haven't been that involved until recently. Thanks for your reply.

[the red carpet]

i find about 80% of the jobs i quote over the phone i dont get.
and about 80% of the jobs i go out and quote i do get.

and im sure the only reason i dont get the phone quotes is price,
to a customer theres no difference between your company and another untill they meet you, your just another leaflet or another number in the y/p or thompsons etc.

and unless your working for nothing theres allways some 1 cheaper.
iv just had a leaflet through my door any room £10 any 3piece £30 h/s/l £15 and this is a nice designed leaflet stating there fully insured and offer free demos etc

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys,

Spot on Red.

When you are starting you need to turn everything to your advantage so quoting face to face is  a must.

As you become busier then you will quote over the phone more until you become really lazy like me and quote over the phone 95% of the time. :

Cheers

Doug

Obviously commercial will require a visit.

[gwrightson]

I went to quote today, a dear old lady 80 yrs of age, 2 draylon chairs, no staining, very light soiling excellent condition, straightforward enough, cushions fixed and no scatter cushions.  £50 for the job, booked in, everone happy.
 Looking very relieved, she then informs me she had ,had a prievious quote from the nations fav. franchise!!! they had been down looked at the job and quoted £95  "ok everyone has different prices" but when she told him she thought it was a little to much for her., his reaction was to present her with a bill of £60 for coming out to quote. apon hearing this she rang her daughter who immeadiatly told him what to do over the phone along with him saying its only what i have to do as the boss says so!!
  Why am I telling you this? I would never dream of charging for a quote, and wondered if anybody on here actually charge for quoting???
  Having said all of this I was a little annoyed, i got the immpresion that they were trying it on
 geoff