[Paul Coleman]

I know this may sound funny, but I've been turned down on price four times in the last month - and I'm delighted.  I have also had my price accepted about the same amount (not had many new enquiries recently).
So that's about a 50/50 split.
That's a lot more like it I reckon.  It seems like the days are gone when my price was accepted nearly every time.  I now price to get the customer thinking about it where they seem to think "That sounds a bit expensive but at least this guy seems reliable and seems to know what he's doing".  They might really be thinking "This guy's an idiot and I can't be bothered to look elsewhere" but I don't care really.
It's taken me a long time to realise that a quote turned down is not a job lost.  I doubt I would have had the guts to try it if it weren't for this and another forum that I use (the forum that dare not speak its name)    .

[Andy@w.c.s]

Hi mate
We always quote high
and if the customer says thats a bit high we say we might be able to come down a few quid  after we have cleaned it  , if it doesnt take us as long as we thought

it usualy works
they think they are getting a bargin
but in reality we started of high/

bonus every time

[Paul Coleman]

Hi mate
We always quote high
and if the customer says thats a bit high we say we might be able to come down a few quid  after we have cleaned it  , if it doesnt take us as long as we thought

it usualy works
they think they are getting a bargin
but in reality we started of high/

bonus every time

Quoted one this morning at £23.  Previous guy was £15.
Previous guy walks up small (mossy) tiles to get to some windows which surely must be illegal these days?
I asked what happened to previous guy.  Apparently his gardening business pays better so he went.  I suggested to her that he may still do some W/Cing but has perhaps dropped his lower paying work.  She says that maybe I'm right because he still does her friend's house (a very big place apparently).
Maybe I'll hear back, maybe I won't.  Not overly bothered as I'm expected to send a text the day before to arrange for gate bolt to left unlocked and I prefer not to work that way.

If I work hard at it, maybe I can get to the point where 75% turn me down on price.  Then I can feel even better about it   

[Londoner]

Pricing is a skill that is so under rated in this business. Lets face it, any idiot can clean vindows on the cheap and any idiot can overcharge so the customer either turns you down flat or puts up with you till somebody else comes along.

But hitting the right price consistantly is as hard as batting a century in first class cricket.

[Clive McDonald]

Thanks for this thread. I'm trying to learn and I always underprice and then wonder why I go like stink with my wfp for £15 an hour. I always get caught out, fall into every trap, and collect awkward demanding customers.-But I am trying.

[Londoner]

I still underprice all the time. I have come to the conclusion that its an affliction that will be with me for life. I'm better than I was but I still have some way to go.

[xxmattyxx]

I priced a new one today, didnt count the windows as such to work it out accordingly, but looked around the property, figured the outhouse was actually quite a simple one to do (fairly large panes, 3' x 3') and thought 30 minutes... I put in £14.00.

That to me works out at the rate I'm happy with per hour, but am I prepared to 'risk' the rejection if the customer thinks the price is steep?

She puffed a bit at the price, exclaiming her previous window-cleaner ha been cheaper !!! Oh arr I says 

She was happy enough once Id explained the reasoning of the price and she was a very happy customer as I left the property 30 minutes later.

I think pricing is about respect, self-respect that is.

Are you worth the hourly rate you want or is reasonable; considering all things; weather, unpaid sickness, unpaid holiday, unpaid bank holiday, travel costs, equipment costs, materials. To me I might earn £30.00 an hour CLEANING, but do I take that home....NO WAY!!!!



Pricing can be difficult, but I always think its best to stop and hide round the corner from the customer, count to 10 and be sure youre confident about the figure youre about to suggest.

Matt

[EasyClean]

I had a lady ask me if I could clean her windows whilst I was working on a property across the road and I told her that I would pop across after I finished the one I was on to give her a price. I had a walk around this lady's house and quoted her £33.00 and I watched the colour drain from her face as I told her. She wasn't so keen all of a sudden. I asked her if she wanted me to go ahead with cleaning it and she made all sorts of excuses. I suspect she is phoning other window cleaners for a cheaper quote. I'll give her 'til Friday then I'll phone her up to see if she agrees. I may have to drop the price to £28.00 to get her to agree (which is the sensible price I should have quoted).  I reckon I stand a 33% chance of getting it if no one else has beaten me to it! Good things come to those who wait!!!

[Paul Coleman]

Thanks for this thread. I'm trying to learn and I always underprice and then wonder why I go like stink with my wfp for £15 an hour. I always get caught out, fall into every trap, and collect awkward demanding customers.-But I am trying.

You have touched on a good point there.
When I quoted far too low on a regular basis, the customers generally seemed to be more disrespectful.  It's almost as if they think: low price = low self esteem = we can treat him not very well.
Maybe they are just better with people if they think they are not desperate for work.

[Count Phil]

When I quoted far too low on a regular basis, the customers generally seemed to be more disrespectful.  It's almost as if they think: low price = low self esteem = we can treat him not very well.

That is so true. Good money equals good customers. Not sure if it is some body language you give off somehow because your happy to be there which makes them nicer and more respectful, or if it really is the price that changes their minds about how to treat you. Whatever it is, it's true.

[xxmattyxx]

Theres a fair proportion of people out there who think window-cleaners are inadequates, serfs, cheapos, low-lifes etc etc, maybe slightly inacurate nouns, but sure youget the point.

My mother is one, she frowned upon me and my descision when I became a window-cleaner, cuh, some people hey   

[Clive McDonald]

Agree with all above.Spot on. However I have been successful in other spheres, do have persistance, and am 'supposed' to have good people skills.
This window cleaning can be quite a test of character can't it.

[AuRavelling79]

I'm getting this too. Pricing high enough to lose a few - today I even lost my second regular customer this month because I put the price up in January. (From £5.50 to £6.50 for the fronts of a double "threepenny-bit" bayed semi.)

But today I also gained one of her neighbours (whole house at £15.00).

So I think I'm getting my pricing about right.

[julianbiggs]

let's bury the £4.00 brigade...This is a real business.....If you want a good job doing then it's gonna cost you...My average price per house is nearing the £20.00 mark..perfect...I can't be doing with going round and doing 3 x £7 houses when I can do 1 x  £20.00 house.... I quote high, them them my standards , do a good job, turn up regularly, act professionaly...and never lose customers.