[Liahona]

In all the years of teaching (all sorts of things) I have found that most people in this industry just dont ask for things.  Protection is the most obvious add on in our business yet it is often over looked and not asked for.  Some are price scared to ask for it.  Some dont think it works.  Some as mentioned above dont use it for "green" issues.

If you dont ask for it    you wont get it.

If you dont think it works     you need to know more about it and what it does.

Green issue    simply nonsense

There are companies out there that just do protection.  One in particular is a one man band with a small van, battery powered sprayer and a few brushes and profits well over £100,000 per year.  All he does is just ask to protect carpets.

Tony, there are products out there that do what you are asking of them.  I just dont know if you can get them in this country.  I get mine from the states.  I add at this point that the additive is for the cleaning of carpets that have already been treated and you are now just cleaning them again.

AGAIN a lot of cleaners and many on here moan about the prices they are getting and then dont offer protection, cant figure that one out, best, Dave.

[lands]

I have sample sheets that have two pieces of upholstery on them.  One is protected and one isn't. Get custy to pour a few drops of coffee on each one and they take it almost every time.

Pete

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave you REALLY SHOULD teach us the ins and outs of profitable carpet cleaning I feel that I am under achieving, I could earn loads more.

Shaun

[Mike Osbourne]

The number of custies who when cleaning their carpet said they 'had it Scotchguarded, but I don't think he did it because liquids don't rest on the surface and it get dirty'

When I clean it I know it has and on several occasions stuck up for the previous cleaner. The last one the custy informed me was dead at age 47 (as if he deserved it or something)

Anyway the only thing CC who sell protector are guilty of is setting up false expectations.

When I know it would be good for that customer's set of circumsatnces (which is a lot of the time) I sell it hard and that means explaining limitations too. The key is, once 100% sold, to take it away, tell them you don't want them to have it unless they are convinced it's right for them.

Tell them they have to weigh it up themselves, it will still get dirty, it won't necesarily 'bubble' liquids etc etc.

9/10 they are even more up for it but you won't ever get buyers remorse

I evaluate fibre type, pets, kids, traffic, how long they will keep carpet, carpet quality/cost,  location ie hall-bedroon, middle class red wine alchies etc. to decide whether to advise protector.l

I NEVER consider whether I think they can afford it or not.

Mike

[lands]

Guarding is a soil repellant. The stain guarding is a by-product. If you sell it this way then you are being honest with custy.

[Mike Osbourne]

Shaun,

So what would have to change to achieve more?

[Liahona]

Shaun, who is going to listen to me if I did teach. 

Most people on here, from those who charge 20 or 30p a foot to those who charge a pound or pound 30 a foot know what they should be doing.

Most just simply dont do it and will find every excuse under the sun to justify why they charge as low as they do and then will knock people like myself for charging what they think is out rageous.

If as much time was spent on doing as opposed to knocking others for doing then most everyone will be better off.  If that makes sense.

Best, Dave. 

Again, if I taught, who would come and listen, Gary???

[lands]

I would Dave. I try to soak up everything and if you can tell me how to make more money I will listen.

Pete

[Shaun_Ashmore]

that's 2

[Mike Osbourne]

Dave,

You should be a guest speaker at Alltec's fast track. Maybe even teach the other 'instructors' a thing or two.




Even some very experienced people say 'it can't be done' and Dave just goes out there and does it.

Dave has a vast knowledge and experience of cleaning, but at the end of the day his greatest attribute is his attitude.

He gets paid what he thinks he's worth..... and so does everyone else.

We all have mental barriers and limitations. With Dave it's Yes, I can clean that, and it will cost you £XXXXX and while I'm here I'll clean that, that and that too.

Probably many others on here could do x2 x3 (myself included) what they generate with no extra technical skills. It's changing your attitude that makes the ultimate difference.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I'm not trying to answer for Dave but .. Dave finds his own clientelle who will pay his fee, perhaps it's something we all should take onboard.

Shaun

[PaulKing]

Shaun, who is going to listen to me if I did teach. 

I'd listen!

[PaulKing]

pssstttt! don't want some cheap protector do you? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130165420365&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:GB:1123

[Liahona]

Mike, trouble is with Alltec is that Mr Saunders has his golden boys who do everything by the book and therefore support all his fast track theories.  Well Joe's and everyone elses theories.

There isnt a lot I do by the book as you know.

I dont dress for the part as you have seen.

I dont and wont do the computer thing.

I have a better machine than he sells

I (my opinion) have better chemicals.

And I refuse to advertise.

With the above considered I am not a good advert for Mr Saunders ideas now am I.

But I have taught many cleaners a few things, who have then gone away and in some cases have come back a year later having at least added 20% to their income.  In some cases, granted rare,  have come back having doubled their income.  This 20% and 100% is to do with added pricing and nothing else.

You have to feel you are worth more than you are currently charging if you want to increase your pricing.  Mike has met me and seen me work and knows why I am worth more than he is.  ( In all respect to Mike)  But he also sees that I do things a little different than he does.  If, and I say again, if, each little difference is worth money as it should be then thats why i can charge more.

Humbly, seriously, I will go in front of any cleaner or next to them and out perform and out clean them and this is and should be worth money.  Thats why I just about charge more than anyone else I know.

Are there better cleaners than me out there?  Absolutely. 

Do they do better work than me? Probably.

Then they should be charging a d**n site more than they are cos I know my pricing is outrageous to many on here.

Hope this makes some sense.

I am always open to being phoned if anyone has questions of me.

Best, Dave.

Are they on here? I would imagine so.

It isnt difficult to double your income.  Of course it depends on what you are charging in the first place. 



Just re read what I have written and somwhow a few lines went where they shouldnt have.  I dont and cant be fussed to re write it but I am sure you can figure it out....

[*paul_moss]

With respect Dave, were all worth more than Mike  Even with his 6 fingers 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave how ever you clean and what ever you do it is down to the perception of cost, if you can get the prices get them, the standard cleaning charges I hear about through out my area scare me silly, even my local CD don't charge the highest infact I think I'm more expensive then most if not all of them.

If you have got the clients that will pay it and you dare ask for the price you want go for it, mental block need not apply!

Go for it Dave!

Shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I was just thinking about protector and why I don't sell so much of it nowadays and I think it's because I don't truly believe it works!

What protector do you use Dave?

perhaps you would give us details on it?

Shaun

[Ian Gourlay]

Dave

Perhaps you could be a Guest Speker at a NCCA day out would have said
IICRC but they only have a Conference,

I would have liked Garry from Braintree aswell I now think he is Paul Wright from   ;DNorfolk
Dont think hes got to Spain yet.

Dave Glad you back I have missed you.

Regards

Ian