[duncan h]

Gets a call off an Asian women. No idea where she got my number from, anyway.
Can you clean my windows TODAY.
Not really
I need them doing today, how much
What type house etc...about £20. Is it a 1 off
YES
£20
Can you do inside also.
Don't really do inside, but about same price.
I am only here today. I have come from Essex, its a rented property etc etc. Can you do inside and out for £20 (NO) How much is it normally for outside.(10, but double for 1 off)Ok do inside and outside every 5 weeks (does she think I am stupid)
£20 inside £20 outside
You do it for £20...please.
Its not worth trailing all for way for £20.
Well F*** Off then

[SeanK]

She told you to f off  the joys of dealing with the public.

[Matt.]

 

[CleanClear]

Gets a call off an Asian women. No idea where she got my number from, anyway.
Can you clean my windows TODAY.
Not really
I need them doing today, how much
What type house etc...about £20. Is it a 1 off
YES
£20
Can you do inside also.
Don't really do inside, but about same price.
I am only here today. I have come from Essex, its a rented property etc etc. Can you do inside and out for £20 (NO) How much is it normally for outside.(10, but double for 1 off)Ok do inside and outside every 5 weeks (does she think I am stupid)
£20 inside £20 outside
You do it for £20...please.
Its not worth trailing all for way for £20.
Well F*** Off then

Your timidity at pricing really comes across. As does the the fact you've stayed on the phone so long discussing without seeing it, you've said you can't really do it and still you're pricing it at £20.

Here's two tips.............
[1] if you can't do it, hang up and say no.
[2]if you're going to price a "today" job, and you might be able to do it............start at £50.

[KS Cleaning]

Gets a call off an Asian women. No idea where she got my number from, anyway.
Can you clean my windows TODAY.
Not really
I need them doing today, how much
What type house etc...about £20. Is it a 1 off
YES
£20
Can you do inside also.
Don't really do inside, but about same price.
I am only here today. I have come from Essex, its a rented property etc etc. Can you do inside and out for £20 (NO) How much is it normally for outside.(10, but double for 1 off)Ok do inside and outside every 5 weeks (does she think I am stupid)
£20 inside £20 outside
You do it for £20...please.
Its not worth trailing all for way for £20.
Well F*** Off then

Your timidity at pricing really comes across. As does the the fact you've stayed on the phone so long discussing without seeing it, you've said you can't really do it and still you're pricing it at £20.

Here's two tips.............
[1] if you can't do it, hang up and say no.
[2]if you're going to price a "today" job, and you might be able to do it............start at £50.

I like your tip [1]....... effectively you are telling him to hang up then say no to himself

[CleanClear]

I like your tip [1]....... effectively you are telling him to hang up then say no to himself
[/quote]

He needs some one to tell him, as he's going ahead and quoting stupid prices for work he can't do. Then gets miffed when they tell him to get lost!!!

[Positivity]

Unfortunately been messed about so much in the past any Asian calls - stock reply "Sorry we've a full round and not taking any more customers on!"
Had one last week wouldn't take no for an answer - "Why won't you clean them you live nearby" as I said "We're full up" - replies "It's only one house". "Sorry we don't have time." and so on and so forth.  Eventually had to put the phone down.
And another thing the usual opening question is "How much?" just to begin the knocking you down in price process.

[Walter Mitty]

Unfortunately, haggling does seem to be more ingrained into Asian cultures than ours.  That's all very well when trying to buy and sell quantities of products and seeking discounts on bulk purchase because the seller is still in profit.  It doesn't work so well when the main thing being sold is the labour time, as that impacts more directly on wages - thus making it easier to take personally.
My own way of dealing with it is that I visit the job, quote as normal, and at the first sign of haggling, I walk away.

[SeanK]

Don't really have any Asian customers but know how haggling works, the seller/provider starts with an over inflated price and lets the haggler talk the price down to where he would have been happy with in the first place.
Its actually works more in favour of the seller than it does the buyer, put it this way if you price an Asian property and you want
£20 you then say the price will be £40, chances are the customer will settle for more than you would have been happy with in the first place and all for a few minutes chat.
I good business man doesn't blame people for their customs he takes advantage of them.

[slap bash]

Asian culture is truly difficult for us to understand as it flies in the face of our own. They believe you should haggle and even more so if its a lower ranked job than that of their own . This is a perception they have so when you hear their accent double all prices  and allow them to fight you down to a price 10% higher than you would normally charge then do a half job and take the money and run. We will be happy to have the money and they are happy getting a big discount to tell their friend. Within the next week expect more calls from there friends who also want a discounted clean. It works every time.
 End of lesson.

[KS Cleaning]

Asian culture is truly difficult for us to understand as it flies in the face of our own. They believe you should haggle and even more so if its a lower ranked job than that of their own . This is a perception they have so when you hear their accent double all prices  and allow them to fight you down to a price 10% higher than you would normally charge then do a half job and take the money and run. We will be happy to have the money and they are happy getting a big discount to tell their friend. Within the next week expect more calls from there friends who also want a discounted clean. It works every time.
 End of lesson.

Aye, it works every time until they see another window cleaner and ask them if they can clean it any cheaper than they are currently being charged, then when you turn up for the next clean they say they don't need you any more.

[SeanK]

Asian culture is truly difficult for us to understand as it flies in the face of our own. They believe you should haggle and even more so if its a lower ranked job than that of their own . This is a perception they have so when you hear their accent double all prices  and allow them to fight you down to a price 10% higher than you would normally charge then do a half job and take the money and run. We will be happy to have the money and they are happy getting a big discount to tell their friend. Within the next week expect more calls from there friends who also want a discounted clean. It works every time.
 End of lesson.

Aye, it works every time until they see another window cleaner and ask them if they can clean it any cheaper than they are currently being charged, then when you turn up for the next clean they say they don't need you any more.

That's very true but unless you genuinely have no room for more work  its still money to be earned.

[Smurf]

Don't tar ppl with the same brush as some are fine but others can be a real pain in the butt like so many other cultures including what I call British toffs.

For example I did a job for an asian eminent surgeon and after getting paid as he ped me off so much I said I'm fed up with dealing with your kind so never call me back. The next job I go on the young Asian lad was fine and did not haggle nor mess me about at all. Then onto the British toff that agreed on a price then fooked me about with payment as for some strange reason they got it into there head they can pay when it suites them..... Like fook can they 

[Ian101]

I don't embarrass easily however a few years back I was approached by an Asian chap who wanted me to clean his windows so having listened to all the advice on here I wasn't particularly customer friendly and told him he had to pay 3 cleans in advance which he duly did.
He became one of the nicest and fastest paying customers I had on that particular round so I still cringe when I remember how difficult I made it for him.