[Tosh]

I've been out today and pushed a letter through 50 customers (I printed 50 off) letter boxes telling them that at their next clean their prices are going up.

I've hiked up the prices of a small number of accounts that were underpriced (awkward access accounts mostly) by about 30% and the rest were increased around 10% and so far I've had three phone calls from customers telling me 'no problems' and asking how I've managed during this past spell of bad weather.

I'm going to put up another 50 to 70 customers next weekend.

So, I would say on the basis of the feedback I've received, strike while the iron is hot, and get those prices up.   

[Ian W]

Any chance of letting us see the letter Tosh? I have to do the same, but it went down like a lead balloon last time...  :

[Tosh]

Any chance of letting us see the letter Tosh? I have to do the same, but it went down like a lead balloon last time...  :

This was the main text of my letter:

WINDOW CLEANING - PRICE INCREASE

With effect of the next clean the price of your window cleaning will increase to £_________.  We apologise for this increase - putting up our prices is something we rarely do - however the severity of this Winter has forced us to look at those accounts we feel are below what they should be.

We would like to remind our customers that we are fully insured (for your protection) and wish to provide a friendly, hassle free and professional service.

If you wish to discuss any of the above, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

And if I hiked them up I would write a HAND WRITTEN NOTE at the bottom of the letter along the lines of:

----------------------------------------

Dear Mrs Smith,

We really do apologise for what may appear to be a substantial increase in the cost of your window cleaning, however it has been a long time since we have increased our prices, and although we do not wish to do so, our finances have forced us to do so.

Kind regards,

Ken

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[dazmond]

most of mine are going up in april every year from now on.i never bother with a letter.i just tell in march they will be going up from next month.i even put some up by £3-£5 just before xmas! ;Di wasnt bothered if i lost some.i didnt lose one.happy days

[AuRavelling79]

This was the main text of my letter:

WINDOW CLEANING - PRICE INCREASE

With effect of the next clean the price of your window cleaning will increase to £X orbitant.  We laugh at you for accepting this increase - putting up our prices is something we love to do - however the severity of this Winter has forced us stay at home in front of the fire drinking ourselves silly except when we ventured out to get our dole money. The accounts we feel are below what they should be (i.e. all of them) are going up pronto!

We would like to remind our customers that we are fully insured (for our protection) and wish to provide a fiendly, hasty and profeshnial service.

If you wish to discuss any of the above, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us at the snug bar in the Bridge Inn where me and Wor Lass will be waiting with baseball bats.

And if I hiked them up I would write a HAND WRITTEN NOTE at the bottom of the letter along the lines of:

----------------------------------------

Dear Mrs Smith,

We really do apologise for what may appear to be a substantial increase in the cost of your window cleaning, however it has been a long time since we have increased our prices, and although we do not wish to do so, your gullibility and our greediness have forced us to do so.

Also, as I have over eaten so much this Xmas I have become a right little buddha and can no longer fit into my wife's dresses and so I have to buy my own in size 18 because I am such a big boy girl.

If you want a cheap windy cleeny then try "Maureen" Squeaky Clean cuz she's so cheap!

Kind regards,

Ken Tenko Yoshimuri

------------------------------------------------------------

There you go Tosh - I fixed it for you! 

[Tosh]

   Thank you, Malc!

[Ian W]

Cheers Tosh.

I am tempted to use Gold's version though.  

[matt]

mine are going up next go around

1 quid a house, job done

[AuRavelling79]

Started doing mine a fortnight ago too - average a quid and except for one, all ok and even she "came round" when I said (politely) I had a waiting list and didn't mind if she cancelled!

[G Griffin]

I wouldn`t apologise for a price increase. It sounds as though you`re doing something wrong or giving them bad news.
  I would be more positive and point out that the customer is still getting good value for money.

[ftp]

My prices went down today!




Several customers had no money and had to scrape up their loose change to pay me - four came up short  :

[simon knight]

  I would be more positive and point out that the customer is still getting good value for money.

Yeah but that in itself is trying to justify a valid increase.

I just up the price and wait for them to say something. Very occassionally I might get a comment along the lines of "oh you've upped your price" but mostly they just accept the increase.  Mind you I'd don't have the balls to up an account by 30%

[G Griffin]

  I would be more positive and point out that the customer is still getting good value for money.

Yeah but that in itself is trying to justify a valid increase.

I just up the price and wait for them to say something. Very occassionally I might get a comment along the lines of "oh you've upped your price" but mostly they just accept the increase.  Mind you I'd don't have the balls to up an account by 30%

I didn`t mean that. I would do as you do and just let them know. If they did comment then I wouldn`t be apologetic but try and put a positive spin on things. For example on under priced work, you can still offer a good quality service. This may not be the case at the old price.

[elfords]

Unless its a large value job or I rarely write to explain. I just simply put the price up and deal with any issues if the arise after. In 18 years I rarely have had an issue doing this and for me why highlight the fact that you have put your prices up a reasonable amount each year. If they do complain and they never have that I did not write to them I would explain that I would rather keep my prices down by not wasteing my time on too much unnecessary admin. Of course there are some I do write to but these are high value commercial contracts and they would expect it. I believe the vast majority of domestic customers don`t necessarily expect it, a word before hand or just simply seeing the price has gone up suffices in 99% of cases in my experience. Try & do it annually so they get used to it also.

[pingu]

I'm determined to put my prices up New Year 2011..been going since Aug 06 and not a single price rise yet....been too busy building the business to be that concerned with price rises.

But have to admit that I am a little scared to raise prices as building the business has taken some time and losing customers is a real concern to me.

Does anyone has some sort of formulae to price rising?

Cheers
Dave.

p.s I don't need someone chirping I need to 'get a set'

[Martin ccs]

managed to put most of mine up to. £1 - £2 per house.

not a single prob from anyone.

even managed to put my commercial cleaning rate up by £2 per hour.

thought i would of got loads of problems but everything went well!

i dont do letters i just explain ive done my two yearly price review and customers understand - what with fuel going up and so on .....

[G Griffin]

I think smaller and more frequent price increases is the way. Rather than leaving them for for a few years and then having to put them quite a bit.
   My prices are all low anyway, so the latter wouldn`t work.
  The customer could then expect an increase (yearly or 2 yearly) and be ok if it`s relatively small.
    Then again, they are all different.

[Mike #1]

i am increasing all of my prices by £1.00 used to dread putting prices up not bothered now , people have been ok i genrally increase prices every 2 years

[cat9921]

This was the main text of my letter:

WINDOW CLEANING - PRICE INCREASE

With effect of the next clean the price of your window cleaning will increase to £X orbitant.  We laugh at you for accepting this increase - putting up our prices is something we love to do - however the severity of this Winter has forced us stay at home in front of the fire drinking ourselves silly except when we ventured out to get our dole money. The accounts we feel are below what they should be (i.e. all of them) are going up pronto!

We would like to remind our customers that we are fully insured (for our protection) and wish to provide a fiendly, hasty and profeshnial service.

If you wish to discuss any of the above, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us at the snug bar in the Bridge Inn where me and Wor Lass will be waiting with baseball bats.

And if I hiked them up I would write a HAND WRITTEN NOTE at the bottom of the letter along the lines of:

----------------------------------------

Dear Mrs Smith,

We really do apologise for what may appear to be a substantial increase in the cost of your window cleaning, however it has been a long time since we have increased our prices, and although we do not wish to do so, your gullibility and our greediness have forced us to do so.

Also, as I have over eaten so much this Xmas I have become a right little buddha and can no longer fit into my wife's dresses and so I have to buy my own in size 18 because I am such a big boy girl.

If you want a cheap windy cleeny then try "Maureen" Squeaky Clean cuz she's so cheap!

Kind regards,

Ken Tenko Yoshimuri

------------------------------------------------------------

There you go Tosh - I fixed it for you! 

Brilliant Gold just Brilliant