[Neil Williams]

Did a leather clean today which came via our leather website so she didn't know we clean carpets, well not until I told her....clearly reading the side of vans isn't her strong point
Anyway there's already someone booked via the letting agent to do the clean when they move out next week, and she was checking that the price quoted was correct, as she thought it might be a bit low. (the guy in question did it over the phone without as much as asking room sizes).
She said the price given was £130
So read on.....
I said I'd measure up and calculate when I finished the leathers.
Here we go....

109 sq/m NOT including the stairs which split half way up going to left and right landings, so a bit more than the standard 13 steps.

Now, granted the place would be empty but dog urine on main bedroom carpet and make up over one of the kids bedrooms.

£130 someone is in for mighty big surprise when they turn up

[Russ Chadd]

Haha classic! 

[Buckland]

Yeah but Neil thats what this industry produces - mediocre or below par results for poor money - its all about eddukation - the customers need to be educated to ask more questions - like for instance lets start with an easy one - How are you going to clean my carpets?

I have been asked How much to clean a square metre of carpet? no other details just that - I politely refused and the lady had no time for a visit.

In this case its a letting agent (is it?) who is doing the shopping around (or more like just using a preferred operator) so its down to price and nothing else - then probably a bitchin' and a moanin' behind the blokes back when its not perfect!

What we as an industry need is a properly useful PR company who can take a brief and get articles published all over the country on what to look for from your carpet cleaner and sensible questions to ask - Which the consumer magazine would be a good place to start - if the NCCA was worth their salt they would be doing things like this...

[Neil Williams]

What we as an industry need is a properly useful PR company who can take a brief and get articles published all over the country on what to look for from your carpet cleaner and sensible questions to ask - Which the consumer magazine would be a good place to start - if the NCCA was worth their salt they would be doing things like this...

I'm not putting any blame on the tenant at all. Afterall she does think it's a bit cheap, but it's who the letting agent recommends, and as the tenant you want it doing as cheap as possible to get the maximum deposit back. (so she's onto a winner with this one).
BUT
What about the property owner? Are they aware their property is being looked after on the cheap? Whilst paying the agent a fair amount of money for the privilage
In the end it's false economy, you know it, I know it, just about everyone knows it. So yes how do we get the message across to the millions?

For those who know the area it was in Chandlers Ford where house prices and rentals are.....a bit on the high side.

[Colin Day]

What's to say that for £130, the guy isn't going to do an outstanding job?

I've cleaned many carpets where I've found out (quite annoyingly) I'm slightly cheaper than the last guy, but I have produced a better job. (By the customer's own admission)

I've even seen it where I have quoted over the phone at really busy periods, got to the house and thought, "Oh no, I've really under-quoted here."  Did I hold back on still giving an 100% clean? Not a chance! I'm happy to say that this is a very rare occurrence. In the main I seem to be on the money, I'm happy, the customers happy.... Result  

[markpowell]

It is on the low side but as Colin said he may well do a fantastic job, i would guess 4 hours work if its empty so after his costs he is doing £30 an hour, not bad if he is retired and has no over heads, i would be charging £280 for this job by the way
Mark

[Jim_77]

I used to go out with a girl from Chandlers Ford.  Cracking gazonkers

[Neil Williams]

I used to go out with a girl from Chandlers Ford.  Cracking gazonkers

I'll let her know tomorrow how you're doing and where to find you

[Adam P]

i don't see what's wrong. when the person turns up they'll see the work involved and explain the correct price. i do it all the time. is this not normal?

[Steve Chapman]

Yep, it's called bait & switch 

[Adam P]

no it's not. bait with a cheap price but from what he understands it's the correct over the phone rate until he sees what is involved. bait is more like £30 for the place then switch to £200.

what he's done is he's given the customer an idea of what it'd cost from what he knows. this method saves them both time as she doesn't need to be in to show him the place and he doesn't need to go do the quote.

as mentioned we do this all the time and our happy customers never complained or mentioned it as an issue

[Carpet Dawg]

You dont half get yourself in a muddle with your replys Adam! lol

If you say to the customer on the phone it'll be between x amount and y amount, (depending on condtion and size of areas) thats ok.
But if you tell the customer its going to be £60 and then ask for more (say £100) once your there, then this is bad practise and edging on bait and switch IMO

[Adam P]

it's foolish to say it'll def be any price on the phone if you haven't seen it, it'll always be a guide price. we all know that. anyone with experience will know that. anyone without experience may not and if that's the case £130 plus the experience is good money.  this is nothing like a bait and switch. £130 is not low for that size if it's not too bad condition. £8.99 is low. £8.99 is clearly bait and switch.

[Steve Rothwell]

So is going from £130 to £200

You should also be very careful who you call foolish Kermit, as some people might take offence at you rubbishing their business model.

[Joe H]

without seeing a job ie telephone call,  this cannot be a quote but an ESTIMATE and that is what you tell the customer.
despite what the caller may tell you, you dont know the sizes are correct, or the condition, or the contents in th room etc
you got to cover yourself.
perhaps the guy that quoted £130 is inexperienced or happy to earn £130 a day no matter what the job is.

[The Great One]

Hi

Why does everyone equate a cheap job with a crap job?

He may do an amazing job at the cheaper price, why wouldn't he?

What is the difference between turning up in a car or a van?

It is only the 'perceived' professionalism that people attach to the van, it doesn't make the operator a worse carpet cleaner or make them a cowboy or rip off merchant.

Same goes for the cheaper price, he may be happy to work for that, he may be starting out, it may be a set price between contractor & LA, all sorts of factors may be included, but some assume he is bait and switch or a bad operator.

Bizarre 

Martin

[tomsy]

Yes, he probably will be in for a surprise but as Martin says, he is probably a start-up. So at the end of his long day he will have learnt to ask a few more Q's over the phone but will be happy that his wallet is a tiny bit heavier than it would have been if he had over-quoted. And more practice in an empty house is a bonus.

[vince viola]

Got to agree with Martin on this one.I used to work out of an estate car when I started 15 years ago and was on the cheap side.
That was so I could build up my client base.Also my standard of work wasn't lower because I didn't have a van and was cheaper than the big companies out there.

[Adam Fearnley]

yes I would be so shocked having to work a few hours for £130, can you imagine it?  :

[Helen]

What a turn round from 16 months ago! I love threads like this.
16 months ago we had " wouldn't get out of bed for less than £.....
16 Months ago we had " I'm going to earn £100 p/h carpet cleaning"
A sign of the time's methinks