[nevil]

Nevil

From my long life experience I've found that people who communicate in the way you have done above are usually frightened of something which the see as threatening.

The likes of Groupon and the others that will surely appear as a result of their success should always be looked upon as an opportunity.

Anyone using this method of business generation and having the guts to post about their experiences should be applauded rather than criticised.

How you equate someone prepared to work as hard as required to get through the volume this marketing as LAZY and UNADVENTUROUS is a beyond me when by showing a willingness to experiment and have a go

Utter rubbish. Not remotely frightened by people looking for work at these prices. As I said I started low and in the beginning I certainly was frightened by not getting anything in the diary at all. And I will be again if things get bad and work becomes scarce. I would go as far as to say starting low is much easier to get into the marketplace and it's easier to build a business that way. Then as your competence grows along with the workload you can adjust prices. My point is, allowing Groupon to take half the money when the prices are already very low is daft. You don't need groupon. The only thing they give you is that you don't have to shell out for marketing up front but you are paying a very high price for that. Have your own special offer. Advertise £15 a room yourself making it very clear that the product is very high quality, it's a one off special and that it's discounted from a higher price. Then get out and push it. I really am no expert but I built my decent little business by getting out there and pushing it. I used to work full time to bring work in and would again in the blink of an eye if needed. But I wouldn't be shelling out half the money generated to anyone because it's not necessary. Just do it yourself. No offence intended to anyone.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Group on is a lazy way of getting work if you expect to make a living from it's 'raw' prices, you need to get the customer to ask for add ons that's how to increase the average job ticket. Jason explained to me how it works and it's not that dissimilar to Joe polish's free room clean (which everyone dissed)

Shaun

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

CC is a difficult business to get established in but the rewards are good if you can.

Does Groupon help?

I think the prices are just too cheap, if you were getting £50 per job, so £25 to you at least it would cover costs and leave a little beer money but at £29 you are making a loss.

Groupon probably works quite well for a restaurant who want to fill places but anyone has to be careful that they do not get a cheap reputation.

Cheers

Doug

[Steve Rothwell]

but at £29 you are making a loss.

Rather a sweeping statement there..................


You may make a loss at that Doug ...............


but not everyone has the same costs to begin with .................

[Tony Rowley]

Interesting to see there are so many experts who have not tried groupon but seem to know everything about it, how much you will lose, or make, how hard you will work, or not, how rubbish your business must be! The only people who ae qualified to do this are those who have tried and tested it the rest of us would and in most cases talking total bs because they have no knowledge as they have not done it.

I say well done to those who have tried it and have come on here and been willing to share their experience with us, surely thats what forums are all about, but all that happens here is that you share information and then get slated for it, your business is b@@@@@@s, you shouldn't be in business, your telling porkies!

Absolutely no respect for people who owe you nothing but are willing to share with
you, shame on you.

Difference of opinions is one thing, disrespect is something completely different.

Tony

[Steve Rothwell]

thank you Robert and thank you Tony

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Groupon for ya!

Shaun

[Steve. Taylor]

Hey i like the look of jason's assistant behind him in the stockings

[jasonl]

400M2  in 3 hours with 3 of us working , and a very  very delighted Marks and spencers manager

[from edge2edge]

Jason are you wearing an m and s shirt too.......................Alan

[John Kelly]

Looking at Jasons eyes it looks like he's watching for security coming. Quick get the photo and lets get out.

Only joking Jason

[Carl sands]

I'm running a cleaning business in Dublin doing car valeting, carpeting, upholstery and tile grout. I've just finished  run of 200 car valets with a variant of groupon and the results have been mixed.
About 5% of units processed are in dire condition, but the majority have been fairly ok. The work has generated about another 20% in turnover over the last three weeks and I'm hoping that I'll get about 20 more leads from the scheme.
It hasn't been a cake walk but it is profitable!

[Helen]

I'm running a cleaning business in Dublin doing car valeting, carpeting, upholstery and tile grout. I've just finished  run of 200 car valets with a variant of groupon and the results have been mixed.
About 5% of units processed are in dire condition, but the majority have been fairly ok. The work has generated about another 20% in turnover over the last three weeks and I'm hoping that I'll get about 20 more leads from the scheme.
It hasn't been a cake walk but it is profitable!

which one was it? living social? kgb? or are there others around Dublin. seems to be a new lot springing up every day here

[derek west]

wowcher is the latest one, seen it advertised on tv yesterday. hopefully they'll all flog them selves to death.

[clinton]

There will prob be another in the pipline too i guess.

Great for half price pizas mind

[robert meldrum]

I'm afraid it's the way marketing is going although there will be variations on the theme as more companies get involved.

Every cloud however has a silver lining and it's just a case of figuring out how your own business can respond to such crazy - to carpet cleaners - but very appealing - to prospects, prices.

If you consider how Groupon, etc reach their prospective buyers and stimulate their interest you will be on your way but ...............you must be prepared to make them an OFFER every time.

[rycalshaw]

i suppose with all these companies popping up they,ll have to compete for business and that may give the operator better scope for negotiation.

[clinton]

Maybe they will drench the market and even stop them moving into any other businesses.

[Mike Mahoney]

First oven cleaning offer I have seen, today in manchester 19 quid for a two hour oven clean, had three cancel for next week already, its a joke.

I phoned the company to book in my own oven and they informed me that they dont normally do oven cleaning but someone from the sales team would be in touch, blah de blah de blah, that was 10am, still waiting.

Do they take 35% + vat, if thats the case, the operator will be getting £11.02 per job, for two hours.

MCM

[rycalshaw]

if £19 is what the custy pays,the operator will get £9.50, -£1.90 for tax + £7.60..