[wynne jones]

the reason some carpet cleaners moan about the higher priced people in our industry is because they don't have the bottle to  look at themselves with a critical eye, its a lot easier to call someone a robber than to admit they are a bad businessman.

some lower priced carpet cleaners will always be able to justify to themselves that the price they charge is right and anyone else who is higher is ripping of the customer.

they can give themselves loads of excuses reason why customers won't pay a higher price

were the real truth is they are not worth the higher price as they don't believe they are worth it

That, to be honest is the biggest load of nonsense I have read in a long while.

Tony

I'd take stock and consider what Mike is saying again. No one else can put you out of business only yourself. If you accept you are the problem you can do something about it, if you don't you can blame others when you're going for job interviews.

[Neil Williams]

Sorry but Cleanacarpet Ltd don't make carpets so can't be compared with Axminster.

You buy an item, could be anything, car, carpet, oven, boat etc which from time to time requires servicing.

There's is a choice between (a) the manufacturer/manufacturers representitive doing the work or (b) someone else qualified but not tied to said manufacturer.

Choice (a) does it for £x but (b) does exactly the same under the same standards for £x-30%

I know which one I'm going for.

Of course people think they are getting better because they pay more, and with plush premises, suit and tie that's helps push the price up too, but it doesn't really mean you are getting more for your money

[AshWhite]

But Mrs Jones doesn't know what she's getting for her money. Would she feel aggrieved if there was no pre-vac, if it took 24 hours to dry, if ALL the stains didn't come out?

If you said "I know I'm £50 more, but check out my new polo shirt" you'd get nowhere. If you said "I know I'm £50 more, but I'll leave your carpets drier, cleaner, and do a more thorough job than someone who only charges £X amount" then you've at least got a fighting chance.

She wouldn't know any different until she's tried 2 seperate companies. In the mean time, it's up to you to convince her that the extra you're charging makes a difference.

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

If you can afford a BMW you don't quibble about the cost of a main dealer service.

If you can afford a £2 million pound house you don't quibble about the cost of carpet cleaning.

You do, however, expect a certain standard of workmanship, customer service and trustworthiness.

I know the guys who charge top money in this game and I know the type of clients they work for - you don't see them on here bitching about cleaning up cat poop and being knocked for £100, they are not working for that type of client.

If you advertise cheap prices then you're going to get a diverse cross-section of clients - or maybe not, but I know what market I prefer.

[Jim_77]

Yeah, what steve said!

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I've had many a barter with people in the biggest homes, as one of my other customers once said to me "big house, big car, nowt int fridge", Jason L said that alot of his Groupon buyers were from the poshest homes and I'd agree.

I'm a BMW owner (well my gaffer is) and we don't go their for tyres I can tell you!

Shaun

[jasonl]

Cleaned this on a group on , most floors were wood or tile , one lounge alone was 38m2  , that was her groupon deal , she expected 2 big bedrooms cleaned too in with the deal.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29875222.html/svr/2702?premiumA=true

Eventually agreed on £70  so I ended up with £93  for 2 hours on site , by the end of the job she was delighted ,got to go and clean 4 flats for her next month/early Jan .

She has lost millions in the recession because of developments left unsold , wanted a bargain , got one , I am happy she is happy.

This has been repeated several times on my Groupon project , I also cleaned a barnsley footballer house yesterday on a groupon , £130 extra booked in .  

[derek west]

Cleaned this on a group on , most floors were wood or tile , one lounge alone was 38m2  , that was her groupon deal , she expected 2 big bedrooms cleaned too in with the deal.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29875222.html/svr/2702?premiumA=true

Eventually agreed on £70  so I ended up with £93  for 2 hours on site , by the end of the job she was delighted ,got to go and clean 4 flats for her next month/early Jan .

She has lost millions in the recession because of developments left unsold , wanted a bargain , got one , I am happy she is happy.

This has been repeated several times on my Groupon project , I also cleaned a barnsley footballer house yesterday on a groupon , £130 extra booked in .  

cheers for that jay, ive been looking for a retirement home

[Shaun_Ashmore]

That's the start of the expensive house area and they are as tight as anything (sitation deleted) I prefer the poorer classes.

Shaun

[jasonl]

What you on about Shaun it was one step below your place

[Paul H]

Barnsley footballer......

You want to be football league or premier league...?   think this sums this post up quite nicely

Im happy being sunday league! lol  

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I live in the cardboard next to the wheelie bin, bet they have a bigger mortgage than me though

Shaun

[Neil Williams]

Cleaned this on a group on , most floors were wood or tile , one lounge alone was 38m2  , that was her groupon deal , she expected 2 big bedrooms cleaned too in with the deal.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29875222.html/svr/2702?premiumA=true

Eventually agreed on £70  so I ended up with £93  for 2 hours on site , by the end of the job she was delighted ,got to go and clean 4 flats for her next month/early Jan .

She has lost millions in the recession because of developments left unsold , wanted a bargain , got one , I am happy she is happy.

This has been repeated several times on my Groupon project , I also cleaned a barnsley footballer house yesterday on a groupon , £130 extra booked in .  

Someone tell me this flies in the face of the 'normal' groupon type customer. I'm finding it hard to believe that people living to that standard are scrubbing around the net looking for Liddle type bargins.
Somehow I bet the car she drives isn't a Y Reg Ford Escort

[jasonl]

2010 MERCEDES eCLASS COUPE ON A NICE PRIVATE plate .


Was in a Bamford mill conversion yesterday , barn conversion , retired owner of a welding set manufacturer today , ex director of Forgemasters last week.

I have been amazed at the amount of high end customers using Groupon , princess anne is a user! 

I am also amazed at the latent demand for carpet cleaning , people want VALUE not cheap prices.

When people see me  and use my services they know that next time they will get ,,,

No nonsense or fuss, low profile carpet cleaner

Well dressed , clean operator they can trust

Fast drying

ON time

Fair pricing

Most stains removed

That is what these bust people want  nothing more or less , they  just think it is flim flam all this TM talk and amazing chemical chat , and price plan bull.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

They are nice the ones opposite the dam I nearly bought one a few years ago but they weren't cheap and the let very well and only a hop skip and a jump to the Yorkshire Bridge pub which do very nice dinners.

Shaun

[Neil Williams]

2010 MERCEDES eCLASS COUPE ON A NICE PRIVATE plate .

Not surprised at all, which beggers the question why would someone who shops at Groupon spend £40k-£50k on a car instead of just making do with a Skoda. Yet when they want a service think they can get it for next to nothing.

Mr Confused

[Ricky M]

mm... pricing eh, that old chestickle nut !

after 4 years and completely changing the processes involved in general wall to wall carpet cleaning I charge 2 - 3 times as much , various factors involved here i.e distance, type of carpet, stature of client-they want the extra mile services and there not normally in !!
   ( min job ticket for joe bloggs: 1 small room, at £54 inc vat ) and yes I/we are busy , maybe a little too busy to really enjoy all the hard work but I really interact with my clients and it opens lots of doors for us.

Pricing in in the eye of the beholder ,its what they value there services and wealth of knowledge at, this is a very personal business we are involved in and if done correctly is bloody skilled and hard work .

All IMO of course  

[Shaun_Ashmore]

There's a lovely cafe near us ran by a farmer they are on Groupon selling meal, we buy from them at the full price it really is good quality stuff so my mrs has taken advantage of groupon (the turn coat ) if people want a bargain let them have it but I'm all out of bargains but as Ester used to say "that's life"

Shaun

[Tony Rowley]

I started this subject to see what replies would come forward and overall I got what I expected from most people. I can honestly say that the only persons views or opinion that made sense was Steve Barnnets, without being predudice or vindictive or belittling others made his point honestly.

The thread was not about what was right or wrong regarding pricing but was just to raise discussion.

Snide remarks and  vindictiveness is what I and many others get from the "BIGGER BOYS" suggesting that I/we dont know  to run a business etc etc etc.

I have been around a bit, for 20 odd years I have been managing people and customers and I can honestly say that in any business I have been involved in I have valued my honesty and integrity above anything else. When in business ( unless you are a politician or a banker) they are the key fundamental values to success (sounds old fashioned  I know).

In my last job I walked after 10 years from £40k, company car etc because i did not believe in the direction the company was going in and the MD was a complete idiot, I valued my honesty and integrity more than my job.

Do I regret my decision? never, only wished I had left earlier and started working for myself many years ago.

Some of the BIGGER BOYS on here need to get a grip, I think its a fear of old age but I could be wrong but reading your replies honesty or integrity are probably words your not familiar with, robbery and.............., sorry sounds like sour grapes.....

So I and many others will continue to run our businesses run on basic, honest values and you BIGGER BOYS will continue with yours.

Discussion is a wonderful thing.

This is clearly all assumption as I have never met you and you have never met me!

Tony

[Carpet Dawg]

You sound like a barrel of laughs Tony!