[benny d]

Who uses a laptop and printer when quoting to a potential client?

Many moons ago at Alltec, this was the way I was told would be the best, and look most professional etc. Alltec's software at the time was about £1,000-00 from America I think, so I didnt buy that!

The reason is that im thinking of buying Cleaners Mate software which seems well priced and has free updates I believe?

Do you use Cleaners Mate and printer to print off infront of the potential customer? If so, do you think that as they see it come out of a laptop, the conversion rate is better, than for instance, like I do i measure up do a bit of working out of costs, add my birthday to the cost, take away 2012, double the first number I thought of, and multiply by five which gives me the overall cost!  I'm joking, but I hope you get the idea.

Do people trust the laptop, and possibly pay more, if you use a funky laptop and printer to quote?
Thanks
Benny

[Jamie Pearson]

I prefer the supercar method of pricing.

Cost of job x number of exhaust pipes I can see/wipers x width of electric gates in metres = invoice.

[garyhumphreys]

I bought a laptop for invoices and commercial quotes with a printer in the van so everything was instant and totally professional.

What a bleeding faff !

I would much sooner be looking into my customers eyes when working out my quote and deciding whether price objections need overcoming than looking down at a laptop and if a salesman opened his laptop in my house, Im sorry to say that I would be inclined to open the door and say tara mate fearing some lengthy sale pitch.

IMO

[garyhumphreys]

But buy CleanersMate anyway its invaluable.

[david@zap-clean]

As a start-up, I don't have much clout with my comments here but...

I think it's essential to have a decent CRM system, and the ones already out there appear way OTT for my requirements, and far too expensive.

I've trialled Cleaners Mate several times, and in the end (well, after trying to find the best CRM package for me) it wins hands down for my purpose.

I didn't buy the pro version as I have no use for their 'quotemaster' tool.  I print off my phone quotes the night before the job, then transfer the info to my NCR invoicing sheet (NCCA).  It's early days for me, but I think Cleaners Mate is great.

....maybe I should have bought the Pro version, just for the new 'text customer' functionality!!!

[Steve Chapman]

Hi Benny,

for starters cleaners mate is a fantastic piece of software and i wouldnt be without it.

As for in house quoting and printing with it, is people dont really want it ( just my opinion    ),  customers buy from you not a computer with a fancy printout.

The time spent doing the calculations is time wasted in my opinion when you could be chatting, being friendly and winning them over.

I've often gone to do a quote and noticed the customer has a printout of another companies quote on the side, normally a well known national company,( which I normally have quick glance at  ), when i've had a chat and patted the dog, drunk the coffee etc the job is normally mine, sometimes they dont even want a written quote, as they are happy with me and what i can do.

As i'm an art lover i would take more time commenting on their pictures & paintings, suddenly your a friend and not just a carpet cleaner.

Thats not saying i dont act professionally, what i normally try to do is get their email address and say ill send a quote over to them so thay have it writing, that way you have their email for future marketing as well.

People buy from people, if you are silent tapping information in and doing printouts then they will not come to know much about you, just the price.

One thing i always do though is measure with a laser measurer and work the quote out on the iphone or ipad,  customers never seem to question a price when you appear to be working it out professionally, i always tell them the sizes as their 10 foot square lounge is often a lot bigger than they imagine 

I think the software is good for you as a business person but can be boring for the customer


Regards
Steve

[Len Gribble]

Benny

Lap top got three never used them for that, that’s what an iphone / android are for, we use invoices2go it suits our needs. Understand CM is the best


With out looking in any ones eyes response today

Hi Len

Thanks for the prices for the 3 jobs above.

Please continue as agreed

Thanks

Alan

Green Is Good. Please Only Print This Email If Absolutely Necessary

(Don’t know about green do know about saving a few pennies)

Whats a laser measurer

Being friendly and winning them over, suddenly your a friend and not just a carpet cleaner now Benny take a note (stay away from godamin ) 

[benny d]

Thanks for all the above responses. Its much appreciated.

I do all the above, and get most jobs I go out and quote for. It was just a thought about the "take a laptop" to the custy, as Alltec training was all about that back in 2005 - ish when I was on the Fastrack to Stardom course     

I will give the Claners Mate a try, and by the sounds of it, it will be a big help. I think I have a lot of typing to do to transfer all addresses and phone numbers into the programme!

I also like the idea of the texting reminder. Must remember to get mobile numbers from everybody in future!
Ben

[Len Gribble]

Good on you Benny as for transferring data Kev may be able to help 


My question is? How do you unsubscribe to text messages, keep telling those ppi I have haven’t had a loan in over 20years and would never have that type of insurance, don’t get me on the accidents (wife she gives my nbr )

Surly there must be a Law for this under the DPA

[Kev Loomes]

There are people on this forum who do do laptop quotations - but are being a bit shy lol

Anyway I understand that doing in home quotations is not for everyone (there's nowt wrong with that, that's for sure), it can even be a bit daunting I suppose for some people, I mean what if something goes wrong! (it doesnt by the way!).

I think that we can all safely say too that doing a quote by hand or just verbally is quite an easy staightforward process, and its what some of us feel comfortable with - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that either - afterall it works.

But how many of us actually know the true value of doing 'light' in home package quoting? Talking from a carpet cleaning business perspective (and not from a Cleaners Mate one - they are completely different entities I assure you), I can honestly say that its been a definitive yes (certainly in our business) that overall we come away with higher job tickets simply by doing a quote and a printout - which takes no time at all. Thats why we do it all the time (well 99% anyway). Dont get me wrong, it doesnt happen on every quote i.e. if its a really small job - but overall yes it does.

I wholeheartedly agree that its all about people buying from people - ABSOLUTELY, and I would impress this with the utmost, critical importance - and this is certainly conveyed in the quotation. But at the same time as this, offering the client in what appears to be a more 'professional' business manner - with more offerings, is the key to having a higher job value - leading to more turnover. Some clients dont even know what they want until its offered to them, and are sometimes pleasantly surprised because they just thought it would be one price for 'carpet cleaning' and can be quite enthusiastic in wanting the other services automatically offered (unlike most other quotes).

I find its all about multitasking - chatting to the custy doing the selling/filling them with confidence - with a coffee, and entering details at the same time. Very quickly it becomes second nature, and generally I find clients like the set up and it is always a talking point.

I find its a small sacrifice for the return it certainly brings. Essentially (from my own experience) I think its all about being Professional, Friendly, Knowledgable & Honest - and all these qualities can be brought to the fore through the right style of quotation.

So, at the end of the day - its not everyones cup of tea and that has to be accepted by everyone (and I definately understand that).

Thanks


Kev

p.s.

Len - there are laws on this and so long as you have obtained a clients number through a sale or a service it is fine to text them - so long as you give them the opportunity to decline such marketing http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/marketing/texts.aspx

Benny - email me admin@cleanersmate.co.uk

[Barry Livingstone]

The Thing Is Laptops are old Skool, Ipads and such are the way forward and faster to show the Customer! But Am stuck In the Dark ages PAPER for me 

But if Anyone got a great Ipad APP for Doing Quotes tell us about it!!

[Carpet Dawg]

I prefer the supercar method of pricing.

Cost of job x number of exhaust pipes I can see/wipers x width of electric gates in metres = invoice.

My girlfriend has an M3... 4 exhausts! Good thing I only charged her for one  4 years ago.

[Jamie Pearson]

I prefer the supercar method of pricing.

Cost of job x number of exhaust pipes I can see/wipers x width of electric gates in metres = invoice.

My girlfriend has an M3... 4 exhausts! Good thing I only charged her for one  4 years ago.

It has 2 wipers though so its only doubled. You need a Lambo so its 4:1 for a really profitable job.

[Jamie Pearson]

The Thing Is Laptops are old Skool, Ipads and such are the way forward and faster to show the Customer! But Am stuck In the Dark ages PAPER for me 

But if Anyone got a great Ipad APP for Doing Quotes tell us about it!!

I will show you when you are in next

[Steve Chapman]

You can use cleaners mate on an iPad via pocket cloud software,

Although it would be easier if you had your own version on the pad


Steve

[david@zap-clean]

Steve, as an ex-IT guy your post caught my attention.

You could alternatively also use an Android tablet: http://www.pocketcloud.com/remotedesktop#tab-video

...What this software does is connect your TABLET to your home PC via a secure network connection.
To use this will require a really good broadband connection - and that's it's failing as far as I'm concerned.

I think I'll stick to my cleanersmate printed out quotes.