cousin stealing my window cleaning round in my area, charging £7

« **on:** August 25, 2012, 04:54:48 pm »

as title says. my cousin started up his own business in weston super mare called premier carpet cleaning.
he has been busy with carpets around my area in stroud gloucestershire. hes charging 2 rooms for £26 which is good for him.
but he phoned me and asked me what kit i have at my company and the prices of it all, now he has bought the same kit and advertising in my area and undercutting my prices to get work.
nice to know my own family would step on my toes, hes charging £7 per house any size. what should i do?

« **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2012, 04:59:25 pm »

let him get on with it

« **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:00:58 pm »

really?

« **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:06:07 pm »

you wont lose any and he will be a busy fool

« **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:10:22 pm »

Quote from: richardlingard on August 25, 2012, 05:06:07 pm

you wont lose any and he will be a busy fool

I agree. It sounds really hard to do, but in reality, what choice have you got. If you start dropping prices to a stupid level, what then? You'll have loads of underpriced work and be a busy fool like your cousin. What happens when the next turnip rocks up and undercuts you?

You have to concentrate on your business and watch these guys come and go. Seen it all before. Keep your nerve, not easy, but that's what you have to do mate.

Most of us have been through this at least once.

« **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:12:47 pm »

If you drop/match prices your as bad as him,smashing his van up is child's play Ffs get a life,stick to your prices is without doubt the way to go ,he won't last at them prices or will soon get ped off .

« **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:14:11 pm »

Quote from: richardlingard on August 25, 2012, 05:06:07 pm

you wont lose any and he will be a busy fool

thats very true. was just thinking it would dry up i my area

« **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:15:25 pm »

Quote from: magic moments on August 25, 2012, 05:12:47 pm

If you drop/match prices your as bad as him,smashing his van up is child's play Ffs get a life,stick to your prices is without doubt the way to go ,he won't last at them prices or will soon get ped off .

smashing his van up was a joke. even though im mad at him for stealing my customers i wouldnt do that

« **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:31:37 pm »

in fact i would think of putting the prices up,so it make him look even more stupid than he is.

« **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:37:41 pm »

round here in gloucestershire. people are going for price over quality of work and reputation

« **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:37:49 pm »

Advertise in his area and canvass hard - see how he likes it

As long as you are doing a good job and customers are happy I wouldn't envisage too much trouble - the ones that drop you for a cheaper clean aren't worth keeping - they'll drop him just as quick when someone else comes along cheaper

« **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:45:20 pm »

thats very true. we all have familys to feed tho

« **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:51:13 pm »

I would stick to your own prices!! and canvass his area like mad!!

« **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:51:38 pm »

Believe me, if you drop your prices I guarantee you will resent cleaning those houses and start to hate your job
Treat it as motivation to get out there and gain as much better paid work for yourself as you can - don't just sit there and let someone else take it from you
You'll feel much better picking up well priced work while he slogging away for peanuts

« **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:26:31 pm »

Tell ye mum to batter your aunty

« **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:29:07 pm »

concentrate on your business,do something different to him?,standing orders,bacs etc but never drop prices,if you loose a few,so what
i have just lost a £14.00 job to KARCHER

(she doesn't realises it only works on flat glass,hers are unleaded)

« **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:29:51 pm »

Quote from: colin purewater on August 25, 2012, 06:26:31 pm

Tell ye mum to batter your aunty

or wait for the next funeral,wedding,have a few and lamp him one

« **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:31:15 pm »

Quote from: ben smith1234 on August 25, 2012, 05:37:41 pm

round here in gloucestershire. people are going for price over quality of work and reputation

Not the custies you want to keep don't; they never have and never will. It's all in your head.

« **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:33:16 pm »

keep an eye out while you are working,see if hes spying on you and later visiting these customers and offering them a lower price

an ex employee of mine was doing this, but i found a very good way to re-claim the few i lost to him .

« **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2012, 06:33:35 pm »

Quote from: bobplum on August 25, 2012, 06:29:07 pm

concentrate on your business,do something different to him?,standing orders,bacs etc but never drop prices,if you loose a few,so what
i have just lost a £14.00 job to KARCHER (she doesn't realises it only works on flat glass,hers are unleaded)

I put unleaded in my car !

Poll

hes charging everyone £7 per house. what shall i do?