[Tony Stewart]

Visited a couple of Indian Restaurants near me to try and get some business. I know you guys will say move on there are plenty of others -especially in Birmingham but I was taken aback at this.

Indian 1: Had a company in a month ago. He was a customer.
How much was it
£50.00 (and he had a truckmount)
But he hasn't cleaned the carpet.
What do you mean?
Well you see all that black stuff sitting on the top of the carpet that should have been removed so you can see the actual carpet.I am happy to come in and do a free demo to show you how clean it should be.
But that means it will cost me more and we have just spent £50, and he is a customer of ours, he eats here.

Indian 2
We had the carpet done on Sunday
How much did it cost
£65
But the carpet is still greasy, look you can feel it on your hand and it's still damp. Also the seams have split on the carpet as it's a Belgian Wilton and it has been over wet.
But it only cost £65 look here is the cash receipt.
But what about the carpet that it split?
We are going to get a new one because customers like to see a change.Goodbye.

Indian 3
We use him to clean the carpet.
But he's a waiter.
Yes we hire a machine and he uses it.
But all that black stuff that is leading from the kitchen you have not removed and covered with mats by the bar, should show the carpet underneath.
Will you do it for the same price as a hire?

Italian 1
We have just had it cleaned
But can you see the black marks on the carpet where the traffic areas are? I will come in and show you by cleaning an area for free to show you the quality of my work
You mean you will clean the room for free?

I gave up because I was obviously having a bad communication day.

I am not upset at not getting the business just that some of these guys are so hung up on the price they are oblivious to the quality and the poor cleaning they receive.

Mind you the waiter had one of those smiles that beamed from ear to ear and the restaurant is right opposite where I live. Every time I drive out to go to a job I smile at the thought of him moonlighting as a carpet cleaner.

[markpowell]

Your trying to sell your services to people that dont want it mate, if they ring you for a price then yolu have a little more chance.
saying that i avoid them like the plague, not worth hte hassle and time wasting.
I would spend your time leafletting houses or going round offices and offering a free demo etc.
Good luck 

[derek west]

on the way out, i would of picked up a menu and said "£6.99 for a curry??? get em in tesco's for £1.99 with rice. could you match that and i'll book a table?" 

[garry22]

Your trying to sell your services to people that dont want it mate

Spot on Mark.

Tony, why do you want to clean filthy carpets?

[Tony Stewart]

Nice one Derek!
Without seeming to be rude, when you are relatively new building a customer base is really hard and sometimes you older guys still comment that you wouldn't want to start now in this climate. it was only that these establishments need regular cleaning.
My domestic side is really easy but for someone who has come to me as a new customer who has had her carpets done for the first time in 12 years I would have to wait a while to ask her if she needed them freshening up again.
Gary - why indeed!!

[wynne jones]

We've all been there. It's maddening at the time but quite funny when you look back.

The thing is you are probably more upset with yourself than anything because you are in a position of having to try and reason with these folks. It's the same with those who get angry with letting agencies.

There are miles and miles of carpet just waiting to be cleaned by you at good prices for nice people.

I think you had a lucky escape myself.  

[Paul Moss]

Tony this is why we have a problem in this industry there are too many idiots doing a poo job for peanuts, both commercial and domestic.

[garry22]

Tony,

I had a family of five brothers (in five huge houses in Edgbaston) as customers and they were a nightmare. They really would have had me working for free if they could.

I went to the Alltec Extravaganza and listened intently to Joe Polish's talk on "Sack the customer"

I went home and "sacked" all five of them... then panic set in; "would I ever get any work again? What have I done?" etc.

Within two weeks I had replaced them with nice people who paid a fair price and did not view me with contempt as the others had.

One of the beauty's of being self employed is the ability to get rid of people like those energy suckers.

[Tony Stewart]

Gary you are right. Had a lovely customer today, easy clean at a fair price. Neighbour booked a clean when she saw the results. Just need more!
It was just that I saw the cart before the horse in the sense of looking in a window and seeing a carpet that needs cleaning.
It's so funny went to a letting agent and ended up cleaning their office carpet - if they have all those carpet cleaners doing the EOT cleans why not employ them? Probably because they are cheap and wouldn't want their office personnel working in an office they had cleaned.

[Adrian Marsh]

Professional hazard. See a carpet, can't help but look see if it needs cleaning. Have a day out with the family, look at every carpet under your feet. Go on holiday to relax, look at every carpet under your feet. Ahhhh, can't get away from carpet.

Seriously, and i know it's easy to say when you have a diary full of people HAPPY to pay your price, you're selling your time, not carpet cleaning. Sell it to those willing to pay you your worth. Not those who would just as soon use the next Groupon deal.

[Paul Moss]

Professional hazard. See a carpet, can't help but look see if it needs cleaning. Have a day out with the family, look at every carpet under your feet. Go on holiday to relax, look at every carpet under your feet. Ahhhh, can't get away from carpet.

Seriously, and i know it's easy to say when you have a diary full of people HAPPY to pay your price, you're selling your time, not carpet cleaning. Sell it to those willing to pay you your worth. Not those who would just as soon use the next Groupon deal.

Could not agree more with that

[Warren Aldridge]

Problem is there's no use in trying to sell them something they don't want.

All they wanted was a quick freshen up for good value and the carpet cleaner provided just that. The carpet cleaner could have been a real pro but just giving what is required.

I'd go spend 30 minutes there blasting the carpet for £60 if that's all they want. Simple as that really.

Sometimes I get my car cleaned for 3 quid by the machine at BP, sometimes I pay £11 and get humans to do it and sometimes I do it myself for free.

Horses for courses.

[Jim_77]

Tony,

Welcome to the learning curve

Don't dwell on the negative, hold on to the positive - you have learned something.  90% of indian restaurants are a waste of time unless you are a cheapo splash n dash outfit.

However I think your sales approach is wrong.  You need to AVOID PRICE.

Go in and ask them a direct question... "I'm a carpet cleaner and I do free demonstrations, when can I come in?"

Obviously the next question they will ask is how much do you charge.  Avoid it, tell them you will only know after you've done a demo.

As soon as you've got the chance to make a lovely clean square patch on their greasy blacktopped carpet then they can see why you will get it a lot better than their £60 cheapo man or waiter with a rug doctor.  Then you can talk price because you have the ultimate bargaining tool.  Start high and do not drop lower than the price you want for it.

By the way I'd avoid the belgian wiltons like the plague, simply a non starter, let them ruin them on their own.

Realistically you might only get the agreement for a free demo from 1 in 10, maybe 2 in 10.  But they could be customers for a long time if you get it right.

[Allan Simmons]

Tony this is why we have a problem in this industry there are too many idiots doing a poo job for peanuts, both commercial and domestic.

Exactly!

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

belgian wiltons got to love them in restants stright in with the drm , 600 psi full heat goodbye  black death and no movement       

[Craigp]

Problem is there's no use in trying to sell them something they don't want.

All they wanted was a quick freshen up for good value and the carpet cleaner provided just that. The carpet cleaner could have been a real pro but just giving what is required.

I'd go spend 30 minutes there blasting the carpet for £60 if that's all they want. Simple as that really.

Sometimes I get my car cleaned for 3 quid by the machine at BP, sometimes I pay £11 and get humans to do it and sometimes I do it myself for free.

Horses for courses.

Warren, How do you run  a TM on £25 a lounge carpet, I'm curious?

[Warren Aldridge]

£25.00 - Lounge (12x12 feet) Is the current deal.

Rooms have to be clear before arrival and we don't move furniture for that.... besides... 12 x 12 feet is tiny

If customers opt for another service they get it and pay another price... Like I say horses for courses.

How much does it cost to run a Truckmount anyway? Its not a jet

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

£25.00 - Lounge (12x12 feet) Is the current deal.

Rooms have to be clear before arrival and we don't move furniture for that.... besides... 12 x 12 feet is tiny

If customers opt for another service they get it and pay another price... Like I say horses for courses.

How much does it cost to run a Truckmount anyway? Its not a jet

man after my own hart dont get fooled buy that i charge this i charge that , if you makeing plenty and your happy carry on we doing the same and its workjing well !

[Doug Holloway]

Hi guys

Price always has and always will be a diificult area for a new starter.

Personally I would no more want to do an Indian restaurant for £300 or £30, not worth the hassle but I did in the past and learned the hard way.

CC is a hard business to get established in but if you are able to face to face sell, then sell the quality of the clean not the price, remember to accentuate the benefits to the customer.

Cheers

Doug

[Warren Aldridge]

There's no way I make £125 doing 5 jobs. I have a min charge of £60 anyway. Not a chance I'd consider doing any work for £25... I'm no fool