[Russ Chadd]

This is how a conversation reads on a Facebook site for local mums... Changed the names for obvious reasons

Mrs Jones
Hello, how much do you pay for a carpet cleaner? I only want a smallish area cleaned and possibly my stairs. I could buy a carpet cleaner for the amount I've been quoted....and i may buy one if i don't get a cheaper quote lol x
Like ·  · Unfollow Post · 2 hours ago via Mobile

Samantha XXXX I used a guy his Facebook page is the carpet cleaning he can be found in sale pages parent bay and. For sale in and around Farnborough was very Gd and great price
2 hours ago via mobile · Like

Russ Chadd Hello Mrs Jones  why no give me a bell and let me know what you have been quoted... maybe i can help you? Russ ProsteamUK
2 hours ago · Like


Cheryl XXXXX You can rent a carpet cleaner for a lot cheaper then it would to have someone come round and do it for you! We paid £20 to hire one for 24hrs.
26 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1

Its amazing just what makes some people tick...

[Simon Gerrard]

They think they are getting the same thing no matter what they pay, not their fault, they need educating.

simon

[david@zap-clean]

Anyone thought about diversifying into renting out domestic carpet cleaners to these types?

[Russ Chadd]

Trouble is... your dealing with housewives here... not one of them have a clue about what carpet cleaning is all about as you can see... i would be totally wasting my time trying to educate them... if its not what they want to hear it doesn't get heard!

[John Kelly]

I think you are wrong and they do need educating. This is the whole problem with this industry, it gets know exposure. Therefore the general public don't have a clue. You can't blame them for thinking they'll get just as good a job for 20 quid as they would for 70. Its a professionals job to try and advise them why it IS worth paying the extra.

[derek west]

Russ, that poor women is going to waste £20 on a rental machine, put her back out and have smelly wet carpets that wick back dirt, its your duty as a pro to at least try and stop her. every holes a goal mate

[Simon Gerrard]

Of course they need educating. Trouble is the way they get their education is through hiring a machine, soaking their carpets and being very peed off, perhaphs next time they will get it done professionally, but then they need educating about choosing a professional and not some fly-by-night

[Russ Chadd]

Im not disagreeing with you here... but i have seen this kind of thing crop up on facebook before, with all the best will in the world i have tried my best to explain the pit falls of DIY carpet cleaning and booking a carpet cleaner purely on price which is kind of what seems to be the deciding factor here.
They know it makes sense to pay a little more and receive a better service but most of these women are focussed on getting the job done for the cheapest price.

I hope this kind of topic is raised at the TACCA meeting, i would be interested in finding out how to changed the minds of people and influence them.

[Craigp]

I just thought i'd have a look at people views on carpet cleaning and found this, Wow long thread, I've not read it all as I can't be bothered, but some very worrying advice being given by people that don't know what they are doing, lol

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=212757&highlight=rug+doctor

[Warren Aldridge]

I used to hire them out but it was a lot of travelling for not much. Got about 50 quid a shot and setup a karcher puzzi with M power and a bottle of promo spotter with spotting brushes and rake.

Never had any complaints other than it took all day and next time they will hire someone to do it.

As for their mentality of looking for cheapest option, its only natural. Everyone is trying to clean their own carpets, build their own portable truckmounts, design their own websites.... same thing

[Steve Gunn]

Given the current climate everyone's mentality is the same get the cheapest Diy or cheap one out of the paper

[Simon Gerrard]

I don't think these people are in the majority, so let them get on with it. We seem to get lots of ex hire customers so them making a hash of it can be a good thing.
Simon

[Blacky]

The biggest worry is that people are often delighted after using a rug doctor. Read all the reviews.
I think that the day of the domestic professional carpet cleaner is now numbered. The only real god send is the elderly and very wealthy individuals who still use us. Under 40s have a solution to there carpet cleaning needs, and that does not involve a professional.

"People need educating" Get real, people only hear what they want to. You need to diversify or get out quick.

I think this is the end.

[Simon Gerrard]

Bye

[robert meldrum]

Hire machines have been around longer for than I've been cleaning carpets ( nearly thirty years ) in fact I hired one when C D gave me their minimum quote of £56 approx 30 years ago, from HSS.

Today the public are brainwashed by TV advertising for Bissel, Vax, etc and the ad's are very convincing so they buy the machines and proudly boast about how much they will save on carpet cleaners charges!

There's no point kidding yourself that it's only a certain type of person who will hire or buy machines, it's a very wide sector who look for " best deals " nowadays no matter how much they earn or how big their house is.

On the positive side ...........Do an excellent job every time and don't overcharge for your services and your customers will come back and in many cases they will refer you to friend and family.

[cannon]

The biggest worry is that people are often delighted after using a rug doctor. Read all the reviews.
I think that the day of the domestic professional carpet cleaner is now numbered. The only real god send is the elderly and very wealthy individuals who still use us. Under 40s have a solution to there carpet cleaning needs, and that does not involve a professional.

"People need educating" Get real, people only hear what they want to. You need to diversify or get out quick.

I think this is the end.

Maybe you could diversify and become a motivational speaker 

I do agree with you about diversifying though.

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

I've never employed the services of a decorator, or a gardener, or a fencing contractor, or a tiler, or an oven cleaner, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

And yet somehow these types of trades people still have work  

We all like a bit of diy, some of us are adept at it and some of us will realise after trying a particular job that we're no good at it, or that we can't achieve the desired results.

We all agree that a relatively small percentage of the country use professional carpet cleaners, therefore that leaves a large percentage of people that are titting about with rug doctors, or indeed not having their carpets cleaned at all.

[Andrew Briscoe]

If she was local to me I would offer to clean half of 1 carpet, whilst she did other half,
its then up to you to show her the differance and explain the dangers.

If you persuade her that 1 less to educate, and you have another customer  

[Shaun_Ashmore]

You have to look at the demographics of people, yes I know you can't discount people but on the whole demographics and statistics usually work.

A young mother with probably not a great deal of disposable income may be not working as her partner is the sole earner at this moment of time will be looking at getting the most out of her money, unless there is a special occassion where a professional result is needed a make do clean will have to do for now. Only reason I would go on net mums would be to get a hot unattached mum who wants a bit

Shaun

[Craigp]

Shaun I think you'll get dumped after you suggest splitting the lunch bill.