[PoleKing]

Last month, a street where I have most of the houses, got canvassed.
I got an email saying "thanks for your service, I have no problem with it but someone else is cheaper"
I charged £12.
It's one of the David Wilson 3 storey town houses. 2 windows top floor, 2 middle, french doors (window at front) & door ground floor
The guy canvassing quoted £8.

I said to the customer that i'd match the £8.
For 2 reasons.
1) I do the house either side so 3 all tops together, all mids together...
2) I thought that if the new guy got his foot in, he may take more customers.

Cleaned yesterday at the new price of £8.
Customer paid online. £12.

I emailed her tonight to say she'd paid too much.
She replied:

"I feel bad, you do a good job and are reliable, I'm happy to carry on at £12"

Well, I'm well happy.
Yes it's only £4 but it's the thought that meant more tbh.
I've only met this lady once, about 4 years ago.
It's not like we even chatted or anything.

It's not all about being cheap.
I am 50% more expensive than a 'competitor' and still kept the job.

Just thought I'd share.

[chez]

Good one. You obviously do a good job and she, on reflection remembered that cheap is not always the best. Cheers for sharing.
Chez

[Spruce]

This worked out well.

It could have worked the other way with customers either side also wanting their price reduced. In our area, home owners have nothing better to do than talk about all sorts of trivia, including their window cleaner's prices.

I've often been asked why they are paying more than the same house is being charged next door etc.

[keyser soze]

well played darren.

[TheWindowManChris]

This worked out well.

It could have worked the other way with customers either side also wanting their price reduced. In our area, home owners have nothing better to do than talk about all sorts of trivia, including their window cleaner's prices.

I've often been asked why they are paying more than the same house is being charged next door etc.

My answer is always 'Its due to the set up of your house'  or 'You get it less regular'

[PoleKing]

This worked out well.

It could have worked the other way with customers either side also wanting their price reduced. In our area, home owners have nothing better to do than talk about all sorts of trivia, including their window cleaner's prices.

I've often been asked why they are paying more than the same house is being charged next door etc.

Should've said, I said I'd match it but asked her not to tell anyone-she agreed

[TheWindowManChris]

This worked out well.

It could have worked the other way with customers either side also wanting their price reduced. In our area, home owners have nothing better to do than talk about all sorts of trivia, including their window cleaner's prices.

I've often been asked why they are paying more than the same house is being charged next door etc.

Should've said, I said I'd match it but asked her not to tell anyone-she agreed

I too had a bloke nick my customer and I said 'Get your windows done by new guy but I bet you come back'  Which then makes her look at how he does them and She came back 2months later.

[britishwill]

I say I might not be the cheapest but I will give you the best service I can. I also say if there are any problems, however small I want you to let me know. Great service will hopefully always be recoqnised or missed

[Paul Coleman]

My line is that I could do it cheaply and the quality would reflect that - or I could be the most expensive and the quality would reflerct that too.  However, most people want better than average quality and are prepared to pay a higher than average price for it.  None of this "best window cleaner in the world" bull.  Just a decent job for a decent income.

[Swcs]

Last month, a street where I have most of the houses, got canvassed.
I got an email saying "thanks for your service, I have no problem with it but someone else is cheaper"
I charged £12.
It's one of the David Wilson 3 storey town houses. 2 windows top floor, 2 middle, french doors (window at front) & door ground floor
The guy canvassing quoted £8.

I said to the customer that i'd match the £8.
For 2 reasons.
1) I do the house either side so 3 all tops together, all mids together...
2) I thought that if the new guy got his foot in, he may take more customers.

Cleaned yesterday at the new price of £8.
Customer paid online. £12.

I emailed her tonight to say she'd paid too much.
She replied:

"I feel bad, you do a good job and are reliable, I'm happy to carry on at £12"

Well, I'm well happy.
Yes it's only £4 but it's the thought that meant more tbh.
I've only met this lady once, about 4 years ago.
It's not like we even chatted or anything.

It's not all about being cheap.
I am 50% more expensive than a 'competitor' and still kept the job.

Just thought I'd share.

Fantastic news mate, well done! Thanks for the share!

[Mitchellmoxo]

Last month, a street where I have most of the houses, got canvassed.
I got an email saying "thanks for your service, I have no problem with it but someone else is cheaper"
I charged £12.
It's one of the David Wilson 3 storey town houses. 2 windows top floor, 2 middle, french doors (window at front) & door ground floor
The guy canvassing quoted £8.

I said to the customer that i'd match the £8.
For 2 reasons.
1) I do the house either side so 3 all tops together, all mids together...
2) I thought that if the new guy got his foot in, he may take more customers.

Cleaned yesterday at the new price of £8.
Customer paid online. £12.

I emailed her tonight to say she'd paid too much.
She replied:

"I feel bad, you do a good job and are reliable, I'm happy to carry on at £12"

Well, I'm well happy.
Yes it's only £4 but it's the thought that meant more tbh.
I've only met this lady once, about 4 years ago.
It's not like we even chatted or anything.

It's not all about being cheap.
I am 50% more expensive than a 'competitor' and still kept the job.

Just thought I'd share.

Where abouts are you mate?

[PoleKing]

Last month, a street where I have most of the houses, got canvassed.
I got an email saying "thanks for your service, I have no problem with it but someone else is cheaper"
I charged £12.
It's one of the David Wilson 3 storey town houses. 2 windows top floor, 2 middle, french doors (window at front) & door ground floor
The guy canvassing quoted £8.

I said to the customer that i'd match the £8.
For 2 reasons.
1) I do the house either side so 3 all tops together, all mids together...
2) I thought that if the new guy got his foot in, he may take more customers.

Cleaned yesterday at the new price of £8.
Customer paid online. £12.

I emailed her tonight to say she'd paid too much.
She replied:

"I feel bad, you do a good job and are reliable, I'm happy to carry on at £12"

Well, I'm well happy.
Yes it's only £4 but it's the thought that meant more tbh.
I've only met this lady once, about 4 years ago.
It's not like we even chatted or anything.

It's not all about being cheap.
I am 50% more expensive than a 'competitor' and still kept the job.

Just thought I'd share.

Where abouts are you mate?

This was Rutland.

[ascjim]

good stuff mate

[home6442]

Come on guys what's going here, congratulations on keeping a customer that almost
dumped you for a few measly quid.
There's only one way to go in trying to compete with undercutters and that's down.
Your statement ( its not all about being cheap ) is right but you need to have faith in it.

[TheWindowManChris]

How many of you have had Sales Training?   Like how to go on the Feature and Benefits of picking your company to clean the windows instead of the Price?

This works for both Domestic & Commercial jobs as this is what all the big firms do!  Is Sell you what you get?

Such as your Gas and Electricity,  When you leave them they call you back to retain your business.
They will tell you all the great benefits of staying with them from Online Account, Voted Best for Service, Longest fixed package and etc.

While for Window Cleaning your benefits could be,
I always will text you to let you know I been,  I will always come back if your not happy with my clean which as we both know is not often/never, You have flexibility in how you want to pay via Cash, Credit/Debit Card, BACs, DirectDebit & etc Etc Etc plus our new Loyalty card which what I was about to tell you before you cancelled and which is you Pay for 5 cleans and get your 6th clean FREE!

I bet if you tell your customers that they be like wow and Remember to say "when somebody cancels I like to find out how we can improve our service"  Don't just let a good customer leave you after all I bet you all Switch Providers/Insurance and all these companies want you and you want all the homes/shops/offices etc to clean!

If anybody wants help of setting up DirectDebit I know a good company called GoCardless can do DirectDebits & Accept Credit/Debit cards there is iZettle, PayPal Go, intuitPay, WorldPay and etc.   WorldPay you can get machine at John Lewis & PCWorld today!   If anybody wants help on setting these up I will be willing to give you advice.
 

[dazmond]

its a no from me in regards to matching another guys lower price.i just never do it.im not on about commercial contracts here.im on about domestic customers.my very compact estate work is keenly priced so any guy coming in to undercut me will well and truly be working for peanuts and would soon give up!

as for well priced larger domestics id hate to match another guys price and carry on cleaning for say a fiver less.most decent customers would never do it though as they dont know how trustworthy or reliable the other guy is.im tried and tested over many years and have a good rapport with most of them.

customers dont tend to jump ship when another guy comes knocking with a lower price if they are happy with your service and your prices are not sky high!

ive found when canvassing that quite a lot of people will stick with a rubbish window cleaner even when your offering a better service as they dont know you.its a "better the devil you know" scenario even though their frames are filthy and window above conny not cleaned!they often feel sorry for the other window cleaner or like him even if he s rubbish!they dont like to cancel his service!

some even think its breaking the law for another cleaner to canvass another cleaners customers!

[TheWindowManChris]

I remember when I started somebody said " this a xxx area and he the only licenced window cleaner allowed in this area". I soon informed them the licence from council is just like a taxi badge.    I do think it funny how other cleaners should leave as they been guy doing it for 20 years