[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Same here mate, got work in a local town. Started off with a call and canvassed a bit and it eventually grew to a days work a week, then started getting calls and texts saying can ya leave it, doing them myself now etc.
then one of my customers produced a leaflet of a recent start up and told me he is charging half what I and others in the area who I know do. I told her if I was to work for those prices I'd have stayed working in a kitchen factory and not forked out thousands on a van and equipment. Funnily enough she came up with a complaint that a vent has started leaking and she wouldn't be needing my services anymore. I regularly pass and she def still has them done so I take it she went with this sniper.
My work there has basically dwindled to nothing in that area now, I cannot understand how they can make a living for those prices unless as already has been mentioned its to top up their dole. And what can ya do about it ruling out calling round and having it out with him?
Very frustrating 

What sort of prices are you speaking about and what size houses?  I have estates where I have plenty of houses at low process and I'm still earning good money and picking up more, others may be a couple of quid dearer and can't hold onto the work.  I've been in these areas just as long if not longer than other cleaners.

Simon.

[Smudger]

While there busy grafting on crappy jobs for no money you should be pulling in nice quality work - who's better off ?

Charge a fair price and you'll do well, too cheap or expensive and it will all end in disaster one way or another.

Unfortunately this industry suffers from low self esteem where a fair proportion think you can not earn or deserve a good hourly buisness rate, the other problem is almost anyone can start up for low costs (if trad) and either have other income, be it social, pension, rich spouse so undercharge, others need income so rather than lose a job at a fair price will do it for a pittance just to have something.

When all said and done it's a free market and the customer can choose quality or price, as many find out what they really wanted was quality, they just didn't know it until they tried buying it on the cheap

Darran

[windowswashed]

Those who charge too cheap go out of business as they have no profits or savings to fall back on when the van packs up or they need new equipment to replace the old or there is a severe winter.

[David stewart]

Same here mate, got work in a local town. Started off with a call and canvassed a bit and it eventually grew to a days work a week, then started getting calls and texts saying can ya leave it, doing them myself now etc.
then one of my customers produced a leaflet of a recent start up and told me he is charging half what I and others in the area who I know do. I told her if I was to work for those prices I'd have stayed working in a kitchen factory and not forked out thousands on a van and equipment. Funnily enough she came up with a complaint that a vent has started leaking and she wouldn't be needing my services anymore. I regularly pass and she def still has them done so I take it she went with this sniper.
My work there has basically dwindled to nothing in that area now, I cannot understand how they can make a living for those prices unless as already has been mentioned its to top up their dole. And what can ya do about it ruling out calling round and having it out with him?
Very frustrating 

What sort of prices are you speaking about and what size houses?  I have estates where I have plenty of houses at low process and I'm still earning good money and picking up more, others may be a couple of quid dearer and can't hold onto the work.  I've been in these areas just as long if not longer than other cleaners.

Simon.

For example, average 3 bed semis would be around 10 quid here, hes doing them for a fiver, other examples are roughly half of what the going rate would be.
Perhaps the reason some people charge so little is they don't know what can be earned for a good standard of work. The reason many of us got into this was to get out of the rat race and make a decent living, not to continue to earn the same level of pay we had in employment. They will learn one day

[David stewart]

This problem is due to the Mafia getting involved in window cleaning.
Be careful if having it out with them.

Heard their prices were nothing short of extortion 

[SeanK]

Those who charge too cheap go out of business as they have no profits or savings to fall back on when the van packs up or they need new equipment to replace the old or there is a severe winter.

Couldn't agree more, they also get demotivated when they realise that window cleaning is hard work and
it takes an above average wage to make it worthwhile.

[rosskesava]

Those who charge too cheap go out of business as they have no profits or savings to fall back on when the van packs up or they need new equipment to replace the old or there is a severe winter.

Ain't that just so. I couldn't agree more as well.

[Pete Thompson]

It's happened to me too, more recently.  One customer told me that some lads offered to do them for HALF what I charge and she just couldn't say no at that price.

They are not doleys at all, they are Eastern European immigrants.

Ever so sorry if that's not politically correct, but it's a simple fact.

[Window Lickers]

We pick up quite a bit of work from one or two particular companies round here. The reason is they're too cheap so don't stick around and the other is they do a useless job so get the boot.

What's there to worry about ?

[dazmond]

We pick up quite a bit of work from one or two particular companies round here. The reason is they're too cheap so don't stick around and the other is they do a useless job so get the boot.

What's there to worry about ?

HAPPENS TO ME TOO MATT!great innit!

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Same here mate, got work in a local town. Started off with a call and canvassed a bit and it eventually grew to a days work a week, then started getting calls and texts saying can ya leave it, doing them myself now etc.
then one of my customers produced a leaflet of a recent start up and told me he is charging half what I and others in the area who I know do. I told her if I was to work for those prices I'd have stayed working in a kitchen factory and not forked out thousands on a van and equipment. Funnily enough she came up with a complaint that a vent has started leaking and she wouldn't be needing my services anymore. I regularly pass and she def still has them done so I take it she went with this sniper.
My work there has basically dwindled to nothing in that area now, I cannot understand how they can make a living for those prices unless as already has been mentioned its to top up their dole. And what can ya do about it ruling out calling round and having it out with him?
Very frustrating 

What sort of prices are you speaking about and what size houses?  I have estates where I have plenty of houses at low process and I'm still earning good money and picking up more, others may be a couple of quid dearer and can't hold onto the work.  I've been in these areas just as long if not longer than other cleaners.

Simon.

For example, average 3 bed semis would be around 10 quid here, hes doing them for a fiver, other examples are roughly half of what the going rate would be.
Perhaps the reason some people charge so little is they don't know what can be earned for a good standard of work. The reason many of us got into this was to get out of the rat race and make a decent living, not to continue to earn the same level of pay we had in employment. They will learn one day

I've had similar thing happen round our way in the past windows any size housefor £4 add £1 for a conny ect. These have a nasty habit of taking work but they don't last forever. Longest stint I've seen them continue for is 2 1/2 years, short in the grand scheme of things but they can certainly cause damage to business locally. You give out sensible prices and customers think they are being ripped off.

Simon.

[AuRavelling79]

Always get the name of the undercutter. Always report them to HMRC; if they are legit they've got nothing to worry about.


Cue: Gold is a grass - kneecap'im.