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squeaky

  • Posts: 149
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #20 on: March 04, 2004, 09:53:27 am »

alex,
what makes you think I am upset ?Far from it I think that
it is good to have a wide range on pricing.
However I do think that CCs do have the attitude that if another CC does a job cheaper that it is assumed that the standard is not there , also as stated before it does depend on what area you work as to what you can charge.
I have never had a complaint about my work , I pride myself on giving a 1st class service and value for money.
What is wrong in that ?
Alot of CCs have stated on this forum what they charge
I know from speaking to other CCs in my area that no-one charges anywhere near these prices (in this area) because people will not pay it.
I earn an excellent living , I do not consider that I am 'burning myself out' anyway 'NUF SAID'

mark. ;D ;D
Part time (mornings) window cleaning/ suites and rugs in sunny Spain and loving it.

woodman

  • Posts: 1069
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #21 on: March 04, 2004, 11:05:15 am »
Hi Mark

Read my original post again you will see that I said that this guy is a professional cleaner who I know does a good job.Thats why I was asking the question as to why he's prices are so low in such an affluent area.

He will struggle to survive I have no doubt of that on these prices and there is no need.

A lot of the low priced cleaners standard of work that I have come across is of poor quality and I like you I have had to follow on to countless jobs carried out by them costing the customer more in the long run.

I have no doubt that you are a superb CC but with all due respect In my opinion I believe your prices are also to low regardless of how busy you are.

You ask why charge so much?

Because I have invested a considerable amount of time in my training and equipment over the years and carry out a 'service' to the customer of the highest quality possible to me, I am highly insured to protect the customer and myself and run a business to make a profit not to survive.
My Prices reflect my driving time,setting up time,materials and my professional ability to carry out the work safely to high standard.

I know I will not convince you but it is beneficial to ALL carpet cleaners if prices are raised to a more realistic level.




Ian Gourlay

  • Posts: 5748
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #22 on: March 04, 2004, 05:06:37 pm »
Hi, Woodman

Would just like to report that over the past 18months people like John Flynn and Ken have convinced me of the wisdom of raising prices.

Although I am not at their level yet my prices are considerably more than they were 18months ago.

If we want a surplus to invest in pennsions or property shares or property we do need to charhe more.

PS  I did not realise Chem Dry charged £3.50 a metre.

or have I misunderstood.

If so I can raise yet again


Shaun_Ashmore

  • Posts: 11381
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #23 on: March 04, 2004, 08:05:12 pm »
Chemdry charge different prices based on their silver gold and platinum packages.

Shaun

woodman

  • Posts: 1069
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #24 on: March 04, 2004, 08:19:50 pm »
Have to say Ian I havn't got a clue what Chem-Dry charge but I am glad to hear your price increases are working.

I love this quote by Michelangelo which sums it all up for me:


" The greatest danger for most of us, is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it
"[/i]


Alex: No millionaires here, just ask my bank manager.
I never realised they would actualy want any money  back ;D

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #25 on: March 05, 2004, 12:22:30 am »
Did a quote today, 3 Piece Suite, Lounge/Diner Hall, $ beds (Part only) Total Area 75 sq yds. My quote: Siute £110, Carpets £225 (£3 per sq yd) Total £335.
She said the guy who usually does it only charged £80.
When I asked why she hadnt called him, her reply was  - he had stopped doing it because it was too hard work. I suggest the real reason was that he wasnt making any money, while slogging his guts out. All I can say is "Been there done that" nearly went broke, and I aint going there again.
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #26 on: March 05, 2004, 12:40:49 am »
Dave did you get the job?

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #27 on: March 05, 2004, 09:21:33 pm »
Len,
No, not yet anyway. Im having a knee op next week, so out of action for a few weeks. She asked me to give her a phone call when Im back working.
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Bryan H

  • Posts: 143
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #28 on: March 06, 2004, 12:33:31 pm »
Is it a cartlidge Dave ?

I had op exactly 12 months ago  -  off for two weeks

Bryan
Christal Clean - Berks

CATMAN

  • Posts: 217
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #29 on: March 06, 2004, 04:02:19 pm »

I carn'tunderstand these people who are nothing but busy fools. A guy who is local to me cleans a house 3 beds for £75 and a three piece suite for £29. For me to clean a suite properly takes four hours, at that rate he would be better packing ready meals.

These people make this industry an undervalued service, but then if they are claiming social, work with old gear out the back of an old ford escort what can they expect.

I always have people trying to knock down my prices or do the job for cash. I won't shift on either. I tell them you want a professional service, you must expect to pay for it. If you want cheap try someone else.  The are sometimes needed to be reminded that a carpet is only a thing that needs a cheap clean until it requires replacement, then its the most expensive piece of furniture in the house.  Some people don't like this, but the one's who except this are always over the moon.

Just today we cleaned a set of stairs at some offices, which had oil on. A total of 15 steps. We said £90+VAT. They wanted to pay £60inc VAT. We told them to think about and give us a call. The did accept the price and were absoulty delighted with the results.

Those guys in my area, who are operating, without; insurance, a licence to dispose of dirty water from  a truckmont, doing the double , without proper training, using elecrical equipment not PAT tested will soon realise that they carn't work for nothing
& operate with all the above requirements.







Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #30 on: March 06, 2004, 05:42:25 pm »
Hi Dave

Sorry to hear about you knee, glad to hear she want you to do the cleaning, make sure your knee is full fit to do the 3 Piece Suite.

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #31 on: March 06, 2004, 07:37:13 pm »
Thanks Len, and Bryan - only two weeks - thats not so bad, I think Ill lay off the carpet fitting a while longer though - or might even stop doing it altogether especially as thats what caused the problem in the first place. Cheers.
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

MICHAEL_GAYTON

  • Posts: 176
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #32 on: March 06, 2004, 09:02:04 pm »
also the other side of the coin ,is you need to charge top prices, because the machines we use cost alot to buy and keep in good nip.I spent close on 18 k replacing
12 year old TM hand tools/ van etc .I use the best and charge for it. amen
mick
ps i spent 4 hours on cream suite fri price £235-00
hard work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-/
ULTRA 4 CLUB
four systems one operator

SMP

  • Posts: 101
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #33 on: March 07, 2004, 06:33:25 pm »
I was re reading the post from mark (squeaky) when the comment "people round here won't pay that" caught my attention.

If everybody put their prices up people would have to pay!  The only reason people won't pay is that they know they will find somebody willing to  work for next to nothing!  Theses are usually the cleaners that go bust, or as I have seen in my area the trading name gets past on to a new owner as each finds that that it is too much like hard work at  such low prices.  There will be a minority of customers who will think that is too much and go and do it themselves - but the number of people I've come across who've said "we used to have a vax but it was hard work, took all day and the carpets squelched " I've lost track of.

Just some musings.  Cheers
Steve Poole

Ken Wainwright

  • Posts: 2107
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #34 on: March 08, 2004, 12:32:22 am »
Steve

Your observation of "people 'round here wont pay that" is only partly true. But an observation I have also noticed about tradesmen working for lower fees is that they've never actually tried to ask for a fair price for their work. The price resistance is often coming from within themselves, not the prospects/clients/customers. You will usually find that there is someone in the area, franchise or not, able to trade with realistic remuneration.

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

Veni, vidi vici, Vaxi
I came, I saw, I conquered, I cleaned up!

dave

  • Posts: 39
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #35 on: March 08, 2004, 08:13:35 am »
I saw an advert in a local freebie paper this week. I could'nt believe the price so I even took looked at their web page and printed it off there

1 bed prop       £45.00
2 bed prop         55.00
3 bed prop         65.00
4 bed prop         75.00
5 bed prop         95.00

Surely these prices can't be for real, or are there add-ons that they would charge for that I am not aware, or is it a way of getting the phone to ring so they can fill up the quiet spots.

Regards Dave

squeaky

  • Posts: 149
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #36 on: March 08, 2004, 09:28:50 am »
SMP

Charging reasonable prices and still a carpet cleaner after over 10 years,my truckmount is paid for as are my vehicles'Going bust ? Don't think so.

Ken

Tried charging more when 1st started but the people that phone around for prices never called back , so we got sensible with our prices and have not looked back.

The idea that if we all charged high prices it would be better for everyone is total and utter rubbish ( in my opinion) it would be better for the CCs that charge high prices now and thats all.

Let us not forget that the magority of companies that clean carpets in my area charge the same as me.

Mark
Part time (mornings) window cleaning/ suites and rugs in sunny Spain and loving it.

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #37 on: March 08, 2004, 10:02:12 am »
Dave

I think you will find there prices are real and they offer Visa, MasterCard etc that cost them also, and in the majority of cases these ½ price companies don’t use trained staff, I have also come across a few (I want to pc here) that have difficulty communicating with the customers.

Any chance you could pm there web site I like a good laugh.

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

woodman

  • Posts: 1069
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #38 on: March 08, 2004, 10:40:43 am »
Like I said Mark

I knew I wouldn't convince you that if all CC raise prices it benefits all, but it does.

Every one in your area charges the same great then raise your prices and be different.After 10 years you must have a customer base,most will remain your customers the others you can do with out  you'll also lose the price shoppers, be bold and do it. ;)

You tried when you first started out and was frightened off like a lot of us you feared customers wouldn't pay what your worth and followed the competition. That was a long time ago,your vehicles and equipment are paid for, your in a great position ,better than most to push on and rise above the competition now. ;)



squeaky

  • Posts: 149
Re: Under pricing (again)
« Reply #39 on: March 08, 2004, 02:56:49 pm »
Hi Woodman,
Yes you are right you will not convince me , and I am sorry that what works for you does not work for everyone , but that is life  ;), I will not change a winning formula when it has given me such an excellent living for so long.
I hope that I have not offended anyone with my views.

Happy days

mark.
Part time (mornings) window cleaning/ suites and rugs in sunny Spain and loving it.