[jo5hm4n]

So the last 10 quotes i've probably handed out at full price got all of them.  Did a quote yesterday, nice looking cottage in a semi rural area.  Woman wasnt home.  Looked at windows and thought right £12 house charge £14 4 weekly £16 8 weekly just because its slightly awkward to get too got to go down small farm track, it is near to another house i do though.

She texts back next day.  Im sorry i just cant afford that im a single mum with 2 kids its a little too much ill have to clean myself.

Usually i'd be like fine yep on to the next person.  This time i text back and said, what would you be happy to pay?  She said £10 8 weekly she could afford.

Im torn, theres a part of me saying jog on i aint lowering my price for you for less profit but then another part of me saying i rarely give discounts every now and then aint too bad is it....

What would you do??

Should i be kind or will that be my downfall and i will end up with a total messer whos a nightmare 

[Tosh]

Why did you text back asking what she could afford?

[gto]

no. they don't notice if its awkward for you.

i was dumped recently by one, that i had given a discount to because it was £45 and she had it done regularly,i her know night before
but then it turned into, i am not in that day can you do the day after, or i am out just the front. or can you do it early.
this is a big double bay terace 3 storey, with 3 flats inside, not that hard.
but you have to do the front then pack up and drive 1/2 a mile round to the back, park in a dodgy lane and drag your hose though the cat pee smelling 100ft garden.
then randomly i got. one of the flats recomended a window cleaner so i am going to try them.

[p1w1]

One of my pet hates is when you go to quote and they say things like that (i'm a single mum, I'm only a pensioner) Well i'm a family man with a mortgage and bills to pay and a business to keep afloat.
Years ago (just before the london olympics) i was asked to quote a pressure washing job and a full conservatory clean & window clean for a couple in a 5 bedroom bungalow, as they were having  some of the French swimming team to practice in one of those swimming pools that create current that they had in a corner of the garden. It was a large area (about 2 days work) they had a huge garden with a pond the size of your normal garden in it.
He explained everything he wanted doing and was looking for a cost to do it and finished of with the line"bear in mind were only pensioners". 

[G Griffin]

Why did you text back asking what she could afford?

That's what I thought.
Be kind, by all means, but don't ask her what would she pay.
If you want the job, jo5hm4n, do £10 worth of windows every 8 weeks and let her sort the rest out.
Or alternate the windows cleaned over 8 weeks for £10.

[nathankaye]

Personally I think the moment you give the customer control, you've lost!!  Because if she gets (or any customer for that fact) what she wants then she can at will, change things expecting you to follow suit.

If you wanted to be kind, then be kind on your own terms. Weve all done it, myself included and sometimes its paid off. I have one old dear who I felt for and gave a slightly lower price. Shes got me 6 more jobs at full price in the area, so a win win.
But do it on your terms.
Say Ok every 8 weeks but due to my own commitments I can only reduce it to £  and see ehat she comes back with. But your in control mate.

[Johnny B]

Why would she be given special treatment when I suspect that the vast majority of your regular, loyal customers haven't?

I would say thank you for your enquiry and leave her to it.

John

[andyM]

If anyone asks me to lower the price I just tell them I can't lower the price but I will knock the VAT off!?
Most don't seem to notice they have been bamboozled and happily accept.

[jk999]

Tell her that you can do just glass for a tenner not frames and she has to clean her own sills

[Steven Biggs]

Tell her to get the other £6 off the father of the kids .

[p1w1]

Put it this way you can do her the favour of dropping your price and "be kind" but i bet you anything she would drop you like a hat if she gets an even cheaper quote at some point in the future. Use your experienced windy senses on this one . I would also be thinking if my last 10 quotes have all been accepted maybe i'm still a bit too cheap anyway, If i was doing 10 quotes i would expect to  get 6 maybe 7 of them.

[dazmond]

she ll turn into a messer.no doubt about it if you take her on.i would of said my price is my price.end of.defo not text her and say "how much are you willing to pay?"

i had a regular customer ask me to clean her glass conny roof the other day.i said "no problem i can fit you in monday afternoon as i have one to clean just round the corner from you in the morning.£80 i charge".she said cant you do it cheaper?nope.she said she ll have to consult her husband.i told her itll take a couple of hours and their hard work.(its minging and never been cleaned)itll take around 90 mins in reality from pulling up to driving away as i can pole it from next doors flat roof but im not cleaning it for a cheaper price.i really dont care whether i get the job or not.

on the other hand i also have a old  customer whos struggling with his health and i only clean his windows once a year now(he used to be a regular customer for 15 years till he retired).ill also get my ladders out and fix his downspout/gutter at the back.hes a really nice chap.ill be glad to help the old boy out.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Just stick to your guns. You're a business not a charity.   If she can't afford rural prices how can she afford rural property prices ?

I had one exactly the same last month come through. I stick to my guns saying sorry but it would not be worth me coming all the way out to your property.  Also said if you want cheap and cheerful then i'm not your man as I focus on quality.

Two days later she comes back agreeing to my price.   And guess what? Brand new range rover and a jag on the property.

[dazmond]

i just say "its not my ambition to be the cheapest window cleaner in the village anymore!ive been there and done that and i ended up in serious debt!thats my price.take it or leave it luv!"

[nathankaye]

Think ive posted this one before. But I had a chap try to barter the price down saying he only worked part time and had family to look after etc.
My reply was simple.
" mate I wish I could work part time and have a merc and a bmw on my drive too!)

[davids3511]

What does she look like? 

Gold understands!

[Stoots]

Depends, i do one for a tenner that should be 15, she wouldnt pay 15, nor would she pay 12 lol... mind you her last cleaner did it for £6 so can you blame her? ...but i clean next doors and the one opposite, im parked there anyway and already have the hose out, it takes about 20 mins, its not the end of the world to do it for a few quid less in that situation. Judge these things on there own merits imo its not always black and white.

 

[paul alan]

So the last 10 quotes i've probably handed out at full price got all of them.  Did a quote yesterday, nice looking cottage in a semi rural area.  Woman wasnt home.  Looked at windows and thought right £12 house charge £14 4 weekly £16 8 weekly just because its slightly awkward to get too got to go down small farm track, it is near to another house i do though.

She texts back next day.  Im sorry i just cant afford that im a single mum with 2 kids its a little too much ill have to clean myself.

Usually i'd be like fine yep on to the next person.  This time i text back and said, what would you be happy to pay?  She said £10 8 weekly she could afford.

Im torn, theres a part of me saying jog on i aint lowering my price for you for less profit but then another part of me saying i rarely give discounts every now and then aint too bad is it....

What would you do??

Should i be kind or will that be my downfall and i will end up with a total messer whos a nightmare 

I get the feeling you wouldnt mind doing it!

I say if l like the person then l dont mind doing favours within reason. Im a believer in like attracts like so if you do a good deed it will come back to you. If you feel she realy cant afford it and isnt taking you for a soft spot and your there already then what have you got to lose? Even if she starts to mess about and if the jobs underpriced anyway you still cant lose.

Look at it as speculating to accumulate, the universe will pay you back at some point.

If shes genuine and struggling to bring up two kids your doing her a favour.

Theres some hard faced buggers on here, dont get me wrong l always earn my crust but you know who can afford to pay top wack and who to ease off on a little.

Do what makes you feel good.

[Bungle]

Does she want extras?

[paul alan]

Does she want extras?

A step dad with a good job?

[philb]

I guess it's upto you if you want to go out of your way for less money & if you over estimated it enough to extend such generosity.

I canvassed a house the other day near where I clean a house. Quoted £12. Got told it was too much. I for some reason asked how much he was thinking & got told £8. We agreed on £10 & off I went. 10mins later got a text from him "spoke to friends & family and it's too much so will leave it". 

Sometimes a good deed isn't appreciated or recognised

[Johnny B]

I guess it's upto you if you want to go out of your way for less money & if you over estimated it enough to extend such generosity.

I canvassed a house the other day near where I clean a house. Quoted £12. Got told it was too much. I for some reason asked how much he was thinking & got told £8. We agreed on £10 & off I went. 10mins later got a text from him "spoke to friends & family and it's too much so will leave it". 

Sometimes a good deed isn't appreciated or recognised

I agree with you. In my experience, the ones who  you give a discount to are usually the ones who either mess you about or expect add ons done for free. They would also drop you like a stone as soon as someone cheaper comes along.

John

[jo5hm4n]

Lots of varied comments on this thread, i do appreciate everybodies input though.  First of all i don't get all of my quotes every time, just lately think im on a good run, that's all so my point was it's not so bad giving discount to a customer every once in a blue moon is it?  Also, if it was some rich OAP or a client with big flash house and cars, then ofcourse there's no chance of them getting discount.  I rarely ever ask a customer, how much you would be happy to pay.  Think that's the second time i have ever done that, in my mind if i feel i may not get the job anyway, i dont really care at that point if i ask a question that is deemed somewhat slightly unprofessional.

I'm siding with Paul on this one, maybe sometimes it's just nice to think your helping somebody out, maybe they genuinely are struggling and knocking a few quid off isn't going too make much of a difference to my business really.  I also get that most of you are probably right, if i take this job on, she probably will end up being a messer, but you just never know until you atleast try.

I took on an old lady as a customer, first time i quoted was 2 years ago i said it's £9, she said no chance last windie charged £5.  So i said the price is the price.  2 years later, she asks me to quote forgetting she already asked me before, i said its still £9.  She said, look im an OAP i dont have pots of money i live alone i try and save money where i can, can you do it for £7?

I thought about it, and yeah go one then, its NO BIG DEAL, is it?  Since then, shes got me 5 customers in the same road, all pay on the day, when i go to hers now i do about £50 of work in an hour.

Sometimes you don't know what hand the universe will deal you, maybe sometimes you do have to occasionally drop your price, who knows maybe it will work in your favour long term.

I'll text this woman back tell her £10 every 8 weeks, lets see how long she lasts

I'll keep this thread updated.

Cheers Guys

[jonboywalton75]

What does she look like? 

Gold understands!

Didn't think that you were sexist Dave

[davids3511]

What does she look like? 

Gold understands!

Didn't think that you were sexist Dave

I'm not but I understand human nature

[jonboywalton75]

I'll give you that one Dave!!

[Marc Stock]

Bottom line is this.

You are running a business to make a profit.

If you still think you can make a profit at her budget. Great. Get on with it.

If you can't. ..then forget it and move on.

Now if you are feeling charitable, and it bothers you that much. Do it for free just once.

[robbo333]

If it were me, I would clean it for her.
It sounds as though you're already thinking of doing it (otherwise you wouldn't have posted on here).
The upside is your doing a nice thing for someone (and I believe, what goes round comes round).
The downside is she's a messer and you've lost a few quid (it was hardly best paying job of the year)
Most importantly, your gut reaction is to clean it and sometimes it's nice to know if your gut reaction is right or wrong (and you won't know that until further down the line).
I turn down loads of cleans on gut reaction. Occasionally, I'll take one on just to see if i'm right and most of the time I am right. However on the odd occasion I get it wrong.
But I don't make a habit of it.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I wonder if she pops into Tesco and asked for discount every time she goes through the till.  Would Tesco say Yes? No because they are a business 

[nathankaye]

I wonder if she pops into Tesco and asked for discount every time she goes through the till.  Would Tesco say Yes? No because they are a business 

However saying that......it is a typical British thing to just simply accept the price tag on things,  especially electrical goods.  But I saw something on TV about asking for a better deal and it worked. Since then, when im buying electrical goods, ie TV's   fridges etc etc, I always ask and its surprising what results I get.
Lol, know that was a total side point but still kinda relative

[robbo333]

I wonder if she pops into Tesco and asked for discount every time she goes through the till.  Would Tesco say Yes? No because they are a business 

I know what you are saying but...
she didn't actually ask for a discount, she turned him down flat.
Only when prompted, did she come up with a figure of 10 squid.

[richard groves]

If as you have already said , in your opinion, its a £12 house then why quote her £14 for 4 weekly ?
Is the job that is nearby a 4 weekly or an 8 weekly ? If ( as you seem to be indicating ) you are feeling charitable, providing it fits in with the other job, compromise and offer to do for £12 and insist that is your lowest price. A £12 job to me would equate to about 15 mins work but only you will know and just how close or convenient it is to the nearby job ? Depends also if you are looking to expand on your work. Only you are really going to know if its worth it or not.

[jo5hm4n]

Yes Marc and Robbo, spot on with those comments.  I can justify it, and as you say sometimes you should just go with your gut reaction.  It was my gut reaction that led to me even considering it in the first place, which is why i even bothered to make this post.

I'll text her soon keep you all updated lol.  Watch it now, she will be like, naaa is okay ive changed my mind 

[Smudger]

If I was quoted a price then the price dropped 30% I'd be thinking that the guy is overcharging in the first place

Rather than lower the price I'd offer a loyalty bonus - usually half price clean after 6 full price cleans.

From experience anyone not happy from the get go won't last more than 2 or 3 cleans and usually have to chase for payment

But good luck with it

Darran

[Walter Mitty]

Not read the thread but £10 for two monthly is the same outlay for her as £15 x 3 monthly (and a better price for you).  That's if you end up bothering with it at all.  Sounds like it'll only be a one off if she even bothers.

[jo5hm4n]

Quick update

Listened to what Nathan said, take her as a customer but on my terms.  Told her it's £12 8 weekly if she wants it for £10, fine no problem but several windows will be missed.  She said thats fine leave out back 2 downstairs windows.  Fab, turned up today, windows were a right state, but she had left money out for me and she was home anyway, did the job and left.  Next time im thinking probs 10 min job.  Not gonna lie though, she did look proper chavvy, is that enough to stereotype her into saying she will be a messer?

Find out when im due back in 8  weeks time 

We should have a poll, who reckons she will be a one off clean / last a few cleans / last the year / or be a total messer like everybody said she would be 

[robbo333]

Perhaps you should have just treated it as a 'charity case' and done a good deed; the whole lot for a tenner and felt good that you've done something nice for someone, who perhaps could do with a 'leg up', both financially and socially.

Or perhaps you should have just turned it down flat because, from a business point of view, it makes no sense.

Not sure you should really 'label' her because of her looks, I think that's a bit unfair. After all you did ask her how much she wanted to pay £10. You then turn up and say you will only clean some windows (which she agreed) and then she actually leaves you the money out.

I'd be feeling a bit ashamed and embarrassed about now...but that's just me.

[KS Cleaning]

Quick update

Listened to what Nathan said, take her as a customer but on my terms.  Told her it's £12 8 weekly if she wants it for £10, fine no problem but several windows will be missed.  She said thats fine leave out back 2 downstairs windows.  Fab, turned up today, windows were a right state, but she had left money out for me and she was home anyway, did the job and left.  Next time im thinking probs 10 min job.  Not gonna lie though, she did look proper chavvy, is that enough to stereotype her into saying she will be a messer?

Find out when im due back in 8  weeks time 

We should have a poll, who reckons she will be a one off clean / last a few cleans / last the year / or be a total messer like everybody said she would be 

So you initially wanted £16 for an eight weekly schedule then you have ended up doing a first clean for a customer that you suspect might be a messer for £10  and the windows were a real state!  As for missing out two windows

[jo5hm4n]

Perhaps you should have just treated it as a 'charity case' and done a good deed; the whole lot for a tenner and felt good that you've done something nice for someone, who perhaps could do with a 'leg up', both financially and socially.

Or perhaps you should have just turned it down flat because, from a business point of view, it makes no sense.

Not sure you should really 'label' her because of her looks, I think that's a bit unfair. After all you did ask her how much she wanted to pay £10. You then turn up and say you will only clean some windows (which she agreed) and then she actually leaves you the money out.

I'd be feeling a bit ashamed and embarrassed about now...but that's just me.

Too late now for that it's already started so will see the i progress with the customer.  I was joking about her looks, ofcourse that has nothing to do with whether she will be a messer or not, she just looked a bit rough round the edges shall we say, could end up being a really good customer for all i know though.

From a business point of view aslong as i earn a good amount per hour that is the main thing that matters, i overpriced the job in the first place because my schedule is nearly full so by raising prices i can slowly eventually dissolve lower priced customers or slight messers.  Once again i titled this post should i be kind, because at this point money wasn't really the concern dropping the price by a few £££ wasn't an issue, but as a few people said on here, atleast do it on your terms.  She wouldn't go higher then £10, so the only way i could barter with her was to clean less windows which she was more than happy with, she said she just couldn't afford more than a tenner.  Just to clarify this is a one off.  I dont normally run my business like this.  The price is the price and that's that, this was a totally isolated instance, which is why i made a post about it, i decided to take a different approach just this once, ideally to try and help somebody out who clearly can't afford to pay standard prices.

None of this will matter when she probably does turn out to be a messer.  But maybe the fact that so many people on here said, don't bother she is probably a messer, this could turn out totally different if she now actually turns out to be a really good customer.  Time will tell.

[jo5hm4n]

Quick update

Listened to what Nathan said, take her as a customer but on my terms.  Told her it's £12 8 weekly if she wants it for £10, fine no problem but several windows will be missed.  She said thats fine leave out back 2 downstairs windows.  Fab, turned up today, windows were a right state, but she had left money out for me and she was home anyway, did the job and left.  Next time im thinking probs 10 min job.  Not gonna lie though, she did look proper chavvy, is that enough to stereotype her into saying she will be a messer?

Find out when im due back in 8  weeks time 

We should have a poll, who reckons she will be a one off clean / last a few cleans / last the year / or be a total messer like everybody said she would be 

So you initially wanted £16 for an eight weekly schedule then you have ended up doing a first clean for a customer that you suspect might be a messer for £10  and the windows were a real state!  As for missing out two windows

It's in an affluent area where there are lots of big and expensive houses in the countryside, naturally i price higher.  If the job was in a town i would of quoted at £14 8 weekly.  I agreed to do it for £12 8 weekly same price as 4 weekly.  She said she couldn't budge on price, so i said fine i can do for £10 but will have to miss a few windows, she was more than happy with that.  Windows were filthy, but i've done about 5 first cleans this week alone and they were all dirty, makes no difference unless ofcourse they do end up to be a messer.

It's only 1 customer, the rest of my round isn't run like this, i made an exception just this once 

[dazmond]

Quick update

Listened to what Nathan said, take her as a customer but on my terms.  Told her it's £12 8 weekly if she wants it for £10, fine no problem but several windows will be missed.  She said thats fine leave out back 2 downstairs windows.  Fab, turned up today, windows were a right state, but she had left money out for me and she was home anyway, did the job and left.  Next time im thinking probs 10 min job.  Not gonna lie though, she did look proper chavvy, is that enough to stereotype her into saying she will be a messer?

Find out when im due back in 8  weeks time 

We should have a poll, who reckons she will be a one off clean / last a few cleans / last the year / or be a total messer like everybody said she would be 

So you initially wanted £16 for an eight weekly schedule then you have ended up doing a first clean for a customer that you suspect might be a messer for £10  and the windows were a real state!  As for missing out two windows

It's in an affluent area where there are lots of big and expensive houses in the countryside, naturally i price higher.  If the job was in a town i would of quoted at £14 8 weekly.  I agreed to do it for £12 8 weekly same price as 4 weekly.  She said she couldn't budge on price, so i said fine i can do for £10 but will have to miss a few windows, she was more than happy with that.  Windows were filthy, but i've done about 5 first cleans this week alone and they were all dirty, makes no difference unless ofcourse they do end up to be a messer.

It's only 1 customer, the rest of my round isn't run like this, i made an exception just this once 

you must be desperate for work IMO.

there is no way id put up with that.my price is my price.she will DEFO not be a customer in 6 months time mate.ill guarantee it!

[Tosh]

Could you explain what affluent means?