[tlwcs]

I've had my leaflet through the door offering me a free window clean. They obviously say they will do a great job and you'll want to remain a regular paying custard.
Who the hell is in charge of the marketing there, he wants the sack or at least a kicking.

So with Windows thick with years worth of crap you ring them. Poor bloke turns up works his socks off giving you an impressive first clean, (a clean that most of us charge a premium for) only to be told we'll ring you when we want them done again.

17 years into this has taught me most people will take a freebie if it's needed. Most people who don't have them cleaned regularly, don't want them regular. The younger generation don't seem to want them as regular than their parents do and certain ethnic groups don't want them done at all. Finally if you don't value your time, the custard never will.
I could understand if they were to offer the 10th window clean free if the previous 9 weren't missed. Not something I would do.

In a evermore saturated market I find their offer of the first clean madness
What's everyone's thoughts?
Tony

[Simon Trapani]

I think it’s up to them.

[Lee Pryor]

We offer the first clean free if they have one of our add on services with it. Gutters, fascia, con roof ect.

Other than that yes I think its a bad idea to offer the first clean free on its own.

[Marc Stock]

Its desperation.

They all come out of the woodwork this time of year. 

[tlwcs]

We offer the first clean free if they have one of our add on services with it. Gutters, fascia, con roof ect.

Other than that yes I think its a bad idea to offer the first clean free on its own.

I would imagine the windows are priced into the other service though?

[Lee Pryor]

We offer the first clean free if they have one of our add on services with it. Gutters, fascia, con roof ect.

Other than that yes I think its a bad idea to offer the first clean free on its own.

I would imagine the windows are priced into the other service though?

No, we do not increase the price of the other services to compensate for this. We swallow the free clean.  We do this to encourage people to have the add on services. By having them its then easy to talk them into setting them up on a repeat basis, thus increasing the value of that customer over the year.

[Windy Miller]

Complete desperation as Marc says and a lot of these people come and go in a matter of months I've found.

I lost two customers recently who live across the road from one another to a window cleaner who's pulling a similar number. Not only is he cleaning them for half the price of what I was but he's offering a free clean for every new customer an existing one brings in. So I lost one to him because of him being half my price and then she proceeded to approach my other two existing customers in the street with the promise of a free clean for each new customer she got. I only knew this as the old dear who stayed loyal to me told me the whole story about being approached by her next door.

[Dane]

Surely this could just end up with a huge list of clients that have had a one off free clean 😂🙈

I understand a discount etc but a completely free clean and as a first clean is crazy

[STEVE-UK]

My house could do with the windows being cleaned, would save me a job

[Marc Stock]

Honestly dont worry about it.

If anything its good for your business, the numpty who is doing this wont last forever, and your cheap skate custies who went over to him, well that shows how much they value your service, and who wants customers like that anyway?

And even if he does make it a success, he will at some point have to raise the prices, or start cleaning more frequently to compensate and then he will be back to square one again when they start dropping off like flys.

And then of course if he is so cheap, then its likely to be someone who doesn't pay tax, and isnt insured.

About 6 years ago there was a company not far from me who were trying on the same game, they lasted 2 years, south African bunch

[dazmond]

a window cleaning company near me did this too a few years ago.they went flypostering  with FREE CLEAN in big letters and plastered them on telegraph poles in the areas i work....

i didnt lose any customers to them though.....

[Paul Wisdom]

I had the same leaflet and I live north Birmingham and this company is based in Leeds. Hope they aren't coming from Leeds to do free cleans in Brum 

[Shrek]

We had their leaflets a  while ago , but my business keeps growing. It does pee you off though - them offering work for free when we know how hard first cleans can be.

[tlwcs]

Honestly dont worry about it.

If anything its good for your business, the numpty who is doing this wont last forever, and your cheap skate custies who went over to him, well that shows how much they value your service, and who wants customers like that anyway?

And even if he does make it a success, he will at some point have to raise the prices, or start cleaning more frequently to compensate and then he will be back to square one again when they start dropping off like flys.

And then of course if he is so cheap, then its likely to be someone who doesn't pay tax, and isnt insured.

About 6 years ago there was a company not far from me who were trying on the same game, they lasted 2 years, south African bunch

Not worried in the least, I want to be slowing down!
I'm just amazed that a company from Leeds leaflets through the Uk offering a free clean. They obviously think it will be a winner 💩

[Soupy]

I NEVER EVER EVER clean windows for free.

It's what we do for a living. Free cleans devalue the service in the eyes of the customer.

[robbo333]

I had a quick look at their website and it makes interesting reading, (obviously not as interesting as motorbikes, or porn) but you get the gist.

Personally, I think they know bugger all about window cleaning, (reading 'between the lines' of their text) but they are quite good at franchising and dare I say it...marketing! The reason everyone is getting leaflets all over the uk, is because the cleaning is franchised out to local window cleaners.

They offer their franchisees a huge amount of work, due to their 'internet presence' and 'sales techniques', which I am guessing includes the free clean offer.

The contract must make 'interesting reading' but they do have a lot of franchisees.

Am I bothered, absolutely not.

Is it a good business model? I have no idea.

Will we be getting more leaflets? I reckon.

[bobplum]

i suppose its a numbers game, massive leafleting, get lots of enquiries, if 30% stay on it may be worth it and then you get the knock on effect of being in a area for the first time, generates more business and so on.
The franchise is paying indirectly for the leaflets, which may be bought cheaper because of bulk buying by Nationwide.
Only time will tell

[Slash]

There's a guy in YouTube cleaning commer ial windows free the first time,I won't mention his name but he is Irish.
This is desperation it seems.

[Dane]

I’ve seen their vans in york, more in the centre on a morning but have never seen their fliers. I assumed they were a national company with a lot of commercial work

[Delta]

Why is it desperation?
Bringing a new customer in has a cost attached to it.
If the cost is a £16 free window clean then it makes sense.
Sure they will get more cancellations but it seems to work for them.
Their new customer cost will surely be less than someone paying a canvasser x3.