[geefree]

Hi,

How can this be stopped?...

I have leaflets in various shops,.. got a call to quote large posh semi in posh area,... told her £7 , she accepted , so i then went canvassing for more in the same area,

yes you guessed it, the 2.50 boys were in there...

it must take them all day to earn hardly anything, so why do they do it?

the people seem overjoyed to tell me they only pay 2.50,

what do i do ?

tell them they are dole boys and will disappear and that i will do a thorough job including frames and sills?

but then that is pulling another w/c down!

and he may be legit at that, and just charge minimum.

But even if i did say the above to try convince them, they would  certainly take some talking round from 2.50 to £7..

its demoralising.to say the least.


Gary.

[captain lard]

Know exactly what you mean mate and I was a bit wazzed off a couple of weeks ago.
In my area I dont know if it is legit cleaners with low prices or if its cowboys looking to make a little beer money.
I went over my round and realised my recently acquired work is my better paying work and that cheered me up cos I must be improving with regards pricing etc and there are people who will pay,I realised you have to stress the benefits of employing us proper lads ie legit/insured/reliable/regular/polite and respectful/frames cleaned and then let your work speak for itself.I am about to get some proper work gear to stand out from cowboys and make a visual statement saying I am a legit WC,take me or leave me but that is what I am.
I think there are people who will go for the lowest price every time just cos that is the way they are but I do think a lot of people will consider paying for a better service but we have to  re educate the potential customers -stick at it mate.

[jeff1]

Gazza

Unless he is doing a c**p job, they will never be convinced, the best you can do is to give them your card and ask them to keep it somewere safe and to call you if they should ever need to. does this guy do the frames and cills? Use this to your advantage if he doesn't.

I don't know anyone who could make a living from such low prices, I charge £5 (minimum) for a two bed bungalow.

Once you get your foot in the area impress the customers you have, they will soon start to tell others. and even at your prices against his they may take you on, Become reliable, do a good Job and you will get more.

[windolene]

Hi,

I would be demoralised if I had £7 men in my area for a large  posh -semi!


Work must be short in your area?

I was speaking to a 48 year old labourer on a building site last week who was earning £245.00 a week less tax.  Equally I was reading in the paper of a Polish guy labouring on numerous building sites who was earning in excess of £500 per week.

Kevin WINDOLENE.

[Rise N Shine]

Gazza, in short they are either:

A) Doing a rubbish job.
B) Idiots.

Keep your prices high and do an excellent job all the time, you'll be fine.

[bumper]

I was asked to price a detached house,in stockport cheshire,£7.00 pound i said,thats £2.00 dearer then the other window cleaner,but hes crap he said so ill give you a go,was well pleased,he said the other window cleaners never wiped the sills down,got a few others as well,

[geefree]

thanks for all your replies,

i will keep my prices reasonable and not drop them to compete,.. ever...

in our area its not the work thats sparce,

its the lazy b@@@ds who think about nothing but easy money, or so they think..... until they try it, get worn out, then i suspect they have another buddy to pass their part time round on to.. and so on..... i wish i lived in the south sometimes..... its harder to make a living w/c up here,

but i am inspired by lots of you up in the north, midlands and south..

i wont give lads.

[dave carroll]

keep your prices up, had a call last week off a woman wanting a quote over the phone, didn't give it, as a clue she said her last one ( yes you got it, the one that dosn't turn up any more) charged £4, 3 bed with conservatory,went yesterday but she was busy (genuinely) gave quote to her daughter £13. phoned me today, yes got it.
  i know should have gone for £15, but i'm happy with that.
  dave 

[mick hay]

There is so much work out there where the punter will pay top dollar for a good job.

When i started just over a year ago, the best advice i had was "Minimum £10"

Yesterday i was asked to quote on a largish semi where the old w/c charged £18 in and outsides!

I quoted £20 outsides only, and got the job.

My minimum has crept up to £12 now, and people are happy to pay it as they get a good job!

A window cleaner in the area where i live does 3 bed semis £3.50 2 weekly, i was asked by one of his customers to quote, i quoted £10, but said i would only take on if she got some of her neighbours as well, dont get me wrong, im not after the fellas work, but if they are prepared to pay double, then that spks for itself. Yesterday i had a call from the lady, she has 2 others who want me to clean!!!

The reason they want to change is

1/  There is a different cleaner every time.

2/  The frames and cills are NEVER cleaned

3/ They like my professional approach  

It doesnt bother me at all if there are £2.50 merchants out there, cos 1/2 there customers want to get rid of them any way, so theres always a new customer around the corner.

In a year i have built up a business with 265 customers who pay top dollar, and i know that if they were approached by a £2.50 w/c, they wouldnt leave!!

Welcome them, cos they are getting your future customers ready for you!!

Oh and by the way...i live "Up Norf"...lol

[cybersye]

Whats a pint cost up north?
how could anyone ever contemplate charging less than that to clean someones windows?

[mick hay]

lol....im tee total 

[Londoner]

Price is often not the only issue. Many customers are very unsettled by cleaners who seem to turn up as and when they feel like it.
Many of my customers lead busy lives so I phone a few days before to make an appointment. To cut down on the calls I am having appointment cards printed.
This is professionalism and it ensures I don't turn up to find the house empty. The customers love it and I charge top money but they don't care. I had a £10 tip last month

[bumper]

Whats a pint cost up north?
how could anyone ever contemplate charging less than that to clean someones windows?

you can get a pint of lager for about 1.70