[Grafters Cleaning Services]

a few weeks back there was a thread about giving out a leaflet to customers about price increases which i though was good.
i cannot find it now, does anyone know the thread link?
thanx

[S_RICHARDSON]

Is the site you mean: ]http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2092.0 

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

Is the site you mean: ]http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2092.0 

no it wasn't this one, on it someone posted a leeter they had drawn up for thier customers explaning thier price increase.

started something like............. Due to etc etc

[dai]

I have just started telling them that my prices are going up next year.
The way I'm going at the moment that will be next time round. Dai

[master cleaner]

heres the one i used it worked for me 10 months ago use it if you want

gary

Dear Valued Customer

Due to the increase cost in running a small business ( mainly insurance and diesel costs ) i must unfortunately raise the cost of our service to you

We have avoided raising our prices for as long as possible, but we can no longer prolong the inevitable. I have listed our new price for your review which goes into effect on------------
and we will fix the price until ------------
We wish to thank you for your valued custom and know that you will understand the necessity for this price increase.

If you have any questions then please get in touch
++++++++++++

Thank You Gary

The new price for your property is

£

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

heres the one i used it worked for me 10 months ago use it if you want

gary

Dear Valued Customer

Due to the increase cost in running a small business ( mainly insurance and diesel costs ) i must unfortunately raise the cost of our service to you

We have avoided raising our prices for as long as possible, but we can no longer prolong the inevitable. I have listed our new price for your review which goes into effect on------------
and we will fix the price until ------------
We wish to thank you for your valued custom and know that you will understand the necessity for this price increase.

If you have any questions then please get in touch
++++++++++++

Thank You Gary

The new price for your property is

£

yep that's the sort of thing i'm looking for gary

[Bjorn]

I understand the letter, but would try not to apologise for charging more.

[KESSA]

WINDOWCLEANERS
01253 310233
Dear Customer,



WINDOW CLEANING – PRICE INCREASE

We have increased our price for the monthly  two weekly  cleaning of your property from..

£________ to £ ________.  This increase will be effective at our next clean.

It is realised that this is a sharp increase in price, however when I first quoted for your property, I severely underestimated the price.  It is hoped that this will not deter you from being one of our valued customers and if you wish to discuss the above, please do not hesitate to phone me.  You may (of course) also ask other window cleaners for a quote and I am sure you will find that we are still extremely competitive.

[dazmond]

i never bother with a letter!and i certainly wouldnt apologise for putting them up.ijust tell em in feb/march that they will be going up from 1st april.thats it!if its a bigger increase(eg £3-£4)then i usually start the conversation with "i will have to stop cleaning your windows unless i put them up by whatever as they are very underpriced.ive not lost one yet to this method!but i have been cleaning some of these at a low price for years :.most of my prices are going up every year by a small amount for the next few years and all new work is priced higher.

[stephen s]

heres the one i used it worked for me 10 months ago use it if you want

gary

Dear Valued Customer

Due to the increase cost in running a small business ( mainly insurance and diesel costs ) i must unfortunately raise the cost of our service to you

We have avoided raising our prices for as long as possible, but we can no longer prolong the inevitable. I have listed our new price for your review which goes into effect on------------
and we will fix the price until ------------
We wish to thank you for your valued custom and know that you will understand the necessity for this price increase.

If you have any questions then please get in touch
++++++++++++

Thank You Gary

The new price for your property is

£

dear Gary.

thank you for your very informative letter and may I wish you a very happy new year and request that you no longer clean my windows.

as you may or may not know but its not just YOU whos suffering from the recession but the rest of us as well.

so havedecided to give thoses pikeys a try as they are well cheaper than you  in fact there are so many new w/c about that I really am spoiled for choice

happy 2010








not saying that will happen but dont be shocked if some do say that

[geefree]

i think its a decent letter, but i would not fix the price  until xxxxxx .....

as to them its showing your intention of another increase too.... although its important to increase periodically, i dont think its in our interest to increase...and tell them when the next one is....

i feel its a little too much for the customer to take in at one go.

Also , i would simply tell them the prices will be increased from £...... to £........ from the next clean.

no explanation is neccasary.....

its a way of life.

[AuRavelling79]

heres the one i used it worked for me 10 months ago use it if you want

gary

Dear Valued Customer

Due to the increase cost in running a small business ( mainly insurance and diesel costs ) i must unfortunately raise the cost of our service to you

We have avoided raising our prices for as long as possible, but we can no longer prolong the inevitable. I have listed our new price for your review which goes into effect on------------
and we will fix the price until ------------
We wish to thank you for your valued custom and know that you will understand the necessity for this price increase.

If you have any questions then please get in touch
++++++++++++

Thank You Gary

The new price for your property is

£

dear Gary.

thank you for your very informative letter and may I wish you a very happy new year and request that you no longer clean my windows.

as you may or may not know but its not just YOU whos suffering from the recession but the rest of us as well.

so havedecided to give thoses pikeys a try as they are well cheaper than you  in fact there are so many new w/c about that I really am spoiled for choice

happy 2010







not saying that will happen but dont be shocked if some do say that

Wow - this thread has had a more miraculous resurrection than lazerus!

Try this ...

Dear Custy,

As I have been dopey enough to fall for the blandishments of a well known turnkey wfp supplier and have also bought a shiny new van with the last of my redundancy wedge and I didn't realise that if I sat on my bottom between the week before Xmas and until the New year I would run out of money to support it, I am putting my prices up with immediate effect.

I am sure that you understand that I am way too professional to clean in the rain, and I always phone beforehand and will certainly let you "run me off" if I arrive within three days of a bank holiday or a cloudy sky. Indeed I place you on such a pedestal that I only work 100 days in a year.

This means that your prices will go up from £10 to £30 which I know you will understand and accept fully.

[stephen s]

sounds good to me

[dazmond]

dear customer


due to me using wfp instead of trad proper methods my costs have increased considerably.i clean ur windows in a fraction of the time(esp when ur not in!)and leave water every where and big lumps of salt and the windows just look like ive sprayed the hosepipe on them BUT it costs me more using the machine!im always having problems with pumps/hoses/batteries and water bills are through the roof etc so i will have to put the price up to £30 from £15 as they only need doing once a year as they stay cleaner much too long!thats why im always canvassing as i need another 800 custys to make this pay!hope u understand fully

yours faithfully

splash and dash pikey scum

[ccmids]

that does sound OK

[geefree]

you forgot the bit about making more money with wfp... thus , having to put prices up as we are getting used to it being easier and making more money,

am sure they will understand.  

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Back on a serious note, I would suggest that you don't tell them that there will be a price increase rather, if you feel you have to, explain that you are doing a wholesale 'review' of your business and pricing structure. Don't apologise or give reasons for the increase. It is rather lame to say that due to fuel prices rising they will have to pay £1-£2 more as the extra £20-£30 per day you would make on the increase doesn't equate to the actual cost of fuel.

If you say anything at all or give them a letter, you should express it in such a way that it appears to be the most normal thing in the world. If you grovel you sound like you don't think you should be increasing.

Before you ever tell the customers anything you have to be convinced that you should put your prices up, not because you can justify it with an increase in the cost of living, but rather because you are worth the final price. If you can't convince yourself of your worth without excuses you will never convince your customers.

Time for positive thinking!