[mark_roberts]

Trevor

This hour saving method wouldnt have something to do with the texatherm method would it?

Mark

[Phil Marlor]

Trevor,

Where in Bedfordshire, I used to live in Langford & Wilstead.

Didint realise you were so close to me.

Phil

[Ken Wainwright]

As professional trades/business people, we should conduct ourselves accordingly. To charge as much as you THINK you can get is not very professional at all. After all, if someone cleaned your suite for £XXX, was then recommended  to your mother/sister/uncle/cousin and they were charged only £XX for an identical suite in the same condition, then surely you would feel "ripped off" yourself and never use that company again. If Halfords, Dixons, Jessops, Tesco etc. etc. etc. can charge everyone the same price for the same goods/service, then why can't we?

What is required is a clear and fair pricing structure and policy. For myself, I'll charge by the seating unit. That's my standard price. If the soiling level is exceptional, then I may add a small premium. So too for extra travelling, scatter cushions etc. You may prefer to charge by the hour, by the seating unit or by the number of buckets of water used, but you should always be fair and clear and able to honestly justify your pricing structure should friends, family or neighbours compare notes.

Safe, fair and happy pricing:)
Ken  

[Ian Gourlay]

Do all repacement window companoes charge the same.?

[Mike Halliday]

Ken you're getting the wrong end of the stick I don't mean make up the price differently for each customer, I mean make up your price and stick to it for everyone.

if we are talking about fair is it fair  for you to charge the customer say £160 to clean a suite when someone who charges £95 might do it just as good.

why should you make an extra £65, because you've made up/ decided/ worked out/ calculated your price of £165.

we all charge what we believe we can get no matter what we say.

Mike

[Ken Wainwright]

Mike

I wasn't talking about you, or anyone else specifically in my post, especially as you and I are quite familiar with the professional way each of us deals with this issue. However, there are many CC's on all the forums who appear to make up their prices as they go. We're all businessmen out to succeed. I do it my way and it works for me. Others do it differently and it works for them. However, it's my opinion that their way is wrong, as I pointed out in my previous post.

As to levels of priing, Waitrose feel that a can of beans is worth £XX but Tesco only charge £x. But both are successful within their targeted market. A window replacement company should typically have a proper, structured pricing policy, into which is worked variables allowing for commisions, overszes from standard, added features etc. etc.  But as in all businesses, different companies will have different rates. I value my services higher than some, which is why I command a higher price. But this issue isn't about what you charge, more about having a clear pricing structure that can be seen to be fair and honest to all.  

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

PS Yes it is fair for me to charge more for a suite than some others. You don't force anyone to buy your services, you invite them to purchase at a quoted price. It would be unfair though if I charged someone else more (or less) just because I felt like it. Very unprofessional.

[woodman]

Mark

Not quite, I don't like the method  for upholstery cleaning using the Texatherm system, I use a combination of systems that in theory any one could do,greatly reducing the chances of damage to the item being cleaned.

Phil

I operate out of Woburn (not the Abbey )

[Mike Halliday]

So why not tell us what it is :

I'm starting to think this is like some schoolyard  prank, some snotty nosed  kid running around shouting "I've got a secret.... I've got a secret"

we'd all like to cut an hour off our suite cleaning, so tell us your big secret.

Mike

[David_Annable]

I've got a secret

Dave

[Doug Holloway]

AJY,

It's your business , you decide how much you want to charge,otherwise you might as well work for someone else.

Best of luck,

Doug

[Derek]

Mike

There is nothing scientific about the way I structure my prices...as you know I charge well in excess of £100 for five seating units...Like Ken I charge by the seating unit.

I purchase all my equipment for cash (no hire purchase) and this can only be achieved by salting part of ones earnings into a fund for repair and replacement

When one considers all the outgoings of running a business I am not accessive in my pricing...it's all down to the bottom line.
Most of us could probably get a job working for someone else for the same bottom line figure or more without all the hassle of actually running a business....we just choose not to...or in my case I am unemployable  

Derek

[woodman]

Mike

Once again so eloquent with your replies,that I am just falling over myself here rushing to help you out :

No big secret, available to all but like a naughty school boy you havn't been paying attention have you? Had you bothered to check you would have seen that I explained how the procedure works in an earlier thread.

But I prefer to show if at all possible rather than explain, as hands on is much more reliable and aids confidence.

PS: you must have attended some strange schools as a kid,   'I've got a secret'     thats a new one on me.

[Mike Halliday]

What can I say, I had a very unhappy school life

I was always picked last when playing football & the school bully used to always pinch my dinner money.

I'll search through all your postings and see if I can find out your secret

Mike

[Chris R]

Hi trevor,
Is this your "secret"  
Taken from a previous posting by woodman,

A really good vacuum light mist with Solutions MS light agitation and a quick rinse with water  Job Done

Incidently best bit of kit I have added for a very long time for upholstery cleaning is my Minitex mini roto.

I use this all the time for agitating the solution in and working on arms and back cushion problem areas.Takes all the hard work out of agitation leaves the furniture looking great before rinsing.

Also can help with drying off after rinsing,with air movers going use the mini roto with clean pads and this speeds drying no end.

I actually, and I didn't think I would ever hear myself saying this, quite enjoy upholstery cleaning using this method  

Superb bit of kit.

[Phil Marlor]

Trevor,

What is this Minitex Mini Roto and where did you get it?
How much?

Phil

[Mark Roberts]

http://www.texatherm.co.uk/

£225 for the mini-roto

Mark

[Len Gribble]

Phil

Think sold by texatherm don’t know the price.

By the way boys six of the best is needed.

Len

[SMP]

Will a Black & Decker do the same jobs as the Mini Roto?  

[Mark Roberts]

Will a Black & Decker do the same jobs as the Mini Roto?

It looks like one of those mop things you use to wax your car with.  

Upholstery with a shine !

Mark