[Joe H]

Just had a call

do you do carpet cleaning - yes
how much do you charge - where abouts in Warrington are you and how big the room
gives location - about 8 miles away
size of room - well its a lounge and a hallway which is about 12' long, ....and a bedroom
(so all I have so far is a 12' hallway)
little persuassion to extract the lounge may be about 12x15' and the bedroom a little smaller.

Thing is .. I have £50 and I can hire a machine and do the job myself - says he

Thats fine, but I will do a very deep clean, using detergent free fluids so your carpet will stay clean longer.
and the machine I use will be rather a lot more powerful so do a deeper better clean.

Do you want to come out and have a look - he asks

Yes (and we fix up for tommorrow just before lunch).

I say - but it sounds from the info you given mef it could be more like £70, are you ok with that?

he says - but you do free quotes dont you.

Yes - but is your limit £50

Yep - thats all I got in my pocket, and I can hire a machine for that

Well sorry, I cannot come down to £50, says I.

Well I will hire a machine then
...............................................

but he was willing for me to go and do a "free" quote knowing full well his limit was £50 and I was estimating £70.
What a pain in the bum!

My gripe over.

[*paul_moss]

Joe this time of year you get lots of price shoppers as they know most carpet cleaners are quiet and they can haggle.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

But it just goes to prove that giving a good indication on the phone is most definitely not a waste of time!

[The Great One]

Hi

'Hello! are you the carpet cleaner?'

'Yes sir'

'I have 2 rooms can you clean them?'

Is it possible to call you back in 5 minutes, I am with a client?'

'I don't give out my number, can you do it tomorrow?'

Sorry sir, I am busy tomorrow

'Friday?'

'Busy then sir'

'Well I don't suppose you work Saturdays do you'...click


Bless his cottons.

Regards

Martin

[*paul_moss]

Martin,that was  me just checking you are busy 

[stevegunn]

Had one today works till 7 every night cannot do Saturdays but can manage Sunday afternoon when he gets back from the club :

[garyj]

Martin has the female clients of Brighton sown up. He's always busy.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I've had them when they say that they don't get home until 6pm and work 6 days a week and would like their carpet cleaned on Sunday morning about 11am and then state that they have a cream carpet in a state and wanting 'just a quick clean'

I always state that I'm very slow especially on Sundays which are at double my normal rate

Shaun

[David_Annable]

Hi

We work 9 to 5 do you do evenings.

Can you work around the bed, how much will it be its only a small room.

There are quiet a few stains, if you can't get them out i wont bother having it done.

Dave

[spencer davies]

Sorry, you don't meet our customer criteria, thanks for the call. 


S

[*paul_moss]

Spencer I have had a few occasions like that,its nice being your own boss when you come up against a arsehole.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Spencer
You reminded me of a "nearly a customer" (who happened to have been a vindictive boss to me in a previous life).
My response was "Sorry, but you won't be able to afford my prices!"
Oh, it felt good!

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

had one yesterday went like this

hello

"can you given me a price on a front room dinner ? "

blah blah blah  as i was writeing the address down i aks for a phone number incase we need to get hold of them went like this

"i dont give my phone number out im ex. directory"

" yes i under stand but we need a phone number incase we get helded up or cant find the house and after each day all customer phone number are removered from our dater base so nobody will ever get your number "

" but im ex die. and i dont trust you with it"

" you dont trust us with your number ? but you want us too spend over 2 hours in your front room

"yes"

"well im sorry if you dont trust us engouth with your telly phone number but trust us to be in your house for two hours mostly lone i think your mad and i dont want custom  from the likes of you ! good bye "

if they cant trust you with a number then they cant trust you to be in there house its as simle as that in my eyes

[ianharper]

joe

marketing works in many different ways.

by positioning yourself as a expert saying well if your going pay to diy then let me send you some info on how to go about it plus a free bottle of spotter to use.

benefits to you is that you now have their contact detail so when they find out how hard it is next time you will get the job. if you have sent them mail each mth. they talk to others so when you send the spotter send your info on referral we give (£20) so they can give your details to their friends and get some money back that way, btw i have had people pay for their clean this way.

i can go on but i leave it there my point is never give up. when someone shows interest in carpet cleaning they see the value in the service just some need time to learn the hard way.

respect

ian harper

[Joe H]

Good points Ian - Thanks

[mark_roberts]

Fair point Ian but the point is some of us dont want these type of customers regardless. 

Mark

[spencer davies]

Paul,

I have only been employed for about six months of my life, I remember my office manager telling me I had an attitude problem when I suggested an easier way to do something  :

You are right though, if someone is a nightmare, its best to give them to someone else.

For every one pain in the arse, there are probably fifty decent people that appreciate your skills.


S

[ianharper]

Mark

with respect it their friends that you are after. plus win these types over and they will tell everyone so its always best to stick to your prices.

respect

Ian Harper

[Gerry Styles]

Yesterday

Do you clean Carpets?

Yes

Can you come and give me a quote?

Ok. Will tommorrow be ok?

Yes after 12:30

Ok will be there at 12:45 if thats ok.

Fine see you then.

Today arrive at 12:45

Can you quote for the lounge and hallway?

OK

spot large black stain in front of sofa

Any idea what the stain is?

Yes, the grand children had a toy and the battery was flat. When we took it out it broke apart,

Have you used anything on the stain?

Yes, Vanish

Oh, It may not come out.

If it doesn't then I wont pay.

Ok then no point in me trying.

The other guy said that yesterday, thought you might me able to do something

[Joe H]

Hope you didnt have to travel so far.
Quotes are "free" - but someone has to pay somewhere along the line - that someone is everyone you clean for cause presumably you build all costs into your rate.
asking
On site quoting is probably the best to do for many good reasons, but I still try to find some basic info over the phone is good.
I would hate to travel 4 or 5 miles to be quoting for just a small lounge - although you could sell yourself and get the lounge + hall/stairs/landing etc maybe.