[Sir Squeaky]

I picked up a job today (which may lead to more) because someone was charging too much.

I was asked to call on a lady who was a potential customer.
When I got there I had a look and decided on £9.
I tend to say £10 minimum now, but I'm doing next door for £10, and they have a small porch.
Seemed only fair, and it was actually only 7 windows, so I'd be done in under 10 minutes.

She then tells me she's got someone else coming next week, but he wanted £14!

Now if it had been the same or a pound more I may have said I didn't want to stick my nose in.
But if he's trying to rip people off on a 10 minute job, then I had no hesitation in saying give me a ring when you've spoken to him.

I wouldn't intentionally undercut, and I gave my price before I knew his.

But beware...those with daft prices, there's always someone who'll quote less and you'll lose out.

[supernova77]

I picked up a job today (which may lead to more) because someone was charging too much.

I was asked to call on a lady who was a potential customer.
When I got there I had a look and decided on £9.
I tend to say £10 minimum now, but I'm doing next door for £10, and they have a small porch.
Seemed only fair, and it was actually only 7 windows, so I'd be done in under 10 minutes.

She then tells me she's got someone else coming next week, but he wanted £14! Shocked

Now if it had been the same or a pound more I may have said I didn't want to stick my nose in.
But if he's trying to rip people off on a 10 minute job, then I had no hesitation in saying give me a ring when you've spoken to him.

I wouldn't intentionally undercut, and I gave my price before I knew his.

But beware...those with daft prices, there's always someone who'll quote less and you'll lose out.

Perhaps you are underpricing?

Andy

[nat]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work, i would of said a tenner but hey whats a quid!

i tend to be fair with my pricing, i don't like being undercut and you could quite easily at £14, knock 5/6 of them out in an hour your on good money

well done squeeks!!

[windowcleaninginessex.co.uk]

Thats business ...

Darren

[Sir Squeaky]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work, i would of said a tenner but hey whats a quid!

Ha ha!
I would have said a tenner too, but I didn't want her saying "why am I paying the same as next door?!"

[frames to panes]

I started a post much the same as this and got attacked left right and centre, got accused of undercutting, selling myself short and much more.

[Sir Squeaky]

I started a post much the same as this and got attacked left right and centre, got accused of undercutting, selling myself short and much more.

I know, but it made me happy, and besides, I wondered how many replies it would get.

[nat]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work, i would of said a tenner but hey whats a quid!

Ha ha!
I would have said a tenner too, but I didn't want her saying "why am I paying the same as next door?!"

i would of said a tenner as that is my minimum bottom flat charge nothing worse than recieving a cheque under a tenner...ain't i a snob??!!

[simon knight]

That's not undercutting...just charging a sensible price for the job, good luck to you!

Can't quite understand though why she's got a guy coming next week and is now checking out prices

[L.J.Thorpe]

I started a post much the same as this and got attacked left right and centre, got accused of undercutting, selling myself short and much more.

yes but sol has gone and maybe "davo" is offline,get ready to be lectured on how crap a business man you are when he cottons on

[Sir Squeaky]

That's not undercutting...just charging a sensible price for the job, good luck to you!

Can't quite understand though why she's got a guy coming next week and is now checking out prices

The other way around really.
She asked to her neighbour to get me to call, but got someone else before I turned up.

[simon knight]

That's not undercutting...just charging a sensible price for the job, good luck to you!

Can't quite understand though why she's got a guy coming next week and is now checking out prices

The other way around really.
She asked to her neighbour to get me to call, but got someone else before I turned up.

Oh I see.  Anyway I personally don't deliberately undercut...EXCEPT when the current w/c is charging way way over the odds.

As an example: A job i picked up last year. Big house with lots of glass, but all very accessable. Current w/c charging.....wait for it.......

..............wait for it............

.......£140...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is 2 hours top whack.  She saw me over the road doing a similar house and came over and asked how much I charged for it.

£50 I said.   Obviously her then current w/c got the old tin tack and I took the thieving rascals place.

Do I feel guilty?....Do I heck

[Sir Squeaky]

Thanks for the back-up Simon!

That's exactly the point I was making.

[TennetClean]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work

Yes he is.

No matter what price is being charged by the other guy it is NOT a rip off.

The customer knew the price in advance, and they knew what they would be getting for the money, so how is that a rip off?

Now she has later decided that this isnt good value for money, fair enough thats her perogative, but nobody has been ripped off.

I'd say, more fool you for doing a house for £9 that someone else managed to get £14 for.

[tonylee]

I'm with tuppence on this one, squeaks
tony

[steve m]

exactly! . If the customer knows the price and agrees it how can that be ripping people off??. The question is why are you under cutting the last window cleaner

[nat]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work

Yes he is.

No matter what price is being charged by the other guy it is NOT a rip off.

The customer knew the price in advance, and they knew what they would be getting for the money, so how is that a rip off?

Now she has later decided that this isnt good value for money, fair enough thats her perogative, but nobody has been ripped off.

I'd say, more fool you for doing a house for £9 that someone else managed to get £14 for.

what cr-ap!!  : lets all stand here stroking our ego's £9 is a fair price for the amount of work. if the guy charges that amount of £14 he is open to be undercut. while he is sitting at home wondering why he had a few cancellations, there is someone else out there earning a decent living off his ex customers!! there is no loyalty in this business. charge sensible prices or risk losing them...simple really!!!!

[macmac]

he ain't underpricing for £9, 10 minutes work

Yes he is.

No matter what price is being charged by the other guy it is NOT a rip off.

The customer knew the price in advance, and they knew what they would be getting for the money, so how is that a rip off?

Now she has later decided that this isnt good value for money, fair enough thats her perogative, but nobody has been ripped off.

I'd say, more fool you for doing a house for £9 that someone else managed to get £14 for.

Silly man

Good on you squeeks, it's your business, charge what you want. Idiots like tuppeny are always left hanging out to be undercut.
I personally would undercut anyone i didn't know who was over my hourly rate. business & my family's income come before any boasting bravado!

Charge silly money- expect to be under-cut, on your shoulders be it :

Tony

[simon knight]

 Tennet and steve m, whilst I agree that rip-off is possibly not the right word, the guy was trying to charge over-the-odds IMO.

In no way is 10 mins of work worth £14...not even in affluent Putney where i work and live.

£14? He's way overpriced and should be aware that sooner rather than later somebody will come along and charge more sensible money.

Again, well done Squeaks

[Jimmy1]

I would agree that the customer knew the price and accepted it so in my opinion thats fair. Just because you believe they are charging too high, does not make it right to undercut. Undercutting (intentionaly) will drive prices down and down. Surely the idea is for us to be paid for a proffessional service. We should also bear in mind whats 10 mins work to one person is possibly 15 to another - not everybody works at the same speed, were window cleaners not robots.