[TennetClean]

Yet another thread that should be made sticky as a warning of some of the rubbish advice given on this forum

there is no loyalty in this business

If thats what your experiencing then you are doing something seriously wrong matey.  I am at least a 2x or 3x more expensive than other window cleaners in my area and yet my customers would never change me for a cheaper guy, ever.

The reason is that they know and trust me and I have built my entire business on loyalty.

Sure there are customers out there who will choose on price alone, and you are welcome to them.  Price shoppers are quite possibly the worst customers to have, and if you havent worked that out by now then my advice is to give up window cleaning and go stacking shelves in asda instead.

The customers I target view price as a secondary consideration.  They appreciate the fact that I turn up looking smart, am polite and friendly, do a good job and am professonal in everything I do.

I find it hilarious that people on here go "ah it doens matter what you do we al clean windows everythings the same in the end" and then here is a prime example of a guy able to charge a third more than you for exactly the same work and you cant understand it.  In fact you somehow think that you've been clever to do the same work for less money.  LOL good luck to him.

He wont care less about that rubbish customer, he'll get another one tomorrow that appreciates a good professional service, leaving you to scrabble about for the dregs.

If you ever wondered why there are some window cleaners driving jaguars and some driving fiestas - even though they do the same job - this thread tells you all you need to know.

[cvdewsbury]

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.

squeaky what was you actually doing for a £9.00..ie traditional way ie windows and cills OR wfp all frames?

[Tosh]

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

Hey,

I reckon that's me!  I quoted £14.00 for a place this morning; and a tenner for her daughter who lives just round the corner; neither are big places.

Was this in Tutshill?

(If it is the same place, I honestly don't mind, I'm cleaning similar properties for much more than you ).

[Jimmy1]

I think Tennetclean makes perfect sense. Here here!

[Sir Squeaky]

...and then here is a prime example of a guy able to charge a third more than you for exactly the same work

Well obviously he can't can he?
He didn't get the job. Doh!

If you ever wondered why there are some window cleaners driving jaguars and some driving fiestas - even though they do the same job - this thread tells you all you need to know.

I drive a brand new van that costs as much as a 3 year old Jag actually.

[matt]

oh i miss mr sol

he would have made some posts on this thread 


my opinion, 10 mins work for 9 quid, its not bad is it for a un / semi-skilled job

but then again, you will never make your 1K a day with prices like that 

Squeaky is happy with the 9 quid, he priced the job and got it, thats life

[Sir Squeaky]

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

Hey,

I reckon that's me!  I quoted £14.00 for a place this morning; and a tenner for her daughter who lives just round the corner; neither are big places.

Was this in Tutshill?

(If it is the same place, I honestly don't mind, I'm cleaning similar properties for much more than you ).

No, nowhere near.

[simon knight]

Yet another thread that should be made sticky as a warning of some of the rubbish advice given on this forum

there is no loyalty in this business

If thats what your experiencing then you are doing something seriously wrong matey.  I am at least a 2x or 3x more expensive than other window cleaners in my area and yet my customers would never change me for a cheaper guy, ever.

The reason is that they know and trust me and I have built my entire business on loyalty.

Sure there are customers out there who will choose on price alone, and you are welcome to them.  Price shoppers are quite possibly the worst customers to have, and if you havent worked that out by now then my advice is to give up window cleaning and go stacking shelves in asda instead.

The customers I target view price as a secondary consideration.  They appreciate the fact that I turn up looking smart, am polite and friendly, do a good job and am professonal in everything I do.

I find it hilarious that people on here go "ah it doens matter what you do we al clean windows everythings the same in the end" and then here is a prime example of a guy able to charge a third more than you for exactly the same work and you cant understand it.  In fact you somehow think that you've been clever to do the same work for less money.  LOL good luck to him.

He wont care less about that rubbish customer, he'll get another one tomorrow that appreciates a good professional service, leaving you to scrabble about for the dregs.

If you ever wondered why there are some window cleaners driving jaguars and some driving fiestas - even though they do the same job - this thread tells you all you need to know.

Have no fear, I'll certainly do as good a job as you...I'm punctual. turn up looking as smart as a window cleaner needs to look..ie: I shave, brush teeth and use deodorant. I'm polite and trustworthy (natch!). And I don't ever lose customers to somebody who's an undercutter! Why? Because i charge realistic money to begin with.

For the passed 18 months ...all...but all of my new biz has been from recs...speaks volumes I'd say!

And what's wrong with Fiestas anyway...my wife drives one!

[supernova77]

If thats what your experiencing then you are doing something seriously wrong matey.  I am at least a 2x or 3x more expensive than other window cleaners in my area and yet my customers would never change me for a cheaper guy, ever.

The reason is that they know and trust me and I have built my entire business on loyalty.

Sure there are customers out there who will choose on price alone, and you are welcome to them.  Price shoppers are quite possibly the worst customers to have, and if you havent worked that out by now then my advice is to give up window cleaning and go stacking shelves in asda instead.

The customers I target view price as a secondary consideration.  They appreciate the fact that I turn up looking smart, am polite and friendly, do a good job and am professonal in everything I do.

I find it hilarious that people on here go "ah it doens matter what you do we al clean windows everythings the same in the end" and then here is a prime example of a guy able to charge a third more than you for exactly the same work and you cant understand it.  In fact you somehow think that you've been clever to do the same work for less money.  LOL good luck to him.

He wont care less about that rubbish customer, he'll get another one tomorrow that appreciates a good professional service, leaving you to scrabble about for the dregs.

If you ever wondered why there are some window cleaners driving jaguars and some driving fiestas - even though they do the same job - this thread tells you all you need to know.

I actually agree with this post from Tennet!

Squeaky - Time and time again you have moaned about the kind of customers you have - And now it looks like you've taken another one on!

If another window cleaner knocks on her door next month and offers to do it for £7, then I bet she would take them on and dump you!

Then you would be moaning about another one of your customers!

Andy

[TennetClean]

Well obviously he can't can he?
He didn't get the job. Doh! Grin

Not THIS job maybe, but do you think he decided to raise his prices just for this house? No.  I bet that guy has a whole round full of similarly priced work.  So whose the numpty then?  Which one of you is doing the same work for less money?

[Tosh]

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

Hey,

I reckon that's me!  I quoted £14.00 for a place this morning; and a tenner for her daughter who lives just round the corner; neither are big places.

Was this in Tutshill?

(If it is the same place, I honestly don't mind, I'm cleaning similar properties for much more than you ).

No, nowhere near.

Squeaks,

I'm still cleaning those four - or was it five - properties you used to charge £6.00 each; in Hardwick Avenue; but then dropped; and I took over charging the same customers £12.00 each (and I tussled with myself; I really wanted to charge them £15 each, but didn't 'cos I knew their previous window cleaner was really cheap).

They all love me too.

There's a lesson to be learnt here somewhere!

[TDW]

I'm with tennet on this one. How else would I keep a close of 5 house priced at £35 each if the customers weren't showing loyalty for my good service. They know me and trust me which is why I've had them for 3 years now. There must of been others who canvassed in that time.
Besides they are all muti millionaire solicitors etc on £500ph so its probably underpriced if anything!

[Sir Squeaky]

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

Hey,

I reckon that's me!  I quoted £14.00 for a place this morning; and a tenner for her daughter who lives just round the corner; neither are big places.

Was this in Tutshill?

(If it is the same place, I honestly don't mind, I'm cleaning similar properties for much more than you ).

No, nowhere near.

Squeaks,

I'm still cleaning those four - or was it five - properties you used to charge £6.00 each; in Hardwick Avenue; but then dropped; and I took over charging the same customers £12.00 each (and I tussled with myself; I really wanted to charge them £15 each, but didn't 'cos I knew their previous window cleaner was really cheap).

They all love me too.

There's a lesson to be learnt here somewhere!

Yep, that you're rip off and going to lose them anyway.

Why do they keep pestering me to do them again then?
They're trying to find someone else, honestly.

You WILL lose them. And why? Because you charged too much. :

[Sir Squeaky]

If another window cleaner knocks on her door next month and offers to do it for £7, then I bet she would take them on and dump you!

No she won't, because she hadn't even had this guy do them yet, and besides the neighbours are very happy.

[simon knight]

Some of you guys make me laugh. You really don't seem to be reading off the same page as me and Squeaks.

Neither of us are saying charge way way too little...we're saying charge a sensible price!

And to those who spout on about customer loyalty I'll say this:

IT DOES NOT EXIST!

You charge £25 for 1/2 hours work....somebody comes along and says £15 and he's given a chance and does as good a job....

Then it's "sorry Mr (ex) window cleaner....in Alan Sugar's words...You're Fired!"

You think they're friends?....you're just their window cleaner and mean zip to them!

Get real!

[Tosh]

Yep, that you're rip off and going to lose them anyway.

Why do they keep pestering me to do them again then?
They're trying to find someone else, honestly.

You WILL lose them. And why? Because you charged too much. :

Squeaks,

I'm no rip off; you know that.  You also know I don't earn nearly as much as what many other guys here reckon they earn.

I also won't lose them; I do all that part of the street; PARKING IS A NIGHMARE; using ladders is really difficult; we fill a niche there with a backpack and we have £160 quids worth of work in that small area that we can do in three hours; I even do the Charity Home (Hill House (aka Hell House)).

Any window cleaner who'd do the odd house there, for less than £12, would have to be really desperate!

Why did you drop them in the first place?  It's backpack territory; you can't get a van in; ladders would be hard work.

C'mon, wise up; as they say in Belfast!

[TennetClean]

You charge £25 for 1/2 hours work....somebody comes along and says £15 and he's given a chance and does as good a job....

This exact situation happens to me on a regular basis, the areas I work in are much sought after, only the outcome is different.

Its quite often that a customer tells me another window cleaner called wanting to do them for £10 when I charge £30, "But I told them to clear off" is what the customers say to me.  Usually followed by "Don't ever give up will you?  We've never known a window cleaner as good as you"

Whats interesting to me is what they mean by "good".
I dont clean the windows any better than the next window cleaner. A clean window is a clean window.

It is the other stuff that makes me "good" in their eyes, the stuff that you are obviously lacking.  (And dont ask what that is, because you cant teach professionalism, you either have it or you dont)

[Sir Squeaky]

Yep, that you're rip off and going to lose them anyway.

Why do they keep pestering me to do them again then?
They're trying to find someone else, honestly.

You WILL lose them. And why? Because you charged too much. :

Squeaks,

I'm no rip off; you know that.  You also know I don't earn nearly as much as what many other guys here reckon they earn.

I also won't lose them...etc.

Honestly they are REALLY not happy.

There's plenty of people who will do 15 minutes (maximum) for less than £12.

Yes, my prices were old at £7, but I'd happily spend that time working for £8-10.

[Sir Squeaky]

It is the other stuff that makes me "good" in their eyes, the stuff that you are obviously lacking.  (And dont ask what that is, because you cant teach professionalism, you either have it or you dont)

You don't half spout some tripe ToiletClean.

[frames to panes]

If you were as brilliant as me you could charge what you like, my customers love me, my work is second to none i'm just so great. I'm the best salesman that ever lived.

God, how many times have i read posts like that on here? Windowcleaners must have the worlds biggest egos. We are just taking dirt of glass - hardly the most highly skilled occupation in the world is it?
Well done Squeeks if your happy with your price then that's all that matters.