[Mike 108]

It’s obvious from some of the replies to such questions on this site that a few of the respondents are ‘Billy Liar’s and a few are rogues who have no shame in ‘ripping off’ anybody who is naïve, or in desperate need of having a certain job done.

Equally, I accept that there are some who can command a higher price than many because of their professional image, their reputation, or the area they serve.

I suspect that the rest (including me) are in the majority - who charge an acceptable/fair price for a fair day's work.

However, I feel that there is no point to these type of questions/surveys without a picture of the thing (window, house, conservatory) the questioner is asking about.

Where a picture is provided, any regular visitor to the forum will be able to see, from which of the categories mentioned, the respondent belongs.

I think that the comparison of charges for various jobs is very helpful to a lot of members (especially the newer ones) as it encourages those that are under-charging to increase their prices. This is good for them and good for window cleaners, generally, as the ‘status’ of any work/profession is usually measured by the wages/salary it pays.

Mike   

[geefree]

Thats the reason i started the ..Conservatory roof topic,

as i was curious and thought it may be beneficial to us all.

Pictures would , no doubt be a better way of showing examples, and i think the topic became confusing as prises not only differ from area to area... but person to person... as well as con roof to con roof..

Perhaps i should not have started it as it is too wide ranging.

So apologies. 

[groundhog]

It’s obvious from some of the replies to such questions on this site that a few of the respondents are ‘Billy Liar’s and a few are rogues who have no shame in ‘ripping off’ anybody who is naïve, or in desperate need of having a certain job done.

Equally, I accept that there are some who can command a higher price than many because of their professional image, their reputation, or the area they serve.

I suspect that the rest (including me) are in the majority - who charge an acceptable/fair price for a fair day's work.

However, I feel that there is no point to these type of questions/surveys without a picture of the thing (window, house, conservatory) the questioner is asking about.

Where a picture is provided, any regular visitor to the forum will be able to see, from which of the categories mentioned, the respondent belongs.

I think that the comparison of charges for various jobs is very helpful to a lot of members (especially the newer ones) as it encourages those that are under-charging to increase their prices. This is good for them and good for window cleaners, generally, as the ‘status’ of any work/profession is usually measured by the wages/salary it pays.

Mike   

I hope your not accusing me of being a liar!! I never lie, just because someone gets a better price for their service than you do, it does not make them a liar or a rip off!! perhaps they are just better at selling their services than you are. I don't rip people off, I sell myself and my service to customers in the best way that I can, I then negotiate the best possible price that I can, if they don't like the price then they don't have to use my services. It's the same principle as a car salesman, or anyone for that matter who sells a product or service, it makes sense to get the best possible price that you can achieve!!!

[seandyer2003]

they dont do that to you in tesco though do they, i think there is a profitable price then you are just taking the p if you push it because they dont know any better,,,how do you sleep at night seriously though??

[Andy@w.c.s]

well done ground hog
I had to go and see a new job yesterday, had a good look round and quoted £30
the customer then tells me that that is double what she was paying before , but her reasoning was simple 'she was not happy with the other w/c and for a proper job was willing to give us a go
not ripping anyone off
 the other guy was under priced and had to rush it to make his money
pricing is a personal thing to low and the job suffers to high and you stand a chance of losing out
simple law of business

[groundhog]

well done ground hog
I had to go and see a new job yesterday, had a good look round and quoted £30
the customer then tells me that that is double what she was paying before , but her reasoning was simple 'she was not happy with the other w/c and for a proper job was willing to give us a go
not ripping anyone off
 the other guy was under priced and had to rush it to make his money
pricing is a personal thing to low and the job suffers to high and you stand a chance of losing out
simple law of business

Nice one Andy, I'm glad that someone has grasped this simple law of business!! 

[Mike 108]

I sell myself and my service to customers in the best way that I can, I then negotiate the best possible price that I can, if they don't like the price then they don't have to use my services. It's the same principle as a car salesman, or anyone for that matter who sells a product or service, it makes sense to get the best possible price that you can achieve!!!

What you have said (above) was well put, and sensible, and I would not try and argue against that.  However, I still believe my original remarks to be correct and readers can put themselves into whatever category they like.

Mike

[geefree]

its like every plumber giving the same price at every job.... it never happens.

Every business has different goals, standards and overheads.

Imagine if we all priced the same for every job?

Every company ?


 

[paulscotney]

Groundhog  you are totally correct

[bwoofie]

If you are a honest hardworking fair person who will allways do what he thinks is right for the customer and wishes to keep that customer for repeat business then charge as much as you can/ if you try to be all of the above you will know how much to charge

[groundhog]

its like every plumber giving the same price at every job.... it never happens.

Every business has different goals, standards and overheads.

Imagine if we all priced the same for every job?

Every company ?


 

Good example Gazza, which reminds me of a friend I have who is a plumber, an excellent and extremely proffessional plumber. He charges £60 an hour for his work and he is so busy that he works a minimum of ten hours a day, sometimes more if the customer dosn't mind him being in their house until late! Is he ripping his customers off? No, he is brilliant at his job, and does a far superior job to most other plumbers who probably charge half of what he does.

[groundhog]

Groundhog  you are totally correct

Thanks Paul!! 

[geefree]

its like every plumber giving the same price at every job.... it never happens.

Every business has different goals, standards and overheads.

Imagine if we all priced the same for every job?

Every company ?


 

Good example Gazza, which reminds me of a friend I have who is a plumber, an excellent and extremely proffessional plumber. He charges £60 an hour for his work and he is so busy that he works a minimum of ten hours a day, sometimes more if the customer dosn't mind him being in their house until late! Is he ripping his customers off? No, he is brilliant at his job, and does a far superior job to most other plumbers who probably charge half of what he does.

and thats why he is so busy.

Quality counts, people want value, but they also want top quality work.

and i bet your friend rarely advertises ?.... Word of mouth speaks volumes.

[groundhog]

Exactly Gazza, and no he dosn't need to advertise at all, apart from a very proffessional looking sign written van!! 

[Mike 108]

pricing is a personal thing to low and the job suffers to high and you stand a chance of losing out
simple law of business

You are quite right!

I accept that if you have a pricing structure and treat every new customer the same - then your success/failure rate will determine what is reasonable for the area/type of premises, and what you can or cannot ask for (and yes, those whose reputation preceeds them can ask for more).

But some people are strongly of the opinion that because a customer agrees to a price (whatever the price), they can not possibly be getting 'ripped off'.

I disagree - some people have no idea what a reasonable price should be or are just too shy/embarrassed to say 'No thanks'.

And - be honest - how many times have WE ALL regretted buying/paying for something and finished up cursing about being 'ripped off'

Mike

 

[Rob.Hall]

One of the problems I have is that I am picking up work from a window cleaner who has moved out of the area.

He has been charging £5 for a 10 windowed house. He was around for years so has been dominating the area.

I would charge £10+ nothing less.

Same work, same result. You try justifying your price to the custy when you double it.

How this guy made any money I will never know.

[Oakley Windows]

One of the problems I have is that I am picking up work from a window cleaner who has moved out of the area.

He has been charging £5 for a 10 windowed house. He was around for years so has been dominating the area.

I would charge £10+ nothing less.

Same work, same result. You try justifying your price to the custy when you double it.

How this guy made any money I will never know.

I have had that to contend with in the last 18 months. At least he's gone, so you CAN pick up his work.

I explain that so far as Im aware the guy was a retained fire-fighter, and only did windows for beer-money etc. It seems to work as most of them actually agree that was the case and his prices werent inline with someone trying to make a living full-time. 

Most generally understand.

Matt

[birdymiller]

You guys that charge £15 to £30 for standard ten to twelve window houses must be almost millionaires. Ten minute house £20, 6x20 £120 a hour, 7 hour day £840, 4 days a week £3360, 48 weeks a year( sorry not using a calculator ) £150,000 a year. 7 or 8 years as a window cleaner and youve cracked it.

In my experience supply and demand dictates price not just supply. Sure i supply a great service but if the demand and market is not there for £30 houses then i have to find a market where my service can be supplied.

I think pictures of the house we do for the prices we charge is a good idea. Someone who knows about uploading photos should put some on and then we can give the prices that we would be able to charge in our areas.

I would personally feel like i am ripping people off if i charged £20 for a ten minute house. But everyone is entitled to their opinion adn im sure this topic will go on and on.

[Oakley Windows]

So would I as you cant clean 12 windows in 10 minutes. You might say you can and think you can, but you cant CLEAN them, you can turn up and make out your cleaning them, but it'll be a shody job.

[Oakley Windows]

Why, a bank would charge you £20 or more for sending you a letter that is automatically printed from a computer.

You have to prepare, turn up then do the work. You’re not ripping anybody off if you feel that way it’s because you don’t fully understand.

Ewan, you are just too arrogant to be able to have a reasoned conversation with. Telling someone they dont understand just encourages negativity.


I'd love to respond to this post in a reasoned way, but is there any point, you always come across as being Mister Know All, Mr You Cant tell me Anything, Mr High and Mighty; I'll save my time.