[geefree]

I think i may type out a letter , and send it to all my customers, warning them of people, who knock on the door ...ask how much i charge.. and undercut me.

I will explain , that these people are doing this until they find a job, or to top up the dole money,.... and will be gone in a few weeks...

i will obviously highlight more reasons to avoid them.

But in these times, people will try and come in and undercut, so i am going to do my best to protect my round, which was very hard to build.

I will also speak to each and every one of them, and warn them about it, in a social type manner.

What do you guys think.

[geefree]

I think we should all do it... the only down side is, i will be putting it their heads that a cheaper option may soon be knocking at the door !!!!.

and for some... thats all they care about....

thats why i asked for your views guys.

[Tosh]

Gazza,

Don't bother, it wouldn't give the right impression; it makes you look like a worrier, and the vast majority of your round will be fine if they're happy with you.

I'm sure most of us have had other window cleaners leaflet and canvass our customers, but you'll lose so few (if any) it wouldn't be worth the effort.

A few months back a window cleaner went round with a leaflet asking, 'Do you want your windows cleaned the old fashioned way?'  

I think he got two of my customers, one who hated the pole, and another because he knew her personally.  Both were not very good accounts either.

[elite mike]

hi gazza

i think if most of your custys are happy with you

and know that you are honest and reliable, full insured etc

that they will stay with you whatever

i have had certain window cleaners, tell my custys that i have packed in,

retired and living in spain etc i wish

they have rung me to wish me well, and then they realise, that they have been told lies

well it does not give a good first impression of the other wc

as to the price cutting , let them

a good cold winter will see them off

dont worry about it

regards

mike

[eddie d]

i wouldnt bother with the letters.looks a bit desprate .

dont worry about it.undercutting has always gone on.

[trevor perry]

if they undercut me then they are welcome to it as i know my costs etc , i have a price i am willing to do a job for, some will be more expensive and some may be cheaper it is up to customer to decide whether they think my service is worth what they pay and whether their getting value for money.
 

[geefree]

So its a no-no then,

when the recession hits deeper, and unemployment reaches its peak.. it may be a different story.

but for now i will cancel that idea.

Thanks lads. 

[Jeff Brimble]

Gazza no harm in a "newsletter" telling them how well your doing and the benefits of your service,tips etc, keep it upbeat and totally positive and wish them seasons greetings and thanks for their valued custom.

[Klean07]

Gazza no harm in a "newsletter" telling them how well your doing and the benefits of your service,tips etc, keep it upbeat and totally positive and wish them seasons greetings and thanks for their valued custom.

I send out xmas cards with business name and a thankyou for supporting me message. I get them free from Vistaprint. Also prompts custie to give you an extra tip for xmas.

[Mr. S]

Jeff, a good idea to do a news letter. But has anybody done this and have you an example?

Cheers Craig

[Jeff Brimble]

Craid, I did one 5 years ago, its almost too late for this year but you could wish them a happy new year. Havent got it any longer, it worked well. We have been under a big C cloud for the last three years so that will be my thread for this years, a personal goodnews letter. I will also be offering them the chance to change their frequency if they wish to reflect the changing times we all face. I am trying to neutralise any effect the word recession has on my loyal customers, to attack before i get dropped. I do have too much work now but am still taking on new custys of whatever price. I am supposed to be planning my 6 year wind down to retirement but all I can think of is expansion and the probs that creates 

[Pristine Clean]

Hi Gazza,

I understand where you are comming from.. about people undercutting you.. but have you thought about this...

New window cleaner goes out canvasing for work.  He has only just started.. does not even have one customer.

so after he drops his leaflet off goes back home or to the office, and a prospect telephones and asks about the new window cleaning service.

New window cleaner replies, we do the sills as well, we are very tidy and professional. We even use WFP blah blah ...

Prospective cliet says. Well Gazza does all that already.. so no point point changing over to yourselves.

Now the new window has run out of ideas as a selling point! Whats left..

new window cleaner replies, we are also better value for money we are not cheap!...this will ring bells with some clients.  


So the prospect has now become the new winodow cleaners client. Its business.
thats a Fact! Now just because you may charge £8.00 for 6 small windows and the new window cleaner only charges £6.50 does not mean he wont be in the area for long or is on the jam roll, he may have a fleet of vehicles. And there may even be a possibility that he is the best window cleaner on the earth.

Now it does not matter wether you are a builder, window cleaner, cleaner, carpet cleaner, or what ever trade you are in...thwere is always someone somewhere that will do the job for less money than you. or another company or person for that manner.

If you look in the papers I see builder advertising, with ££££ we can save you this... shops... we can save you this... every where I go... I see we can save you this much. its been around for centuries, even when we had no money and we bartered with sheep and cows.

Now after he has a few custys lets say 40 for example he will then say right from this moment on all new clients I will put my price up... as I have a steady income now.

But consider this... as you say you do not like undercutters... this example.

Comet are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £950

Argos are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £600 + you get a £20.00 voucher its the same exactly the same as Comet.

Are you telling me that you would purchase from Comet, I dont think so!!!!

Why did you purchase from Argos... they were cheaper... or did you spend £350 extra on the same TV as you dont like undercutters. Great got the new TV at £950 but I cant afford a TV licence or electric bill to run it.

If you offer a great service, your customers wont leave you! So if you are losing any maybe it time to consider that on each house instead of finishing on the quick.

But I know how you feel its happened to me a few times and I have had to rethink.. and make sure that our work is so top notch the customers wont want to leave.

And Yes I will also admit I do undercut people, not just to get the work.. I can afford to do that.. and still make a good profit.

Best of luck, and sending the christmas cards saying thank you for your support is a great idea.

Dave

[Mr. S]

Dave (Pristine) Good reply i was thinking along those lines too, but just couldnt put it down on  here.

Jeff, cheers im going to do something in the new year but need to word it right. There are a few things i need to change with my business so going to sort these out over xmas and new year. I got a few ideas! Maybe i should start new subject.

Cheers Craig

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Be as friendly with all your customers as you can.  Ask how they are, remember something about them for next time.  Don't send out a letter advertising to them that someone else will knock and offer to do there windows for cheaper, maybe remind them of the professional service that you offer and that you are insured.  If you hear any story's of fly by night wcs that have ripped people off or damaged property, tell these story's at every opportunity  so that people realize that the grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence.

You will probably loose a few over the next few months and these not a lot you can do about it, if people can no longer afford you then you have to let them go. 

Simon.

[s.w.c]

Hi Gazza,

I understand where you are coming from.. about people undercutting you.. but have you thought about this...

New window cleaner goes out canvasing for work.  He has only just started.. does not even have one customer.

so after he drops his leaflet off goes back home or to the office, and a prospect telephones and asks about the new window cleaning service.

New window cleaner replies, we do the sills as well, we are very tidy and professional. We even use WFP blah blah ...

Prospective client says. Well Gazza does all that already.. so no point point changing over to yourselves.

Now the new window has run out of ideas as a selling point! Whats left..

new window cleaner replies, we are also better value for money we are not cheap!...this will ring bells with some clients.  


So the prospect has now become the new window cleaners client. Its business.
that's a Fact! Now just because you may charge £8.00 for 6 small windows and the new window cleaner only charges £6.50 does not mean he wont be in the area for long or is on the jam roll, he may have a fleet of vehicles. And there may even be a possibility that he is the best window cleaner on the earth.

Now it does not matter wether you are a builder, window cleaner, cleaner, carpet cleaner, or what ever trade you are in...there is always someone somewhere that will do the job for less money than you. or another company or person for that manner.

If you look in the papers I see builder advertising, with ££££ we can save you this... shops... we can save you this... every where I go... I see we can save you this much. its been around for centuries, even when we had no money and we bartered with sheep and cows.

Now after he has a few custys lets say 40 for example he will then say right from this moment on all new clients I will put my price up... as I have a steady income now.

But consider this... as you say you do not like under-cutters... this example.

Comet are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £950

Argos are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £600 + you get a £20.00 voucher its the same exactly the same as Comet.

Are you telling me that you would purchase from Comet, I don't think so!!!!

Why did you purchase from Argos... they were cheaper... or did you spend £350 extra on the same TV as you don't like under-cutters. Great got the new TV at £950 but I cant afford a TV licence or electric bill to run it.

If you offer a great service, your customers wont leave you! So if you are losing any maybe it time to consider that on each house instead of finishing on the quick.

But I know how you feel its happened to me a few times and I have had to rethink.. and make sure that our work is so top notch the customers wont want to leave.

And Yes I will also admit I do undercut people, not just to get the work.. I can afford to do that.. and still make a good profit.

Best of luck, and sending the Christmas cards saying thank you for your support is a great idea.

Dave

wow well put that man couldn't have said it any better, gazz just sit tight it will pass for a while till the next one comes around, near me there is several doggy company's that go out every night looking for work they try every trick in the book even first two cleans free you name it they try it, i don't worry anymore i use too but i stick to my guns and i know that i have a good reputation with my customers , but saying that there is always the odd one but most of the time there the ones i don't like either so good bye to them.

[Trotsky]

Hi Gazza,

I understand where you are comming from.. about people undercutting you.. but have you thought about this...

New window cleaner goes out canvasing for work.  He has only just started.. does not even have one customer.

so after he drops his leaflet off goes back home or to the office, and a prospect telephones and asks about the new window cleaning service.

New window cleaner replies, we do the sills as well, we are very tidy and professional. We even use WFP blah blah ...

Prospective cliet says. Well Gazza does all that already.. so no point point changing over to yourselves.

Now the new window has run out of ideas as a selling point! Whats left..

new window cleaner replies, we are also better value for money we are not cheap!...this will ring bells with some clients.  


So the prospect has now become the new winodow cleaners client. Its business.
thats a Fact! Now just because you may charge £8.00 for 6 small windows and the new window cleaner only charges £6.50 does not mean he wont be in the area for long or is on the jam roll, he may have a fleet of vehicles. And there may even be a possibility that he is the best window cleaner on the earth.

Now it does not matter wether you are a builder, window cleaner, cleaner, carpet cleaner, or what ever trade you are in...thwere is always someone somewhere that will do the job for less money than you. or another company or person for that manner.

If you look in the papers I see builder advertising, with ££££ we can save you this... shops... we can save you this... every where I go... I see we can save you this much. its been around for centuries, even when we had no money and we bartered with sheep and cows.

Now after he has a few custys lets say 40 for example he will then say right from this moment on all new clients I will put my price up... as I have a steady income now.

But consider this... as you say you do not like undercutters... this example.

Comet are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £950

Argos are selling a Samsung 50" plasma for £600 + you get a £20.00 voucher its the same exactly the same as Comet.

Are you telling me that you would purchase from Comet, I dont think so!!!!

Why did you purchase from Argos... they were cheaper... or did you spend £350 extra on the same TV as you dont like undercutters. Great got the new TV at £950 but I cant afford a TV licence or electric bill to run it.

If you offer a great service, your customers wont leave you! So if you are losing any maybe it time to consider that on each house instead of finishing on the quick.

But I know how you feel its happened to me a few times and I have had to rethink.. and make sure that our work is so top notch the customers wont want to leave.

And Yes I will also admit I do undercut people, not just to get the work.. I can afford to do that.. and still make a good profit.

Best of luck, and sending the christmas cards saying thank you for your support is a great idea.

Dave

Business is business, after-all!
I just remember when I started, if I got 5-6 houses in a road, I still looked out for "for sale" signs made note etc... and tried to fill in the gap's
I always ask... "Have you got a w/c" I make it a habit of never poaching!
I have lost to poachers in the past... life's too short

[Pristine Clean]

Trotsky,


Its not about poaching! Its not like anyone apart from the odd few that actually do that.

I dont poach on purpose. But if a prospect calls me to quote, I dont ask if they have a window cleaner, cleaner or what ever service they want me to quote on.

I just price the job to my rate... and give what I hope is an Excelent service for the money that they pay. If I happen to be cheaper, Tough! Maybe the other company were being greedy.

Or just cant do it at such a low cost as I can. At the moment there are alot of redundancies, companies going bust and like everyone else we are trying to survive by doing what we do.


And are you saying if a prospect called you to quote for a large job that would make your life style better, feed your kids, pay your mortgage, bills...maybe even stop all that stress about where and how are you going to pay the bills that you would turn it down...as you asked Do you have a window cleaner alrready? They say yes, What are you gonna say no I wont quote! Oh i forgot we have to Price above the previous w/ cleaner... absolute crap!

[Trotsky]

Trotsky,


Its not about poaching! Its not like anyone apart from the odd few that actually do that.

I dont poach on purpose. But if a prospect calls me to quote, I dont ask if they have a window cleaner, cleaner or what ever service they want me to quote on.

I just price the job to my rate... and give what I hope is an Excelent service for the money that they pay. If I happen to be cheaper, Tough! Maybe the other company were being greedy.

Or just cant do it at such a low cost as I can. At the moment there are alot of redundancies, companies going bust and like everyone else we are trying to survive by doing what we do.


And are you saying if a prospect called you to quote for a large job that would make your life style better, feed your kids, pay your mortgage, bills...maybe even stop all that stress about where and how are you going to pay the bills that you would turn it down...as you asked Do you have a window cleaner alrready? They say yes, What are you gonna say no I wont quote! Oh i forgot we have to Price above the previous w/ cleaner... absolute crap!

No I agree with you, if a company asks for a quote!
that's fair game, as I said business is business!
I was thinking more of the domestic side of business!
Same thing just to clarify, If someone rings up and asks for a quote and I say have you already have a w/c, they say "yes, but I still want a quote"!
That's fair game too
My quote would reflect my service not the last w/c's price (undercut or not!)
  hope that clears that up!

Theirs an old saying..."All's fair in love and war"... maybe they should of added business!
Tesco's, Sainsbury's and all the big names sell milk at a loss, just to pull the punters in!
I used to be a milkman, not much call for them now!
Having said that I could have milk delivered at a fair price... I don't!
I don't hate the milkman, Tesco or  Sainbury's...  it's just business

[pjulk]

If you do a good job and fairly regular you have nothing to worry about.

When people get a good window cleaner they tend to stick with them.

I get people canvassing all the time in my area and i never lose any.

[Pristine Clean]

Trosky
Good to see that we see along the same line.