[mattywig]

Ive just bought a new round and it's very compact with over 400 houses all in one place and very easy plain plastic windows to clean.  The trouble is it's well underpriced so I need to put everything up 50p.  Has anyone got any suggestions of the best way to do this?  ie note to put through the door, or face to face?  I find telling customers in person creates an awkward silence!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

[landy2]

just do it and tell them the new price when you collect it

[trike]

i wouild do it a few times first,get custies to know you,drop it to them first,i know a guy who done the same,only 50p but lost a good few because of rise.are you wfp,in a idial world you be nice to them they will be nice to you,good luck anyway

[sparklebright]

Face to face is best, but I typed up a little note saying that the price was below going rate, most people accepted it OK
I'm in a similar position just bought some work all underpriced but doable.
I have done the work once and said 'As you know the other guy was too cheap and I will need to put the price up by a £1' That way they see you do a good job. Haven't lost any so far.
If you lose 5% while putting the price up by 10% then you are doing less work for slightly more money. Or you could even point out that, that is probably why your other guy quit.

[simon w]

I agree with Trike, to begin with you need to gain the trust of your new customers and show them that you are professional and can clean their windows to a high standard.

Customers should really be informed before any price increase is made either verbally or what we do is give them a price increase letter informing them that you intend to increase your prices from the next clean.

You may need to work this round which you feel is under priced for at least three cleans before raising your prices, this way you are far less likely to lose any of the accounts that you've bought.

[mattywig]

Thanks for these suggestions I think I will do it atleast a couple of times first can you email me a copy of the letter you use to put the prices up?  It's matthewwigham@btinternet.com

thanks for all the help

[simon w]

Thanks for these suggestions I think I will do it atleast a couple of times first can you email me a copy of the letter you use to put the prices up?  It's matthewwigham@btinternet.com

thanks for all the help

Email sent let us know how you get on.

[Pj]

If as you say it's well underpriced, I'm sorry to throw a spanner in the works but the best thing to do is first time you call at each one just let them know before you start it's gone up .50p. 

.50p is NOTHING!  i'm sure most will realise they're already paying below so the majority will say fair enough mate.

[peter holley]

let them get to know you first

[scud]

  Put them all up a pound, dont mess about with 50p's, if you lose 10 you will still be earning an extra 390 on the others.

  I myself have an enviable problem, the work I have just bought came from a cleaner who is slowly of loading his work to me for retirement (he has given me a fair bit over the last year), he has been a cleaner for 34 years and his prices are incredibly high.

 The problem I have is that I will change them to wfp (not a problem in itself), but I will be at least half the time on each job, I will find it very hard to justify some of the prices and fear I may loose some that way.

[Alistair@AWC]

Scud if the prices are that good why not just slow down a little on the higher priced jobs?

[foxy]

most of them will be at work anyway. spend a bit more time having a cuppa and a chat!

[Chameleon]

 Put them all up a pound, dont mess about with 50p's, if you lose 10 you will still be earning an extra 390 on the others.

  I myself have an enviable problem, the work I have just bought came from a cleaner who is slowly of loading his work to me for retirement (he has given me a fair bit over the last year), he has been a cleaner for 34 years and his prices are incredibly high.

 The problem I have is that I will change them to wfp (not a problem in itself), but I will be at least half the time on each job, I will find it very hard to justify some of the prices and fear I may loose some that way.

If the job you do is of the same standard, it doesn't matter how fast you are!

Granted if you rush and customers see you rushing, they have every reason to think you're ripping them off! :

simply do the work at your normal pace, ask the customers (if in!) to survey the work, most will decline, the others will be pleased with the result (if you're any good!)

Everyone's happy

[scud]

 Put them all up a pound, dont mess about with 50p's, if you lose 10 you will still be earning an extra 390 on the others.

  I myself have an enviable problem, the work I have just bought came from a cleaner who is slowly of loading his work to me for retirement (he has given me a fair bit over the last year), he has been a cleaner for 34 years and his prices are incredibly high.

 The problem I have is that I will change them to wfp (not a problem in itself), but I will be at least half the time on each job, I will find it very hard to justify some of the prices and fear I may loose some that way.

If the job you do is of the same standard, it doesn't matter how fast you are!

Granted if you rush and customers see you rushing, they have every reason to think you're ripping them off! :

simply do the work at your normal pace, ask the customers (if in!) to survey the work, most will decline, the others will be pleased with the result (if you're any good!)

Everyone's happy

  I do not have any quality problems, 5 years experience withwfp brings that.

  I will not slow down either, I have plenty of customers to service.

  Time spent on the job is a problem the first few cleans, after that people stop watching and accept that the job will be done correctly, but when they have been used to an older trad cleaner taking twice as long, from past experience I know they will question cost against time taken.

[Dave71]

inflation is down by 4% business suicide by putting your prices up

[Neil Williams]

The trouble is it's well underpriced so I need to put everything up 50p. 

So why did you buy it if it's well underpriced? You bought yourself a load of trouble before you even start. You will lose some anyway because their window cleaner has changed, and now you want to put their price up too.
All the best :

[LSB]

if its that compact , then i would consider leaving it a while before you increase the price , theres no point risking losing customers in this present climate .

[mattywig]

I bought it because it's compact and easy to clean and established for 17 years and most of all I bought it because it was very cheap only one time its monthly takings.  I figured that if a put it up 50p each year and put good prices in with any new ones I get that I could turn it into a good round.  Ive done this before with a lot of success but never in a financial climate such as we find ourselves in so I think I might need that good luck thanks!

[windowswashed]

Wait 'til the spring, when the sun should be out more often and people are over Xmas overspending before mentioning a price rise. Don't bother with 50p, round it up to a £1.

[Rob.Hall]

I agree with window washers.

Wait till spring and weather is a little brighter then put the prices up.

After long consideration and seeking advice + from guys on this forum I have decided to put the prices up 10%

A lot of people dont miss 50p and if you do a good job an increase of £1 will not be to bad.

As said before you may lose a few but the gain will outway the loss.