[Gordonnis]

These leaflets have been post in my local area in the last few weeks, both from established firms (allegedly ) now all I am getting is loads of price shoppers  phoning up and saying "how much " can not and will not compete with these prices,  how can anybody run a business on prices like this is beyond me, this is what gives carpet cleaners a bad name as it will be a bait and switch scheme and the public at the moment want cheap and cheerful and do not seem to worry about quality just price
If they can clean a carpet and 3 piece suite and give a free de-odouriser  for £30 and do a very good job I might as well sit at home and sub contract all my work to them !

[daysdeepclean]

Simples mate, let 'em crack on! Most people with a brain larger than a peanut know that you get cannot expect a professional carpet cleaner at those prices.....

Maybe you should go into the hire side as well to turn price shoppers into customers. I've just quoted a price shopper £70 for a large L/Room and he was having none of it, he could get someone cheaper. Out I came the hire machine patter, £25 per day! He nearly bit my hand off! He may as well do a crap job on his own carpets instead of paying some cowboy to do it for him!

[Dennis]

They were about when I started, lounge carpets 3 farthings & suites 1 groat.

Well 20 years ago anyway. 

[Paul Simpson]

Got a similar leaflet through my door a few weeks ago, Lounge - £17, Dining room £15, 3 piece suite £30, 3 bed house - £75 and so on.
Further down they then list prices for vacuuming, deodorising, grooming all of which I provide as standard.
If I packed in carpet cleaning I wouldn't trust them to do my carpets and as Colin says anyone who seriously thinks about it will think the same.
Despite the cut price leaflets I've never been busier so either theres alot of work out there at the moment or people are thinking those prices are too good to be true.

[rich hand]

I moved area to get away from that kind of crap

[clinton]

They must be really desperate for the work i guess 

Your doing the right thing colin and holding up your prices

I just dont bother when they start asking for the cheap prices and usually just end the call

[dave123]

Don't know about desperate but those guys pull in between $1500-£2000 / week . However i do agree with you that they are slap dash merchants and never get to go to the same places twice , giving the true professional cc's a bad name,because those customers think all cc's are like them .

[Fraser Thom]

Dave how do you know they pull in 1500-2000 per week?

[Mike Osbourne]

My view is there's absolutely nothing you can do about it so  you might as well spend the time minding your own business. I have seen leaflet response drop through the floor, but the question is what are you going to do to make up for it?

If I have a bad week, month I really can't blame it on some scummy leaflets. It all comes down to what I do in the end and if you ain't doing so well you can only blame yourself. 

If you have high standards and good marketing you're not competing with them anyway.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I don't think of these people as competition because they are targeting a different market.

It's like comparing Macdonalds with a Michelin star restaurant, compeletly different businesses targetting different customers.

Cheers

Doug

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

John Kelly showed me the top flyer several weeks ago and it made me laugh!

Doug is right. Forget about these guys they target a different market than the rest of us do and shouldn't make any sort of impact on our earnings!

I might give them a buzz and see what the score is...

John

[richy27]

these people are only competing with themselfs because they obviously dont realise the importance of repeat and rec work. The more you think about them the more they will bug you. just carry on with your own strategy. If someone wants to pay peanuts then they will always find a monkey. be someone dif next year always is always will be

[John Kelly]

Don't get upset about them. They have always been there and always will be. Concentrate on your own business.

[brianbarber]

I tell price shoppers I am the john lewis of carpet cleaning!!
That usually sorts out the messers!!!
Ive recently increased my min charge and will be moving away frommenu pricing at the end of august.
As well as wanting to charge more, I find with better customers they tend to appreciate your work more.

Mr B

[Neil Williams]

I used to be concerned about this type of thing but think of it this way.
Over 95% of these leaflets go straight to the bin.
We want customers who are looking for a job to be done and will search accordingly.
These super cheaps will do a cr-p job (you can't do a suite and a carpet for £30) and in the past I have been called in to sort the mess out.

As for the flyer stating being established since 1980/1990 etc well haven't they moved on greatly

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Like the guys say, sell quality not price, make it sound affordable compared to replacement not compete against price, make them think what they are getting for their money and their may be mistake if they have a cheap cleaner, don't base your selling on price or in this case don't base it on experience but base it on certificates or machinery.

Shaun

[Len Gribble]

Had one guy delivering his cheapo leaflet while on a job, threaten to kick my head in I think he said something about unfair advantage. I personally don’t give a you know what,

Shaun

Will the Prochem one do?

Len

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

If you don't do leaflets then this sort of "competition" doesn't  even feature on the radar.

I did get a laugh recently when somebody asked me if I hired out machines and I replied "yes, and it comes with a free operator as well". Got the job booked in even when I told him the price (with the free operator).

Logically with those prices (if they really stuck to them) then they would be paying themselves BELOW minimum wage. Point that out to a potential client and you'll often find you can convert a "price shopper" into " a real client".

The only good thing you can say about these leaflets is that they do make you smile.

Niel
As you say about the year they are established, when a mid-twenties year old lad turns up the only thing you can assume is that they told a "terminal inexactitude" on the leaflet!

Shaun
Correct comments as usual. Ie I agree with with you.

Dave123
Yes I am interested in an analysis/further explanation in your comment



Roger

[Neil Williams]

I did get a laugh recently when somebody asked me if I hired out machines and I replied "yes, and it comes with a free operator as well". Got the job booked in even when I told him the price (with the free operator).

Brilliant. I'll remember that one for next time

[Fintan_Coll]

Of course they could be bait and switch merchants too. Wonder what price the customer actually ends up paying.