Clean up Cleanitup!!

« **Reply #20 on:** May 12, 2005, 07:07:52 pm »

My two pennies worth..

Matt ...I think you were referring to me passing on information at the seminar last week. Most of the problems I discussed were as a result of various problems I have encountered over the years by several means..

1. Consultancy/trouble shooting for a major warranty company

2. Similar with manufacturer of a main proprietary branded product.

3. Training and networking with NCCA members and also the Scotchcare network.

I have been lucky to be able to learn from other peoples problems and sometimes mistakes... often I have been able to solve those problems for them

Many of the recent highly contraversial comments on this forum should be looked at in context and not just by assuming that those points are aimed at you personally.

Training is fine providing people absorb the information gained and utilising the bit between their ears use that information to good effect...sadly many think they know better so go on to foul up.

Don does have a point and I have written articles for Trade Magazines in similar vein so why persecute him, there may well be some truth in there... just read and think about his words carefully

Surely one has to have an open mind at all times and weigh up the odds to the benefit of your own business... it could save it!

Derek

« **Reply #21 on:** May 12, 2005, 08:12:58 pm »

I’m not into banning any one unless they continually break the rules of the forums, then I thinking that’s up to the owner of said forums.

Bit surprised at Don throwing his rattle out of the pram very sad and in some cases professional.

Forums are to exchange knowledge and experiences plus the banter, nearly forgot networking.

Ian

Can you elaborate on you quote? “but you might find a few more posts are deleted in the future”

Matt

Corgi is for gas fitters plumbers tag this on!

Len

« **Reply #22 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:28:33 pm »

Sorry Derek wasn't intended to put you in a bad light(hope your recovering well)...just makes my blood boil when the main theme has been you're never too experienced to learn something new,yet we get comments that we're all con artiste's /cowboys...i'm sure there's lots out there as barry says but i doubt very much they contribute/read forums like this, more likely they're down the pub with the days connings.

len ..i haven't heard of a trade association for plumbers either then !

recomendation is the best form of advertising as we all know,,i doubt many cowboy cc's get recomended so i guess we can work out ourselves which catagory we come under.

« **Reply #23 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:37:23 pm »

Derek,
if we all chipped in some loose change whilst you are on the sick, you would be very rich man.
To some of the doubters.
If there were 204 differant members replying to the forums because they felt it is important to make a point, then think on. What about the other 5300 members, the silent majority who just browse and think, they do not want to be intimidated by the brash, the know it alls, the dissapointed sugar sweetners.
My off site emails have gone through the roof and I appear to have touched a raw nerve of concern, and would you believe it, mostly from newbies, and so many of them have been in and out of work, 6 redundencies for one,and for the first time they feel important, there is pride,and you have to be proud if you are wiping the skirting boards and brushing the carpet as you go out the room, for many it is the last chance saloon and they are so keen and trained but also concerned about those don't and won't train up and they hear most of the horror stories from their customers, the common thread seems to be "what can be done to put our house in order."
Barry

« **Reply #24 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:47:51 pm »

I think it is all down to the customers perception/expectation that defines our business.

Some only want to pay low prices, thus falling into the alleged splash/dash/cowboy category, others will pay more for what they perceive will be a better job.

Like all industries there are different levels of service. Just because one differs friom the other & indeed may be inferior in quality, does not necessarily make one a crap job.

For example easy jet are cheap, BA expensive. Both provide same service, but different quality, but the customers of each respective service are happy.

I think it is time to accept this and stop harping on about splash/dash this & that, because whilst there is a customer base requiring that level of service, then the cleaners who are prepared to operate at that cost level will always exist.

Blah blah blah

Dan

« **Reply #25 on:** May 12, 2005, 10:19:50 pm »

If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!!! Springs to mind.

« **Reply #26 on:** May 12, 2005, 10:27:30 pm »

John

Meaning what

« **Reply #27 on:** May 12, 2005, 10:44:20 pm »

Barry

A bit like any election, go with the flow.

“The common thread seems to be "what can be done to put our house in order."

Law, but that will never happen! Believe in the sates and Aus one has to be licensed to cut hair!

Matt

Nether have I, but I bet I can still install central heating as good as any plumber, the only problem rigging up the gas supply to the unit and airflow. Have a look at http://www.corgi-gas-safety.com/section_about/corgi_council.asp

For info done a let last week Corgi bloke condemned fire not the plumbing.

Len

« **Reply #28 on:** May 13, 2005, 08:14:15 am »

Len,

What I meant was that if a post put cleaning in a bad light, was sexual, racist etc or someone encouraging us to con the public.
However it gets very difficult because if we do not talk about bad practice bait and switch etc how are we to know what is happening in the Market Place

I have had a sleepless night wondering if I should have deleted topic as it could be used to pick on certain people which i do not think is good for any Forumn. I do not think any of the present contributors our as bad as Jason somebody.

I actually think that Don has a lot to offer on The Marketing Side which is what a lot of cleaners struggle with.

Obviously his News of The World style of posting does not put Carpet Cleaning in a very good light

regards

Ian

Doug and Mike might have diffrent views

« **Reply #29 on:** May 13, 2005, 10:27:04 am »

Matt

I apologise... the first section of my last post was for you highlighting some of my background experiences..

the remainder (Referring to contraversial comments) was a general comment aimed at trying to make people look beyond what may be perceived to be an attack on them personally.

Regards
Derek

« **Reply #30 on:** May 13, 2005, 11:47:41 am »

Assocaitions.

If you look in the yellow pages under consumer information you will find 5 pages of assocaitions, plumbers as well.

« **Reply #31 on:** May 13, 2005, 01:05:27 pm »

The point i was trying to make is our trade is no different to any other..if i wasn't a cc i'd have to look up our association along with the rest. If i had a referal for any building work plumbing etc i'd use them same goes for cc, the associations in any trade don't seem very prominent.

i've never seen a cc on "house of horrors" yet but just about every other trade has been on there...perhaps we aren't so bad after all .

« **Reply #32 on:** May 13, 2005, 02:31:45 pm »

Being Trade Association or Licensed does not mean everything............... just look at most drivers :

Most had lessons from qualified instructors and all should have licenses to drive

« **Reply #33 on:** May 13, 2005, 02:53:59 pm »

Don't know how long you've been around c/c Matt, but you must have come across a few bad jobs yourself.

I mentioned somewhere, the two guys who walked into a living room, each carrying a bucket full of water, which they threw over the carpet - in the manner you might throw water over a lawn, in an arc, - a large blue machine was then started and they proceeded to extract from the carpet.

Needless to say, it was several days before the carpet dried and unfortunately lost about an inch, or so all round.

The company responsible have been around for years and have Y/P advertising, plus leafleting teams.

This particular incident took place in Paisley and it was some two years before the lady plucked up the courage to allow another c/c into her home

Fortunately it was me, but it could just as easily have been another stetson wearer.

r m

« **Reply #34 on:** May 13, 2005, 03:36:05 pm »

about a decade therapist...and yes had the odd complaint about previous cc's but the incident you mentioned is an extreme case and they can only possibly get "new customers" each time with that setup !

I just don't think we're the only trade with these problems and altho associations help the customer, only a minority of the public use them.

In norfolk theres a guy setting up a website called "no more cowboys" the public are invited to join and give comments on tradesmen they have used...good and bad comments are invited ..not really got off the ground yet. be interesting to see if the tradesmen are allowed a reply but with the current trend for internet use, these types of sites will prob be more high profile than any trade association. Its been on our local news and in the local paper ..i'm sure the guy is doing it for financial gain but just goes to show that associations aren't heard of because they aren't able to advertise themselves...possibly because they get no return (financially) ?other than all of the income from members of course

« **Reply #35 on:** May 13, 2005, 08:38:03 pm »

Associations are good to a point but some if you are stuck off you cant continual in that field!

The problem we have is not the cowboys it the customer!

Derek

Never apologise sign of weakness think the Duke said that! Say sorry should be enough!

Len

« **Reply #36 on:** May 16, 2005, 01:56:32 am »

cant understand some of you on here

you take digs at sherlock, and some of is topics are good.
at least he dare speak his mind,
whats this forum for ?
some of you seem to think its for the ones that have been here longest, and built a friendship.
someone new comes along, god for bid him having a mind, a mouth, a finger to type with.
lets be relastic general carpet cleaning, is not brain science

the site needs new blood and people already here to encourage
others to speak freely, how many people are members?
how many people post or reply to posts?

i look and listen myself most of the time. cause you can read into it, its like a little click of people. talkin to each other, of an evening.

and every now again good topic.

nick van dont no rest i am sorry.
and microsppliters, no one dare say powders are best, nicks posts are blatant advertising. and i dare say it.
go on say it some of is posts are good, he always replys not post, and if he wanted to benifit is fellow cleaner.
why not post under other name?

you dont see owner pushing is products at you. and hes the nice guy that lets you chin wag of an evening.

new blood, and more of it,

many thanks darren

xxx

« **Reply #37 on:** May 16, 2005, 02:29:36 pm »

Darren,
I think what bothers people about Sherlock is that he makes wild statements and then when questioned about his post, he never replies. Let me give you an example I cleaned a carpet this morning and was paid £550, and it only took me 30 minutes. That is easily stated, then someone will ask me how I made 550 in 3o minutes, and I never reply. Now would you believe me that I made £550 this morning. No, but if I told you how, you would believe me, right.
Sherlock just needs to justify his posts and then more people will take him seriously.
Also cc is not brain science, but they is a loads you need to know which it would appear you don't, or you would have never made that statement.
How you ever been on a training course?
No you know your acids from alkalines?
The don't dos for a wool carpet?
etc etc.

I am not having a dig at you, just speaking my mind and wasting a little time between jobs. I'm off to clean a dralon chair for £2,000, should only take me 10 minutes.....

« **Reply #38 on:** May 16, 2005, 04:16:29 pm »

i may not reply to some questions asked, i have never come out with anything in your example even remotley. i withold the right to answer a question which might well harm my business, if i thought that i would be giving a competitor knowledge that would take bread from my mouth. that i think is commonsense.and i repeat that at no time have i ever disclosed what i am earning, nor disclosed the nature my knowledge is gained . if others perhaps concentrated on what they were doing, and why, they might just learn that carpet cleaners and thats what we are, have no right to expect something for nothing. you pay for answers and that is why theres so many courses around they dont train and tell all for free , neither do i

« **Reply #39 on:** May 16, 2005, 04:42:51 pm »

been on a few training coures over the years
was refering to basic cleaning , not restoration or stain removal.

Poll

Should we disqualify the