[wizard]

We are window cleaners but I am confused what do we clean? Glass, Frames, sills and how long will it take.How much do we charge.
All these things should be standard in our business, but because of pricing we all offer deferent services. I think it would be better to set a standard for a job and then price accordingly. Some times we price to what we think the custy will pay then try to do half job to suit the price. Then squeeze in as many in one hour to make a profit. This friends will only bring us down and stop us been a profession the customer exploit this indifference within the industry. That is why we have prices from £3/4 to £12 in our country and so many of us feel we have no worth. I feel the right idea is decide on the quality we are going to provide make a price for that service and stick to it like gum. If you cannot stick to your own decision we will always have pricing problems and that feeling of wothlesness. The respect come with having a professional attitude and the customers will fall in line with this way of thinking.

[Murdie window cleaning]

The only problem there is that to clean windows doesn't take a whole lot of skill to get them clean(doing it quickly and to high standard comes with practice I know). So if we were to ask a price that the customer thought was more than they were willing to pay and they couldn't get cheaper they would do them thereselves.

As was posted the other day on here, Homebase are doing a range of Unger products in there stores aimed at the domestic market, so if the home owner thought that they could buy an aplicator and squeedgie in there local branch and do it there selves they probably would.

I charge what I feel is a fair price, one that I can make money from and the customer is willing to pay.

[jonnyald]

hey  WIZ , Dont feel worthless matey. you gotta realize that these women are Desperate to find a cleaner, it prays on their mind . so pitch in with a highish price ,quickly mention thatll include the frames and your sound   and then theyll cling onto you like grim death .  never price low ,cos theyll think you are going to do a flimsy job   and wont respect you - what price are u charging?

[wizard]

I get top doller for my work and thats what prompted me to write this post and I am getting more out per visit to my custies then many.

[Spruce]

Whilst I envy the price windows cleaners can charge in the South of England, we have to be careful with this subject as it can be seen as fitting into the "price fixing, cartels and monopolies" catagory.

Business Link, under the section of Practical Advise for Businesses says:
 
The law aims to promote healthy competition. It bans anti-competitive agreements to fix prices, makes it illegal to agree not to compete with other businesses, and prevents companies from abusing a dominant market position.

There are heavy penalties for breaking the law. You can be fined, disqualified from being a director - or even sent to prison.

The law also provides extra powers to protect competition. Mergers between businesses can be prevented if they reduce competition. Uncompetitive markets can be investigated and referred to the Competition Commission

Price fixing and the law

Competition law prohibits almost any attempt to fix prices - for example, you cannot:

agree prices with your competitors, eg you can't agree to work from a shared minimum price list
share markets or limit production to raise prices, eg if two contracts are put out to tender you can't agree that you'll bid for one and let your competitor bid for the other
impose minimum prices on different distributors such as shops
agree with your competitors what purchase price you will offer your suppliers
cut prices below cost in order to force a smaller or weaker competitor out of the market
The law doesn't just cover formal agreements. It also includes other activities with a price-fixing effect. For example, you shouldn't discuss your pricing plans with your competitors. If you then all 'happen' to raise your prices, you are fixing prices.

There are exemptions to the law and some agreements are not prohibited by competition legislation, particularly between companies with insignificant market shares. However, there are very few occasions where an agreement concerning price-fixing would be allowed. To find out more about exemptions, download the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) guide to agreements and concerted practices from the OFT website (PDF, 103K) - Opens in a new window.

Consequences
The law is enforced by the OFT, which can impose a fine of up to 10 per cent of your turnover. It can also apply for company directors to be disqualified.

If you are found to be part of a cartel you could even face criminal prosecution and jail - see the page in this guide on cartels and the law.



http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1074014670

Spruce

[tomy jackson]

interserv have just bin fined a shed lode £££££££££££££££££££along with ? to many to list

[wizard]

Spruce are you a window cleaner ?

[Sean Dyer]

trouble is my doley custys want clean glass for pennies, if i charge to clean frames, they couldnt give a monkeys, job lost, and my £30 an hours cleaning glass either goes down toilet as i clean frames cheap or lose lots to a price rise for a service they dont want....

[wizard]

As I started this post I feel I need to explain to Spruce I might be good for him to read this posting again there is not suggestion of price fixing in this post only what we do for our money and what we do for this money. So before you give us a lecture in law please read the posting properly.

[Spruce]

Spruce are you a window cleaner ?

Hi Wizard

Yes, WFP for the last 4 years.

Yes I have re read your original post.
"How much do we charge. All these things should be standard in our business, but because of pricing we all offer deferent services. I think it would be better to set a standard for a job and then price accordingly." "I feel the right idea is decide on the quality we are going to provide make a price for that service and stick to it like gum."
Sorry but this sounds like the foundation for a standard price between window cleaners for a particular service, ie. window and frames etc.

I am the first to agree that our pricing is mainly 'market related'. We all know that we can get a better price in a more exclusive area for the same type of house than in a council estate.

I also am not lecturing you at law, I am just mentioning it in light of the way I read and still read your original post.

Spruce

[Clive McDonald]

wiz, he pasted some salient points from biz link and asked you to take note. He didn't infer any price fixing on your part nor give any law lectures.

[Spruce]

Hi Slumpbuster

Thank you.

I have often had customers say that all the window cleaners in our area charge similar prices. We haven't met together as window cleaners and standardised prices, but customer may perceive it differently. As time goes by you get to know who charges what in the same area you work and so you price any new work with this in mind. Can this be indirect price fixing if there is such a thing?

There are a few WFPers here and we all clean frames, sills and glass so the service offered is also the same.

This subject is often on my mind as a customer once threatened me with price fixing as I had quoted exactly the same price as another cleaner had - good thing was that at the time I had no idea who this cleaner was.

Spruce

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

A tin of beans can vary in price and quality. So can window cleaning, some refuse to clean the frames and charge less than those who clean frames. In the end as with which tin of beans to buy, a customer will choose the standard of clean and the price. Personaly I charge more and do the lot and after 20 years at it, have now got customers who are willing to pay more full a complete job.