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jonathanoneill

  • Posts: 12
Old Boys Prices
« on: November 29, 2005, 09:15:05 am »
It would be nice, if some of the older guys could be abit realistic with there prices, I've taken over a round, and gained alot of new customers, but when quoting very fare prices people are sometimes put off because of older guys who charge a pitance for alot of work. I'm not dropping prices to compete with semi-retired blokes, but you guys are doing yourself out of money - Why i'm writing this here i don't know, anyone who charges £3 to do a mid sized house, isn't likely to be using the internet!!!!!

Mike_G

  • Posts: 1500
Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2005, 12:41:16 pm »
I expect the prices are so low because they have had the jobs for years and not increased the prices, as opposed to pricing them badly in the first place.

dai

  • Posts: 3503
Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2005, 07:49:22 pm »
It's a bit of both, underpricing to start with and not putting them up enough either.
It takes a lot of effort to put this right too.
One client said to me today. "Your not cleaning them in this weather are you?"
"Yes love I am, and if I charged what some other window cleaners charged, I could take 4 months off in the winter. Well I'm not sure I want them done in this; OK, That's fine by me. I have far too much work to get round as it is and need to drop  some clients. You mean your not going to do them again?
Well I have 36 clients on my waiting list and their all higher paying jobs than your house.
Well can you do them next time?
If I do it will not be at the same price, I'm reviewing all my prices in the new year.
How much are you putting them up by?
It's going to cost at least £2 more.
That's a lot.
I know, but have you seen the price of this deionised water in Halfords.
Oh, Ok well give me a call next time.
I'll try and fit you in.
Ok thanks"
Got to be done. Dai

simbo

  • Posts: 609
Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2005, 08:42:55 pm »
don't some just p*** you off even though i do not have all the customers i need yet i drop them like a stone as there is always going to be someone else to take the place. I state now that i am regular and if you really are not that bothered if i am not then perhaps you should consider 8 or 12 week clean and i price for this, suits me as i get more per visit have time to do top job and customer saves a few pennys,everyones a winner. i had call from a couple of terrace houses in the same street, i have made no effort to get these types of house so said could do every 8 weeks for £10 frames and panes, grat they said and got another aswell i can do 3 an hour so now worth the effort.
cheers simb0

matts

Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2005, 10:38:46 pm »
I have just bought a round and have the same problem.About 60% are £3.00,the rest not much better.mostly 2bed semi and terraced,and you can probably rattle off about 40 in a shift but this is you going like the clappers to earn a decent wage. I've sacked three so far, one says to me you are more regular than the last guy could you just come back in the summer, no thank you your sacked bye bye,another says dont do the back the dogs locked up there, the last guy just done the front for £2.00. I said i cant do your top one today as its too slippery on the roof(snow ice) (dormer window) I'll do it with the pole.No dont bother he says its not as good with pole.So theres a £1.00 for doing the bottom.I kid you not the sitting room window is floor to ceiling and about three metres wide,glass front door two panes of glass running down either side....no thank you your sacked bye bye....another says you left them all streaky last time,i said no one else on the round has complained....she says the time before that was the same.. I says i've only done your windows once.. she says could you come back in the summer..I say no thanks bye bye...The upside is I've picked up 5 decent customers in the last week ranging from £10 to £18 YIPPEE

gaza

  • Posts: 1642
Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2005, 10:56:35 pm »
came a cross this many times.old boys, old prices,trying to get them up is almost impossibe,because the customers believe that is the price,the one I came up against was half of what it should be,and he caught a bus to work,picking up his ladders from one of his customers.
managed to get them up to a half decant price only to be under cut by gutter snipes,low lifes.

              gaza
IM AT THAT AGE MY BACK GOES OUT MORE THAN I DO

S.C.S

Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2005, 12:36:36 pm »
I was talking to my grandad whos a window cleaner bless him he is 82 now and he wont give up he only has about 15 customers now but like he says it drinking oney but he only charges about £2.50 a house he has dne them since he was in his 20s and only put them up twice i told him how much me and my dad charge and he couldnt belive it haha bless him hes a star.

simbo

  • Posts: 609
Re: Old Boys Prices
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2005, 01:50:38 pm »
i was talking a bloke the other day who was saying he pays 3quid for a semi with up and down bays, says that it is a standing joke with his family, windows smeary he must have been today, they do not care though as so cheap.
one thing to remember though is a lot of people do not want cleans every month but you can still make money from them just by charging more for irregular clean, yhis sometimes comes in handy for me as long as its not out of my way , as have said befor i have some terraces like this which did not really want but now charge £10 each 8 weekly so better earner
cheers simb0