[Sir Squeaky]

Hi All.
I've recently been putting up a few prices for the first time in years.

How much do you increase and how often?

Are you firm or apologetic?

I've been putting 50p on £5ish houses, £1 on £10 pounders and so on....

Cheers, Roger.

[windows_chepstow]

Roger,

I haven't been cleaning windows for nearly half as long as you mate; but I don't like telling customers to their faces that their prices are going to increase. 

I know, I know - I'm a big fanny.  I prefer to use the following letter; and for some houses I almost doubled them.  Roger, we work in the same part of the country and I have NO £5.00 houses. 

See the letter, mate... (it looks a lot posher in Word format; with a proper header)
---------------------------------------------------
Dear Customer,

WINDOW CLEANING – PRICE INCREASE

We have increased our price for the monthly cleaning of your property from

£________ to £ ________.  This increase will be effective at our next clean.

It is realised that this is a sharp increase in price, however when I first quoted for your property, I severely underestimated the price (You can just drop this line if it's not applicable).  It is hoped that this will not deter you from being one of our valued customers and if you wish to discuss the above, please do not hesitate to phone me.  You may (of course) also ask other window cleaners for a quote and I am sure you will find that we are still extremely competitive.

I would also like to remind you that:

   We are fully covered by public liability insurance, up to two million pounds,    for your safety.

   We are as professional as possible.  This is our full time occupation and we do    not clean windows for extra 'beer/drug money'.

   We are not 'fly by nights', who have started window cleaning, then three
   months later – pack it all in.

This is the first time we have increased our prices in two years, and it will remain fixed for at least a year.  As we have built our business, we have increased our prices for the new cleans we have taken on.  This price increase will bring you in-line with which we are charging already and means that we will continue to clean your house, rather than abandoning you for more lucrative business.

We look forward to cleaning your windows in the future.

Ken and Helen

[rosskesava]

We try to prepare our customers in advance so as it's easier to do when prices go up.

I've always say to any knew customers that prices do go up from time to time as the cost of living goes up all the time and then throw in a bit about the poll tax and so on.

Then every January I again tell everyone how much their prices will be going up by in June.

So far this month I havn't had one person moan ............ yet.

Cheers

[Paul Coleman]

Hi All.
I've recently been putting up a few prices for the first time in years.

How much do you increase and how often?

Are you firm or apologetic?

I've been putting 50p on £5ish houses, £1 on £10 pounders and so on....

Cheers, Roger.

Most of the jobs I've had longer than two years are well overdue an increase.  It's getting to the point where newer work is subsidising older work.  I will be preparing a flyer soon to increase most of the jobs by £1 and to point out that it is still good value.  Whenever I do this, I always lose two or three jobs but they are usually ones that I wanted to lose anyway.

[s.hughes]

I never put prices up by 50p its always a minimun of a £1

Steveyboy

[thewindowcleaner1]

I have no problems telling them to thier faces that a price increase is on the way, but I normally soften the blow by droping hints about a month before, I also used a "I've cleaned your windows today" ticket with "please note a price increase of ---- on the next clean"
Try to avoid putting prices up in the summer months to many cassuals out and about only too willing to undercut, Normally aim for January - Feb for increases.

Alan

[The Bear]

My method is similar to Tosh, but i say less.

Once every 2 years, put up the price so it hurts a bit, I loose less than 1% of customers.

I do take the day off to drop the tickets, so that it is done all in one go.

I never tell them to their face, as i dont want to wast time explaining.

[Londoner]

The letter idea is a good one.

[dai]

Tell them 3 months in advance. It's too far off to worry about immediatly and when the time comes they have come to accept it. I tell them in September that the prices are going up next year. The next time round I say "did I mention that my prices are going up in January"? Dai

[The Bear]

Whatever you do, raise them up!!!!!

[Mike_G]

I am going to put some of my prices up soon but believe it or not some of my customers give me more each year without me asking, normally a pound extra just after christmas, but only a few of them and not the ones who need to pay a little extra.