[tlwcs]

If price were all that mattered, no-one would be driving BMWs (or VW T5s for that matter).

Vin

Bmw vs ford is different to a window cleaner named dave and another window cleaner called john who both charge totally different amounts but still both have the same end result which is clean windows for the customer.
I always buy a nice car as i work hard to be able to have 1 but if i wanted my lawn cut and got 2 different quotes and 1 was half the price of the other then i sure as hell wouldnt go for the most expensive quote for exactly the same job to be done id go for the cheapest as cutting a lawn/ cleaning windows etc etc isnt rocket science and nomatter what you pay any half decent window cleaner will do a good job if they want repeat custom,
When insurance hunting, do you shop around for a low premium like most or do you ring around and pull your hair out trying to find the most expencive quote??.

All assumes that the job required is just clean windows.

Some want a call before a visit.  Some want flexibility on timings.  Some want their windows done every fortnight, some every four weeks, some every eight, some every twelve.  Some want a CRB checked cleaner.  Some want trad, some want WFP, some don't care.  Some want someone who doesn't ever hassle them, some want someone who stops for a cup of tea and a chat.  Some want to pay cash, some chequye, some by BACS, some by standing order.  Some want the same face every week, some don't care.  Some want a one man band, some want a company.  Some want a guy in a recognisable van.  Some want to know that the guy who comes has key insurance.  Some want the frames done as well as the glass, some just want glass and don't care about frames.

And, yes, they all want clean windows.  But amongst that lot are some requirements that will make someone pay more for the cleaner of their choice. So if they want their windows cleaned every fortnight and you only offer 6-weekly, price goes out of the window; you're not going to get the job even if you're cheaper.  (That's an example, so don't get too fixated on the detail).  If they want a trad guy and you're only WFP then you can halve your prices and not get the business.

Ref insurance, no, only a madman would look for the most expensive quote; that's a ridiculous straw man.  However, last renewal, about a month ago, I took a premium hike for a replacement WFP van if I'm off the road.  So, once again, it wasn't price.

Vin

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.

Vin i get what your saying. No offence, but I don't think you do.

Your Gardener comparison, if the half priced guy looked a bit rough or dodgy or made eyes at your mrs, would you still use him because of the price?

Its just the way it is. Only in your head Mick, people buy people.

Tony

[IDEAL50]

DON'T FORGET THAT WE ARE ALL JUST CLEANERS!

And not a very good one's after all we only "Clean" one thing... "Glass"   WOW!

When YOU started out, did you know the "Going rate" or did you just quote yourself happy?

Try and insure your "Round" and you will see the "True Value" of it!
If it's not "Tangible" it's of no value!

Customers come customers go, when you run out of customers... you go too!

And NO I don't under-cut anyone, if someone asks for a quote and then drops the bombshell..."I already have a window Cleaner and he charges..."
I tell them to first contact the cleaner, finish with his service and then call me!

Business does not have to be "Cut-throat" that is just a myth!

[Perfect Windows]

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.
Just the way it is.

I agree; I should have clarified - yes, you'll lose some, but ten a year is a drop in the ocean.  Reading some people on here it feels like they are saying that if someone undercuts your whole customer base will desert.

I think a bigger point is hidden in your post.  Once a customer's lasted two or three years you'd have to bugger the dog to get them to drop you.  I'm not recommending it, by the way.

Vin

[poleman]

Had a email from the canceled customer today and this was my reply

Hi John
 
Thank you for your email and yes I received your called yesterday, I would have liked to chat some more but was in the middle of paying for my van to be serviced
 
I would like to add, I have been cleaning your windows over 7 or 8 years and have been a window cleaner for over 26 years and its sad to see that someone has come along and under cut me, I network online and speak to many local window cleaners and its a unwritten rule not to under cut someone on domestic properties, I full understand business is business and its total up to you who you have to clean your windows but it adds bad feeling within other window cleaners (like the ice cream wars) short term the customer wins but long term with being in a service sector with fixed cost that go up each year it kills our industry and no one wins
 
I do wish you all the best and please pass this email on to your new window cleaner and maybe he might think twice when undercutting other window cleaners

[Perfect Windows]

Next time an alternative response might be: "Thanks for letting me know.  If you ever want to come back, just give me a call.  Meanwhile, thank you for your business in the past".

If you really never want to hear from him again, ""Thanks for letting me know and thank you for your business in the past".

Vin

[Clever Forum Name]

Nice email, if he does pass it on to his new window cleaner i bet it will spur him on even more to undercut.

[paulben]

If I get asked to give a quote and I know they have a windy already I give a quote but only ask price of other cleaner after and never change my quote. Only want to know what others are charging to see if my prices are about right. Only undercut once on purpose as it was another cleaner who took some of my work when I was off sick

[Johnny B]

I discovered that my prices are a tad lower than some in my locality, but this is because when I started up I had prices in mind which I was happy to earn, not to undercut anyone. When speaking to potential customers I make it a point to never ask what others are/were charging.

John

[rosskesava]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

[roundbuilder]

Vin i get what your saying. But window cleaning is one of lifes simplist of things to get done as we are 10 to the penny for customers to find.
Im sure 99 percent of cleaners are fine calling the night before, doing it 4/6/8/12 weekly,if not a customer that you have had for years and years who you speak with reguly then of course ill get the job if im cheaper, a good example is me i have over 1200 customers and pretty much all my old existing customers that are 3years plus upto 12 never drop me at all which is 400 of my customer base, however the rest from my other rounds i have built and charging my new prices of £10 for a front whatever the size i do lose customers to undercutters and the customer tells me that is the reason too, i lose around 10 customers a year to undercutters yet im reliable, i do a thorough job, i even trad dry the bottoms, i banter with customers and always crack jokes and pay them compliments but it still doesnt stop them going for another cleaner who is half my price and able to do exactly the same job as me.
Just the way it is.

I agree; I should have clarified - yes, you'll lose some, but ten a year is a drop in the ocean.  Reading some people on here it feels like they are saying that if someone undercuts your whole customer base will desert.

I think a bigger point is hidden in your post.  Once a customer's lasted two or three years you'd have to bugger the dog to get them to drop you.  I'm not recommending it, by the way.

Vin

Yes exactly what i meant the only customers that wont drop you over price are loyal ones that respect you, it doesnt bother me at all the fact that they do bugger off for a cheaper quote, im not cut throat with my prices at all, in fact i charge more than most with my fronts hence risking being undercut a lot but im not scared to go out and replace the dropouts so im never realy down on custom. i just look at it through the customers eyes more than me being a biased window cleaner, another way to think about it is that our customers will start thinking we are ripping them off due to others quoting such little amounts! I have had some of my customers over the years drop me to guys charging just £4 for the whole house where i was charging £12 making me look like a conman, the fact they dropped me for the other cleaner and openly told me that they were much cheaper even made me feel like a conman for a split second but then it kicked in that the other cleaner will still have to clean 3 houses to match my 1 (mugs) but the customer would see it as having there windows cleaned 3 times instead of my 1(happy days for the customer)which is the bugger for me/us.

[PoleKing]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

Spot on Ross.
This week I priced up a job at 4 times their existing price. (He charged £17.50 3 monthly, I charge £50, 2 monthly)
Last year, a £12 job I had got quoted at £8. Customer stayed with me 'because I do a good job'
The sort of money we're talking about, couple of quid here and there. No-one is really gonna dump their WC to save that kind if money unless they're unhappy with another aspect of the service.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

Customers don't always go for the cheapest and my experience is that if they're happy with their window cleaner at £15 a throw, they're unlikely to change to £12 a throw.

If they feel ripped off, or if the windie is a sour puss or the windie does a bad job, then that's a different story because then they're not satisfied window cleaning customers.

A job I picked up before Christmas was because the previous bloke was always 'off' to the customer and she was fed up with his attitude.

we picked up three this week due to the swearing and mouth on a window cleaner , they made a beline for our female member and stood talking to her like they had known her years .

 i think a lot of window cleaners walk round thinking bin em , bin em  fooo em . bin em  i am king but when you work in a service industry you have to go that extra mile for your customers this way you wont ever get under cut or lose that customer because they become friends