[jr windows]

Hi Guys,
I have been reading things on the forum for a couple of weeks, good stuff. I bought my round off a couple that had been wc for 18 years. After reading the article on the average price per house I worked mine out to be a whole £4.00 this includes det bungalows with a conservatory. So I decided to put my prices up by £1.00 per prop without a conservatory and £2.00 with.

I have had customers saying they can't afford the price rise and I have only lettered one of my four weeks work! The wrinklys are moaning saying the last couple didn't put there prices up for 8 years. Im fed up of chasing my tail all week for not mush dosh! How do you think they will take it when i go wfp?

Anglesey is 20 years behind and i dont mean just window cleaning!!

Thanks for all your help and advice Jason.

[Bob McKillop]

tell the wrinklies that if their pension was still same as eight years ago they would be looking for a raise as well.

[jeff evans]

Bob i think you will find that pensions havent gone up very much in the last 8 years.

Jr.  when the wrinklys said there last couple diden,t put there prices up for 8 years, why dident you just say well dont you think it,s time they went up.

If you want more money you need to take it from people that can afford it, because you cant get it from people that dont have it. 

[P @ F]

Put em up and take the losses or you will be 70 and not have a penny to scratch your arse with , come on we all know OAP'S are laughing , heating allowances , free TV  liscences , the list is endless , they are loaded compared to you unless you hike them prices mate , i was scared to do it when i had to , but if you dont do it youll be sorry , or on the dole !

 Rich   P @ F

[jr windows]

This is all a learning curve at the moment, im glad i found this site to speak to people with more experience than me.

Cheers Jason

[dai]

Hi JR, well things are not much better in Conwy and Llandudno either mate, but your prices! how the hell are you going to make a living. The old ones are the worst when it comes to putting your prices up, but you, and they are going to have to bite the bullet. I know that we look enviously at the guys making £30 an hour, our location is against us, but you should at least be earning half of that. I do a load of pensioners bunglows at £4 a go but this is one of my best days. You can really blast through them. You may scrape by mate, but you will never have a ranch in Texas. Dai

[AuRavelling79]

JRW You married, got kids, mortgage?

Here's the patter:-

OAP: That's a bit steep mate can't afford that on a pension.

JRW: Think of me! I've got XX kids, a wife and a mortgage to pay for.

OAP: I did it when I was your age and I was only on £3 10s a week.

JRW: Yeah! And petrol was 2 shillings a gallon, fish and chips cost 6d and a terraced house cost £600, it's all relative.

OAP: The other couple didn't put their prices up for eight years.

JRW: Really? I'll double the prices to make up for it then.


Seriously, I know it's a bit frightening when you start out but drop the whiners. Every time you take on a new customer at a good price go to your worst customer, up the price significantly and either get more dosh or drop the whinger!

[neil100]

Get the prices put up NOW.

You have a great come back if they moan, Tell them how much their house as gone up in value in the last 8 years, So what they pay you is peanuts in comparision.

Round our way there are w/cleaners who are working at £10 an hour. I make between £30 to £40 an hour as do a few of my freinds. I am not bragging but just letting you know it is possible to get it where people are used to paying low prices. You have to pick the more affluent areas in your community, as you will struggle if its a poor area where the income is low. Be willing to travel further a field.

If customers are you used to their w/c prices being low they need to be re-educated.

Nel.

[JM123]

8 years!!

Ask them how much a litre of petrol was 8 years ago, if my memory serves me right it was about 56p a litre then (that could be totally wrong but even so), and see their reply, now hike the price, don't dop them but make sure they know you want a little extra.

[LSB]

Also if you dont want to drop too many of them while youre starting out , still quote your new price to them but tell them you will come only every second month , which saves you time and is cheaper for them ! when you are are more established you will be able to drop who you like ! make sure all new customers are priced correctly and are made aware that you are competetively priced and intend to review prices every couple of years . When i put my prices up 2yearly its always the awkward and / or richer customers that complain !

[jeff1]

Don't put the poor guy off the blue rinse brigade,

I have quite a few and there normally amongst the first to remind me to put my prices up, there normally always in so pay up, never had one say to me can't afford it this time, and christmas time there amongst the best tippers, because there the one's that Appreciate us more, there the best one's for your cup of tea/coffee biscuites or cake.

the only down side to some of them is you're probably the only person they have seen for day's and want to chat forever bless em.

[Fast 1 *]

This will always be the problem with buying work.Thats why i wont do it.You pay 3 or 4x the amount,and for what?A round that makes you resentful.I know doorknockers do it for 2x,but theres work out there that can be obtained yourself,atleast you set the price.As regard to putting the prices up,by the sounds of it you must,other wise you will begin to hate your job.

[jr windows]

Thanks for your replies.
I am going to letter the other customers with the increase in price, and see how it goes. I love my job it is my business and I need to carry on working hard. I have 7 customers on my waiting list at the mo so any that I lose can hopefully get slotted in to my round.

Thanks again Jason