[dai]

I had a call today from a guy that wanted to know if I cleaned in a particular area, I said "yes, in fact I'm working there right now. Oh how much would you charge to do a three bedroom semi, it's number 15 xxx drive? has it got a conservatory? no just a standard house." I do most of the houses in that drive, so told him the price. "Oh OK I'll talk to the missus".

I'm thinking hang on, I already do number 15, and it's a lady that lives with her children, I'm only 20 yards away from the place and it's my next job.
I went and asked the lady if someone had called on her behalf, nobody had and she wanted me to do her windows as usual.
Later I was talking to a friend about this, and I thought the woman had got someone to phone round for cheaper quotes. She said "more like a rival window cleaner wanting to know what you charge so he can undercut you".

I must be really naive, this honestly had never entered my head. No more giving prices over the phone.

[Captain Scarlet]

I had one like this..went like this:

phone rings

me:hello, ***** window cleaning

him: hi, just wanting a price for mu house

me: ok, can i take your name first, then your adress and number?

him: cant u just tell me now

me: well i have a policy of only being able to price after seeing the property

him: but i dont want that, cant yougive me a price?

me: ( freaked out!! ) i can give you an estimate, but i still need to see the house before, how many windows and what type of house

him: semi, 10 windows

me: ok, around £xx

him: ok well im actually a window cleaner and i want to know your prices, can you help me, like how much would you charge for a hotel?

me: umm, you phoned posing as a customer and now you want my help?

him: yes, us window cleaners are mates, im starting up, can you give me your price list?

me: i dont have a price list, it all depends on the property

him: can you tell me how to get work?

me: umm, i need to go now sorry

[Captain Scarlet]

he sounded very strange, and there was a bit more to the conversation which involved him being even stranger but i cant remember how it went!!!

[LWC]

sorry i wont ring again luke 

[Clive McDonald]

That will be one of your friends friends. Remember that kid from school doing ever so well, right richard branson with window cleaning of all things, 250 a day and gets to drive round in a bright orange van, even got his dad working for him. It's easy, ring him he'll give you all the info they are all a big friendly fraternity......

Well maybe not exactly, but you can see how chinese whispers might have been to blame.

Dai, your guy was assesing it as a business. Wonder he didn't ask you how many you can do in a day.

[dmlservices]

i never give prices out over the phone, even if i am stopped in the street, i insist i see property first.

had one yesterday, round the corner , kept pressing for price,

"only 3 widows at front", gave me no. of house,

in the end i said i will pop round in a bit,

went round corner i was actaully 2 large bays 1 tall window & 1 door,

when they say only 3 windows usually tells me they expect a low price.

the guy was prob. a competetor, and will likly try to under cut, should have told him a far higher price.  

daz

[Chris Galloway]

I refuse to give a quote without seeing it. Too many mis quotations and shooting myself in the foot.

If they pressure for a quote i just say sorry, no can do, and end the conversation - they are just checking prices nothing more. Its comes a time when you can tell thats all they want even via the telephone.

Window shoppers as it wer! 

[dmlservices]

i did not give him a price ,the last part was in reply to dia's post .

daz

[Trotsky]

I don't give quotes on the phone now ( I mean now, now that I have read this!)
Customers like "Regular cleaners" most at some time in thier lives have come upon the "Beer money merchants"
If your good at what you do, your kind and polite... you have no worry's about being "under-cut" 

[dave0123]

I never have and never will go a price over the phone because of this reason and even in the street, even when people come up to me and i know the house is the same or next door ask for a price i allways say i will pop round in a moment and give you a price.

got to be carefull there are people like this about!

[Chris Galloway]

I never have and never will go a price over the phone because of this reason and even in the street, even when people come up to me and i know the house is the same or next door ask for a price i allways say i will pop round in a moment and give you a price.

got to be carefull there are people like this about!

yeah you cant see the window properly and they are caked in dirt! all for £10.. er no thanks..

[davids3511]

I had a weird one a while ago...

Him - Hi, who's that

Me - David, who are you (already suspicious)

Him - I'm looking for the window cleaner

Me - Yes, thats me.

What's your business Name

Me - WindowPro, why?

voice in backround of call - Ask him where he works

Him - where do you work

Me - I named a few localities I work in

Him - Laughed fair play to you mate

Me - What's this about. Are you another window cleaner?

Him - Hung up

I rang him back but he ignored the call. I left it about an hour and rang from a different number which he answered. What was all that about I asked but all he would say was that he was ringing for a friend. My partner reconed his mate found my number on his wifes phone and though I was screwing her then rang me to check me out.