[Sean Dyer]

This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!

If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!

If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for

The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500

I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.

Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!

But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.

We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.

On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.

As an example:

2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge ...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.

This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.

i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?

i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother

also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?

[simon knight]

This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!

If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!

If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for

The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500

I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.

Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!

But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.

We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.

On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.

As an example:

2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge ...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.

This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.

i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?

i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother

also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?

Fine Sean, have you never heard of BOGOF? (buy one get one free)

My customers are not my slave masters but they are my source of a good income and I do whatever I can to keep them onside, which I think in this day and age isn't too shabby a tactic.

Look around you mate and see the number of pointers on cars...anybody can do our jobs! We need to give a bit extra, no?

[martinsadie]

if you are doing insides free,the customer will want them everytime,and as word gets out all customers who are in will want free insides,the ones i do just get charged the same as outsides, so they dont get ripped off and they are happy

[richard jagger]

Klean 07  said ." Surely you don't put set prices on your card because every house is different price" You it by the tail end. I quote individually on each house and give them the chose at what interval they want then cleaned. I have been caught to often with a monthly price and the they want a one off when they cannot give me a  answer at once. : :

[AuRavelling79]

>Simon Knight

If you are only doing 1000 cleans (that an extra 50p can be applied to) in a year then you have more to worry about than whether I advise the original poster to charge extra for his 2 monthly cleans as he has asked.

With custies it's all down to trust and the way you tell'em and the way you handle yourself. If you don't want to then carry on as you are while the majority of us on here look for ways to increase our income and improve our businesses.

I appreciate you telling me that it cannot be done and that I would be F all around your manor and I'm not at all surprised to hear that you are trad. and proud of it. I don't come on here to irritate or upset anyone but to share my experiences - if they clash with yours then so be it.

You give free cleans for the insides eh? And you think that is really good advice?

Time is money.

[Sean Dyer]

This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!

If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!

If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for

The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500

I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.

Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!

But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.

We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.

On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.

As an example:

2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge ...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.

This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.

i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?

i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother

also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?

Fine Sean, have you never heard of BOGOF? (buy one get one free)

My customers are not my slave masters but they are my source of a good income and I do whatever I can to keep them onside, which I think in this day and age isn't too shabby a tactic.

Look around you mate and see the number of pointers on cars...anybody can do our jobs! We need to give a bit extra, no?

buy one get one free is okay simon for huge companies like tesco how give in one hand and take in the other, check your reciepts, you never save as much as you think

however there is a price attatched to my time at work, if i price a job i try not to under or over price, rather i price keenly to what i need to earn to turn a profit, if i then add work on for free i am working for free effectively, or working for less, either way it is a bad business practice and not a way i feel is suitable to stop people taking business of me, if it came to that i would give the jobs away as i am not that scared of the competition, my prices are reasonable i do a good job, i am friendly my customers know me and trust me, i dont need to throw in free cleans to keep custom

i think simon either a, you are panicking unduly, or b, you are over pricing so are offering frebies, or your customers are unsatisfied for some reason? i hope you dont take offence as i mean none, but i think you need to rethink your tactics as free cleans are no good especially for a sole trader your time is too precious

[Londoner]

I agree with Simon, he knows his business and he knows his customers. You are only as good in the customers eyes as your last clean.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I think some are looking at this the wrong way.

Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.

So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.

[Londoner]

Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?

I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.

I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them

A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window

[martinsadie]

Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?

I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.

I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them

A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window

does she clean windows 

[dazmond]

we all run our businesses differently and im certainly not going to get in a slanging match with the differing views etc!

me?well lately ive had a few custies ask to go on 2 monthly as husband lost job etc,etc and i just accept it and charge the same(if its priced ok in the first place).sometimes i have added a few quid here and there for the longer frequency esp if i know they will be dirtier due to trees/road etc.

i am getting more new custies on 2 monthly at a good price and i think its the way forward for my business.also im actively trying to get bigger higher paying jobs(2/3/6 monthly) to add to my regular 4 weeklies.

a lot of my 4 weeklies are very compact and pretty cheap prices but i still earn ok money from them plus i get a steady stream of conny roofs/fascia cleans from these custies and ive been cleaning these for years!!

as for cleaning insides for free not a chance in my book!i hate inside cleaning!always have!if anyone asks i say double the outside price that usually works!very rarely get taking up on the offer.(this is on domestics by the way).

commercial is a bit different.if it was an exceptional well paying job then i might relent if its only every now and then.

i think i have to go with what vin says in relation to charging high rates for less frequency.i think this makes good business sense.i mean offer 2 monthly from the start at the higher price.

as for simon still trad with a lot of commercial.you really should get wfp!its speeded me up a lot!and its a lot safer and less tiring.no brainer mate!hey and i was trad for 16 years until 3 months ago!!


regards

dazmond

[andyjm1]

Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?

I think you've missed the point.

The barber would take the same time to cut your hair no matter how long it was.

The dirtier a window is, the longer it willl take to clean.

[Perfect Windows]

I think you've missed the other point.  It wouldn't matter if it took less time to clean a window every twelve weeks rather than every six.  What matters is whether the customer will pay more.  If they will, then let them, as you'll make more money.  In my experience, people will pay more.

Vin

[Sean Dyer]

so if someone says to you can you clean my windows weekly or semi annually you say yes sir that is £10 a clean no matter what

bull crap

its a very silly way to run a business, the less often the window gets cleaned the more difficult to schedule the longer time to clean , hence the increase in time and effort is a direct relation to an increase in cost if you cant see that then something is wrong!! or you overcharge in the first place

[Londoner]

Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?

I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.

I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them

A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window

does she clean windows 

No but she'll give you a good leathering.

[Londoner]

Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?

I think you've missed the point.

The barber would take the same time to cut your hair no matter how long it was.

The dirtier a window is, the longer it willl take to clean.

Thats the bit we will have to disagree on. 4,8 12 weeks the windows take exactly the same time to clean. In fact I would challenge anyone to consistantly tell the difference.

[Perfect Windows]

Thats the bit we will have to disagree on. 4,8 12 weeks the windows take exactly the same time to clean. In fact I would challenge anyone to consistantly tell the difference.

I reckon that is irrelevant.  Will the customer pay more for an 8 or 12 week clean?  If they will (and in my experience they will) and if it won't affect your long-term relationship with the customer then why not charge it and earn more money?  Why are you in business?  To make money or to be "nice"?

Vin

[Londoner]

I'm already top end on prices, don't make the mistake of thinking I am a soft touch. I go out in the mornings to make money and for no other reason. However, theres more to making money than just increasing your prices. Keeping you AND the customer happy with your prices/service, now thats a harder balance to strike.

[Sean Dyer]

I'm already top end on prices, don't make the mistake of thinking I am a soft touch. I go out in the mornings to make money and for no other reason. However, theres more to making money than just increasing your prices. Keeping you AND the customer happy with your prices/service, now thats a harder balance to strike.

well if you are charging 12 weekly prices full stop thats a different thing although i still think custies would be upset if they knew

but to say there is no difference is not true, i notice it between 2 and 4 weekly let alone 12

[Klean07]

If you have had the customer for some time then suddenly they want to change from monthly to 2 monthly then in my opinion you have to gain a new customer to cover for the month that your losing. This particular one is an £18 3 story terraced house with limited parking. So its not that easy to do.

If I had a few more that wanted to change to 2 monthly then I would have to replace a lot more. So putting a fiver on price for next time buys me more time to get a new one to replace that one.