[Nameless Drudge]

There`s just been a thread mentioning window cleaning offered through Groupon but looks like the OP has locked it before i got to spout anything.

I`m saying it could and probably will be one of the worst punishments a window cleaner may wish to inflict upon themselves.

Take a typical easy semi with a bit of a conservatory that you`d be happy cleaning at £10 regularly,though sensibly you would want £15-18 first time and £20 preferred.

Bearing in mind that the work produced by the groupon deal will almost certainly be all 1st cleans,rarely will any work be compact and a good proportion will be the troublesome customers dumped by sensible window cleaners not to mention the tight fisted that now see a way of getting their minging windows cleaned that have not been done in ages.Add in that some of the pittance you are working for will go to the vat man and half of whats left will go to groupon  plus the price offered has to be attractive to the customer in the first place then its likely you will do well to end up with £4.00 for this type of property on a minging first clean,(i.ve done the maths) and that with travelling time,time taken rises well above an hour of your time.
   The possibility of retaining a regular customer exists but will be far outweighed by the likes that say thank you very much,do you have a card?

It really is like "going to work at mill and paying mill owner to work there".

It would be great if someone could provide a detailed analysis of work done/gained from a groupon deal with nothing left out but until that appears on here and is credible then i say beware,it could tip you over the edge!



 

[daniel worgan]

Watch it sean,you will be accused of being sad and jelous...
 

[Tom White]

I agree with Sean.  You could get in a bunch of work, work your knackers off for a fortnight, and then end up with very little to show for it.

I don't know why, instead of doing groupon, people just don't go and canvass; especially if they have the spare capacity to take on new work, rather than groupon.

Still, it's no skin of my nose who goes for groupon.

[Tom White]

Ah, I see, there's a fight going on! 

[windiewasher]

Watch it sean,you will be accused of being sad and jelous...
 

Next week we will teach you to spell!dorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[lee09]

Watch it sean,you will be accused of being sad and jelous...
 

Next week we will teach you to spell!dorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

You won't have time.

[daniel worgan]

Watch it sean,you will be accused of being sad and jelous...
 

Next week we will teach you to spell!dorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Yes ok Kev,well done on picking my spelling errors up,i applaud you for that :
If my only error is spelling i still wont be out of pocket unlike the groupon groupies....

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

It`s been said by a few that it`s better to spend time canvassing etc.
To get better profile/ priced work.
The snag with canvassing is the hours ya spend knocking,then following
That up etc.and not get a bean.At least with Groupon ya earning something
Which is better than nothing I suppose.
It`s true what Helen wrote,it does devalue our business.
I personally don`t think these Groupon type `threads`will ever cease,gee whiz
There`s been loads.
If there was a way,everyone would be doing it,it`s what makes the world go
Around I guess. :


Lewis  Doubtfire

[TomCrowther]

I think that groupon is a very bad idea for a window cleaner due to the low level of price. I have read how one guy on the carpet cleaning section {Jason} has made it work well for him. He does this by upselling when with the customer and also taking bookings direct.
For us, the possibility of upselling is tricky. At this time of year you may get the guttering work, but you may not. I personally could not clean a houses windows for £4 or even £8 come to that, all in the hope they would become a regular customer at a normal price.

[windiewasher]

I think that groupon is a very bad idea for a window cleaner due to the low level of price. I have read how one guy on the carpet cleaning section {Jason} has made it work well for him. He does this by upselling when with the customer and also taking bookings direct.
For us, the possibility of upselling is tricky. At this time of year you may get the guttering work, but you may not. I personally could not clean a houses windows for £4 or even £8 come to that, all in the hope they would become a regular customer at a normal price.

its terrible for carpet cleaning as i very much doubt you can get repeat work from it as how often do you have your carpets cleaned??
 

[rosskesava]

I cannot find any information about Groupon and repeat full price sales after using the voucher. I wonder why that is?

I found this which sums Groupon up nicely. Personally, I cannot understand why any window cleaner would bother them.

http://thecustomercollective.com/inboundsales/49613/does-groupon-work-your-business

...'It’s an ad disguised as a coupon in an effort to channel a coupon hungry consumer to the storefront of a business, albeit ‘temporarily’.   As you might expect, once the coupon no longer exists….neither does the interest.'

[John F]

groupon is good for customers not window cleaners or carpet cleaners. it's disigned for restaurants or take aways. only a fool would try to use it in the cleaning biz

[TomCrowther]

Yes, I agree it's not right for the cleaning industry but this particular guy has been clever and worked it so he can earn decent£'s  a day which he is happy with. Why a window cleaner would do it is beyond me.

[stuart mc]

I have an idea that is simpler, will make me money without having to pay out any and would have the same effect as groupon, i.e. it would get me potential leads

I might do it for the extra cash but not convinced it will be a winner in getting good repeat window business though but I suppose even a minimal return for my efforts would do

[John F]

what then?

[stuart mc]

what then?

it was just a thought I had when I was clearing gutters the other day, I was bored of window cleaning on thursday and I had a list of gutters to do so I thought sod it I will do them today, so spent the day doing it and had an easy day and made decent money.

anyway I have a few estates all owned ex council houses type house, exactly the same size or near enough.

a simple flyer in the local shops offering discounted gutter clearing to be done on a saturday(or any other day of your choosing) the type of house I am talking the full price would be £30 but I would put on flyer £40 but offer to do them for £20, they only take 30-45 min max, leave a space for folk to write their address and check them on friday night and do them on a saturday,

so I have done what groupon offer and gave the supposed 50% discount, in reality that isn't true. not paid any fees except 50p the the shop and I keep the whole £20 not just 50% of it

this would only work in certain areas of course

[John F]

great idea 

[bobby p]

had a groupon seller try to get me on board and then wanted my lads numbers too !


its  not for me , but i do believe that if you had employees and were a bit short of work it would give you a leg up  and get things moving ,give you a visible presence on the street

[stuart mc]

great idea 

yes I thought so and a lot better than signing my money away to groupon,

thing is I probably wont do it but the point is there are easier ways to make your money and get leads than Groupon, and actually make money from it as well, as someone else said this business isn't rocket science why complicate it

[John F]

gave me a few ideas there, thanks stuart