[Jim_77]

Well, it's been very interesting indeed reading peoples comments so far!  Thanks for everyone's input, really appreciated

This topic has highlighted something that I think many of us realised already, but doesn't get discussed much - how we view ourselves.

I most certainly do not view myself a "just a cleaner".  As I've already argued previously, you could not drag any person off the street, give them the keys to my van and send them out to do a day's work that I do.  They wouldn't know where to begin.  On the other hand, you give anyone a duster, mop and bucket and they'll instinctively be able to use those tools as well as pretty much any other able bodied person.

I work to live; I don't live to work.  I get some customers making comments that they are surprised my work doesn't cost more.  I also get the ones who wince at the price but I don't care because they're obviously not my market.

I think it is perfectly fine for people in our industry to value themselves however they want to - high or low.  At the end of the day there is a market spanning all the way from top to bottom, price-wise.  I just know which bit of it I enjoy working in the most

[derek west]

the job description is cleaner, but we're far from it, well most of us are. do you clean all red wine stains out? or do you render some invisible?

been going 4 years now and still learning. everyday on the job and in the classroom when i get chance, so much to learn,

its quite simple really, you either take this job seriously and see it for what it really is or your just a cleaner.

What a strange statement 

Rest my case  It is quite simple Derek you clean carpets your a cleaner...

And yes must be the customer who is at fault they must of had a bad day or maybe you have out grown them - please!

i rest my case mike, you are obviously just a cleaner or you would get my point.

[Neil Williams]

I most certainly do not view myself a "just a cleaner". 

Even if you did, people would do well to remember what Ken Livingstone said whilst Mayor of London. If every cleaner in London went on strike the capital would grind to a halt within a couple of days.
At the end of the day we are cleaners although there are many levels of cleaners, from those who's limits might be a mop & bucket to those who abseil buildings in London to clean the windows to those who clean up highly valuable ancient works of art using cotton buds. All fall under the umbrella of 'cleaner' but some require expensive machinery, knowledge and skills gained by much study and experience which makes them 'specialists.'

[fitz2kleen]

knowledge and skills gained by much study and experience which makes them 'specialists.'
[/quote]


thats what its about...................

yep were all cleaners but I think where it gets under peoples quicks is what type of cleaners we are .
People use the word as a put down or out of snobery.
BUT!!!!!!
you dont go to someones door and say ' THE SPECIALIST cleaners here'
Because we train and become proficient in what we do I think we kind of expect to be treated with more respect than Mrs mop but yep the be all and end all of it is we are cleaners of some description.

Jim we charge what the market allows us to charge or what we rate our services to be worth, thats never going to be what everyone perceives this to be but ive found even the loyalist of cuzzys need an up front cost,

By the way I have trained and have life experience in what I do and rank myself as a 'SPECIALIST CLEANER' not just a cleaner, but if anyone wants to call me just a cleaner that fine, My invoice will change that impression.
people dont call 'just a cleaner' to remove stains, people dont call 'just a cleaner' to talk about how the smoke damage from a protein fire can be dealt with and there precious picture of great aunt may is not ruined and can be returned to its full glory again.
And people dont call 'just a cleaner' to rectify the damage caused by 'JUST A CLEANER'

But hey hoe you can call me 'The Cleaner' if you want.

have a good day folks
Regards Mark

[mike roberts]

the job description is cleaner, but we're far from it, well most of us are. do you clean all red wine stains out? or do you render some invisible?

been going 4 years now and still learning. everyday on the job and in the classroom when i get chance, so much to learn,

its quite simple really, you either take this job seriously and see it for what it really is or your just a cleaner.

What a strange statement  

Rest my case   It is quite simple Derek you clean carpets your a cleaner...

And yes must be the customer who is at fault they must of had a bad day or maybe you have out grown them - please!

i rest my case mike, you are obviously just a cleaner or you would get my point.

Derek, like other cleaning companies on here, we employ all types of cleaners from general office cleaners to IPAF trained operators (who use machinery costing well over £50,000 )

It does not matter if you clean carpets, buildings F**king sky scrapers you are a cleaner trained / skilled in that area but still a 'cleaner' - I am proud to be a cleaner get over yourselves!

I do however treat each 'cleaner' and other 'tradesman' with the 'respect' which they are due individually and for the cleaning task they complete - this respect is clearly lacking in your statement and others on this forum. Time and time again I see posts on here where 'window cleaning guys' are slated as anyone can do that - really respectfull.

Back to the post - Jim clearly failed with this individual customer (what was it 6 yrs?) to explain his cleaning credentials + his incurred costs.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

It is  a problem we all experience when old customers are resistant to move with the pricing stucture of our businesses.

We invest in expensive equipment which allows us to clean quicker and dare I say better, but to our old customer we are the same person who has always cleaned their carpets well.

Sometimes one just has to accept a lower price if we wish to keep them.

As for being a cleaner, I would describe myself as a specialist cleaner working at the top end of the cleaning market.

I am also a part time chemist and website entrepreneur !!

Cheers

Doug

[derek west]

the job description is cleaner, but we're far from it, well most of us are. do you clean all red wine stains out? or do you render some invisible?

been going 4 years now and still learning. everyday on the job and in the classroom when i get chance, so much to learn,

its quite simple really, you either take this job seriously and see it for what it really is or your just a cleaner.

What a strange statement 

Rest my case  It is quite simple Derek you clean carpets your a cleaner...

And yes must be the customer who is at fault they must of had a bad day or maybe you have out grown them - please!

i rest my case mike, you are obviously just a cleaner or you would get my point.

Derek, like other cleaning companies on here, we employ all types of cleaners from general office cleaners to IPAF trained operators (who use machinery costing well over £50,000 )

It does not matter if you clean carpets, buildings F**king sky scrapers you are a cleaner trained / skilled in that area but still a 'cleaner' - I am proud to be a cleaner get over yourselves!

I do however treat each 'cleaner' and other 'tradesman' with the 'respect' which they are due individually and for the cleaning task they complete - this respect is clearly lacking in your statement and others on this forum. Time and time again I see posts on here where 'window cleaning guys' are slatted as anyone can do that - really respectfull.

Back to the post - Jim clearly failed with this individual customer (what was it 6 yrs?) to explain his cleaning credentials + his incurred costs.

so when i repaint a leather chair and apply a finish, am i still just a cleaner mike?, or when i suck all the flood water out of a house and then install dehums and  airmovers while keeping an eye on the humidity, am i still a cleaner? no doubt i am so i'll leave it there.

[Paul H]

i used to be  a soldier...(albeit a specialist)... i was just a soldier

i am now  a cleaner... or carpet cleaner..

like a window cleaner is ...a cleaner

why pretend to be something you're not..

i'm happy to be a cleaner of carpet and dont give a f&^K what anyone else thinks or sees it as.. and above all i dont try and make into sounding like you need a degree or have the ability to fly the shuttle to the moon to be.... a carpet cleaner..

we are what we are .. be happy at what you do and making your customers happy with a good job and service...

someone said eralier and i think you'll agree when have good weeks / months in this "just carpet cleaning"...its very very lucrative... £££

thanks
Paul
"just a carpet cleaner"

[wynne jones]

The problem is the perception of some customers is that cleaning toilet bowls at minimum wage is the same as cleaning a carpet or Turkish rug, or silk upholstery. How you think about yourself, what you call yourself and how you talk to customers really DOES make a difference as well as what you do.

Being self employed you can choose who you work for. Work for people who appreciate what you do. I will often explain why something can't be done the way they think it should be done and at a certain price. If they ain't having it I don't want to work for them.

[garry22]

Jim, Derek,

You both have truckmounts. I'm wondering how much stone cleaning you do?

The reason I ask is I had a conversation with someone who has pretty much given up carpet cleaning to concentrate on stone cleaning (he's fully trained on the stone side).

He told me he was getting three to four times the money for stone cleaning than he got from carpets - using almost the same kit.

The only difference was that stone cleaning / restoration was perceived to be a high ticket item by customers.

Same guy, same equipment, much better income..

[derek west]

think i'll just leave everyone to be what ever they perceive themselves to be. and maybe, just maybe they'll let me do the same. or maybe not.

yes gary, stone restoration and sealing is very big tickets but not as common to come across than carpets, about one a week for me, all though i don't market stone as my primary work. i've got a travertine floor to clean next friday, about 30 sq meters, £300 just clean. its quite a skilled job if you go into it. done a couple of stone courses but looking at doing mike philbins, heard good things about it.

[Paul Moss]

I class myself as a full cleaning and restoration company (cleaner)
Means i can clean and fully restore
carpets
Rugs
upholstery
leather
hard floor
wood
Flood restoration
Fire restoration
odour neuralisation
protection application
Training
repairing
reweaving
etc etc etc

Do i consider myself as a specialist YES
Do i charge a higher price than the rest of the cleaners around me YES
Do i worry about price NO
Am i busy all year round YES

Its about YOU and YOUR business and what YOU charge,  not any body else.

I k ow of cleaning SPECIALISTS that clean very expensive paintings (valued at millions) like me they are just cleaners, but they charge accordingly 

[Simon Gerrard]

Mossy,
You're spot on with that post.

Simon

[Mike Halliday]

i took one of my customers shopping for carpets in December, does that make me a floor-covering acquisition specialist

In my opinion we are what we do most of.... which makes me a carpet cleaner.

what people call me or think of the profession I have chosen makes no difference to me and has no effect on my quality of life

[Colin Day]

i took one of my customers shopping for carpets in December, does that make me a floor-covering acquisition specialist

In my opinion we are what we do most of.... which makes me a carpet cleaner.

what people call me or think of the profession I have chosen makes no difference to me and has no effect on my quality of life

I agree... I could give a rats hoop what people think, I enjoy doing what I do....