[geefree]

Hi ,

What is your experience with canvassers in general,?.... what do you pay them , and are you messed about with them working for too many people at once?

Just looking for some input from guys who have gone down that route

Thanks.

[Joseph Michael]

Just bumping this, I would like to know too. I do my own canvassing at the moment, and I don't mind it but am curious. I think I am a good canvasser as well.!!!   hahahahaha

[dave f]

is that bi curious

[Joseph Michael]

I believe the saying is 'Don't knock it 'til you've tried it'.!? Oh, and I'm not knocking it   

[dave f]

 

[geefree]

Looks like i am with you guys..... we are good canvassers too, just too bloody tired to do it every night, thats why i posted this re; canvassers....

but it seems not many people use them... or are to bored with this topic to answer.

think i will ask a question about earnings.... that will get replies.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Think a lot of windies have had their fingers burnt...so we're all a bit cautious

[Johnny B]

I have never used a canvasser, neither would I wish to. For one, I prefer to meet my (potential) customers face to face, so I (and they) know who is who, and secondly, there are no misunderstandings with regard to details such as price and thirdly, I have no desire to pay someone for a job I can do myself.

That said, if I were to use one, I would have a written agreement signed by both parties over what is required of them over a specified timescale.

John

[richywilts]

gazza i use one hes great at getting volume in but you have to sift thru the crap for a good few months to weed out the bad ones,

what i now do is have a pricing system

double for one offs
first cleans priced @1.5 x 6 weekly price
6 weekly price
12 weekly price @ 1.25 x 6 weekly

the customer tick and sign small box confirming which type of clean they would prefer to go with

i then ring up to confirm all leads this usually ends with a few sometimes a lot dropping out,wrong numbers etc and i find out some just wanted a one off to try us out etc

i then work out the total amount and pay a percentage of the total varies between 50-70% tonight hes pulled in £160 worth so paid £80

hes been messing me around alot so until hes more reliable and consistent he is staying on that percentage

[dave f]

never used one seems a lot of hassel having to fanny about .my moto is keep it simple less to worry about, but hey each to there own 

[richywilts]

it is a lot of hassle but im building up a fair sized business now and if i hired a canvassing company they would charge at least 2 x the value of the work so im actually paying 0.5 x value so its worth the extra bit of hassle i only pay on confirmed leads too

[Blue Frog Systems]

Have used a round builder in the past - never again. Underpriced jobs, jobs that were just one off, other that wanted 2 monthly sold to me as monthlys, some didnt even want a cleaner - just a price.

Funny thing was that i had £5k to spend with them and i told them this. After £1800 they ped me off and didnt come back. Within 1 month i had lost 20% of  what they got me and 6 months later that figure had gone up to 40%.

After this i went knocking myself with a friends lad. I would pay him £5 per lead he got and i qouted it. There were evenings (did 2/3hrs a night) where he got £10 and others where he picked up over £100.

I would never use a round builder ever again.

For me now its leaflets / reccomendations / people seeing you / sign writting / website.

[Pureclean Essex Services]

Hi,I would strongly advise against using a canvasser,and just get out there yourself,unless you know the background of the guy,I recently used one,started out ok,but then quickly fell apart,main reason was the canvassers guys were pants (to put it politly),now I cant get hold of him,also the 2 clean aggreement is not worth the paper it's written on,some cancel when you turn up for the first clean,also a lot drop off after the 2nd clean, so alot of messers,I had around £500 of new canvassed work, costing me £1000, now left with around £300, bottom line is though I'm around £400 out of pocket,although flipping it this will generate an income of £3900 over the year,personaly I would not go there again,I am gonna stick to my original plan and buy an esablished round or canvas myself.

Brian.

[Joseph Michael]

Over the past few days I have been out by myself knocking on doors, I am getting a really good response, plus I can give the price there and then and book the job in. It really does seem the best way and is well worth it.

[Johnny B]

Over the past few days I have been out by myself knocking on doors, I am getting a really good response, plus I can give the price there and then and book the job in. It really does seem the best way and is well worth it.

No hassle at all it is?

Maybe I am wrong (please tell me if you think I am) that the reason many don't want to canvass themselves is because they may receive the kind of response they would give to people who knock on their door.

John

[geefree]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I dont find canvassing a hassle at all, i find it relaxing and pleasant... and worthwhile.... when i pick my days.

Sometimes though when i am whacked after working i do find i am in the wrong frame of mind for canvassing,

But i know its definitely the way to go (do it yourself).... i just wondered what experiences you guys have had.

Thanks Again for the info.