[Mike Halliday]

How does your price for leather cleaning compare to a fabric suite? I'm charging the same but it can take half the amount of time.  I'm having to get very creative with my explanation  about how we clean the suite to justify the price, considering we walk in with just a dust sheet & a box of cloths/sprayers

[simonmnickson]

My leather cleaning is nearly double my fabric cleaning

Leather takes me twice as long and is twice the work

I quote so high so I never get the gig for leather

I hate leather cleaning with a passion - hence I avoid it by quoting accordingly

[Paul Moss]

considering we walk in with just a dust sheet & a box of cloths/sprayers

Theatre Mike

[peter maybury]

I charge about 20% more for leather but it takes me about the same amount of time to clean a leather as it does fabric. I used to clean leather with von schraders which made me feel better about the prices I charged. It looks a bit more involved taking the machine in.( I did a few suites where people said that they had sent people packing because the only came in with cloths, which they thought was something they could do themselves).
I also felt that the machine gave me a better result anyway. I lost 2 of the von schraders in a van fire last year and have not yet replaced them. Since I have gone back to cleaning by hand I do feel that people do expect something a little more high tech than just towels.

Peter
www.carpetcleanercardiff.comhttp://

[Kev Loomes]

Like Mike, we charge the same for leather as we do UPH as some take approx the same amount of time. However I have never had any mention or any concerns due to using cloths etc.

I think this is negated though when explained at the quotation stage i.e something like this:

"We clean the leather by hand which is critical in achieving the best possible finish. A machine is not used for good reason as incorrect pressure can damage the surface. When we clean by hand we ensure that we get fully in to the grain - using specialist trade products. It's at this stage that we can also determine whether your lacquer has been damaged or not - which can be rectified by us if desired. We also restore and repair leather - all by hand, which is the industry's recognised method".

Or something like that


It's the same when we colour restore - we use paint rollers and that could be seen as 'what the hell is he doing' But this is also explained at the quote - so it's never ever a problem.

[derek west]

i charge the same price and it takes around the same time,

[Steve Chapman]

Just take a small spotting machine in as well & occasionally switch it on & off
Simples 

Everybody's happy

[davep]

Or a CD of banging drilling hammering etc

[Ian Gourlay]

I was tpld take in white coats , resperator mask, copy of the Sun and insist on the door being kept closed for clients saftey

Seriously  I find Leather takes longer , perhaps i am getting the mingers

[wynne jones]

Just put your upholstery prices up.

[ian harper]

Mike

if prospects question your price that a sign that they really want to use you but want some justification for spending the money. so I would say you are doing it right, dont change what you are doing.

Maybe start to use some new tools in your presentations, from a give away EBooks, portfolio that you can give to prospects, or demos, you could use QR codes to videos in any paper type tools.

[LTT Leathercare]

The great thing about leather cleaning these days is that with the new technology cleaners you can pitch your cleaning at a wider variety of customers with a greater range of prices.
NEW FOAM DEEP CLEANER
Our new deep cleaning foam and leather cleaning pads clean much quicker and use far less product so maybe a cheaper price can be achieved allowing more time to do more jobs.
MAINTENANCE CLEANING
Our maintenance cleaner can be used for quick cleaning or for customers with a maintenance contract.  Results will still be good and deep cleaning easier when you do the annual clean.
ANILINE CLEANING
Aniline cleaning is now possible with Aniline Cleaners and Aniline Stain Removers.
LEATHER RECOLOUR
You can also add a new service for customers who just want to brighten up their leather and help it last longer with a quick coat of Leather Recolour.  This brilliant new product fills a gap in the market for those cheaper end suites that just need reviving but do it warrant the cost of a full scale restoration. 
This is an amazingly simple product to use and can add a whole new dimension to your business without much outlay and with minimal training.
(You can see it in action on our Discovery Days)

Hope this helps
Judyb

[Acom Cleaning]

30 quid a seat for fabric, same for leather, however that includes feed/protector when necessary, never had any issues justifying the price to clients

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I quote the same but like others I really don't enjoy cleaning leather.

I find it's  boring, but then I only clean and protect, no more re-dyes etc for me, just too much hassle.

Cheers

Doug

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi Doug - not with the new systems makes colouring much easier in many cases!!

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Judy Any news on the September dates ?

Shaun

[LTT Leathercare]

HI Shaun
At the moment we are just taking extra bookings for October as it looks as though we are going to have to do another 3 day course in September to keep up with demand so cannot fit another Discovery Day in. 
If you can make October 9th let me know otherwise the next one will be November 20th.
Cheers
Judy

[Mike Halliday]

I think the problem when 2 of us clean a leather suite both of us are doing the cleaning so we can do a leather suite in 45mins- 1hr but when we HWE a suite then only one has the tool so although the other is pre spraying & scrubbing there are still times when one is stood doing nothing so it can take 1hr 30 mins.

I now explain although we are cleaning with just towels it is the technical chemistry they are paying for. We almost T cut the leather removing the top surface then re-apply the top ptotection coat......this process is is not something that can be replicated by DIY cleaning

[wynne jones]

Trouble is it sounds like bullsht.

I always get the microscope out when I do an inspection. If there are any cracks (and there nearly always are) you can show them and say what you do slows down this process and in the wrong hands they could accelerate it.

[Mike Halliday]

Trouble is it sounds like bullsht.

Not when I say it

I can speak with the eloquence of the poet laureate & the passion of Martin Luther King

Some of my bullsht has been nominated for the Booker prize