[Spursboy1972]

I have no issues with losing the odd customer as it happens but I get really irritated when I am undercut (by25%) on an 8 weekly clean that was cleansed on the dot..

Why don't these idiots realise it will affect us all in the long run

and it wasn't a one man band either

[Smudger]

Have you thought they were just more competitive on price ?

Sometimes with staff you can give better prices than some sole operators just because of the larger number of cleans that can be done in a day.

But i get where your coming from and at the end of the day those who undercharge won't last very long, on the downside next spring will bring a new wave of budding hopefuls all charging £3 for 3 bed semi

Darran

[duncan h]

Try having a milk round for years, then to have a new Tescos open locally. Now THATS sickening. Loosing 30% of your customers, due to cheaper milk. Then going bankrupt

[PoleKing]

Try having a milk round for years, then to have a new Tescos open locally. Now THATS sickening. Loosing 30% of your customers, due to cheaper milk. Then going bankrupt

I've always wondered how the milk guys make a living.
It's about 60p a pint but £1 for for in the shop.
How much is wholesale? You'd have to do an awful lot of pints to do any kind of turnover, let alone profit...

[groundhog]

I had a nice little job cleaning windows at a local golf club for many years, I was charging £65 for an 8 weekly clean, they phoned me one day to see if I was prepared to match the price of another cleaner £20!!!! What an idiot, apparently he knew how much I charged and could probably have got the job for £55!! I'm sure he was pleased with himself for adding another under priced job to his round, but I soon replaced it with more well priced work, so good luck to the idiot!!

[johns window kleen]

In 8 years I reckon Ive lost one job to undercutting. Bothered me at the time because the fella was going in half priced, and my price was reasonable,

Domestics are normally safer from undercutting but commercial is just "dog eat dog" and I just don't bother getting involved, seen enough Pubs, resteraunts, car showrooms, even solicitors offices go to the wall that I used to do, that I avoid this market.

[Dannymackreturn]

What I hear a lot is how people lost jobs but pick up another straight away !!!! So if you can do that why not pick up loads all the time then get someone else to do and retire !!!!!!!!!! 😜

[groundhog]

What I hear a lot is how people lost jobs but pick up another straight away !!!! So if you can do that why not pick up loads all the time then get someone else to do and retire !!!!!!!!!! 😜

Easier said than done mate! I have had 3 employees so far, and not been able to leave any of them on their own to work. The reason I get lots of work and am able to charge good prices is that people like and trust me, and I also do a very good job. They pay the good price to have me clean their windows, they don't like it when someone else turns up on their property!

[johnny bravo]

i tell my new customers not to tell them my price , but to let them  give them there price,   they only undercut your price when they know how much you charge.

People seem to think they can charge high prices for some reason, 

Be glad you get any customers now,    This is getting like Taxi bussiness,     too many at it undercutting prices to get a foot in to that area.
I clean a shop locally and he told me a couple came in and he told them he has a decent cleaner, ME.    Theyb said this is there area they clean,  in other words there patch.
I JUST LAUGHED.    been cleaning for over 20 years,     NO ONE HAS A PATCH, they may have a round in that area.
Why do people still think this way.     Plonkers.

[SeanK]

Unfortunately its the way of the world, when window cleaners are in short supply then
its the cleaner who benefits.
When an abundance of window cleaners come into the area and try to compete then its the
customer who benefits.
Same goes for taxi driving and any other customer based business.
Also when times are good some guys get slightly carried away and think they can charge what they like
do what they like and not keep control on their expenses.
Run a tight ship from the start and the only customers you will loose to under cutters will be messers.
 

[Smudger]

Good post Sean

Darran

[G Griffin]

Blame the customers not the blokes trying to earn a butty.
You don't get dropped by an undercutter.

[Scrimble]

I would be more annoyed with losing a customer to another window cleaner who charges more!

I picked a new one last week her current windy charged 12 I went in at 15 and got the job, she wasn't happy with the service she was currently getting, it does happen so don't always assume you have Been undercut!

[Tom White]

I would be more annoyed with losing a customer to another window cleaner who charges more!

I picked a new one last week her current windy charged 12 I went in at 15 and got the job, she wasn't happy with the service she was currently getting, it does happen so don't always assume you have Been undercut!

I recently picked up a fairly large commercial job by charging more.  But I suspect the previous window cleaners had went in cheap, found the job to be a nightmare, so cut every corner they could and provided a service far below what was expected.

But I explained that to the owner who nodded his head in agreement with my thoughts.

[duncan h]

i tell my new customers not to tell them my price , but to let them  give them there price,   they only undercut your price when they know how much you charge.

People seem to think they can charge high prices for some reason,  

Be glad you get any customers now,    This is getting like Taxi bussiness,     too many at it undercutting prices to get a foot in to that area.
I clean a shop locally and he told me a couple came in and he told them he has a decent cleaner, ME.    Theyb said this is there area they clean,  in other words there patch.
I JUST LAUGHED.    been cleaning for over 20 years,     NO ONE HAS A PATCH, they may have a round in that area.
Why do people still think this way.     Plonkers.

I drop leaflets of everywhere. Get everyone's dregs and some good ones. Some customers says its someone's area. I just say I don't give PLEASE DO NOT SWEAR EVEN WITH ASTERIXES!!! I can clean anywhere I want. There is 1 area I tried to avoid as there is 3 ex con looking hard men, cleaning in that area. I tried to avoid...but got a few customers from them   I am getting old, but can still fight. As long as they leave my van alone  

[C o z y]

Where do you work mate, the Gaza Strip? What a horrible way to live.

[8weekly]

Where do you work mate, the Gaza Strip? What a horrible way to live.

Liverpool I'd guess.

[H20cleaning]

Imagine living in the north east! Most windies round here dont have a full set of teeth, and they have a Middlesbrough FC badge on the leg...
I have never had any issues or threats yet but there is some dodgey looking windies that look like they want to s*** in my kettle everytime they see me

[Paul Coleman]

In 8 years I reckon Ive lost one job to undercutting. Bothered me at the time because the fella was going in half priced, and my price was reasonable,

Funnily enough, I'm less bothered about a "hal;f price" merchant than by losing a job for a smaller amount.  This is because I've a good idea the half pricer won't last.

[Steven Biggs]

Reeding this with intrest. As I am in the prosess of building a round by door nocking . I have put in cheaper prices cos I only use ladders . I think that is fair ,as they get a better job for a better price