[cgh window cleaning]

I put up a small dental surgery that I have been cleaning for  about  5 years the other month by £3 and lost the job.
For years they had been great payers but since they changed receptionist they have been very slow at paying , went from paying after every clean to waiting 6-8 weeks for money.

[lee_dewing]

Good posts Daz..no 23...Samson.

I have told some face to face on smaller rises but £3 upwards will post letter I'm a cowardy custard

[NBwcs]

"But keep pace with rising prices!!!!"

Trouble is...  we havnt really got any rising prices. Inflation is nothing and hasnt moved much in years, fuels coming down..  . You must put them up now and again but wouldnt push your luck too much, its very difficult to justify when conditons are as they are.

[Mike #1]

Try not to over think it Lee i understand your apprehension the less you think it over the easier it is , Just put up each one to what you think it should be DONE  .

[Walter Mitty]

Jon.

I need a new van.

I'm sure that will be remarked on when it happens

I'm about to do this too, so might get some comments.  Oddly enough, it was being skint that triggered getting a new one because I needed at least 20% deposit on a used one but a balloon payment is OK for a new one - so I will have 5 years to save for that.
The other daft thing is that when I calculated the repair bills, costs of van hire, down time on the old one and tax break on a new one, the difference is only about £130 a month.  I'm sure I can go out there and get a bit more work to cover it if need be.  There's enough room in my schedule to take on another £1k a month if I price new work properly.

[jonboywalton75]

The rising costs I have noticed is my food bill and stuff like virgin media prices and the cost of business insurance.
Spares for wfp cost as well, all these things have influenced me to put prices up a bit.
Also having a reliable van is important to me.

[samson]

The rising costs I have noticed is my food bill and stuff like virgin media prices and the cost of business insurance.
Spares for wfp cost as well, all these things have influenced me to put prices up a bit.
Also having a reliable van is important to me.

That is a good point, our van is 5 yr old now and we are trying to save some money each month so when it dies will have enough for another 

[lee_dewing]

just sorted out my letter will give to custies or put in with invoice,  took my contact details off the bottom as I get enough sales calls.



Price increase. (From Lee your window cleaner).
Dear _______________________,

The new price of cleaning your windows from my next visit onwards is    £___________.

I have not increased most of my customer`s prices for 6+ years on my round, those that have had an increase has been small.
This has caused a two tier system of newer work being higher priced and a lot of my longer served customers clean prices falling behind; some considerably so with the rates I now charge.

Therefore I have had to review all of my customer`s clean prices and make adjustments to everyone.
I hope you understand and I am confident that your new clean price is very competitive against other quotes you may decide to get.

Please remember.

I clean the whole window pane, frame and sill.
I do not insist on cash like many other window cleaners and offer various payment methods,
cheque / by post, cash, online payment and standing order.
I am regular, every month all year round.
I take care working on my customer`s properties being careful not to damage lawns, flower beds and of course your Home!
Unlike others I DO NOT subcontract my customer`s window cleaning out to others.
It is always me cleaning your windows every time, no unfamiliar faces.
I have liability insurance of over £1 million for my customer`s and my piece of mind.
I take pride in my work and strive to do my best every working day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Your window cleaner:


 

[samson]

Far too wordy, the more you explain, the more it looks like you're desperate.   Also the bit about them getting another quote . . . . .whats that about ?   You are planting the idea in their heads to look for cheaper !
From September our prices will be increasing to £.....  Thank you.
Grow some Cojones 

[Johnny B]

How about dropping a slip through each door simply saying:

With effect from (date), my new price will be £ xx.xx.

Kind regards.

That's what I do. Why make it any more complicated than that?

John

[lee_dewing]

Hi  Samson, Johnny.

Understand what your saying for £1-2 price rises but when you're sticking the price up £5 - £10 I think it deserves some justification.
The letter has the important bit the price near the top they don't have to read the rest if they don't want too.

I think people will realise there are other windies out there I'm just stating the fact that there are many draw backs with these others.

I always remember my mrs car got scraped on front bumper.
I called chips away a mobile car sprayer.
The 1st guy I spoke to had a take it or leave it attitude towards the price.

The second chips away guy was the same price but explained why it was dearer than I expected.
That extra bit of customer care got him my custom.
I couldn't get rid of the other guy quick enough.

Thanks lee

[samson]

To be honest mate you sound like you are a bit low in confidence, I can relate to that.    Remember you are the one providing the service, you do a good job, turn up on time, and they are lucky to have you.
You will always get the complainer, but you can dump them and get another better customer.     I struggle with depresssion, and the thing that has helped me the most in this job, is all our customers are nice, I ditched all the idiots 

[lee_dewing]

Hi  Samson.

Yep I do lack confidence at times

I know what you mean about the moaners I have outed all the unpleasant ones from my round and bad payers.

Agree custies are lucky to have us. 

[8weekly]

Lee, I think your letter is excellent for large percentage increases. Very nicely put and I'm certain that all but customers you're better off without would understand.

[lee_dewing]

thanks 8 weekly

[Johnny B]

Hi  Samson, Johnny.

Understand what your saying for £1-2 price rises but when you're sticking the price up £5 - £10 I think it deserves some justification.
The letter has the important bit the price near the top they don't have to read the rest if they don't want too.

I think people will realise there are other windies out there I'm just stating the fact that there are many draw backs with these others.

I always remember my mrs car got scraped on front bumper.
I called chips away a mobile car sprayer.
The 1st guy I spoke to had a take it or leave it attitude towards the price.

The second chips away guy was the same price but explained why it was dearer than I expected.
That extra bit of customer care got him my custom.
I couldn't get rid of the other guy quick enough.

Thanks lee

I understand what you are saying, Lee, as I too lack self-confidence at times.

However, I still keep it short and sweet when upping my prices. If the price hike is larger than the norm, the customer can always ask for an explanation, which I am always happy to give.

Your customers should know you well enough by now to know how you operate, and so again, not everyone will demand an explanation, but be ready to offer one if required.

Best wishes,
John

[Walter Mitty]

just sorted out my letter will give to custies or put in with invoice,  took my contact details off the bottom as I get enough sales calls.



Price increase. (From Lee your window cleaner).
Dear _______________________,

The new price of cleaning your windows from my next visit onwards is    £___________.

I have not increased most of my customer`s prices for 6+ years on my round, those that have had an increase has been small.
This has caused a two tier system of newer work being higher priced and a lot of my longer served customers clean prices falling behind; some considerably so with the rates I now charge.

Therefore I have had to review all of my customer`s clean prices and make adjustments to everyone.
I hope you understand and I am confident that your new clean price is very competitive against other quotes you may decide to get.

Please remember.

I clean the whole window pane, frame and sill.
I do not insist on cash like many other window cleaners and offer various payment methods,
cheque / by post, cash, online payment and standing order.
I am regular, every month all year round.
I take care working on my customer`s properties being careful not to damage lawns, flower beds and of course your Home!
Unlike others I DO NOT subcontract my customer`s window cleaning out to others.
It is always me cleaning your windows every time, no unfamiliar faces.
I have liability insurance of over £1 million for my customer`s and my piece of mind.
I take pride in my work and strive to do my best every working day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Your window cleaner:

I think that's too wordy.  Even if you decide to keep it pretty much as it is, I suggest you delete "... you may decide to get... " (after other quotes).  It's one of the nuances of language that a reader's subconscious would interpret this as you giving permission or encouraging them to get other quotes.

[KS Cleaning]

Jon.

I need a new van.

I'm sure that will be remarked on when it happens

I'm about to do this too, so might get some comments.  Oddly enough, it was being skint that triggered getting a new one because I needed at least 20% deposit on a used one but a balloon payment is OK for a new one - so I will have 5 years to save for that.
The other daft thing is that when I calculated the repair bills, costs of van hire, down time on the old one and tax break on a new one, the difference is only about £130 a month.  I'm sure I can go out there and get a bit more work to cover it if need be.  There's enough room in my schedule to take on another £1k a month if I price new work properly.

I take it you are going to pay the van over 5 years? Have you looked at the figures thoroughly? paying it over 5 years coupled with arrangement fee and settlement fee means you are going to be paying a lot of money for the van. It may be worth looking at a bank loan, you will get a lower interest rate with no additional fees. Depending on your circumstances you can get a loan of 10K over 2 years and you will only pay around £350 in interest, of course the monthly payment will be a lot but you are always better taking as short a loan term as you possibly can.