[jay moley]

Took on a new customer last week. Fairly big house, £70 first clean, £45 every 8 weeks.

Text her last week asking if she was happy with the clean. She said very happy but thinks £45 is too expensive, can I do £40.

I've never dropped my price as I'm offering an excellent service and I don't want to be the cheapest out there.

She said her previous window cleaner wasn't calling her back and now I'm wondering whether he did so on purpose as she's a messer. He was charging £30 before her loft conversion.

Do any of you every negotiate?

My gut is to stick to my guns.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Just stick with your guns.  Just ask her if it's the cost or quality of work she's after?   She'll probably jump ship anyway once she finds someone a quid cheaper given half the chance.

[jay moley]

Just stick with your guns.  Just ask her if it's the cost or quality of work she's after?   She'll probably jump ship anyway once she finds someone a quid cheaper given half the chance.

That's my thought. Price shopper.

[Spruce]

Took on a new customer last week. Fairly big house, £70 first clean, £45 every 8 weeks.

Text her last week asking if she was happy with the clean. She said very happy but thinks £45 is too expensive, can I do £40.

I've never dropped my price as I'm offering an excellent service and I don't want to be the cheapest out there.

She said her previous window cleaner wasn't calling her back and now I'm wondering whether he did so on purpose as she's a messer. He was charging £30 before her loft conversion.

Do any of you every negotiate?

My gut is to stick to my guns.

I'm not sure that texting a new customer asking if they are happy with the clean is the right thing to do. A text gives them time to think about an issue before responding. They may feel they need to come up with something to 'complain' about. Personally, I believe this is better left to a face to face meeting at a future time.

Your only solution now is to reject their price reduction request which leaves you as the bad boy.

[jay moley]

Took on a new customer last week. Fairly big house, £70 first clean, £45 every 8 weeks.

Text her last week asking if she was happy with the clean. She said very happy but thinks £45 is too expensive, can I do £40.

I've never dropped my price as I'm offering an excellent service and I don't want to be the cheapest out there.

She said her previous window cleaner wasn't calling her back and now I'm wondering whether he did so on purpose as she's a messer. He was charging £30 before her loft conversion.

Do any of you every negotiate?

My gut is to stick to my guns.

I'm not sure that texting a new customer asking if they are happy with the clean is the right thing to do. A text gives them time to think about an issue before responding. They may feel they need to come up with something to 'complain about. Personally, I believe this is better left to a face to face meeting at a future time.

Your only solution now is to reject their price reduction request which leaves you as the bad boy.

I disagree. It shows you care and it also allows you to address any problems they have if they are dissatisfied and then fix it securing their future business. I cant remember anyone that has ever said they were unhappy. I am very thorough on first cleans. I then follow up with my google review link which pretty much all of my enquiries from google have seen as they mention it. Whatever works for you.

[AuRavelling79]

Very unusual to ask a new customer if they are happy with your work.

Quote - do the job - tell them you've finished and will see them in the future at the agreed schedule time.

I don't think I have ever asked if my work is ok.

[Paul-kent]

 Tell her you would be happy to do the job for £50

[dazmond]

I'd stick to your guns....never ever drop your price.

I also have never texted a customer to ask them if their happy with their clean and never would.

I had a customer today who let me clean their back windows,side ones and when I got round to the front windows had stuck a note on her front door saying 'can you skip my windows today,thank you' ....dumped!

I've picked her neighbour up so replaced the job already. It's not the first time she's stuck a note on the front door,it's probably happened 5 times in the last 2 years and always if it's a bit of light rain.

You can't lose in this game!😎👍

[KS Cleaning]

Stick to the £45…..but on first cleans instead of being reactive and texting to ask if she was happy with the clean, better being proactive and say at time of clean, if there are any problems please get in touch……I never have anyone getting in touch so this approach works for me👍🏻

[KS Cleaning]

I'd stick to your guns....never ever drop your price.

I also have never texted a customer to ask them if their happy with their clean and never would.

I had a customer today who let me clean their back windows,side ones and when I got round to the front windows had stuck a note on her front door saying 'can you skip my windows today,thank you' ....dumped!

I've picked her neighbour up so replaced the job already. It's not the first time she's stuck a note on the front door,it's probably happened 5 times in the last 2 years and always if it's a bit of light rain.

You can't lose in this game!😎👍

I had this many years ago from a customer who lived in a block of flats I used to clean,  she thought it was a good idea to put a ‘not today’ note on her French doors on a first floor balcony which was accessed by a ladder!😡

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

Maybe she thinks you are a tad insecure by asking if she was happy with the clean. So she has came back trying to save a fiver every few months. This reminds me of when I started up 6 years ago. I would worry about new customers continuing with my service. Now I have 100 loyal customers and plenty of handyman stuff I don't really care anymore and have as little contact with my customers as possible bar talking away with them about politics.

If they try to get me to do things cheaper then its time to distance myself from them, I know my worth. 

[jay moley]

The worst thing that can happen if you text a customer is them saying they are unhappy. If they are you fix it and retain the customer. I can count on one hand those that have said they were un happy with the clean.

it takes about 5 seconds to send the text and it includes thanking them for their business, why - because the number one reason people stop doing business with companies is because they are indifferent to your service or feel under appreciated. And yes I say thank you even if ive said thank you to them in person on the day of the clean!!

I do a few other things that I bet loads of you think are pointless or a waste of time. You'll be glad to know I'll keep them to myself.

[AuRavelling79]

The worst thing that can happen if you text a customer is them saying they are unhappy. If they are you fix it and retain the customer. I can count on one hand those that have said they were un happy with the clean.

it takes about 5 seconds to send the text and it includes thanking them for their business, why - because the number one reason people stop doing business with companies is because they are indifferent to your service or feel under appreciated. And yes I say thank you even if ive said thank you to them in person on the day of the clean!!

I do a few other things that I bet loads of you think are pointless or a waste of time. You'll be glad to know I'll keep them to myself.

No one has said you shouldn't say thank you.

[Simon Trapani]

The worst thing that can happen if you text a customer is them saying they are unhappy. If they are you fix it and retain the customer. I can count on one hand those that have said they were un happy with the clean.

it takes about 5 seconds to send the text and it includes thanking them for their business, why - because the number one reason people stop doing business with companies is because they are indifferent to your service or feel under appreciated. And yes I say thank you even if ive said thank you to them in person on the day of the clean!!

I do a few other things that I bet loads of you think are pointless or a waste of time. You'll be glad to know I'll keep them to myself.

Why thank someone? You’re not seventeen & desperate for work. They’re not your friends. It’s  a mutually beneficial arrangement. You want the work & they want their windows cleaned. End of imo.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

In the end its business they are not our friends where we do stuff for free. When you have plenty of customers then your character changes. I have now realised my customers need me more than I need them.

One texted to say they need 2 new 6" slats for their fence and could I replace them? I had already stuck a bit of the roughcast that came off at the last clean so this time I took 2 slats with me. Cleaned her and the neighbours windows and replaced the 2 slats. Cut up the old slats and put them in her bin. Instead of £12 I charged £60 and she was very happy. I was very happy because I was there anyway and took me another 5 minutes so I see it as a win win situation. That's the reason my customers like to hold on to me.

[jay moley]

The worst thing that can happen if you text a customer is them saying they are unhappy. If they are you fix it and retain the customer. I can count on one hand those that have said they were un happy with the clean.

it takes about 5 seconds to send the text and it includes thanking them for their business, why - because the number one reason people stop doing business with companies is because they are indifferent to your service or feel under appreciated. And yes I say thank you even if ive said thank you to them in person on the day of the clean!!

I do a few other things that I bet loads of you think are pointless or a waste of time. You'll be glad to know I'll keep them to myself.

Why thank someone? You’re not seventeen & desperate for work. They’re not your friends. It’s  a mutually beneficial arrangement. You want the work & they want their windows cleaned. End of imo.

So you only say thank you to your friends and family? Wow.

If a customer talks to you on the day and thanks you for coming  you don't say thank you back either?

When someone holds the door open for you in a shop you don't say thank you?

When a driver lets you go in the car you dont say thank you?

I could go on and on.

There is no negative to saying thanks just like theirs no negative for being polite.

[NBwcs]

As little contact with the customer as possible, it just gives them an opportunity to mess you about. Texting before you go because of access issues is unavoidable but we all know these are the customers that are  likely to  mess you about, that in itself should really be enough to teach you that opening unnecessary lines of communication is asking for trouble.

[Spruce]

I'd stick to your guns....never ever drop your price.

I also have never texted a customer to ask them if their happy with their clean and never would.

I had a customer today who let me clean their back windows,side ones and when I got round to the front windows had stuck a note on her front door saying 'can you skip my windows today,thank you' ....dumped!

I've picked her neighbour up so replaced the job already. It's not the first time she's stuck a note on the front door,it's probably happened 5 times in the last 2 years and always if it's a bit of light rain.

You can't lose in this game!😎👍

I had this many years ago from a customer who lived in a block of flats I used to clean,  she thought it was a good idea to put a ‘not today’ note on her French doors on a first floor balcony which was accessed by a ladder!😡

They should only ever catch you once.

[Perfect Windows]

We contact every single customer every single time we clean. Doesn't cause us any issues whatsoever and many (not just a few) of them thank us for letting them know.

In the event someone says "not this time", we book in another customer for the day (because we know now that we have spare time) and we don't even raise an eyebrow, we just get through the round a tad quicker and maybe end up with an extra afternoon off when it all adds up over the round.

We don't check with customers about their first clean but it smacks of caring about your customers. People notice details like that.

Some people on here sound scared of their customers.

As to the original point my response (mercilessly stolen from someone on here years ago) the one time I was asked was "Sure, I can knock some money off. Which windows don't you want me to clean?"

Vin

[AuRavelling79]

As little contact with the customer as possible, it just gives them an opportunity to mess you about. Texting before you go because of access issues is unavoidable but we all know these are the customers that are  likely to  mess you about, that in itself should really be enough to teach you that opening unnecessary lines of communication is asking for trouble.

That's too far the other way, IMO.

99 out of 100 of my customers are no issue whatsoever.

The one per cent get trained or dumped.

All customers get pleasant civilities including thanks at usual times until my Spidey senses tell me they need training or dumping.

Customer sticks their head out and says 'I've paid you on line' I say thank you.

A new customer says thanks for cleaning the windows. I say thanks for the work.

Simples.