[dg-cleaning]

Xxx

[Bertie Boo]

DG

Even if the Dyson does get pinched you will be back to square one...

I think the manager is right, you should use your own, but i think she is wrong to say "you are expensive enough". At the end of the day 1 hours cleaning at a time is just not that profitable and i wonder how easy it would be to replace you?

What did they do before you took over?

I thought it was generally accepted that when someone employs a cleaner in a commercial environment they would allow the cleaners somewhere to store equipment.

When i cleaned an office all my equipment was on-site (and i drive) indeed i had no less than THREE vacuum cleaners in situ -2 downstairs (one in each unit as there was a factory in between the 2 units) and one upstairs, but i always took ALL cleaning products home with me.

IMHO you have to expect to write-off any theft or damage to your equipment, if you feel the 'contract' isnt worth the bother, well...

You need a space where you can store your stuff safely and carefully and if they cannot offer you this, well, i dunno what to suggest. It strikes me that this one is gonna give you grief...

Bertie

[Bertie Boo]

DG

There is no reason why not, personally i dont think it will 'look' that great in a commercial setting (and if it's a model from the DC01 range it won't like paperclips and stuff...) also because of the fine dust that collects in commercial buildings you will need to watch the filters as these clog super-quickly.

Also worth noting that as uprights do remove more debris than cylinders you will be vaccing up loads of crap that is in the floor and can't be seen, so do keep the filters clean.

Tell me agian what town you live in and i'll have a quick glance at ebay to see what i can see

Cheers

Stephen

[dg-cleaning]

all we are hoovering is corridor  of a gym,staircase and a exercise hall with rubber flooring prior to mopping.No paper clips, biggest amount of debris is perhaps stray hairs in hall floor. I have looked on ebay, I don't want to spend extra expense on a vacuum basically for them to use for their cleaning for rest of week, I won't be purchasing a new one ,will simply use one of our old vacuu,ms shich work, do job but aren't required for my other jobs very often.That way if its damaged or stolen no major stress.

[Bertie Boo]

DG

fair enough, but all i was going to see was if there were any 'collection only' auctions in your area, you wouldn't belive the stuff that my m8 and myself have bought for less than a fiver...collection only auctions can be a REAL bargain if no one else bids...

Also, what is the Dyson (upright or cylinder)? You won't want the upright type used on hard floor (unless you use the hose, but they are never that great using the hose on floors).

Which town are you in?

Bertie

[dg-cleaning]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110146991261&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:uk


this is quite a local one what do u think?never heard of this manufacturer before

[dg-cleaning]

also it has a long cable which is good.

[Bertie Boo]

DG

It says 2.4m cable, thats really short

look at this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4060730.htm

The only down side (if this is the sort of cleaner you really want) is that the cable is only 4metres BUT whoever does your PAT testing may be able to change the lead for a small fee.

This wont last forever (esp the tubes but again these are 32mm so are interchangable with metal ones) but its a bargain.

Bertie

[Bertie Boo]

DG

Lol

I am not at all clever, it comes to you after a while (remind me how long you have been in business) you get to know where to look and where all the bargins are.

These are the tubes http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STRAIGHT-CHROME-TUBE-FOR-32MM-VACS-EG-HENRY-ETC_W0QQitemZ250141080019QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Henry has a 12 meter cable, standard is between 6 and 8 meters, but henry is 12

Bertie

[Robert Parry]

Two points if I may?

Contract that you issue client should contain a clause to insure and or replace equipment damaged by client.

You have bought this contract, you cannot make a profit on this job unless you are prepared to do the work yourself. You have allowed yourself to be intimidated by your client. The figures just dont add up at all, ditch it now, you wont regret it!

Regards,

Rob

[cml]

Essentially, after paying your staff you have to consider whats left.  Approx £12-15 per month if that before considering your costs of materials etc.   
Then there is the cost of maintenance inc repairs or replacement of the machine should it become damaged. 

I agree unless you do this job yourself your margins for making a profit is too low.  But! what you don't want to start doing in order to fulfil your contract is to compromise you standard of service.

We have on occasions experienced this same situation especially when using the clients storage especially like yourselves where the staff does not drive.  where there is no storage we do have drivers scheduled in close proximity to collect equipment.  Nonetheless there is always going to be the potential for your clients  to use your equipment if left on site and due to this when costing...per job... a contingency amount is billed in with the costings.  Annoying as it is, try not to worry unless your  contract states that 'goods are  left on sight at your own risk'.  Then you have to make a decision about the risk and if you have adequate insurance this should cover it.

Too share this with you, last friday when our staff turned up at two of our jobs the clients used not only the machines but the mops buckets and had the nerve to pack them neatly back looking black and dirty.  We had no choice but to replace all mops & cloths used.  It would be intresting to see if this friday anyone had bother to read our H&S notice about cross contamination if they continue to use the equipment in the manner in which they do.

[Jan K]

to be honest, I simply wouldnt have take this contract as it doesn't seem to be worth while financially or cos of the hassles already coming into play before you have even started. 

[cleanandneat]

Hello

Try and get out of it as it isn't profitable, I would get back to the manager and explain that the contracted hours are not sufficient for you to have a mobile cleaner appointed and as they can't provide you with LOCKABLE storage for the cleaning materials you are unable to serve them. Or have a cleaner with a car and equipment and because it is ONLY 2hrs/week charge double.

Ildiko
Clean and Neat Service

[Bertie Boo]

DG

I know exactly where you are coming from, though i work alone i've been there and done it and worked for nothing (almost).

On my BICs course there was a young lady who was so pleased with her cleaning  job (she worked for a contacte compnay and did 3 days @ 1 hour each time in a travel agent) she said it was 'well paid' (£6.50 per hour) i said "Yes, and they wont want to lose you either" and she said "why?" and i said "Because it is so hard to find anyone o fulfill these small jobs".

I've done it myself, charged £10 a time to go cleaner an opticians practice belonging to a domestic client and, even though i was in and out within the hour, it meant i was finishing my day early because i couldnt make use of the remaining 1.5 - 2 hours i was willing to work. As such i had to tell them i wasnt doing it anymore, simply because i could do a 'bigger' job and get more for it.

My point is that the manager of this gym sounds a right mare, sorry, i mean nightmare and just as soon as shhe starts nit-picking you should consider getting out...

Why have they switched cleaners?

Cheers

Bertie

[Bertie Boo]

DG

You said:

"I guess we could break her vacuum in her eyes"

That might hurt a bit 

Bertie

[Robert Parry]

Only real problem with you hoping that more service hours will be won from this particular client, is that you will have a devil of a time upping your hourly rate that you seem happy to charge at the moment. If a miracle happens, and you do gain extra hours, you will I assume have to employ someone to cover this contract, and there lies the rub, with employing staff, there are a myriad of other costs that will come into play, but the best of british to you!

Regards,

Rob

[ag]

Hi There

Glad you got this sorted, just a question on to it though. Ok, so for those that have more experience at pricing these sort of jobs, do you work the full cost of the hoover and other products left on site into your rate or what amount do you cover yourself for? Also what if you want to leave a rotary on site - how do you charge for that?
Cheers
Agnes