Great thread even though a bit frustrating at times.
If you are the only cleaner in an area then you are very much the exception. It's only a matter of time before that will change. But you ain't never gonna keep hold of it through fear, that's for certain. You will keep hold of it by giving a good sevice.
As for this unwritten rules lark, these people are peeing in the wind. Times are changing. I agree it is bad form to knowingly chase another cleaners work. But how will they know?
I'm sure i've picked up work off other cleaners but i've declined to quote on a good 20 or so jobs cos they've told me about their other cleaner at the time. A couple of times i've put in really high quotes (i think) and been declined after they've come round from fainting. Then comes "my old wc only charged..." heeheehee
If someone had pinched your work for a higher price they have really done you a favour, by pushing prices up. You've just got to capitalise on it.
I would like it if new kids on the block are banned 'cos i could if i wanted do a crap job in half the time i do now, charge double and still have people wanting to see me. Happy days!!
That has never nor will it ever happen. Some people need to wake up.
There has to be some realism about our situation.
We can never stop new people coming into the trade.
We might think we're tough cos we've got a bit of muscle on us now but we can't fight everyone for daring to do the same as us. Hypocrisy.
We can't expect to do a crap job and know it will continue forever.
We can't force the public to use us instead of another.
We don't OWN an area. Gangsters we ain't.
Cos we bought a round off joe scrim 30 years ago doesn't mean we can expect to keep them, cos he told us he made an agreement with billy soap over a pint of mead when they were fighting in the trenches.
We do have the right to be peed off if someone is coming in and driving down prices. Everyone loses that way.
We can limit any damage to our round by doing a good job regularly. Price doesn't seem to come into it if people are happy with our service.
We will never stop new people coming into the game.
We can protect ourselves better by helping new wc out by offering pricing advice and passing over any work we don't want or can't do.
In fact that's all we can do. Keep the prices stable or on the up then it is down to service.
It's been a real good thread this and fair play to everyone for not getting offended.
