[Feen]

I was asked to price a house today whilst working nearby. The work I was doing was because the previous wc had not been since October. I look this house over. It's been a (stable ? ) renovation. There are lots of modern windows and would be a joy to clean. I assumed she had been let down like the rest. I quoted and she said, "That's exactly the same as the window cleaner I have, so I'll stick with him. If you had been cheaper, I'd've accepted." First thought is, "Thank God, I didn't go low and get the job." This has to be a very valuable house and I quoted £50. She's looking to save £5 or thereabouts I thanked her and said if things change, get in touch. What should the next quote be It does P me off if I think I've been used. Hopefully, she hasn't realised that her current wc has ped off and she gets back to me

[GMG]

The first question i always ask is do you have a window cleaner if they say yes i say sorry
i want step on other window cleaners toes

[elite mike]

stick with your quote feen, or even increase it a bit next time
there is another post on here which said  BUYERS ARE LIARS
i find that to be true in a lot of cases
good luck
mike

[Jago]

Feen and GMC
that is always the first question I ask and I have been caught out. the old boy that used to do them did every 8 weeks and they said he was hit and miss so they wanted me as they said he had not been round for months
I felt well guilty when i saw him and said but he said no problem and said all customers are Merchant bankers anyway, we had a laugh and a chat and carried on. I would love to be that established to just laugh at a job missed
or lost

oh and If she has not  lost her cleaner makes you wonder how loyal they would be if you did have them on your books?

Regards J

[Feen]

GMC, As I alluded to, I thought she didn't have a cleaner. Wouldn't have gone if i thought she had. Next quote, if there is one, will be £55 instead of £50. When she says OK, I'll say "sorry books are full."

[Londoner]

We call this "fishing" when someone who already has a window cleaner invites quotes from other window cleaners.

It has happened to me quite a few times and usually it only comes to light when they tell me I am dearer than the window cleaner they have at present.

Its annoying because it wastes your time.

[philboy]

The first question i always ask is do you have a window cleaner if they say yes i say sorry
i want step on other window cleaners toes

Honourable as it is to do this, I would firstly ask if she had a window cleaner, if she said yes I would ask if she were unhappy with him and why, usually I find that people that are price hunting can't think of a good lie quick enough, then you can say no thanks but If her current wc in no good it's her right to look around so why shouldn't you quote? If you don't someone else will!

[Ian Lancaster]

Window cleaning is a business like any other.  If we were builders/plumbers/accountants/etc, would we worry about whether the prospective customer already used someone else?

Everybody has the right of choice, so if someone askes me for a quote, I don't need to know whether they already have a window cleaner or not.  I give a written quote on my standard quote form, based on my estimate of how long the job will take, and any access issues etc.

When I hand them the quote, I point out my terms, which are that the price is based on the understanding that it is for a regular 4 or 8 weekly visit, not just a one off.  I might at that point ask if they have a window cleaner already, and if the answer is yes then I will ask why they want to change.  Depending on their reaction, I may or may not decide that they are the sort of customer I want.

I never worry about underquoting another window cleaner, as I charge top rates and it's unlikely I would be cheaper.

On the other hand, I would never do it the other way round, i.e. it's fine for someone to approach me and ask for a quote, but if I knock on a door and they say, "I've already got a window cleaner," I say "thank you" and walk away.  If they're not happy with their current one, they'll call me back. 

Cheers,

Ian

[Squeegee Clean blackpool]

Why cant window cleaners take competition, as a rule the customer comes to me i dont poach and if another window cleaner has a go for poaching hes or hers work i just say they come to me and if you do the job right you will have nothing to woory about, not much they can say to that!!!!

[Feen]

Window cleaning is a business like any other.  If we were builders/plumbers/accountants/etc, would we worry about whether the prospective customer already used someone else?

Everybody has the right of choice, so if someone askes me for a quote, I don't need to know whether they already have a window cleaner or not.  I give a written quote on my standard quote form, based on my estimate of how long the job will take, and any access issues etc.

When I hand them the quote, I point out my terms, which are that the price is based on the understanding that it is for a regular 4 or 8 weekly visit, not just a one off.  I might at that point ask if they have a window cleaner already, and if the answer is yes then I will ask why they want to change.  Depending on their reaction, I may or may not decide that they are the sort of customer I want.

I never worry about underquoting another window cleaner, as I charge top rates and it's unlikely I would be cheaper.

On the other hand, I would never do it the other way round, i.e. it's fine for someone to approach me and ask for a quote, but if I knock on a door and they say, "I've already got a window cleaner," I say "thank you" and walk away.  If they're not happy with their current one, they'll call me back. 

Your point is made fairly. What I objected to, and I thought this was clear, was that I was asked to quote on the understanding that the house did not have a wc. Once I quoted, it became clear that she had a wc. Now all's fair in love and war etc, but I'm not interested. I have enough work. I don't want other people's work.

[Londoner]

In every other aspect of life we are expected to shop around for the best price. How many of you would think twice about stop using their regular petrol station if the one down the road is 1p a litre cheaper.

Loads of times when out canvassing I have been told that they already have a window cleaner but if I can give them a better price the jobs mine. I have always laughed and said no thanks but think about this.
With the number of window cleaners increasing all the time what happens when the only way to build a round is to undercut existing window cleaners?

Don't think it could never happen.

[pingu]

There will be a time in the not too distant future when some of us will need to re-evaluate this psudeo 'honour amongst w/c' code'.

Business is business and time will change the way we will have to operate to survive.  A sad fact and I for one hope that it occurs later rather than sooner.

Dave.

[windowwashers]

what happens when the only way to build a round is to undercut existing window cleaners?

Don't think it could never happen.

it will happen at one point and then in time there will be a shortage of window cleaners as many will come out of it as the price will go down down and down more so people will not want to do it any more as the pay will not be worth while. I can see it happening but now for a few years yet " I hope"

[danny mckim]

I think the paying public must love to in the position where more than 1 window cleaner is trying to get their custom or they are a few window cleaners in their area.

 If the 1st guy quotes £15 (which should be the right price) Along comes the undercutting crew and they offer to do it for £12 to make sure they get the job. The customer is delighted,saving £3.

Next up comes the next undercutters and agree £10. The undercutters have been undercut again and there is only one winner.  THE CUSTOMER!

This is the reason i will never go cheaper than another window cleaner to get a job, but,  there will always be someone willing to do it cheaper

[windowwashers]

I think the paying public must love to in the position where more than 1 window cleaner is trying to get their custom or they are a few window cleaners in their area.

 If the 1st guy quotes £15 (which should be the right price) Along comes the undercutting crew and they offer to do it for £12 to make sure they get the job. The customer is delighted,saving £3.

Next up comes the next undercutters and agree £10. The undercutters have been undercut again and there is only one winner.  THE CUSTOMER!

This is the reason i will never go cheaper than another window cleaner to get a job, but,  there will always be someone willing to do it cheaper

That is spot on.

All I say if they say they can get it cheaper is, yes you may well get it cheaper, do you get the results I guarantee, will the keep coming back or will they realise they can get more and stop coming ect ect.

I dont undercut people never have.

Pay peanut get monkeys (this is so true)

Ian

[[GQC] Tim]

I think the paying public must love to in the position where more than 1 window cleaner is trying to get their custom or they are a few window cleaners in their area.

 If the 1st guy quotes £15 (which should be the right price) Along comes the undercutting crew and they offer to do it for £12 to make sure they get the job. The customer is delighted,saving £3.

Next up comes the next undercutters and agree £10. The undercutters have been undercut again and there is only one winner.  THE CUSTOMER!

This is the reason i will never go cheaper than another window cleaner to get a job, but,  there will always be someone willing to do it cheaper

That is spot on.

All I say if they say they can get it cheaper is, yes you may well get it cheaper, do you get the results I guarantee, will the keep coming back or will they realise they can get more and stop coming ect ect.

I dont undercut people never have.

Pay peanut get monkeys (this is so true)

Ian

I'll say that to them next time, you pay peanut, you get monkey haha 

Seriously, yea I say that them aswell, that i'm fully insured up to x million, and have very good references from customers.

[Tony Warren]

If a customer is genuninely unhappy with the current window cleaner and they ask you for a quote then i don't see a problem as long as you don't give a low price just to get the job.

Take this as an opportunity to raise the price and get a good deal for yourself. I have taken on plenty of work for unsatisfied customers but my prices are generally double the previous price if not more. 99% of the time they agree (once they have lifted there chin up) I NEVER undercut a price to get a job, just isnt cricket. This sifts out the genuine customers from the tight wacks.

[NWH]

Nearly all the time you take a job on because the last cleaner stopped calling your in for problems,they seem nice to begin with until a couple of cleans and then you realise why the last one gave it up.

[Ravensford]

Don't entertain discussion about the competition! State your price & stick to it. If they start to haggle by stating 'what they currently pay' say you have given your best price first time round. Don't ask or pay any interest in how competitve you are.

Say to them the price you have quoted is to clean their windows to a high standard. If they insist on trying to knock you down firstly say that you don't need the work & secondly say that you wouldn't want to rush the job because it isn't priced very well.

Don't assume that buyers have the upper hand.

If you open up the negotiations by saying 'how does that sound' or 'what do you currently pay' you immediately give the buyer a huge sign that you want the work & are willing to haggle. If the mention of their current w/c crops up & they say you are dear politely say that you do not wish to take anyones work & if they are happy with him/her & they are also cheaper stick with them.

This approach often works believe it or not.

[Wayne Thomas]

what happens when the only way to build a round is to undercut existing window cleaners?

Don't think it could never happen.

it will happen at one point and then in time there will be a shortage of window cleaners as many will come out of it as the price will go down down and down more so people will not want to do it any more as the pay will not be worth while. I can see it happening but now for a few years yet " I hope"

I'll second that.