[Cleaner Windows]

I had a customer call me today on my mobile, explaining that some other wc'er had posted a leaflet through her door saying he would clean her house for £10. She says to me that she wouldn't just want to give me the push without first giving me the chance to meet the same price (so asking me to drop my price by £7) so obviously I said politely, no, sorry, I cant clean it for that price, its just too low.

So I've lost that customer, the only one I've lost since I started this business though so wont cry myself to sleep just yet! £17 was a good, fair price for a house like that one and I cant believe someone has offered to do it for £10, up north maybe, or wales or somewhere but not in west sussex.

Do you think its a bit wrong of him to post prices through their doors like that though? Its not something I would do (unless desperate?).
Personally I think its a bit cheeky, whats wrong with knocking the door armed with a flyer and ask the person if they have/need a wc'er and giving them a flyer anyways, just in case they need you in the future

[*Mr Tumble]

If only we all did this with petrol stations/accountants/dentists, we'd all be better off.

'Tis the market... as long as theres an idiot willing to undercut by 7 squids, there will always be muppets to take them up on it.

Be glad you got rid of her now, and don't be tempted to take her back because if she dumped excrement on you this time she will do it again.

[johnny_h]

dont worry about her if hes a new boy chances are he wont stick at it or will soon realise hes underpriced and dump her then she will be on the phone to you know who

[Cleaner Windows]

dont worry about her if hes a new boy chances are he wont stick at it or will soon realise hes underpriced and dump her then she will be on the phone to you know who

thats what I'm thinking 

[jaykie]

Theres a all womans window cleaning company (not that its matters what sex they are) but there putting leaflets around the whole of my area saying we estimate that it would be so much to clean your house, i believe this is a wrong way of doing it as its a bit like undercutting as they know they will get customers out of from being cheaper.

Chris

[Wayne Thomas]

At least she had the decency to ask you to match the competitors price. You did the right thing not lowering your price and losing the customer.
I lost a customer yesterday, gained a new one (at double the price of the trad w/c because he's not very good) and gained a large rowing club to do, so quids up. I'm on a running streak at the moment and just can't lose. I've got the Midas touch at the moment.

[Cleaner Windows]

thats probably why I'm not too bothered by it, I am on a good streak aswell, the phone is ringing a fair bit at the moment, in fact, after I spoke to that woman and lost the job I gained another new one from a phonecall half hour later

[kirky]

I had a customer call me today on my mobile, explaining that some other wc'er had posted a leaflet through her door saying he would clean her house for £10. She says to me that she wouldn't just want to give me the push without first giving me the chance to meet the same price (so asking me to drop my price by £7) so obviously I said politely, no, sorry, I cant clean it for that price, its just too low.

does she live in a mansion?

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I'm not leaving streaks at all.  I don't see the problem in leaving a price with potential customers not that I do it.  If they had asked how much you were charging and then undercut by say 10% then that would be undercutting and out of order.  It' not my policy but it's common practice in business to take customers off of other companies, look at advertising they do it all the time Asda Tesco, Apple Mac Microsoft.  The aim is to keep your customer as happy as possible so they won't want to change, but then again a £7 price drop is a fair amount.

How long did the job take, as £7 less is a massive cut.  

Simon.

[craig b]

i will be doing it from now on......

[NWH]

Putting prices on leaflets is tacky if you ask me.

[prestigeclean]

i do it myself but only when posting in houses next door to ones i,m already cleaning regards alan

[Window Cleaning Services]

i do the same as you, not dropping the price but the customer. If they come back the price goes up, if they dont there will always be another new customer to replace it eventually. i tell them that i appreciate they have a choice as does the window cleaner who undercuts me., some work for a living i work for a profit. thats what being in business for yourself is all about.well done for keeping youyr standard up!  Syd

[d s windowcleaning]

how do you know your undercutting the person whos allready there doing the cleaning ? ive done quotes and been a bit cheaper but ive not set out to undercut i gave what i thought was a fair price , i allso ask the potential customer if they have a window cleaner if they say yes i wont even bother with the quote i just say no thanks im not intrested .

[sjm]

how do you know your undercutting the person whos allready there doing the cleaning ? ive done quotes and been a bit cheaper but ive not set out to undercut i gave what i thought was a fair price , i allso ask the potential customer if they have a window cleaner if they say yes i wont even bother with the quote i just say no thanks im not intrested .

We are a dying breed Dave 

[kris martin]

thats what i do, i wont clean or quote a customer if they already have a wc, i tell them if they want to finish him  its down to them and then i wont clean the house for a month after they finish the old wc..

[MissyShell]

i do the same as you, not dropping the price but the customer. If they come back the price goes up, if they dont there will always be another new customer to replace it eventually. i tell them that i appreciate they have a choice as does the window cleaner who undercuts me., some work for a living i work for a profit. thats what being in business for yourself is all about.well done for keeping youyr standard up!  Syd

Couldnt agree more. :

[MissyShell]

How do you know if your stepping on anyone elses patch?if you already clean a few in that area whats wrong with leaflet dropping the others?

I wouldnt put down a price on paper for what I charge without seeing the house/place first as thats where you could go wrong.I always tell a customer I have a minimum charge then look,if there happy then thats fine if not then they dont get them done.

If your customers are happy with what you do then they should stay true to you, but if they go then let them they will be back come the winter when the other window cleaner cant be bothered! or its too cold,then they come crawling back to you.

Then you decide 1 if you want them back and 2 how much extra your gonna charge them.Personally I know if I was to loose a customer (which I have due to being under cut)then I could pick up another soon enough to replace that one, and no one on your books whos likely to muck you about as if they have done it once they will do it again 3 strikes and your out wit me. :

[Scrimble]

in our area we dont canvass or go on to other w/c patches,if you get asked to do a job you pass it on to the w/c whos patch it is,any one doing otherwise is a cowboy from out of town

no such things as patches, pass work on to another wc? whatever mate your stuck in the dark ages

[kris martin]

i dont believe in patches but i will pass work on to another wc if it dosnt fit in with my work..