[david wood]

hi guys how often do you put your prices up on commercial and domestic cleans and how much by i tend to put my house work up ones a year and about 50pence increace is this right or am i mad

[STEVE71163]

I think that is an excellent idea   I put mine up every April at the start of the good weather again and my customers now expect it

Steve

[safecleanlakes]

Good on you Woody, you will probably be classed as totally insane for a statement like that, so maybe the idea isn't to almost to do it for free after all, welcome to the asylum.
If you really want to now what what madness constitutes then take a look at the ideas for pricing on the carpet message board  

[STEVE71163]

The problem is that if you dont put your prices up even by a small amount each year in five years time your round would probably be worthless. Obviously i use common sense though. If i have got a job that is already really well priced i would probably leave it untill next time.

Steve

[g_griffin]

I would say yes, put them every year even if only a small amount. That way your customers are expecting it and that`s half the battle- get them into good habits! Unfortunately I`m not speaking from experience so I`m now paying the price.  Gerry.

[STEVE71163]

Thats what happened to me a few years ago and i had to drop a load of work in the end and start again :-/ So i learned a valuable lesson and make sure i regularly put them up

Steve

[Rick]

so what would you guys say, about 10 pence a year?

the problem as i always see it is that the prices for practically all things (ie rent, taxes, food, clothing, windowcleaning products etc) haven't really increased in inflation at all. inflation has almost at a standstill at this moment in time. so its kind of hard to argue that we should (morally) do it. if it wasn't for people like us and others putting prices up for the hell of it, then inflation wouldn't exist anyway. just a thought.

my biggest problem at the moment is that i have a round with some houses at really good prices, and others that are like massive houses for practically the same price. i think i'm gonna have to put about 50 pence on those houses and then i'm gonna put 10p a year on all houses every january from then on

[STEVE71163]

Hi Rick,
         Over the last few years loads of things have gone up  : What about petrol,Council Tax,Food, Insurance has gone up a lot over the last few years

Steve

[g_griffin]

I think Steve is right, I know inflation is low at the moment and people could question a rise in price above the current level (especially yearly) but we`re running a business and have costs. How many other businesses pass on an increase in their costs to the customer by raising prices.  Gerry.

[Majestic]

When it`s April they will go up by 25 pence , thats not a lot  on each house, but it`s the thought that counts  

[STEVE71163]

I think April is a good time because the good weather starts appearing again and most customers notice their windows more then.

Steve

[david wood]

hi guys wile were on this subject on money do you all get your collecting in on a collecting night or do you get any that have you coming back all the time and do you charge extra for calling back or just dump them

[Majestic]

I picked April because its the new tax year .
And with the bad payers as Anne Robinson  would  say you are a bad payer goodbye  

[david wood]

that sounds great majestic i have started to ask them to leave money with next door customer if there going to be out at the end of the day they wouldnt wait for there wages iam shure..i do well colecting but i do get the odd cheaky type who like to have you call back 10 times

[STEVE71163]

When i get a new customer now i always get their phone number and although most just send me a cheque the ones that drag it out i always ring the night before and tell them i am coming and get them to leave the money somewhere Its cheaper than keep calling back all the time

Steve

[Majestic]

The way that I look at it is on there pay day do they get there money , are they told to come back on Monday, they have done a job and expect to get paid for it  so why should I wait , and I dont , I used to but you learn from these things so now they get the 2 chances then goodbye, there are lots of  people who need a window cleaner  out there .

[STEVE71163]

I had a customer a few months ago who kept telling me how she just found it so hard to get a window cleaner. But then she started messing me about with payment so i guess she is out their looking again :

Steve

[Majestic]

Steve
Do you not have a bed , posting 5.53 am  

[STEVE71163]

Hi John,
          Thats late for me! When i was getting my office cleaning side of the business up and running i used to be at my first job at 4am But i am to old for that these days  About the only thing that gets better with age is that you get wiser

Steve

[Majestic]

Hi Steve
I thought only burglars  got up at that time
What time do start / finish work then ,
I start about 8 and finish 2 , ive had enough by then