As a supplier I probably see things from a differnet slant. Everyone wants to save money. But just like carpet cleaners service a huge swathe of different customers, we do likewise. I tend to attract the top end of the market in the local area, don't know why or how but thats the way it seems. I do get some low cost cleaners in but not many.
We also operate a flood restoration business as well as a couple of other things. I personally have always bought the best equipment available to enable us to carry out the work efficiently and effectively. I soon learnt that you couldn't dry buildings out effectively with little domestic Ebacs so I invested £30,000 in Drieaz and Coroventa drying equipment. This was money well spent and the investment has been paid back many times over.
What I find is the cleaners who I would say are making the most money just want good kit and products which are going to do the job for them, regardless of the cost. Thats not to say they just go and spend money for the sake of it but they tend to spend that bit more for a good product and service.
At the other end of the scale there are cleaners who shouldn't really be in business and are accidents waiting to happen. They skimp on maintenance, buy cheap gear, usually second hand which is virtually knackered and use a very limited range of chemicals, usually one product for everything.
Personally I don't think any products are overpriced, some are more expensive than others but when you consider the return you can make on a carpet cleaning machine, if you do it right! it is buttons.
PS Prochem spent $10 million dollars developing ONE cleaning chemical.