[The Bear]

We do every 4 or 8 weeks.

8 weekly cleans cost 25% more than 4 weekly cleans.

We also do a 'call out' service where the customer phones when they want their windows done and for that we charge twice the four weekly rate and we will fit them in at the soonest possible time usually within a week.

We find the above works well and the 'callout service' keeps thing interesting.

We had some days where we've worked from morning to night as a result but I love window cleaning anyway and the hard work is great. Not forgetting the financial reward of course.

Cheers

Ross

What a great idea.

Any more ideas.

How about we all agree on a standard, ok so the base price will change depending on area but if we had an agreed rate in % for inside etc, we could tell customers its the national recommended price.

Comments please

[The Bear]

This is in our best interest

Pleae reply, my wife is on the phone, i'm bored.

[Mike_G]

You will always get someone who undercuts just to get the work, it's a pity but that how it is i'm afraid.

[rosskesava]

Hi Mike G

You will always get someone who undercuts just to get the work, it's a pity but that how it is i'm afraid

How true that is.

We've never ever worried about that and anyway, it's hardly made a bit of difference to our business. We've lost a few jobs to cheaper window cleaners but there will always be those who will pay for proper service and quality.

I guess it's the same for most industries and professions.

Hi The Bear

I think a national price would be in no ones interests. I may be wrong. Also it would be a hard thing to calculate from a fomula to work out the price.

We clean to a very high standard and if a set price happened then we would get paid the same as someone who didn't do windows to the same standard so our standard would end up coming down.

Personnaly, I am happy we charge more. Most window cleaners charge less than us but lately, the jobs we've got at fairly high prices are really good jobs and we enjoy doing them.

I also know about the missus and the phone boredom thing. Definately I know about that.

cheers

[The Bear]

Hi Ross

i dont men a national price, but rather a standard for the extras in terms of % of the base price. I think your method would work whaatever the base rate is.

The Bear

[Marc's on the Glass, LLC]

Sounds too corporate to me.  That's why I started window cleaning, to work for myself with no direction or appointment by anyone else.

I always disliked the environment where some bloke with half my skill and ability could make the same money as I on a similar job.

Ross, I agree on all counts.  If someone wants to make what we do on windows, they have to put in the blood, sweat and tears too.  OK.  That may be a bit melodramatic, but trade skill and price usually go hand in hand.

[The Bear]

Thanks for entering into the spirit of this forum

The whole purpose is to help others who need it.

To put every one right, I dont need any direction, having been a window cleaner for 20 years i've done it all. I am simply trying to help those who dont yet have the experience.

if you have nothing constructive to say, keep it to yourself

[rosskesava]

Hi The Bear

Sorry - I miss read your posting.

I think that possibly some type of national system of charges for extra work based on the charges for an outside clean may be worth while except that someone will always undercut it.

Having said that, when a customer asks about cleaning the inside windows I often say that 'it is generally accepted that it is XXXXXXXX the cost of cleaning the outsides'. I use that for some customers because I am using an authority that is not there by way of 'it is generally accepted'. The 'it is generally accepted' is the authority and not me. I've found some customers accept that better than saying 'we charge' ect etc.

For other customers who ask about extra work I pretend to be not sure and then I walk back to the work vehicle and get a pre printed list of charges for this and that and then go down it (in front of the customer) untill I find the cost relevant to what they want and then simply state that the cost for whatever will be this or that based on the bit of paper I'm holding. Then, the bit of paper becomes the authority and not me.

I've found that with most customers one of those two ways makes saying the charge you want them to pay is easier than just saying 'that will be £15 extra'.

Not quite the same as a national list of charges for extra but in some way, similar. It is a hidden authority that customers don't tend to argue about.

If that makes sense.

Cheers

Ross

[The Bear]

Good idea Ross, this may help many who are worry about charging high prices.

Take the authority away from yourself and it becomes easier.