Carpet Cleaners Hangout - why worry about other cleaners prices

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why worry about other cleaners prices

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Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Carpet Cleaners Hangout
Forum Description: General discussion on anything related to carpet cleaning
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1190
Printed Date: 24/February/2025 at 12:45pm
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Topic: why worry about other cleaners prices

Posted By: Rick/Magic
Subject: why worry about other cleaners prices
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 10:23am

I keep reading about some of you knocking what the other charges...that is his business...I don't let others set my prices...I say I know what my work is worth...and they know what theirs is worth...I don't want the customer who is looking for a bargan...let him go to the low ballers and bait and switchers...

It seems to me that most of you miss the point on turning customers into clients...again, it's better to KEEP a customer who knows you and your work than it is to get a new one by offering a cheaper price...sure if you offer a "bargan" price in a ad of flyer, you will more than likely get a bunch of "bargan" jobs from it...providing your "bargan" price is cheaper than the other "bargan" prices...and you will find yourself cleaning all of those "bargan" customers and you will not have any time for anything else...what would you rather do...clean 2 houses for $200 each...or 4 houses for $100 each...

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25 years of cleaning carpet
and my back hurts

Replies:

Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 10:42am

no offense but it seems that you are the one missing the point.

We were trying to get someone to RAISE their price not lower it.

doesn't matter to me personally,I know I pay very little attention to what others are charging in my area,I just set my prices to where I feel I can make a decent profit and achieve my per hr. goal

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A.K.A.
Andy

Posted By: Zero KELVIN
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 11:13am

Earl was in DENIAL

It was an intervention

since he is such a nice guy we tryed to help

Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 12:30pm

Okay if you say so Kel...

I'm sorry to say guys, you have to look at whats going on in the market place. Your prices can be way over and above the competition. Especially if the comp has a better name than you.

Actually in my area I'm competing with myself... I have worked in this area for the past 5 years.... I'm the most requested and most refereed cleaner in my area, I have helped build a monster for someone else.

I'm not in the least bit worried. I don't think any of you understand what goes on in my area, and I don't think I can post it so you'll understand either.

Exposure is the key... and cash flow is what I'm looking for..

you can sit waiting for your phone to ring... or you can make it ring

once they get a taste of my service and work...I'll have no problems doing what ever with my price.

lets move along

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www.mr-steamer.com

Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 11:18pm

Rick/ Magic..... I couldn't have said it better.
Steamer I sense you are a good cleaner but at your first available
opportunity start raising your prices every 6 months or so by more than
you think you should. You will be surprised by how few people really
bitch about it and the ones that do are the type you are trying to weed
out eventually.

I know you are probably saying I don't want to ever weed anyone out.

Well the reality is if you want to Grow a " Better " business, one you can
retire from someday, your going to have to give yourself a raise and the
only ones that can afford your raise are the customer on the next levels
up. Not the bargain shoppers.

IMHO after 23 years.

Posted By: Suction
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 11:42pm

dan.... I don't agree

you can not discriminate, you have to clean then all big or small

Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 07/March/2005 at 11:53pm

you mean that Suction???

why not weed out the cheapo's??

I mean keep em if you can but if you feel the need to ask more money to make a decent profit................aren't you going to lose some cheapo's??

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A.K.A.
Andy

Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 12:32am

If Cheapo can't afford to drive a Buick or a Cadillac he or she will have to
settle for something else.

The Car dealer is not discriminating by selling a Cadillac at a higher price
that is his prerogative.

I'm not saying I will not clean for certain people I am saying
" this is what it cost to clean your 200 square foot living room " . If he or
she can't afford it . That is by no means discrimination, it's life .

As you raise your prices you will lose some customers so be it . I don't
know if I could afford myself sometimes but so be it,. If you want to run a
solid business you need solid clientele IMHO

Posted By: greg
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 6:14am

i know a guy who raised his prices. he stuck to his guns and would not give deals of any kind. by the end of the year he had done 30% less work BUT made 20% more than the year before.

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nothing is impossable. it just hasn't been done yet.

Posted By: Rick/Magic
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 7:28am

Suction...you said "you can not discriminate, you HAVE to clean them all big or small"....what's the name of your company anyway.."the peoples soviet carpet cleaners"...I don't know about you, but I have the right to clean for whoever I choose...for whatever price I choose...we call it a free market...you should try it...oh!!...that's right...you are the ONLY one here who knows anything about carpet cleaning or running a business...oops, my bad...

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25 years of cleaning carpet
and my back hurts

Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 7:34pm

When you do subbing.. you do it all... and the owners don't care.. They want the big smal they want it all...

I've cleaned a lot of sh*t carpets, for someone else... doesn't bother me

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www.mr-steamer.com

Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 8:02pm

oh but you only want to clean the CLEAN carpets Steamer

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A.K.A.
Andy

Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 08/March/2005 at 11:37pm

Yes this is true... so you educate the customers.... plant that seed..

That "don't wait until it gets dirty" seed

The winter drying time seed works well too... I've seen an increase in jobs this year

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www.mr-steamer.com