I hate it
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Upholstery & Fine Fabrics Cleaning
Forum Description: Discuss anything relating to Upholstery Cleaning
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=442
Printed Date: 25/November/2024 at 10:59am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I hate it
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Subject: I hate it
Date Posted: 08/June/2004 at 6:32pm
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Does anyone other than me just hate cleaning upholstery, no wonder everyone charges more...... sofa/loveseat/chair could take 1 to 1 1/2 hours.. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make upholstery cleaning faster?? |
Replies:
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 08/June/2004 at 9:52pm
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[QUOTE=MR. STEAMER]
sofa/loveseat/chair could take 1 to 1 1/2 hours.. It could take 2 1/2 hrs. We charge by the lf. for upholstery Does anyone have any ideas on how to make upholstery cleaning faster?? Mr. Steamer: Have you never seen the Woolite commerical? Just put it in the sink.  ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 08/June/2004 at 10:03pm
Only if life was so easy....what would you do doug??? you'd have no more job
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 08/June/2004 at 10:15pm
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Mr. Steamer: After this long I guess I would just commit myself and live happily ever after. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 08/June/2004 at 11:21pm
| who likes to work anyways... |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 09/June/2004 at 4:20pm
| would you drive out of your way to do furniture??? |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 09/June/2004 at 4:52pm
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Mr. Steamer: How big are the houses you clean that you have to drive to the next room to clean upholstery. Mr. Steamer: It is all money. It is just upholstery is time consuming. what can I say? You have to do what you have to do. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 10/June/2004 at 6:06am
| I mean doug...would you drive to toronto , todo a sofa/loveseat/chair all the way from your one horse town...?? |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 10/June/2004 at 6:33pm
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Mr. Steamer: We don't gallop more than 30 from home at anytime. We used to run everywhere but I cut it back. Sure it probably hurt in the short run but you have to do what you have to do. My trucks make money when the wand is going back and forth not when the technician is rideng with A/C and radio on. After I considered wages, gas and wear and tear I think I am probably just as far ahead. The same holds through for my restoratiion no more than 30 miles and sometimes I won't even go that far. I have Sears and other companies here on a daily bases from 60 to 75 miles away. Maybe they like the secenery, after all it is very nice here at the lake in the summer. What happens is all of a sudden they don't have enough calls they don't show or if they do they are lucky to pay for their gas. I find their market is the do it yourselfers and very little upsell because they are only being hired for the specials. I kinda know, it is a one horse town. Don' you know. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 10/June/2004 at 11:31pm
| They run sub doug..... The poor sub pays the Piper |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 11/June/2004 at 7:31am
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Mr. steamer: Do the subs have any say where they are sent?? Or is it do as we say not as we do?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 11/June/2004 at 11:47pm
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They can say no...but tommorrow will be a sh*tty day....It's ok for a sub to loose money on a call....big names don't like to look at call to call monies...they look at the day of calls so you lost on that call, but you made on the other 4 didn't ya.. I'm Mr. Steamer... they don't do that foolishness with me.. I must make money on every call.... I rather give the call for free than I loose a lone..lol |
Posted By: Rick/Magic
Date Posted: 17/February/2005 at 5:07pm
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Mr steamer, I hate upholstery cleaning too...but I like the money I can make cleaning it...but I usually wait for the client to ask for it...I don't push it ------------- 25 years of cleaning carpet and my back hurts |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 17/February/2005 at 5:10pm
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To clean upholstery you have to drop the carpet cleaning mentality. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 17/February/2005 at 6:24pm
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it divides the men from the rats ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 17/February/2005 at 8:37pm
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I sell my customers new ones, then I take the old ones and clean them at home when I have time and then sell them nightrider |
Posted By: Adwa
Date Posted: 17/February/2005 at 8:50pm
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I have a customer that does high end homes. He says that he never cleans in front of the customers because their furniture is never really dirty. He would run a chemical sponge over the furniture taking his time to spruce it up and charge $450.00. The furniture looks great, the cleaner looks great and the customer is happy. That's his story and he has been working successfully like that for years. ------------- The Following Statements do not Necessarily Reflect the Views of this Forum Network http://www.kleenkuip.com - http://www.kleenkuip.com |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 12:17am
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so he rips them off in other words... thats horibble ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: surroundings
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 12:23am
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Upholstery cleaning is too much like real work... that is IF you're gonna do it properly. I found that $38 per seating position ($3 extra for reversable cushions if I feel like it, and $8 extra for pleats if I feel like it, and $12 extra for a pleated fringe across the bottom of a 3-seater... IF I feel I can get it....) is a good price comporomise between GETTING the job or just QUOTING on it. Makes it worth my while almost. Same with car interiors. Everything comes out easily, but getting every surface takes much time. $85 minimum charge for a 4-door hatch-back. Dog owner? Much more. Carpet/upholstery protection extra Cheers, Allen |
Posted By: surroundings
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 12:27am
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above costs in Australian $$$. your milage may vary. Cheers, Allen |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 7:22am
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$25.00 any couch any material. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 11:02am
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thats it doug 25 bucks really???? no way... cheap even for my blood??? I can clean two whole houses before I get a 3 piece done ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 11:05am
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That is for the estimate. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: surroundings
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 3:21pm
Good thinking. Cheers, Allen |
doug wrote:Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 3:38pm
What the hell are you cleaning Doll Houses? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 4:43pm
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isn't it wonderful in the GTA... I also take time with furniture... vac first.. clean and then vac again... sometimes I'll bring in the air mover to dry them as I'm cleaning ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 4:47pm
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I guess you get the award for the tallest tale?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 4:49pm
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callin me a lyer...?????? you can't play with furniture... if it has buttons you have to get the crap dry and fast... air mover I'll take the award if it's money and it's from you... can I get your visa card number please ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/February/2005 at 4:50pm
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I would never call you a liar?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:24pm
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a tale teller is the same thing... fiction ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:30pm
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Mr. Steamer: My price for a standard 7' 3 cushion couch starts a@ $75. Most get done for that. But there are exceptions. Sectionals start @$125. The thing that really pisses me off is I was getting $60. for that same couch over fifteen years ago. The same ones were advertising $60. for a couch and chair that advertise that price today. They were liars then and they are liars today. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:38pm
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This business is under rated... the prices go down year after year ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:51pm
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We just don't do as much as we used to. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:58pm
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A true business man has to know when to walk from a call... If you give 1 person a deal... they tell 50 of there close friends... and you'll have a hell of a time selling anything at the right price ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Ed Valentine
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 2:58pm
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I agree with Steamer in a big way on this issue. Personally, I hated doing upholstery because the pricing was too low for the effort. However, if I were to do it all over again (today) I would just set my price and go for it. If I was too high on a bid, let the other guy slave away.
Good Fortune to all; Ed valentine cross-american corp. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 5:32pm
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Like I said we do less. If we can't get our price we don't clean it. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 21/February/2005 at 6:32pm
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Furniture is easy to charge a lot for... because most cleaners hate doing it ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 12:42am
| Sofa=$60=20min. I don't mind. That's after i do the whole house... Chair=$35=10min.... no prob. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 9:33am
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oh yeah how bout a sofa whit loose backs throws with buttons and cherry wood stained framing and it's dirty... and after you finish that you got the love seat and chair to do.... then she got a set in the family room... white crushed velvet also with buttons... she wants to know if it'll still feel soft??? and it's dirty I found most people only clean white furnitures...lol my back my back
------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 4:12pm
| Time to RETIRE!! |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 4:47pm
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What the hell are you cleaning with a carpet wand?? It must be a 5' couch? and a diningroom chair with no arms?????????????? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 6:51pm
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They call him Johnny Magic ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 6:56pm
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Hi guys I am a new member, I am following this forum for about 1 month now. Finally I decided to join the forum. I did carpet cleaning for over 10 years for my business, now days I am still doing it part-time. I would like to get back to it full time.
Any who, cleaning couches takes me 1.5 to 2.5 hours, if I don't wash it over and over, customers doesn't get satisfied, so I can get more referals. It drys between 5-10 hrs depending on the weather. I charge them any where from $50 to 100 depending on the couch set. I don't give them any savings cause I don't negotiate, the way it works with me is that if the customer refers me a friend then he/she gets one time only discount. I mean when I first started this business, I told a low price for one customer and then she referred her friends and I had to clean for the same low price for the others. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 7:04pm
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Galatasaray: If you have been lurking here for about a month than you have probably realized that I am the only sain one on this board. All the rest are under some sort of medication and most of the are in counselling for one dependencey or another so be careful. What ever you do don't tell anyone else. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 9:37pm
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Doug, just using an upholstery tool. I've done so many pieces of upholstery in the last 20yrs that the average sofa 6' takes 20min. chair 10. Some could take longer depending on soil load, BUT this is the average. |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 10:11pm
John just to let you know, If I was cleaning couches for 100 years it will still take me 1.5 to 2.5 hrs. I don't rush on my job, seems to me you are rushing. Come on man, by the time you set up the machine and put water in it takes about 5 to 10 min plus you have to spay the couches with detergent and probably brush it if it has filt and stains most likely. 20min is just a preparation for me. |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 10:12pm
Yeah I can see that doug, nightrider is the weird one here |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 10:26pm
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20min. lightly soiled average. Heavily soiled around 1hr tops. prevac,prespray,dwell,aggitate in bad areas, extract. I have it down pat. Not rushing anything. EXPERT UPHOLSTERY CLEANER. Some cleaners are better and faster than others. Galatasaray, from your profile your a beginner. When you learn more tricks of the trade then you will understand what i am saying. Or maybe your using the wrong cleaning chems!! |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 11:33pm
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everyone works different.... ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/February/2005 at 11:40pm
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Exactly Mr.Steamer, but it looks like some disagree with my posts but hey that's O.K. opinions vary also. JL Beat to all, |
Posted By: surroundings
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 5:41am
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Galatasaray... As long as you charge for your time, and do the job you charge for... it's all good... Cheers, Allen |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 8:33pm
Well I am no beginner, I am doing carpet cleaning for over 10 years now. But really man if you can satisfy customers in 20 minutes thats great, I wish I can do that but I can't, if I finish a couch set in 20 minutes, it feels that I have rushed things and I don't deserve the pay, thats how I am. I remember once I was in a rush and I finished cleaning it in an hour and I felt that I didn't deserve the $60 and I asked her for $50. Thats how I am built. |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 8:35pm
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Yeah man, I can charge them like up to $100 if I spend my 2-3 hours cleaning it. |
Posted By: Adwa
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 9:42pm
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Galatasaray if you did a good job in that hour then take the money, you worked hard for it and if the customer was happy that's all that matters. Then again if you took less then what you quoted you might just get a call back. ------------- The Following Statements do not Necessarily Reflect the Views of this Forum Network http://www.kleenkuip.com - http://www.kleenkuip.com |
Posted By: Galatasaray
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 9:50pm
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Agreed, but that day I felt guilty, then I felt stupid and banged my head couple of times |
Posted By: Adwa
Date Posted: 24/February/2005 at 9:56pm
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Lesson learned especially when you were $9.95 short at the grocery store that day. ------------- The Following Statements do not Necessarily Reflect the Views of this Forum Network http://www.kleenkuip.com - http://www.kleenkuip.com |
Posted By: cleencarpet
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 7:20pm
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Hello All,
I hate cleaning upholstery with a pation never liked it never will it takes me almost 2 hours to do a couch and chair BUT (and thats a big but) it all pays the bills. carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning go hand in hand if my clint wants there furniture done also and i say "sorry i dont do that" next time they will find someone else that will do both. alot of times the client has to take off work or get off work early to be at home so you can do your service, wich means they are not only paying you for your time bt they are loosing money for missing work or other things they would normally be doing in there daily life. i charge $15 a LF it works out pretty good i get paid good for the time it takes to do the job plus i have a happy client that is going to call me back again and refer me to others wich is nice because i give referal discounts. the company i sub for charges $20 a LF. so you see it may be time consuming and your hand and rist may get a little sore but you really bennifit in the long run. would you want to take your car in for a oil change and the guy says ya we can change your oil but we dont change the filter because its a hassle to stock all the diffrent filters i bet next time you would go somewhere that does both Chris |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 12:03am
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You have alot of good points. But the person that says that he does
couches in 20 minutes average is pushing it. Don't get me wrong I believe him that he is averaging 20 minutes but a thorough job allowing 10-15 minutes dwell time and covering every inch top bottom and sides is almost physically impossible to do quality work in 20 minutes. IMHO after years in this business I can't say I like upholstery any more than day ONE , but I still try to get my 75.00 per hr. and just do it. The internal spray tool is probably the best thing that has come along to help ease the pain , a little. |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 2:17am
I seem to have more upholstery work in the winter. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't.  
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Posted By: Lisa Smith
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 5:42am
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The HiDry tool make doing uph. much friendlier to me. I use the 6" external jet detailer with a hole glide for the backs and sides. Helps with speed and drying. Or I speed clean synthetic uph with a right angle 7" polisher/grinder, 8" syntetic bonnets, and Xerion....do a couch in less than 15 minutes and it looks GREAT! http://www.XerionSolutions.com - www.XerionSolutions.com that is an awesome bonnet cleaner. No residue, neutral ph, citrus based, crystallizing...and cleans like no one's business! ...and no, I don't sell it. Take care, Lisa |
Posted By: Abettercc
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 3:06am
| I don't hate cleaning upholstery, and here's why...I generally make $100+ per hour and my clients are happy with my work. First, you do need to be efficient and skilled, then your pricing must reflect the cost of doing business. It should take you 1-11/2 hours to clean a sofa, loveseat and chair. While you can shave off a few minutes on the sides and back, the only way to get a whole lot faster is to reduce the quality of the job. So, either offer a lower quality service and deal with the complaints, or charge more. Depending on fabric content and construction, a skilled uph. cleaner should be getting around $13 to $17 a linear foot. Yeah, there are plenty of guys where I am that say they'll do a sofa, loveseat and chair for $60 bucks or whatever...who cares...charge what you need to to make a healthy profit, offer your clients an excellent service - and you'll begin to enjoy cleaning the stuff too. Good luck! By the way, yes, occasionally on a synthetic, lightly soiled, no loose back cushion (herculon type) sofa one can get good results in 20-30 minutes cleaning time with no wasted motions, but after specializing in uph cleaning for 21 years...I agree, it is pushing the time thing a bit, cause while you may be covering every square inch of fabric, the amount of soil extracted is reduced as the speed of the tool is increased. Thats just plain physics. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 8:33am
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@ $17.00 per lf Standard 7' couch 7 X $17.00 = $119.00 Standard love seat 5 X $17.00=$ 85.00 Standard chair 2.5 X $17.50=$ 42.50 Total $246.50 divided by1.5 =$164.33 per hour. This sound like a story for the red board. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 9:35am
| Nice prices doug. Too much comp in my area for them high prices. You would starve here. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 9:52am
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John: these are not my prices. I clould only wish. I was using the numbers from Abettercc's post above. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 11:23am
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58.95 for a couch
46.95 for loveseat 30.00 recliner Haven't changed these prices for probably 10 years but some think it's too high . So I say well it's your decision, but we do clean 100% of the fabric and it is time consuming to do quality work. At these rates I am below my 75.00 per hour goal so I really don't care to push upholstery unless the consumer is willing to pay the price. I doubt if they get a competitor to come in behind me to save a dollar. They just don't have them done. IMO |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 11:35am
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It's the same as cleaning cars. I am very capable of cleaning a car but I tell
people we do not do automotive. Why , because I'm to fussy and meticulous. My first real job in high school was auto detail. and I learned from a very picky person. So I can not in good conscience clean a car interior in less than 3 hours. ( vinyl, carpets, seats dash etc. with every inch detailing ready for the car lot. ) so 3 hours times 75.00 per hour is too much money for almost everyone I wouldn't pay myself that kind of money . So If you can't make money at it don't offer it as a service. IMO |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 4:33pm
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Dan: We tell people to take their cars to the car detailing places. But when we do a auto we do carpets and seats only useally if is a clients car. We have gone to car lots $75 to $100 takes about 1/2 and hr. per car. We do more airplanes, boats and rv's cars are a waste of time. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 8:14pm
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I agree.....
Now what, Doug and I are starting to agree on things. Look out ..... I do take on a motor home floor (only for good customers) once in awhile Do you ever do partials on upholstery ? Just the arms etc. I had a hard time training my customers that we can't do partials on upholstery. ( ran into to many blending problems, and were do you stop? and what to charge?? 99.99 % of the time I will not do partials on upholstery. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 02/April/2005 at 8:39pm
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Dan: I am not sure if thet is a good thing for you. Don't be lured to the dark side. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 03/April/2005 at 12:32am
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lured to the dark side.
Sounds like a good Movie! |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 03/April/2005 at 10:28am
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Healthy debate is always fun!!! ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: Superglide Ken
Date Posted: 28/May/2005 at 11:46am
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Always ------------- Inventor of the Teflon Wand Glide and the Turboteck Rotary Air Duct Cleaners for TMs. |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 14/September/2007 at 4:04am
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I don't do upholstery !
I get about 1 call every 2 months for it!
It's not worth my time! ( Of which I have very little to spare!)
Much more profitable doing tile & grout!
 Cheers!  ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 14/September/2007 at 5:07pm
| Agree, I have since raised my price to 80.00 on a 3 cushion couch, 65.00 on a loveseat and 40.00 on a recliner. If I don't see any upholstery cleaning at those prices so be it. We are busy with carpet. |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 14/September/2007 at 6:54pm
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Right on http://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=30&FID=22 - danmarck82 ! ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 14/September/2007 at 9:58pm
dan.. You probably wont at those prices.. Too high.. A retired cleaner of 8yrs ago i know who now owns a candy store said my $50 for a sofa was robbery..!! 
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Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 14/September/2007 at 11:23pm
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We charge $60 for a sofa. Too high for some, not enough for others ------------- 
The STD Meter |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 15/September/2007 at 10:13am
| What does a retired cleaner of eight years ago have anything to say about your profit and loss statement? He is not paying your bills or doing the work or taking the risk if something goes wrong. A person should make no less cleaning upholstery than carpet, IMO |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 15/September/2007 at 10:54am
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R I G H T ! |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 16/September/2007 at 3:26pm
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be like the bait and switch guys couch and chair $50.00 loose cushions $10.00 ea. arm covers 10.00 ea and so on. Yet people love it that way go in cheap leave with the wallet?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/September/2007 at 8:01pm
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I don't want their wallet, just what's in it -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 16/September/2007 at 9:20pm
Whats in your wallet? 
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Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/September/2007 at 9:38pm
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Capital None -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: cleanaz
Date Posted: 19/September/2007 at 3:21am
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What the hell is going on with you people? I keep hearing "you won't get that kind of money in my part of town". Are you all starting to believe your clients and competitors when they say you are not worth it? Charge what you believe you are worth, not what your competitors charge! I don't give a crap if a new client calls me and says they got a quote from someone cheaper, I tell them good luck and have a nice day.
Upholstery is time consuming, and a pain in the back. If my client want's to pay my prices, I'll do it. If not, they can call someone else, and if they do call someone else I don't want that client anyway. I put everything I've got into my work, if they can't respect that and be loyal to me then they can piss off. Don't get me wrong, I don't charge out of this world prices for upholstery either, but I definitely don't charge $60 for a couch. My going rate for a simple couch is around $105.00
Seriously guys, get over yourselves. You are your worst enemy, not the competition. I started cleaning nine years ago with the same "I can't charge that much" mentallity, and have since TRIPLED my prices and still get plenty of work. If you can't get what you want to charge there is two reasons for this, either you suck or you need to change your client base.
20 minutes to clean a couch? Yeah, when I'm high on crack. ------------- http://www.larsonscarpetcare.com - carpet cleaning, tile cleaning, phoenix, mesa, chandler, gilbert |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 19/September/2007 at 11:01am
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I hear what your saying cleanaz.. Man.. 2 months ago i raised my min.tripcharge.. 3rms=$99.. Sure.. Its not that much but still some will say.. OH.. let me call you back.. and you never hear from them again..
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Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 19/September/2007 at 3:37pm
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What cleanaz is saying is that you should look for clients and not customers.
Clients look at you as a consultant who will answer and solve their problems and be there for them and they are also willing to pay and accept the fact that you are higher in price. It enables them to add that little extra prestige to their life. It's like someone referring to their lawyer or accountant.
Customers are often one shot complaning consumers who feel everyone is ripping them off and charging them too much. So, think and act and train yourself as a consultant and watch your life change for the better in all departments.
A-men.  ------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 19/September/2007 at 3:47pm
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Everyone has a simple problem. Everyone can't make the same money for the same work. Some can get without questions a $100.00 for sofa while in another the top price maybe be $60.00. You can only get what the market will bare in you particular area. I don't give a sh*t what all the instructors or who ever says it is just BS? different areas different coin? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 19/September/2007 at 5:13pm
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I agree with Doug. Charge whatever you think the market will bear -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: cleanaz
Date Posted: 20/September/2007 at 2:52am
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If I did that I would go bankrupt very quickly. I hear what you're saying about different regions being able to charge more/less. I'm in a low cost area and still charge a hell of a lot more than "what the market will bear". It's still not enough and I will continue to raise prices as I change my client base through the years. My business is always transforming into something better, with better clients who appreciate (with money) my efforts. In my area, you can hire an illegal alien to do the work for half the price, so why am I still in business? Because I am a skilled professional, not a "cleaner". ------------- http://www.larsonscarpetcare.com - carpet cleaning, tile cleaning, phoenix, mesa, chandler, gilbert |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 20/September/2007 at 8:37pm
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illegal alien >>
http://imageshack.us">
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Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 20/September/2007 at 11:19pm
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Hey......that's my crew chief -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 21/September/2007 at 9:35pm
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Maybe he's the Glide inventer! ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 21/September/2007 at 10:48pm
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Yeah. Glides came from outer space -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 21/September/2007 at 11:54pm
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Maybe that's where Ken's Glide's are ending up!? "outer space" That's why nobody gets them! ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 23/September/2007 at 1:53am
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I think I believe that -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: Fiber-Dry
Date Posted: 09/October/2007 at 9:06pm
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Cleaning upholstery is somewhat time consuming if your going to do a quality job. Most people will pay more for the better service and those are the ones you should tailor your market to. Regardless how you feel about consumers perception but not everyone is looking for cheap. They are interested in a quality job with competitive pricing. ------------- Angelo Darin |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 9:49am
 ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: ChemicallyFried
Date Posted: 13/December/2007 at 10:11pm
On a happy note my wife pulls out a turbo dryer and puts it on me when I do a couch. Goss I love that woman. It cools me down after hustling through a 3000 square foot home. I hook up a cheap light weight upholstery tool and cruise on to happiness (45 minutes on a couch cruising along hitting every pad completely). PS I do use a stair tool on the big flat areas of a sofa from time to time. It cuts down  on my work time. ------------- I can remove more spots than you can. |
Posted By: h8z2luze
Date Posted: 09/April/2008 at 11:39pm
I donno about you but unless you have a valve on your solution line wouldn't you have to shut down the machine to switch tools? That would take longer I would think. |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 09/April/2008 at 11:51pm
| Everyone should have a valve at the end of your solution line..... Why wouldn't you????? |