DEALING WITH COMPETITORS AND THEYR $2 PRICES!
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Business Marketing Advertising and Promotion Discussion
Forum Description: How do you successfully promote your business? Offer and receive advertising tips
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4286
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Topic: DEALING WITH COMPETITORS AND THEYR $2 PRICES!
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Subject: DEALING WITH COMPETITORS AND THEYR $2 PRICES!
Date Posted: 15/October/2007 at 11:03pm
HEY I HAVE A QUESTION, HERE IN MY ARE THE CARPET CLEANERS CHARGE 3 ROOMS FOR 45$,USING NON HEATED PORTABLES, AND DO PRETTY GOOD,PEOPLE HERE DONT KNOW A TRUCK MOUNT FROM A PORTABLE AND DONT CARE AS LONG AS THEY GET A CHEAP PRICE AND THEYR sh*t CARPET LOOKS AND SMELLS BETTER THAN IT DID BEFORE, NOW MY QUESTION IS HOW SHOULD I CHARGE USING MY TRUCK MOUNT AND NEWER MODEL VAN? OR EVEN CAN I CHARGE MORE WITH OUT LOSING CLIENTELE? ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Replies:
Posted By: Ream57
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 12:18am
Portables Rule!!!!!!!!  ------------- I got money in the bank, but E on the tank. |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 12:26am
Oh yeah  ------------- 
The STD Meter |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 12:29am
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Posted By: Ream57
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 12:41am
Nightrider your back....thought you pulled a Kenny on us for a second. Well nice to have ya back.  ------------- I got money in the bank, but E on the tank. |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 1:25am
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Hell, in some cases, i figure if you can't beat 'em join 'em. Just do a 15 minute power thru with the truck mount. I'd even tell them it will tak 15 minutes. If they are not happy, tell them to PAY MORE SUCKA! |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 8:42am
 YEA I LIKE THAT IDEA, I WAS THINKINING ALONG THOSE LINES LIKE ADVERTISING,20$ A ROOM, BASIC CARPET CLEANING,$10 A ROOM SCOTCHGUARD, AND HAVING A 3 ROOM FOR 50$ SPECIAL,AND MAYBE SOMHOW ADVERTISING THAT WE USE TRUCK MOUNTED UNITS,,,?? ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
newbie wrote:Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 8:45am
 ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 10:02pm
Try it and let us know how it works  -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 10:29pm
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Try saying "Call Today - Clean Today". And play to the rentals and "clean carpets sell houses" crowd which includes .... real estate agents looking to better the chances of a listing selling. Nobody (hardly anybody) cares if you use a truck mount or black magic. They are concerned about you meeting their needs. The family selling a house could care less if you use the best chemicals and equipment for their carpet. They expect it to LOOK clean enough to sell for lots of money. Price sells and watch the price wars start with manufacturers trying to get their slice of the pie that makes up carpet cleaners. I use cleaning chemicals that I pay less than $10 /gallon for and then semi-neutralize the effect with a cheap rinse. I'm cleaning carpet, not caring for the flooring at Buckingham. My customers are neither royal nor a royal pain in the a**, just common folks with an easy to meet expectation - make carpet look clean. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: Ream57
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 11:12pm
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Duckcountry, How do you get the realestate agents, do you just call them and throw them a pitch over the phone or do you go to a realestate company? What is your pitch for these guys?? ------------- I got money in the bank, but E on the tank. |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 11:37pm
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Avoid the cheaper than the other guy attitude. prove on each job that you are worth what you charge. and over time get those rates up there. I currently get 25 cents ( 30cents for rotovac 360) others in my area are considerably less at times . It doesn't bother me at all . but I have been at it for 25 years. I have all the work that I want.
Just prove by your actions not your words that you are worth every penny they are paying and " they " ( your customers ) will help your business grow. It worked for me. If your not losing a customer on price once in a while you need to raise your prices! IMO |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 11:51pm
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Print up fliers, go to the real estate office and let the receptionist know who you are and that you would like to put your fliers in the agents boxes. Be polite, neat and presentable. She will point the boxes out to you. Don't worry, lenders, escrow, title and others are in there on a regular basis doing the same thing. Focus on the largest offices. Small, non-productive offices are a waste of time. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 11:54pm
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Whatever price it takes to get the job, you either do it for that price or let your competition eat well from the money you could have had. Even 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: Ream57
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 12:10pm
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Duck, do you get a good response from dropping flyers off in their boxes vs. calling them directly? Have you ever tried calling them directly and pitching them? ------------- I got money in the bank, but E on the tank. |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 2:02pm
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Ream, They do not have time to talk and may not give you any business because of it. If one gives you a lead or has one of their buyers/sellers call you , be sure to drop by, see the agent and PERSONALLY present him/her with a Thank You gift (preferably flowers or something like that which will look good on their desk and have other agents asking who-what-why. Fliers are perfect. Specify these are WHOLESALE prices and make it a price list. Be prepared to do the job at the drop of a hat. Empty houses try to do in the evening if the agent has the key and you can drop it off the next morning. You may need to invoice them. I would for the ones who are repeat agents that pay within terms (say net 14). ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: Ream57
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 2:56pm
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and do you offer them a percentage/fee for each job they get you or do you just keep showering them with gifts and thank you's? ------------- I got money in the bank, but E on the tank. |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 3:38pm
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If you keep showering them the sentiment of the gifts becomes a sour pill to swallow and makes it look you are a whore for the business rather than appreciative for the referrals. Just dropping by with a heart felt thank you should be normal in the course of working with the agents. Using common sense will guide you in what and how often to give. No to percentages or fees. They make way more than you do on a single sale at 3% of the homes selling price. I would do the fliers ever 2 to 4 weeks with a different message each time.
------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 3:57pm
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Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 4:59pm
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ask them if they want teflon on that bullet, Louie?
------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 17/October/2007 at 10:47pm
 ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |