For those customers who are too far to service.

BIG WOOD

MLPW
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
13,158
Location
Georgia
Name
Matt w.
My lightbulb in my head just clicked on! I had a customer about an hour away from my location call and want to schedule a carpet cleaning. Instead of the normal "I have a minimum of $350 for that location"
Normally they hang up with frustration after I say that, and they can't understand why I need that minimum, even though I tell them the distance.

But this time, I felt like I needed to tweak my response to those comments.

"Since that is out of my service location, I need a minimum of about 1200sq. ft of carpet to be cleaned". "And if it's under that amount, I can re-apply your carpet protectant, clean tile and grout, blablabla". Then the price is introduced in the conversation.

It's early and my mind is fresh on business.

2017 is gonna be a KILLER YEAR!!!!
 

PrimaDonna

Megatron
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
2,865
Location
NorthEast, USA
Name
MB
We have a $50 travel fee for more than hour away. Unless they spend $500 or more. Then we waive it. Or if they can round up a neighbor or two to schedule work on the same day, then we waive it.
 

BIG WOOD

MLPW
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
13,158
Location
Georgia
Name
Matt w.
We have a $50 travel fee for more than hour away. Unless they spend $500 or more. Then we waive it. Or if they can round up a neighbor or two to schedule work on the same day, then we waive it.
What's your chance of landing the job when you mention the added fee?
 

Cleanworks

Moderator
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
26,927
Location
New Westminster,BC
Name
Ron Marriott
My lightbulb in my head just clicked on! I had a customer about an hour away from my location call and want to schedule a carpet cleaning. Instead of the normal "I have a minimum of $350 for that location"
Normally they hang up with frustration after I say that, and they can't understand why I need that minimum, even though I tell them the distance.

But this time, I felt like I needed to tweak my response to those comments.

"Since that is out of my service location, I need a minimum of about 1200sq. ft of carpet to be cleaned". "And if it's under that amount, I can re-apply your carpet protectant, clean tile and grout, blablabla". Then the price is introduced in the conversation.

It's early and my mind is fresh on business.

2017 is gonna be a KILLER YEAR!!!!
Perceived value for the money.
 
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PrimaDonna

Megatron
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
2,865
Location
NorthEast, USA
Name
MB
What's your chance of landing the job when you mention the added fee?

I don't think we ever lost a job over it. Most of our business is referral....they want us and are willing to pay to have us. Most people are reasonable and realize if they are out of our service area and we can't service as many people on that day because of the travel, they are willing to pay. And frankly, our average job ticket is north of $700 so it's rare that we have to institute it. In the cases where it wasn't the $500 total, they didn't have an issue paying.
 

ID10t

Member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
69
Location
Canada
Name
Joe
I take the time to give them the number of a reputable carpet cleaning company in their area.

After of course offering other services to bridge the gap between the minimum and the work they need done.
 

Old Coastie

Supportive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
7,504
Location
Heart of Dixie
Name
Stephen
Matt, I routinely drive 90-ish miles to a job. I charge $45 travel. People understand that the "piggy" needs fuel to move 180 miles.

If you ever need a pinch hitter towards the west, I'll collaborate from Ooltewah to Chattanooga.
 
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ruff

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
11,010
Location
San Francisco, CA
Name
Ofer Kolton
We all know that Travel time does not really pay for your time, gas and the loss of work (you could have done) during that drive time. So in a way you are subsidizing that client.
So why refund if they exceed the minimum?

Unless I am not fully booked and trying to get the business, they pay travel time in addition to normal charges. No refund or waved fees. As it is, counting total hours per job, I am already making less $ per hour.
 
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
2,519
Location
Bay City, MI
Name
Bruce
You guys talk like you only have one job a day. When I have jobs that are one hour or more away , that job will be the second job of the day. I'll clean my way out to the farthest location and clean my way back. It never seems like it was a one hour drive because the first job got me half way there and the third and fourth jobs will be on my way back.
 

ruff

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
11,010
Location
San Francisco, CA
Name
Ofer Kolton
I have three or four jobs a day and travel time always takes away from profit.
Unless your clients are willing to wait a long time for you, or you live in a small town, organizing the schedule so perfectly is hard to do.
 

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