Over zealous protector sales..

Mikey P

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You sit through the guru seminar..

Buy the demonstration kit

Convince yourself that protector is beneficial for every and all

Perfect your enthusiastic kitchen sink sales pitch

Start nailing 60% of your jobs



Then notice a few years later that you either lost many of those 60 or they put the kybosh on future applications after they don't see the amazing benefits... and the trust factor has been damaged so your next life changing add on service gets ignored, or worse...
 

Cleanworks

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You sit through the guru seminar..

Buy the demonstration kit

Convince yourself that protector is beneficial for every and all

Perfect your enthusiastic kitchen sink sales pitch

Start nailing 60% of your jobs



Then notice a few years later that you either lost many of those 60 or they put the kybosh on future applications after they don't see the amazing benefits... and the trust factor has been damaged so your next life changing add on service gets ignored, or worse...
Becoming disillusioned with FPA?
 

Trip Moses

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Trip Moses
I’ve seen what you’re referring to on fb. The arrogance gets a little thick. Can’t knock the effort being made but it seems like an exhausting process to keep explaining to customers why they “need” the protector. I agree that people won’t usually choose to get reamed a second time from the same salesman.
 
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Cleanworks

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I've never done the dog and pony show. I don't sell enough protector but I should. Using the right products and applied properly, it is a benefit to the customer. I recently cleaned a sofa and protected it for and additional $100. Used Maxim water based fine fabric protector. Good product which I have tested in the shop. She has 2 kids, a great dane and a sloppy husband. The protector will help her immensely and it's a little more money in my pocket. She asked me if I had something to spray on. Sometimes, you don't just have to sell it. Just ask the customer if they want it. If 10% of your customers say yes, that makes it worth while to carry. I probably have a bit of a phobia left over from the first companies I worked for, which were bait and switch, you had to sell protector just to keep your job. I stopped spraying solvent products in the customers home. Most are toxic and stayed suspended in the air for quite some time. Since I found the Maxim product, I have started selling a little more on upholstery. Test it for yourself and see if it's something you would like to have on your furniture.
 
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Bob Savage

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Bob Savage
As we all know, cleaning the carpet does not remove the protector, but abrasion from foot traffic will diminish the appearance over time. So I suggest they may want have the protector applied only in the traffic lanes that show more wear then the rest of their carpet.
 
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Old Coastie

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I offer protectant but not as a magic bullet. It does make a carpet easier to clean the next time. I also offer a simple all purpose spotter, Releasit DS2 mixed at 2 oz/qt, free. They provide the bottle, I mix the spotter and relabel the bottle and offer free refills.
My warranty is that if the spotter does not remove the spot on a treated area, I will return to do it. If I cannot remove the spot, I refund the cost for that room. It is a one year warranty.
So far, not a penny lost and thousands of dollars gained in sales, referrals and especially, repeat cleanings.
 

Chris A

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I ask everybody. If they say no I say ok. If they ask the benefits I tell them and tell them that I use it in my own home, which I do. I also only do open areas and only charge $15 a room, and $10-25 for most furniture.
 
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hogjowl

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I offer protectant but not as a magic bullet. It does make a carpet easier to clean the next time. I also offer a simple all purpose spotter, Releasit DS2 mixed at 2 oz/qt, free. They provide the bottle, I mix the spotter and relabel the bottle and offer free refills.
My warranty is that if the spotter does not remove the spot on a treated area, I will return to do it. If I cannot remove the spot, I refund the cost for that room. It is a one year warranty.
So far, not a penny lost and thousands of dollars gained in sales, referrals and especially, repeat cleanings.
Nobody listens to you
You clean with a porty
 
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sassyotto

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it all goes back to the baby in the high chair commercials when Stain Resist came out. The commercials were so compelling that it gave the impression that the new carpet was bullet proof. it was oversold on their part. So when you go to sell it, that is what they expect.

I personally dont just go into every house saying they have to have it applied. Most will not see a benefit but then again, I clean high end homes. In the few cases where the customer would see a benefit I would recommend it.

Even if you arent a great sales person its pretty simple. Just have line items at the bottom of your invoice

Carpet cleaning
Upholstery cleaning
Protector
Tile/Grout cleaning
Grout sealant

along with a few open lines that can be filled in with custom services. Then put the totals in the columns, hand the receipt to the owner and ask what they would like to have done. No pressure in that now is there? Your just giving them your menu
 

Old Coastie

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Nobody listens to you
You clean with a porty

A5E69C8A-6314-49DB-9C5E-496F4D34100C.jpeg
 
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Evets
I don't like the idea of spraying a liquid on the carpet and just walking away. Can't justify the results or the 30 minutes extra time needed to speed dry (somewhat). 8 hour dry times is unacceptable for me.
I know, I know. Whatever.
Want extra money? Clean the couch.
 

BIG WOOD

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I don't like the idea of spraying a liquid on the carpet and just walking away. Can't justify the results or the 30 minutes extra time needed to speed dry (somewhat). 8 hour dry times is unacceptable for me.
I know, I know. Whatever.
Want extra money? Clean the couch.
Or add on cleaning the hardwood for .40-.50/sq ft

I agree, I’m not big on selling protector for that reason also. Sure, they say the non water based protectors help the carpet dry faster because it’s lighter than water, but I’ve never tested that sales pitch.
 

BIG WOOD

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But that’s probably why I’m still just an owner /op. I’ll knock it through my thick skull one of these days.
 

Cleanworks

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Or add on cleaning the hardwood for .40-.50/sq ft

I agree, I’m not big on selling protector for that reason also. Sure, they say the non water based protectors help the carpet dry faster because it’s lighter than water, but I’ve never tested that sales pitch.
The water based ones are better in my opinion. As long you go with good quality ones. Just add a dryer if you're worried about drying times. I don't sell a lot but some of my best customers are commercial. I have one building that I have been protecting once a year since 2011. Every year, the carpets clean like magic. My own building, they don't want to pay for it and the difference is noticeable. You don't want to be pushy with your customers but properly applied, it's a good benefit worth having.
 

randy

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15 years ago the most popular and beloved news channel "consumer advocate " here did a special on carpet & furniture protector. She flat out said it is a rip off and often a total scam. That killed the protection racket here. We still offered it, using Completeseal but it was never a big revenue contributor. They then changed the name and required you to be a stocking dealer to buy it. The price skyrocketed. We dropped it and started stocking another brand. Now we don't even attempt to sell it unless they ask. The feed back on carpet protection was never good and I do think it costs you repeat business and credibility if you are selling it. Upholstery protector is easier to sell as the customer is accustomed to it from when they bought their furniture.
 

Cleanworks

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15 years ago the most popular and beloved news channel "consumer advocate " here did a special on carpet & furniture protector. She flat out said it is a rip off and often a total scam. That killed the protection racket here. We still offered it, using Completeseal but it was never a big revenue contributor. They then changed the name and required you to be a stocking dealer to buy it. The price skyrocketed. We dropped it and started stocking another brand. Now we don't even attempt to sell it unless they ask. The feed back on carpet protection was never good and I do think it costs you repeat business and credibility if you are selling it. Upholstery protector is easier to sell as the customer is accustomed to it from when they bought their furniture.
I've worked for companies who watered down their protector or even sometimes just sprayed water. Yes, I agree a lot of times it's a complete rip off. However, a quality protector, mixed and applied properly does work. No, it won't cause koolade to hover above the carpet but it will make it easier to clean up. I have never looked at it as a revenue generator but as a benefit for my customers. I don't sell enough to make much of a difference in my revenue. I only offer it where I see that it could make a difference.
 
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