Jobs you know you’re not gonna get……

[icleancarpetz]

Get a call….

Her - I have a few chairs, recliners, sectional and rug that need cleaning.
Me - I will need to set up with you so I can se exactly what you need cleaned since you have multiples pieces.

Her - Sure.

So I set up for an inspection. I go there about 15 minutes away. When arrive she tours me around. She points out a pair of her and the husbands favorite recliners.

She says with a bright smile, eyes gleaming and a proud voice...”this one I got at the goodwill for $50 and it was in great shape and this one over here I got at another time for $75”

I knew the moment she said the magical compound words, this is a waste of my time…I said to myself…she is not gonna pay more mula to have them clean then what she paid for them at the smorgasbord store.

I knew I was not going to get this job. But i proceeded anyway. I get back home. Later write up the proposal with reservations in my head and send it to her. 4 recliners, 1 sectional, 4 dining chairs and a rug. With discount just a bit under 700.

Her reply back a few days later….”It was nice meeting you last week and we appreciate your taking the time to view the upholstery job.
However, as seniors living on an extremely tight budget, we have decided not to move on this project at this time”

I knew this was one job I was not gonna get…. For the next time I might have to ask “how much you pay for the pieces, what store did you buy them at…how old are you and can you show me proof of income”

 

[hogjowl]

Or, you might realize it’s just an unavoidable part of doing business and suck it up Skippy.

 

[Papa John]

I would have had her text me photos of what she wanted cleaned and gave her a price. No need to waste a trip on a non-revenue task.

 

[Mikey P]

I would have had her text me photos of what she wanted cleaned and gave her a price. No need to waste a trip on a non-revenue task.

Same here.

 

[icleancarpetz]

how much you guys charging for Goodwill pieces these days?

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Get a call….

Her - I have a few chairs, recliners, sectional and rug that need cleaning.
Me - I will need to set up with you so I can se exactly what you need cleaned since you have multiples pieces.

Her - Sure.

So I set up for an inspection. I go there about 15 minutes away. When arrive she tours me around. She points out a pair of her and the husbands favorite recliners.

She says with a bright smile, eyes gleaming and a proud voice...”this one I got at the goodwill for $50 and it was in great shape and this one over here I got at another time for $75”

I knew the moment she said the magical compound words, this is a waste of my time…I said to myself…she is not gonna pay more mula to have them clean then what she paid for them at the smorgasbord store.

I knew I was not going to get this job. But i proceeded anyway. I get back home. Later write up the proposal with reservations in my head and send it to her. 4 recliners, 1 sectional, 4 dining chairs and a rug. With discount just a bit under 700.

Her reply back a few days later….”It was nice meeting you last week and we appreciate your taking the time to view the upholstery job.
However, as seniors living on an extremely tight budget, we have decided not to move on this project at this time”

I knew this was one job I was not gonna get…. For the next time I might have to ask “how much you pay for the pieces, what store did you buy them at…how old are you and can you show me proof of income”

You did exactly the right thing:

Once you show up to give a proposal, you treat your customer like they were referred by an interior designer and live in a palace. Then you give them your proposal, in person or later, and let them make the decision.

You treated them with respect, and that isn't forgotten. Also, every time you do your job right, whether in sales or in performing the service, you get better at it in some way.

No good act in business, or in life, is a wasted effort.

Finally: I have seen more than one case of cleaners who decline a job and end up still getting negative reviews based on how the conducted themselves.

"Do the right thing. It will gratify some people, and astonish the rest"

--Mark Twain

 

[icleancarpetz]

You did exactly the right thing:

Once you show up to give a proposal, you treat your customer like they were referred by an interior designer and live in a palace. Then you give them your proposal, in person or later, and let them make the decision.

You treated them with respect, and that isn't forgotten. Also, every time you do your job right, whether in sales or in performing the service, you get better at it in some way.

No good act in business, or in life, is a wasted effort.

Finally: I have seen more than one case of cleaners who decline a job and end up still getting negative reviews based on how the conducted themselves.

"Do the right thing. It will gratify some people, and astonish the rest"

--Mark Twain

Thanks Jim. I appreciate that.

An old timer schooled me a while back to be careful how you talk and treat every call and job or else they go postal on you thru google reviews.
And never talk politics…that will definitely get you in trouble if they don’t like your politicAl affiliation.

yup..google can be your friend but also is not your friend. negative review is easily written about you. It’s a son of a gun trying to remove which often is not.

ive

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I showed up to show a truck mount for a cleaner I had never met this summer.

When I arrived at his home, the yard looked like it was an abandoned property. The inside had peeling paint, was decorated in "Early Yard Sale", and had a pervasive aroma of mold, cat urine, and rotten food.

He looked even worse.

I treated him with all of the dignity and respect he deserved, but of course he couldn't begin to find financing.

It was completely my mistake for not qualifying him better, even after 44 years of traveling to meet carpet cleaners to show them machines.

 

[Mikey P]

I showed up to show a truck mount for a cleaner I had never met this summer.

When I arrived at his home, the yard looked like it was an abandoned property. The inside had peeling paint, was decorated in "Early Yard Sale", and had a pervasive aroma of mold, cat urine, and rotten food.

He looked even worse.

I treated him with all of the dignity and respect he deserved, but of course he couldn't begin to find financing.

It was completely my mistake for not qualifying him better, even after 44 years of traveling to meet carpet cleaners to show them machines.

Shoulda asked for photos....

 

[Brian H]

For me, the ones that i know we aren't going to get are the ones that want a price for literally everything we clean. You know it's most likely the competition price shopping us! When I get those, I lay it on thick, going overboard to be nice and helpful! Every now and then, it will actually be a real customer that wants to book.

And even it it is the competition, I want them to be blown away with our professionalism!!

 

[toddvincent]

If you went to all the effort to get there, you needed to sell the job right then. you didn’t need to go home and then write it up that cut the chances even more down. Price it in front of her and walk her through the process and the value. Then put her on the spot by stating two dates and time to get it done get it scheduled right then and there. Not saying this would have worked but gives a higher percentage. Also don’t look at things like you would do personally. Some of our upholstery prices are ridiculous. I wouldn’t pay them but am always surprised at what some do.

 

[Mikey P]

If you went to all the effort to get there, you needed to sell the job right then. you didn’t need to go home and then write it up that cut the chances even more down. Price it in front of her and walk her through the process and the value. Then put her on the spot by stating two dates and time to get it done get it scheduled right then and there. Not saying this would have worked but gives a higher percentage. Also don’t look at things like you would do personally. Some of our upholstery prices are ridiculous. I wouldn’t pay them but am always surprised at what some do.

Great points!

I would add that many of us use a upholstery tool over every inch of fabric on a sofa, when a single pass with a sponge or mitt with a well formulated shampoo is more than enough.

Uph cleaning doesnt have to be so time consuming, and painful.

Jim's Fine Fabric course is chock full of VLM tricks these days, consider that before you 20 flow, 200° and 16" of lift in paper thin fabric guys belittle the concept..
..

 

[hogjowl]

It’s not free though

 

[toddvincent]

it is time consuming. if you hand vacuum everything like we do and you are supposed to, prespray, brush in, extract, scotch, and brush in. very time consuming. we get 250 a sofa and 350 for normal sectional. a lot of people won't pay that but then again a lot will. but in the end its what is needed to be profitable

 

[icleancarpetz]

If you went to all the effort to get there, you needed to sell the job right then. you didn’t need to go home and then write it up that cut the chances even more down. Price it in front of her and walk her through the process and the value. Then put her on the spot by stating two dates and time to get it done get it scheduled right then and there. Not saying this would have worked but gives a higher percentage. Also don’t look at things like you would do personally. Some of our upholstery prices are ridiculous. I wouldn’t pay them but am always surprised at what some do.

I actually wanted a bit of time to think on a fair price. Didn’t want to shoot off a low price but not a high one either.

yeah I don’t think I would pay myself my pricing but I am astonished when someone else does.

it a weird business that way.

 

[icleancarpetz]

Great points!

I would add that many of us use a upholstery tool over every inch of fabric on a sofa, when a single pass with a sponge or mitt with a well formulated shampoo is more than enough.

Uph cleaning doesnt have to be so time consuming, and painful.

Jim's Fine Fabric course is chock full of VLM tricks these days, consider that before you 20 flow, 200° and 16" of lift in paper thin fabric guys belittle the concept..
..

Totally agree…amen goes right there. Learned a couple of things that otherwise would not have. Even if you learn ONE thing that can make it easier and profitable…it’s worth the while.

 

[icleancarpetz]

I would have had her text me photos of what she wanted cleaned and gave her a price. No need to waste a trip on a non-revenue task.

Yes thats an option. But With jobs that are sold the moment they call, yes photos are a good thing.

here’s the thing…even though you might not get the job, she will remember you. When someone else within her scope has a need and she knows they can pay, she just might refer them to you.

 

[Papa John]

Photos save everyone's time-- even the prospect.
But Photos are not needed when the caller starts the conversation with-- "I have a small job, what's your price." I tell them my minimum 1st, which sometimes ends the call quickly.

 

[Cleanworks]

I remember doing a condo in a large high rise once and the security guard asked me to give him an estimate on cleaning all the halls and common areas. I really didn't think he had the authority to do much but I had nothing better to do at that moment. Turns out that he's the brother in law of the developer. About a $3000 job twice a year and I had that building for about 15 years until they switched property management. You never know

 

[icleancarpetz]

I remember doing a condo in a large high rise once and the security guard asked me to give him an estimate on cleaning all the halls and common areas. I really didn't think he had the authority to do much but I had nothing better to do at that moment. Turns out that he's the brother in law of the developer. About a $3000 job twice a year and I had that building for about 15 years until they switched property management. You never know

Wow. Very nice.

 

[Matt Middleton]

You did exactly the right thing:

Once you show up to give a proposal, you treat your customer like they were referred by an interior designer and live in a palace. Then you give them your proposal, in person or later, and let them make the decision.

You treated them with respect, and that isn't forgotten. Also, every time you do your job right, whether in sales or in performing the service, you get better at it in some way.

No good act in business, or in life, is a wasted effort.

Finally: I have seen more than one case of cleaners who decline a job and end up still getting negative reviews based on how the conducted themselves.

"Do the right thing. It will gratify some people, and astonish the rest"

--Mark Twain

Ditto!

 

[Papa John]

I remember doing a condo in a large high rise once and the security guard asked me to give him an estimate on cleaning all the halls and common areas. I really didn't think he had the authority to do much but I had nothing better to do at that moment. Turns out that he's the brother in law of the developer. About a $3000 job twice a year and I had that building for about 15 years until they switched property management. You never know

Always treat everyone with Kindness and respect-- because it pays off in many ways.
Congrats Ron.

 

[Trip Moses]

Wasn’t expecting to get this. But hey. It’s regular daytime hours. Theater only opens on the weekends!!!

 

[icleancarpetz]

I remember years ago I got cursed at and yelled at on a job site I was called to bid on glass tint removal. The building was under reconstruction. The foreman was a short Italian with a bulldog attitude. Dude layed me out in front of his crew for walking in without a hard hat. I calmly apologized, yes sir no sir was my attitude. After complying then did my walk thru, on my way out the foreman litterally ran to me to apologize for yelling at me in front of his crew. He said he had to do that in front of his crew to keep his image. No problem with me, shook his hand and we departed.

About a year later I see this guy across the street from my office, working on a building under reconstruction. Went up to him. He remembered me. We laughed and talked a bit. I asked him who was moving into the building. He shared some info with me then said he would put in a word for me to the new owners of the building.

Well wouldn't you know, that business relationship with the new owners lasted 22 yrs! All because he put in a word for me but more over he remembered my diplomatic response a year earlier at the other building he was working at that he yelled and cursed at me for not wearing a hard hat.

Careful how you respond (not reply) back to anyone when out on the field even if they become belligerent. You never know how much of a bridge that person can be to your crossing over to a lasting business relationship.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I remember years ago I got cursed at and yelled at on a job site I was called to bid on glass tint removal. The building was under reconstruction. The foreman was a short Italian with a bulldog attitude. Dude layed me out in front of his crew for walking in without a hard hat. I calmly apologized, yes sir no sir was my attitude. After complying then did my walk thru, on my way out the foreman litterally ran to me to apologize for yelling at me in front of his crew. He said he had to do that in front of his crew to keep his image. No problem with me, shook his hand and we departed.

About a year later I see this guy across the street from my office, working on a building under reconstruction. Went up to him. He remembered me. We laughed and talked a bit. I asked him who was moving into the building. He shared some info with me then said he would put in a word for me to the new owners of the building.

Well wouldn't you know, that business relationship with the new owners lasted 22 yrs! All because he put in a word for me but more over he remembered my diplomatic response a year earlier at the other building he was working at that he yelled and cursed at me for not wearing a hard hat.

Careful how you respond (not reply) back to anyone when out on the field even if they become belligerent. You never know how much of a bridge that person can be to your crossing over to a lasting business relationship.

A great story!

I'll share that with people in classes, but also with my children as a good life's lesson too.

 

[Jimmy L]

Thank you Jim for coming by and showing that TM. Next time I will have the house picked up. And sorry for the big pile of dog shit you stepped in : (

 

[SamIam]

Thank you Jim for coming by and showing that TM. Next time I will have the house picked up. And sorry for the big pile of dog shit you stepped in : (

Classic

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Thank you Jim for coming by and showing that TM. Next time I will have the house picked up. And sorry for the big pile of dog shit you stepped in : (

Post of the Month!

 

[BIG WOOD]

Post of the Month!

Does this forum have a post of the month?

 

[icleancarpetz]

Post of the Month!

What fíngul magingul did you use to remove the organic matter off your clothing?
or do I need to attend a class for this one?