What's your game plan

[Cameron1]

I filled up four vehicles yesterday for a grand total of 349.00. What is your plan to stretch your gas dollar's ?


In addition to the high gas prices, we are down about 20 % for the year. A lot of my new clients are asking if this is your best price. A year ago we were saying yes. Now, we are having to look for ways to shave the price.

 

[Jim Martin]

we have cut back in other areas.........to compensate for the higher gas prices....surveys..some leave behind items .things like that.....so far it is balancing out real good.........Take a look at the little things that add up and see what they cost you and if you can eliminate them.................

 

[Tile Nerd]

I'm looking into biodiesel. From there a diesel van and diesel TM. Might make for some good marketing too.

 

[Dolly Llama]

I've had to be selective about scheduling when and where.

Also a higher minimum for small jobs on the the out lieing areas


..L.T.A.

 

[packfancjh]

 

[Kevin]

BG 44K

 

[randy]

If you are only down 20% , I think you are blessed. Some guys are down 40% -60% and others are closing down altogether. The number of quality, low hour truck mounts on the market is shocking. I have never seen it to this extent in 15 years. Great time to buy, but selling your old truck mount ? Forget it.

We went to mini vans exclusively 4 years ago, so 24 miles to a gallon (loaded with equipment) is helping.

The big thing is what will we do when it hits the summer peak expected to be $4.75 -$5.65 and $6.65- $7.00 FOR DISEL.

I'M more worried about regular commercial customers cutting back on scheduled cleanings.

 

[Cameron1]

Terry, all that stuff works, but there is a limit. There are only so many High-end clients who can pay the top wage.

Everybody thinks they can find bargains now because of the economy.


Speaking of bargain's, what kind of specials you running on those electric
tm's. ?????????

 

[Farenheit251]

I think there will be lots of opportunity. New guys reluctant to start up or purchasing portables while others are going out of business. Prices for cleaning vacant rentals stayed the same for my first 10-12 years and I think for 10 years before I started have increased 60%. The market now is better than before gas increase. I'm picking up work from guys going under and from guys who don't use tact or good judgement when raising prices.

 

[Guest]

I've just shortened the area I'm willing to travel .
Unless it's a good size job.

 

[Mountain View Carpet Care]

Raise your prices $7 to cover the off set.

 

[Bob Foster]

 

[diamond brian]

I dropped 2 vans and 3 full-time employees last year and have focused on weeding out less profitable customers/jobs. Also raised prices, including our minimum, to compensate for gas prices.

We're lean and mean now!

 

[XTREME1]

Thank God it really hasn't affected me. Concentrate your marketing in a small radius from your address and if you don't hit paydirt start fanning out a little more each time

It is very very rare that I go more than 10 miles for a job heck it is rare driving more than 6 miles and each job is within a mile or 2. I have been having a huge year so far. Take today for example my fist job was 2.2 miles away, 2nd 1.4 miles from 1st, third was 3.5 miles from the 2nd, fourth was .4 from third, fourth was 3 miles from fourth and fifth was .4 miles from 4th and .8 from shop. In those 5 jobs though I don't make what you guys do in 2. Today was a solid $825.00 and boy did I earn it.

I haven't filled the tank in about 2 weeks I have to fill Sunday and boy it is going to be $160 to fill

 

[DevilDog]

Maintain at least a healthy minimum.

Schedule tighter routes, this makes a big difference in fuel savings and time.

And upsell more.

I have hired a manager for my business who will eventually buy it. He is an upsell wizard.

Most of us do not upsell at all and if we do we don't do it the right way. This guys does it the right way.

Even if you only make an extra $50 to $60 a day upselling...you have most likely paid for your gas that day...or close to it.

DevilDog

 

[Doug Cox]

I just raised my prices. Nothing else has changed. Biz is the same or better so far.

 

[Tile Nerd]

Thank God it really hasn't affected me. Concentrate your marketing in a small radius from your address and if you don't hit paydirt start fanning out a little more each time

It is very very rare that I go more than 10 miles for a job heck it is rare driving more than 6 miles and each job is within a mile or 2. I have been having a huge year so far. Take today for example my fist job was 2.2 miles away, 2nd 1.4 miles from 1st, third was 3.5 miles from the 2nd, fourth was .4 from third, fourth was 3 miles from fourth and fifth was .4 miles from 4th and .8 from shop. In those 5 jobs though I don't make what you guys do in 2. Today was a solid $825.00 and boy did I earn it.

I haven't filled the tank in about 2 weeks I have to fill Sunday and boy it is going to be $160 to fill

How many hours did that take? When did you start the 1st and finish the 5th?

 

[Jimmy L]

I've cut down on all the candy bars, soda and other luxuries when I fill up with gas.

At home we are driving less and recycling our toilet paper by rinsing and putting out in the sun to dry.

 

[steve frasier]

I have decided to just work less :shock:

I drove from Portland to Longview ,cleaned a carpet and drove back home
$50 in diesel for the 3 hour trip, to bad it was my brothers house

 

[hogjowl]

I am, once again, looking for ways to cut out on site estimates.

 

[XTREME1]

right around 8.5 hrs and I stopped for lunch
and I need to work today starting at 11:30 because I am running out of places to book people