When customer says;

steamron

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Here are a couple questions we get from time to time. What do you say or your office people say to them in real time. (No bullshit answers)

Hello, do you have any specials on carpet cleaning?

Is that your best price? XYZ is $30 dollars cheaper.

They make an appointment, when you call to confirm you get that same question, Can you lower your price.

Let's talk about it.
 

Papa John

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Here are a couple questions we get from time to time. What do you say or your office people say to them in real time. (No bullshit answers)

Hello, do you have any specials on carpet cleaning?

Is that your best price? XYZ is $30 dollars cheaper.

They make an appointment, when you call to confirm you get that same question, Can you lower your price.

Let's talk about it.
No specials at this time.

I'm not out to beat my competition on Price. Im out to beat them on Quality.
If Price is your main concern, then hire them. Good luck
 

Cleanworks

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Here are a couple questions we get from time to time. What do you say or your office people say to them in real time. (No bullshit answers)

Hello, do you have any specials on carpet cleaning?

Is that your best price? XYZ is $30 dollars cheaper.

They make an appointment, when you call to confirm you get that same question, Can you lower your price.

Let's talk about it.
I tell them sorry no. There is nothing to discount in carpet cleaning. When you see other companies doing that, they make it up in other ways, like selling you things you don't need or when they arrive, they tell you it's an extra charge to pretreat because it's so soiled. We charge everyone the same price and try to attain the same quality of work as well.
 
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“If you want nice fresh oats you have to pay a fair price. If you can be satisfied with oats that have already been thru the horse, that comes a little cheaper.”

You will always find a cheaper cleaner.. Is it worth your time to find out if it's acceptable? We don't do move-out cleanings, we clean for the people moving in.. Our minimum weeds out the price shoppers.. We are fortunate to have 39yrs in business, in which either way it's a referral from someone..

I've never understood the term "specials" outside a restaurant setting..
 

Luky

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Chicagoland
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Mario
Here are a couple questions we get from time to time. What do you say or your office people say to them in real time. (No bullshit answers)

Hello, do you have any specials on carpet cleaning?

Is that your best price? XYZ is $30 dollars cheaper.

They make an appointment, when you call to confirm you get that same question, Can you lower your price?

Let's talk about it.
I have wondered about the answers to those questions for about two decades. I thought it would get easier by now.
Most of the questions have a background in the demographic area of the prospect. Fewer questions are coming from experienced buyers; they know what to expect, and they anticipate quality services in return; they might be business owners in different industries, and they understand the value you are bringing to their home. When listening to a prospect, it is essential to make a distinction between actual "price shoppers" and subjects that are looking for a price break because of their circumstances. I had a few cases where a nurse negotiated a price for a bedridden individual. I didn't flinch.
If you have monthly specials on your website, try to remember them and honor them.
If you are part of any Google advertising campaign, you'll get calls when people tell you upfront that they are collecting quotes, and if your prices are on the higher end, don't expect to hear from them back.
There is a lot to do to improve the customer's perception of our services; we can give them more information about methods, and steps that we use to make their house a cleaner place, this way they can appreciate our time and effort and can make an informed decision when is time for our next visit.
I'm sure that our peers had a lot of strange requests; for example, an Indian customer asked me if it was all right to sprinkle baking soda on the carpet before my arrival, and another asked for permission to use Oxi products or Resolve before I started to clean. My usual answer is, would you take a Novacain before going to a dentist? It never fails.
So, if you get all the demeaning questions, calmly answer that your prices are based on the quality of the provided services. Hopefully, they will understand you operate fuel-fired TM; you have to make a trip to reach them and furnish your van with tools and cleaning solutions so you can bring their carpet, upholstery, etc., to the best possible condition. You're the one equipped with knowledge and expertise. You dictate what market is right for you!!!
 
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sassyotto

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If you call 10 carpet cleaners, you will get 10 different prices and 10 different results. Each cleaner has their own way of cleaning carpet. Im booked out 3 weeks in advance. They can probably get you on their schedule in a day or two (then dont say anything)
 

sassyotto

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oh, and the price thing? There was a post on Facebook Marketplace about a company that does Duct Cleaning. Copied and pasted here

Hello Guys, I posted about
🥶
🥶
🥶
Air Duct Cleaning Services and need customers to fill up the truck for the #June Special package. We are charging just one flat amount for the whole house Ducts and Vents cleaning.

So I respond and they reply wanting to know the square footage, how many ducts, how many stories, etc. before they could give me a price. Maybe Im just old but didnt the post indicate one price?

Kinda screams sellup! But people must still fall for this stuff
 

steamron

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Northeastern PA
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Ron
The reason for those questions was that I booked a job before I left this morning, they are moving to Ohio this weekend. I quoted $160. 2 small br, stairs and living room, empty.
When I get back from morning job, they tell me that the customer called and ask if we could lower the price, she told them NO.

I called before I was heading up there, they say. Sorry we tried calling you, we got someone else to do it cheaper.
I'm hoping they get a flat tire on the way to Ohio. We have caller id, no one called us back.
 
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The reason for those questions was that I booked a job before I left this morning, they are moving to Ohio this weekend. I quoted $160. 2 small br, stairs and living room, empty.
When I get back from morning job, they tell me that the customer called and ask if we could lower the price, she told them NO.

I called before I was heading up there, they say. Sorry we tried calling you, we got someone else to do it cheaper.
I'm hoping they get a flat tire on the way to Ohio. We have caller id, no one called us back.

We had a military lady who booked through a house cleaner we've done work with before.. Get there, measure everything, give the price which was the same as the phone ballpark quote.. She says ok to go ahead so we start setting up.. She's on the phone in her car, I filled the hydroforce, ran hoses, and then she says, never mind, I'm getting someone else to do it cheaper.. No regard for wasting our time..

That was a major waste of time, but more the reason we don't do move-outs.. They just want an invoice to show "they had it professionally cleaned" to get their security deposit back.. When you clean for people who move-in, people tend to pay more for quality and piece of mind.. Doesn't matter what job, I clean as if my kids or family would be occupying it..
 

sassyotto

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Paul
The reason for those questions was that I booked a job before I left this morning, they are moving to Ohio this weekend. I quoted $160. 2 small br, stairs and living room, empty.
When I get back from morning job, they tell me that the customer called and ask if we could lower the price, she told them NO.

I called before I was heading up there, they say. Sorry we tried calling you, we got someone else to do it cheaper.
I'm hoping they get a flat tire on the way to Ohio. We have caller id, no one called us back.
you didnt want that customer anyway. if you did do the job they would probably find something to complain about.

BTW I had an appointment a long time ago, got there and measured everything up and gave her the invoice. she said something I cant remember exactly but it was like *since your the owner, can you do it for less?* In the back of my mind I had the idea that she has done this to other trades before. I politely said no and went to the next appointment

thats the nice thing about charging good prices. Your customers are more picky on the quality of the work (which I like cause I am OCD) but you have the luxury to say NO to the people you dont want to work for.

And thats the problem with price marketing, your shooting a shotgun hoping one fragment will land. With target marketing its more like being the sniper, YOU decide who you want to work for.

Sermon over.
 
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