Ofer Kolton said:
Lisa, I believe you do not offer wall to wall carpet cleaning, so in a sense you do not live in the 'market place'.
I offer both options to my clients and many though they understand the quality difference choose the on location option.
I make a point to explain to them (clearly) beforehand and also put it in writing that: On location rug cleaning is at best a compromise, however, some still choose the on location alternative.
If we do not offer this, someone else would and not tell them the truth.
Also, if all you use to get the dust and sand out of the rugs in your plant, is laying the rug upside down and vibrating it with a vacuum cleaner beater bars, you are still leaving a hell of a lot of sand and dust in the rug. Yes the shampoo and flushing will remove a lot, however, according to you, some of it will still be caked in.
My market place is the same as yours. We are in the same homes, all income level homes. Professionals, students, teachers, old money, new money, immigrants.
Because you offer TWO options you are implying that both are okay choices, and best for the rug. I bet if you DOUBLED the price of cleaning on site, you could shift the choice. Share that doing it on site boosts the risks to the textile, so that's why it is more.
One of the reasons people will choose in-home is because it's cheaper. So that's not that they won't "let" the rugs leave... but that they feel they are getting a better deal - but it's worse for the rug.
You know... used to be the wall-to-wall was dragged out of homes to clean in rug plants, before "deep steam" steam cleaners were invented - and that wasn't too long ago. And operations like the Big Boys here - Ken and Bryan - handle hundreds and hundreds and hundreds a week in cleaning through their plants - the Los Angeles plants do 800+ rugs a week.
Lots of rugs leave homes. If yours are not, it's because you are not conveying the "why" good enough. It's not a convenience issue, it's a failure of education.
At least that's my opinion... and having easily shifted even the most stubborn of homeowners to understanding the importance of a wash many a time, I'm telling you it can and should be done. At the very least because when you are cleaning in the home, you are NOT getting the rug really clean.
I hope that makes sense. And if it gets a few of you to at least try to reeducate your clients to give them an even better cleaning, I will be happy. :mrgreen:
Lisa