I did a quote the other day, contacted via my website. The homeowner has a 5500 square foot house, with 98 casement windows. I figured it would be about 4 hours for two guys. The quote was for outside window cleaning and complete gutter cleaning. I went around and totaled everything up, wrote up an estimate on my nice estimate sheet, and presented it.
He looked surprised said “so-and-so” window cleaning has done it for the last four years for $XXX.XX." X= a little more than 1/3 of my price. Now, I know of the company he’s using. They’ve been around and I see their dinky little trucks here and there in my area. I just felt like calling them and asking them what the crap they are doing with their prices!??! How could they possibly be making any real money working at these rates!? Why are they leaving so much $$$ on the table?
Has anyone ever called out a competitor over their irresponsible prices? Did you get anywhere with it? Did it at least make you feel better?
I think it would be wasted effort. You think they are irresponsible low-ballers and they think you are a money-grubbing gouger. You and he speak different languages and would not understand each other.
Hey Caleb, in most cases it would be useless because they are not on the same level as yourself.
If you want that feel good feeling you could offer to show them why there price is not at market value
and show them how much more $$ they would be making or how much $$ it take to run a successful Biz.
Exactly! Don’t worry about the competition. Focus on your company and get people raving about you! Always give your clients enormous value. When people rave about you, potential clients will see you are worth it as well.
I don’t run into this much since most of my window cleaning customers are referrals, but if it was bothering me that bad and I was losing jobs over it. I would simple tell the customer
what they can expect from my work
was is involved in my expenses… insurance, professional equipment, advertisement, gas,
and on top of that take of 30% off the bill for taxes.
then proceed to tell them that realistically the only way you can charge very lowball prices is if 1. uninsured 2. not claiming what you really make and if their gonna lie to the government that can put them in jail how much easier will it be for the to be unhonest with a customers who cant do anything to them after the fact.
Or just separate yourself from all the bucket bobs and add pressure washing to your business and then who cares if you get low balled on some windows just wash his house for $$$ instead and bucket bob can clean the windows
I don’t know about “calling someone out.” I HAVE tried to educate competitors about what the market will bear in our area, so they charge a more sustainable price. Especially other companies who I’ve talked with before. I let one of my friendly competitors use my Responsibid this week to see what roof cleaning prices I was getting, so he could be aware of how to price sustainably.
This specific guy is trying to do things the right way. He was really receptive and open to the idea of raising his prices. Some people aren’t so much.
to be clear, i’m not seriously considering calling these guys. everything you guys say is true, and it’s advice i’ve given others in the past. it just boggles my mind sometimes that people will work for peanuts and be alright with it.
in situations like these, i think you just have to remind yourself that potential customers are calling you because they are willing to switch from their current guys. the flip side is, i’m pretty sure NONE of my clients are now, or will ever, look for a new window cleaner.
we all have to rant about it from time to time though…
