It just irritates me. Yesterday I'm cleaning 3 bedrooms for a contractor at one of his newer homes. I do everything by the book, to the best of my ability. Before I started, the contractor's mother comes down to the house I'm working on and asks me if I can swing by their office right down the street and clean the traffic lanes. These are good people who build quality homes. I tell her sure, I'd be happy to. I was just getting ready to go in and clean, so I ask her to give me about an hour. As I am starting to roll up the hoses after finishing, one of my competitors pulls up across the street. I know their reputation, so I watch as I roll up my hoses. It's a 2 man truck, one of the owners and a helper. I finish up and pull over to speak and notice the solution hose is already in the house and the helper is pulling out the vacuum hose. I say hello and head on down to the office. After pre-vac and pre-spray, I work on some spot areas, giving my pre-spray the 15 minute dwell time, and use my carpet rake to agitate the sprayed areas. When I come out to meter my solution I look down there and my competitor is gone! 15 or 20 minutes tops! I know, I know, eventually it'll catch up to 'em. It just irks me to see the consumer done that way. I don't care if they just vacuumed the carpet before I got there, it's gonna get vacuumed again! I don't care if there are no spot problems for me to work on, the pre-spray still gets at least a 15 minute dwell time! How in the world can you clean even just 1 room in 15 or 20 minutes?!
Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to vent!
Rick, you can delete this one if ya want since it takes up so much space! I feel better just putting it on paper!!

And by the way, it only took me an hour to do the 3 rooms because I had already vacuumed and pre-sprayed when the mother came down to speak to me! Thought I'd better clarify that one! lol

four hands is always more productive then two. throw in a good sucking machine along with a plan of attack and BAM!! $$ is easier made....and faster. Let's throw in good presprays that need little dwell time and a water softner system into the mix and you'll really be rolling.

cheers.

Thanxx...
Rafco

maybe it was a service call / call-back and they were just taking care of 1 spot. two ppl can do that quick.

who knows, but hey those that do cut corners make you look so much better!

take care --- Derek.

It took me several years in this business to get to the point about not worrying about the competition, and only worrying about my business. I have seen them come and go for over 38 years now, and nothing changes, not very often do they do it right and only last a short while.

Good points by each of you. I just wanted to sound off! I will keep what each of you said in mind the next time I get a little miffed! Thanks.

Don't feel bad, I spend 2.5 - 3 hours on average residential, I only wish I could do it all in an hour.

Two Man crews can move very fast if they work with each other well.
One man moves things and vacs while the other is setting up hoses.

Pull in solution line One man is prespraying while the other is getting the vac hoses. Grab the vac hose attach a turbo head aggitate the prespray then extract.

One man moves furniture and tabs while the other is cleaning.
Even with a one man crew if you are oraganized you can move darn quick.

IF you need to let a prespray dwell for 15 minutes Id get another one that will work better and quicker. Using a turbo head will wipe out your need for such a long dwell time, or any other aggitation device.

Don't puff your self up because you think you are doing everything rite and you feel they are not. Only one thing matters The client is happy with the job and they will pay this person again and refer them out to thier friends.

As everyone has stated do not worry about others. IF this person is a hack then they will not be in the homes you want to service for long. If it really concerns you about the job this crew did, I would pay a visit to the home they did and look at the job and offer a free one room demo to show the home owner the difference in the quality of the service you provide.
We have done this many time in the commercial market and a few times in residential market.

Bottom line is don't complain about somthing unless you are willing to do somthing about it.

David

David,
I do my best to do something about. As I stated, I just wanted to gripe and moan. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do, but I did it and I can't change that. Some of the guys in other posts made some suggestions and I acknowledged it may have been my mistake. However, I know this company's reputation and I have indeed been in behind them on several occasions and kept the business. Now, if you read my post properly, you note that I saw 'em pull up and I saw 'em pull the solution hose immediately. No vac was seen.
Again, I should have never said anything, but it's done.
Thank you for your forthright comments. I will keep them in mind.
Have a great day and I wish you continued success.

Kevin
Sometimes I can be let us say too direct or blatant, IE very little TACT.

My intent is not to make anyone look bad or demean then in the least.
I have seen way to many whiners slapping the competition around they
will never do anything to help them selves or to educate the consumer.

If I have offended you my humble apologies I am just a regular guy in the trenches like everyone else.

You know these people I do not and I can understand your frustration. I would personally send them a sales letter several pages long, with info on IAQ the importance on proper clean procedures that would state the benefits to the client. The letter would also have an offer for a free demo up to 150 sq ft.

Educating consumers is the only way to combat hacks, we must also realize that many people just want the cheapest price and get what they pay for.

Have a great day
David

David,
Thank you for the reply. I, too, have been told I am too direct sometimes. I appreciate your response and I hope I have not offended you either. I admit, I was a little offended by your response, but you made good sense. Yes, it does frustrate me sometimes because I try so hard to educate my clientele and to do the best job possible for them. I get somewhat angry with cleaners who are gonna make the buck by giving poor service, but it makes me angrier that a consumer puts their trust in someone only to receive that poor service. I know there is only so much I can do, but it still irritates me. In all honesty, I went back and re-read your post and saw that there is a lot of good info in it.
Thanks again and I look forward to one day meeting you in person at some industry event.
Have a great day!

Kevin