I just did a demo yesterday at a 14000 sq ft resturant. I cleaned the dirtiest part of this place. The entrance and exit from the kitchen. I had a big audience of waitresses. It was like magic. If you could of seen their faces. They all took my card and said I'll be calling you. The place was starting to get to busy for me to hang around. So the I said to the owner I'll be back tomorrrow to take measurements of this place and then put together a package for cleaning and a maintenace package.

I asked the owner who he has used in the past and it was my competiton in this area and they always Hwe. I also asked if he was happy with this method and the other company. He said yes he does a good job. So I'm thinking then why are you calling me?

When I was about to leave he says to me I USUALLY PAY CLEANERS BY THE HOUR!! This way nobody gets ripped off. "except me"
I said I will put something together and then we can talk.
I'm driving to my next job and all I can think of is this guys attitude and really how good was your last cleaner. I am not an employee of this place. He pays $35 an hour. Are you kidding me. At least the waitresses took my card.



RALPH

Ralph, you are not a cleaner.

You are a business manager that is also a cleaning technician, and, as such, you deserve to be paid appropriately.

He is not paying you so much for your time, but for your specialized equipment and knowledge of how to create a cleaner, healthier environment for his clients.

If he is not happy with your ethics, then he can always go back to an inferior cleaning system.

Cheers,

Shorty.

Make your estimate and give it to him and don't take his $35 an hour price. Say a cimex cleans 2000 sf an hour. That's 7 hrs of work. With his price you will only make $245. The minimum of this job at least charging 10 cents sf will come out to $1,400. Don't you love it when customers act like they know all about carpet cleaning. They've been watching too many Rug Doctor commercials. Never let a customer tell you what YOUR prices are.

Obviously, he may not be a customer you would want. You have the right as well to interview your customers and pick who you want to service. If your service is quality than you should quote accordingly. Let your competition take all the cheap coupon dwellers. You just take the higher end customers. They'll want a superior job for their money anyway.

We've got a large successful furniture store here in town. First thing you see when you walk in is nice furniture, second is a nasty spot infested floor. They have a free soda in small cups. spills everywhere. They don't care. Let'em go.

I would never let a customer tell how much they are going to pay. This guy is a clown. I will however give him my estimate at 15 cent a square. I know he won't bite, so he can go back and use the other guy. All I know is I will never eat here and if I did I would tell him I'm going to pay $3 for the prime rib.


Ralph

It was said very well above. This guy would not be a customer of mine, unless he paid my price. I would not be able to bargain with him if I go in his restaurant.

Kevin Pearson