Customer: My last guy did it for pennies and now his phone is disconnected. He was coming every quarter but just stopped showing up.
Me: Wow that is a killer deal. My guess is he wasn’t insured so if he broke something it is on you. As you saw on yelp our reputation speaks for itself. So you know you will always get top notch service. Here is my quote I encourage you to get a couple more as well. Have a good day!
Customer: You know what lets just book it.
For first time bids I tell them they should call the other guy if they were happy with the work, etc. But it is usually the went out of business, quit, retired, does not answer the phone thing again and again. That said, I bought this business last year and the old clients, those I did not hear from or get a hold of last year, get the old price the first time and then split the difference the second and the third time is the new prices. I’ve got burned hard a few times but it all balances as I’m getting these older clients to schedule twice annually instead of whenever they think of it after 5-10 years
I had a client “return” last week after 4 years of using a different service but “he was not good and I thought he’d get better”. My price was twice his and I’m set up for October.
You all know this does not happen much as many folks are okay with windows wiped or washed down but not clean the way professionals do it.
Me: Mrs. Snooglemiester, thanks for having me out to do a window cleaning estimate. The total for everything you requested will be $ XX.OO
Mrs. Snooglemeister : Oh my goodness, that is high. My last window cleaner did it for $ XX.OO
Me: Then Mrs. Snooglemeister, why am ( I ) here ?
Some names have been changed to protect the innocent.
I was doing an estimate a week ago I was out front on my iPad emailing out the estimate. The neighbor walks out , An says can I get an estimate.
Long story short. I sold the job , an booked her for first week of June , 3 Days later I don’t hear anything from the original estimate, so I knew my price wasn’t in his wheel house.
I started thinking man the neighbor is going to jump on board with the cheap guy the original estimate is going to hire.
So I left the 30th opened this week just in case I didn’t finish my monthly accounts , but I knew by Friday i could get it all done Monday. So I called the lady neighbor Friday late afternoon, An said “ I could get you in Tuesday” . She said “ I can’t have it done then” . Ok Np see you June 7th
Sure enough I get the call today have to cancel my son in law is going to do it. Lmao 
.
No ma’am you mean the last guy is going to do it.
I freaking knew it !!! No big deal , because June 7th will be booked with the same pay
I was able to fill today up too.
Yea, I have an $830 quarterly includes 20% discount (only have two 20% left) that “went with someone else” and replaced him with a $535 quarterly that includes a $25 discount. Whatever, looking like a good year to make my quota. Can’t be controlled by peoples budget, just have to keep finding the next job.
Those guys that work for that cheap eventually get kicked to the curb too.
Why , because they start trying to find short cuts , or don’t show up
Then they call you back , because they realize “ Ya get what ya pay for “.
After being told “the last guy did it for 150” on a 350 bid, she said “well, at least you don’t seem like a tweaked, I did feel like I needed to follow him around”
Doh!!
you identified yourself…,
so you’re not innocent?!
I got my foot in the door at a nice commercial property and faced a similar situation. Some company is doing their windows for about $0.75 per large exterior pane. And, they were doing a great job. I told the guy to contact me if he ever needs a new window cleaner and I would do my best to be competitive.
I feel you. some window cleaners are terrible but many are professional and do good work. being honest with them will pay off with Karma.
