Observing the competition

Conversation
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There is some interesting conversation here, but in my opinion, the OP mentioned something that everyone is overlooking.

We all want our industry to be respected and our work to be valued, and WE can see the difference between a bad window cleaning and a good window cleaner…why can’t the customer!?

This observation was made while eating at…McDonalds. This is a company that produces poor quality, unhealthy food and pays their employees peanuts for it, and they are propped up by…cheap prices. I bet you could find a lot of restaurant owners that would say, “Why don’t customers value good, quality food? Why do they want cheap, poor quality food from McDonald’s? Can’t they tell the difference!?”

How would you respond to a restaurant owner who confronted you for supporting McDonald’s? Would you tell them it was “good enough?” Would you say their restaurant is overpriced? After all, a breakfast sandwich is a breakfast sandwich, isn’t it?

There’s a coffee shop in town that makes fresh egg sandwiches on home made bread. Just egg, no meat, and it’s ~$5. If that sounds ridiculous to you, reader, than consider how we appear to customers when we start talking about “quality window cleaning…better detailing…newer squeegee rubber…”

Nine out of ten people will have their eyes glaze over and say, “Are you serious? It’s just Window Cleaning. What is the difference?”

Appreciate that some people will never value those things in a window cleaning. And that’s okay. Go find the ones who do. And McDonald’s will have a line of customers every morning in every town in this country. I can’t personally figure it out, but that’s okay, too.

EDIT: OP, please don’t feel like I’m criticizing you. All I mean is we all value different things. For example, while my wife would enjoy a nice glass of wine,
I’m happy with a Mountain Dew. Some people would claim I have no taste, and I guess and expensive wine seems pointless to me. Some people view Window Cleaning that way.

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I think that was a great post. And many times, what you are saying is quite applicable in our lives.

I might counter your point with, at McD’s I can get what I want quick, and get out. Though anymore, there is NO such thing as fast, accurate service.

I get what you are driving at. Though one would have to question, why they see value enough to pay someone to clean the glass, but not care what it looks like. I sure do, no matter what price I pay for something.

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Mr. Nobody wants to chime in here. This has been an outstanding thread. My comment is how across the board and across the nation there is a noticeable decline in quality of product and customer service. Former greats of both are now…MEH. I love this industry because only a quality product and great service command our wanted prices. That would seem unique in this day and time. So thanks folks, for representing quality product and service; our USP - Unique Selling Proposition. (Yes, I use new squeegee blades, rinsed washers, and clean towels)…razor sharp results.

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I wouldnt say there’s a noticeable decline in quality. With the improved technology it’s getting better.

You’ll always have some janitor type, do it yourself businesses and new guys washing.

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Thanks Jeff…but misunderstood, I’m talking about products in general, and customer service in general. One aspect is restaurants…some of the greats are now at mediocre quality. We eat well at home and now it saves big bucks; we get HOT, quality, nutritious food…no tipping for lousy service. And customer service…well, you’ll know when you try to get support on something nowadays. Yes, there are stars, but others have decided that is a nickel to pinch and that an idiot can do customer service…which they do.

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This is all common sense stuff
Anyone who thinks a McDonald’s burger is better then , let’s say this place http://perabellfoodbar.com/. Never had good food before, An anyone who thinks the place I posted is not going to be more than Mcdonlads is just not living in this world.
As service professionals we need to understand that there is always someone willing to pay our price ,an someone who isn’t.
Most peoele understand therr is better service company’s , An bad service company’s. Don’t let them fool ya.

Knowone should let a customer set your pricing . It needs to be many many customers that can make you go up or down.
It’s a numbers game . If your presenting your self well , you have a good amount of reviews , a good website , look an act professional. All it takes is getting the phone to ring presenting your estimate in a professional manner An the numbers will work themselves out.
You can give a 500 dollar estimate . The same size , the same amount of work to 20 different customers ,an therr is always going to be one who says your double then the last guy. Can you do it for , or would you do my mirrors also for that price, An the one that just wants the cheap guy.

One Day you can go out ,an do 5 estimates ,an get all of them. That’s when you say “ dam are my prices to low” The next day you can go out for 5 ,an get none , An “say dam are my prices to high “
The numbers always seem to work therr way out. There is always someone willing to pay your prices, an someone that isn’t.

An about discounts I’ll say it again for me it’s about supply an demand. Why would I give a discount if I’m fillling my schedule without giving one
It’s also about what are you asking, are asking me to do it for 30 % less
If it’s a bad time things are slow , An I’m in a negotiating mood then let’s negotiate.
“ Yaaaaa 30 % is not good for me. How does 15% sound . I can work that out for you . we can get you on the schedule next Friday”.
I disagree with @anon82274079 I don’t believe you look like your trying to take advantage of someone if you come off your price a little to get the job.
Man I know I sound like I do this all the time trust me i don’t.
The times I do it’s just I jace a good feeling about the person , An/or there a single mom , an elderly person on a fixed income or something along that line. Or I’m just slow ,An something is better than noting.
These days though not slow !
I take a different prespective with route work. My experience is get your foot in the door give the discount if you jace To with a consensus this is temporary, An that’s the last thing before you walk. Ok ya know what how about this ??? I’ll do it for …
When it comes to certain stops I want them ,an I’m willing to negotiate to get them , but within reason. Not doing for less than a certain amount. I’m not doing anything for less than a dollar per side ugh I wrote per plate first no 2 per plate. just to put a monetary thing on this.
20 plates $20 lowest I go these days , An I jace no qualms about starting out at 40 am going down to the 20 , but before 20 comes 30 :sunglasses: Couldn’t careless what they think. Once again not a common occurrence.

BTW I don’t eat fast food hamburgers ,when I want a burger I want a high quality burger , An I know I’m paying $15 plus for the meal especially at a place like I put up. Best burger I ever had :sunglasses::+1:

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The way I see it , it’s like this . Tipically a McDonald client are really not going to care if the windows are dirty or professionally cleaned . They’re not going to say ‘wow theses windows have strikes and drips ‘ and walk out and not buy their .50 cent coffee or .99 cent coke. It’s just not going to happen . The windows can be really dirty and most 99.99 won’t care .
Now let’s talk about an upscale steak house that also sells Burgers . nows there clients will care . They might mention , wow if the windows are dirty what else might be dirty and not come back . Or if they see a homeless guy that stinks washing the windows for $7 cash , yeah they’re not coming back .
I see this a lot with Starbucks coffee , there windows are always super dirty and only want them clean with the reginal manager is coming for a visit . But that’s all, people will still come no matter how dirty the windows are .

So look for places where clients demand clean windows or a manager that really cares for the presentation of his establishment.

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In my efforts to actually be helpful, the irony of this whole thread went completely by me. Great points @TJGibson8.

Time is money right? We can get in and out of McD fast. Price shopper. Not so much interested in the quality of the product.

The things that perplex us most are often the very things in ourselves we see in others.

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My two cents is, it is RARE that there is a significant difference. I say that because:
1 There is rarely a difference in the actual quality of food. Some people make a lot of assumptions about farming and corporations, that they really don’t know about. That is a discussion for another day, but I’ll just say that McD’s raises beef like any other farmer. You are already buying that meat from the store, raised, JUST LIKE McD’s.
2 Customer service SUCKS almost everywhere. Not just the snot nosed teen at McD’s, but even the locally owned, independent restaurants. I don’t eat out a lot, but when I do, it’s usually something that can be gotten fast and get out the door.
3 I have been in “upscale” restaurants that had cobwebs hanging off the decorations, dirty carpet, and food presented that was more like something you expect out of fast food. Just because something is “local” doesn’t mean it is worth more, because they are somehow better. I have also been in an old, local, upscale steakhouse, and ordered Cod, only to be served Pollack.

Crap is crap. It doesn’t matter what the sign on the door says. In my personal experience, there is no appreciable difference between corporate burger joints, and upscale/local places to eat. I’m one of those people that WILL pay $100+ for a good meal, that is deserving of commanding that price. I want quality, I want “premium”. But it has to be something real, not just a figment of my imagination.

Food is a commodity. Gas is a commodity. Most ALL products, are nothing but a commodity, with rare differences in quality. Service is NOT so much a commodity. Service depends upon skill, knowledge, execution of those, and character of the service provider. A burger relies on NONE of that. 4 restaurants can take the same hamburger, same spices, same stove, same cooking time, and produce the exact same tasting/looking burger. Take 4 random window cleaners, and you are not likely to do the same.

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You need to come to NY :smirk:
I’ll take you to a few burger places.
You’ll have a different opinion them.
There is a big difference from usda Prine then what ever garbage they use at McDonald’s ,

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Yes, the difference is a Prime steak has more fat (marbling) then a lower grade, like select. Hamburger is hamburger. The only thing that changes is fat, water and additive contents. :wink: FAT makes a piece of meat tender and adds flavor. It’s also unhealthy. :thinking:

Not arguing there are places better than McClowns, just that “better” food is mostly a matter of personal opinion, not scientific fact.

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That is myth, fat is good for you.

Sugar and artificial trans fats are unhealthy which is what you find in most fast food type burgers to “enhance flavor”, or make you crave them…

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If that were true, we could eat as much side pork and ground pork as much as we wanted, as well as lard would be used for everything baked. We need fats for our digestive system to work, but we need only small amounts of it.

I agree that sugar and artificial fats are bad for you.

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you can, within reason, if you are replacing added sugar with fat you’re good to go, if you are ADDING it to your regular diet, you’re adding calories, you’ll gain weight.

that’s what people did BEFORE the obesity epidemic which came when we switched to eating more carbs.

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I have only read your comment so far but mannnnnn, every time I go into a Tim Horton’s, I get mad lol. No detailing and 1 inch streaks all along the frames. Every window. You can see them from across the restaurant. That is the thing though, it is good enough for the owners. Customers don’t complain.

Terrible workmanship though. Disgraceful for “professionalism”.

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So I passed this place

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To go eat at this place
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:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: but dam that other place has one quality burger.
Btw my competitor cleans that burger place. I clean the other place. Right next door

$9 for that bowl. I’m telling ya :weary:

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