Porty Vs TM

**ECOPRO** · 07-18-2009, 07:44 PM

So the customer asks Is that like a grocery store rental? You explain the diffrences, Well they say, will my carpet still get cleaned as good as using a TM. You then explain again. I now have a presentation book that ive put togther for the custi to read while I work and be part of every step of the process. What do you tell your customers when the see your using a porty? Do you charge less or more or the same I start at $ 25.00 a room up to 150sq ft. No Less with a 3 room minimum. $10-30 for hallway & .75 - $1.00 a stair landing included. This includes Pre vac, Pre spray, scrub, HWE, & Groom. I dont belive in working for free I think my pricing is decent for So. California. I spend an average of 2-4 hours per job.

**rjfdube** · 07-18-2009, 08:36 PM

I charge a minumum $35 for stairs depending on height.

**TITAN PROFESSIONAL** · 07-18-2009, 08:45 PM

i beleive you have to charge that much because 2-4 hrs per job you can only do 2 jobs a day ....i couldnt charge that much down here tho i dont think the franchises charge that nuch lol..

**locko-fabara** · 07-18-2009, 10:30 PM

go slightly lower than competitors but you gotta give the best service.

**Blind Dr** · 07-19-2009, 12:18 AM

Service! Quality! Then Price. I have faced such questions then told the customer if it doesn't meet their expectations it is free. Just be sure to inspect the home and discuss the problem areas with the customer. I have NEVER had any problems using porty's

**TITAN PROFESSIONAL** · 07-19-2009, 12:21 AM

its all bout customer service i can pull up and get a porty out and get the same price as tm.........ive been in customer service my whole life,,,and know how to make the customer feel special...any succesful business you got to know people.....bottom line

**ECOPRO** · 07-19-2009, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by TITAN PROFESSIONAL

its all bout customer service i can pull up and get a porty out and get the same price as tm.........ive been in customer service my whole life,,,and know how to make the customer feel special...any succesful business you got to know people.....bottom line

If your so great with customer service, Why dont you charge accordingly? Have you ever looked at say SS or Chemdry or Service masters prices? I know you do a better job right? So why were my prices to high for you. Most incomes were I am at are combined Husband and wife so $100K year min. Yes make the customer feel special. But also take your time to do the best job ever. I dont belive in leaving money on the table, Yes I do upsell Not switch and bait but UPSELL. If I am there I am there to do my best. And I want to be paid for it.

**Blind Dr** · 07-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by ECOPRO

So the customer asks Is that like a grocery store rental? You explain the diffrences, Well they say, will my carpet still get cleaned as good as using a TM. You then explain again. I now have a presentation book that ive put togther for the custi to read while I work and be part of every step of the process. What do you tell your customers when the see your using a porty? Do you charge less or more or the same I start at $ 25.00 a room up to 150sq ft. No Less with a 3 room minimum. $10-30 for hallway & .75 - $1.00 a stair landing included. This includes Pre vac, Pre spray, scrub, HWE, & Groom. I dont belive in working for free I think my pricing is decent for So. California. I spend an average of 2-4 hours per job.

It is nice to see others with a high standard for quality and service. Have you run the numbers for the service you provide? I think you may be selling yourself a little short in your geographic market. What are others charging for the service you provide?

**Blind Dr** · 07-19-2009, 05:32 PM

My prices are not going to change with the upgrade in equipment. I am comfortable with our pricing structure.

I still like the portable and will continue to carry one with me.

**farleycarpet** · 07-19-2009, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Blind Dr

It is nice to see others with a high standard for quality and service. Have you run the numbers for the service you provide? I think you may be selling yourself a little short in your geographic market. What are others charging for the service you provide?

Thats what I was thinking, should be able to charge more.

**floorguy_724** · 07-19-2009, 10:31 PM

I agree with Robert and Gary on this one!!!

It's all about the service! We do the same thing...educate the customer then if by the end of the job they are not happy, it's free!

I also have never had any problems with a porty. Later

**ECOPRO** · 07-20-2009, 01:34 AM

My numbers are great at this time since I have almost zero overhead. My equipment is almost paid off and I keep investing in more equipment from my earned income from CC. At the same time I allready make $21 hr as a commercial driver. I am building Eco-Pro and gradualy making the transition to be self employed, Oh, I forgot if the customer is not 100% satisfied. There is no charge. I allways have them inspect the first room and let them know that these will be the average results. If they are not 100% satisfied I try to fix their concerns, If there nit pick free loaders I have no problem cuting my loss and moving on with out charging them a dime.

**floorguy_724** · 07-20-2009, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by ECOPRO

My numbers are great at this time since I have almost zero overhead. My equipment is almost paid off and I keep investing in more equipment from my earned income from CC. At the same time I allready make $21 hr as a commercial driver. I am building Eco-Pro and gradualy making the transition to be self employed, Oh, I forgot if the customer is not 100% satisfied. There is no charge. I allways have them inspect the first room and let them know that these will be the average results. If they are not 100% satisfied I try to fix their concerns, If there nit pick free loaders I have no problem cuting my loss and moving on with out charging them a dime.

Awesome!! That is pretty much what we are doing! We are trying to make the transition to be full time cleaners as soon as possible. Keep up the good work man!

**wandwizard** · 07-20-2009, 03:23 AM

Joseph said,"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So the customer asks Is that like a grocery store rental?"

I started using a portable machine back in 1980. It was a small Mr. Steam which I used to maintain the carpet in the medical building I worked at. I later purchased my first portable in 1987 to start my own business. I worked with various portables until I think 1998 or maybe 99. I say all that so you know where I'm coming from. I had similar remarks made to me while I was using portables, mostly from new customers who had not yet seen my work. When I was done they changed their tune.

If a portable has adequate pressure, vacuum, and preferably heat, you can do an excellent job cleaning almost any carpet with it. If proper cleaning techniques and chemicals are used most portables have enough power to thoroughly rinse those fibers near as well as the most powerful truck mounts on the planet. I've found with the different machines I've used that if my chemicals are doing their job to emulsify the soils that the machines can pretty easily extract and rinse the carpet very clean. I do believe portables with higher pressure and heat will out perform low pressure models with no heat hands down on most jobs. I used to use a Castex Magnum hooked up to a Little Giant 120,000 Btu heater and let me tell you that thing could rock with the best of them, but it was a pain to set up sometimes with running dual extension cords from the van.

If I were still using portables and getting opposition or snide remarks I would politely explain to the customer the difference between my machine and what they can rent at the store. Last I checked I think a Rug Doctor has about a 30 psi pump and one vacuum motor w/o a heater. If you have a machine for example that has a 200 psi pump you have over 6 times the pressure of a rental and many times more than that of a cheap Wal-mart variety machine such as a Bissel or Hoover Steam and Vac which have virtually no pressure at all. There is really no comparison between a good portable and virtually any rental machine. The pressure, vacuum, and heat makes for a superior job that can rival a truck mount in some cases. What we are really talking about is the pressure and heat of the solution being injected into the carpet and the machines ability to recover that solution with the emulsified soil. If it is doing it's job then the carpet will be both clean and it will dry in a reasonable amount of time. Both portables and truck mounts have their pros and cons, but both can do the job of cleaning most any carpet.
So if the customer ask,"Is that pretty much like one you rent at the store?" You can reply,"No mam, there is no comparison, and here's why." By the way, you can smile and be very confident when you say that.

**floorguy_724** · 07-20-2009, 03:53 AM

Thanks Randy for the informative post as usual. For some reason, I am always happy when you and Scott W. chime in.

**Rick Imby** · 07-30-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by ECOPRO

So the customer asks Is that like a grocery store rental? You explain the diffrences, Well they say, will my carpet still get cleaned as good as using a TM. You then explain again. I now have a presentation book that ive put togther for the custi to read while I work and be part of every step of the process. What do you tell your customers when the see your using a porty? Do you charge less or more or the same I start at $ 25.00 a room up to 150sq ft. No Less with a 3 room minimum. $10-30 for hallway & .75 - $1.00 a stair landing included. This includes Pre vac, Pre spray, scrub, HWE, & Groom. I dont belive in working for free I think my pricing is decent for So. California. I spend an average of 2-4 hours per job.

Professional Question?

Have you set yourself up as a professional? Do you show up in dirty jeans and a t shirt?

Show up looking like a real pro with matching embroidered shirt and hat, and dockers, clean shave looking like you mean Business. Do the little extra George Kneepads and you will bypass the "are you a professional" questions. Carry yourself as a professional. Besides if you are asking them questions and doing the pre inspection professionally you will never get a comparison question like that.

Then give the professional results that blow the doors off what the homeowner with a rental machine can do and you will be well on you way to getting referrals---the key to any professional business.

**Richard Dunn Cleans** · 07-30-2009, 06:54 PM

Joe, it's nice that you have a pricing structure that you are comfortable with. But as everybody knows much of our pricing is based on being able to afford to drive out of your driveway every day. Costs are rising for us all. For example I am sure that it costs more money to crank up my Ford with the v8 in it and buy Gas for my Everest which is being pulled by the Ford in a trailer. I have a minimum cost of $90.00 for 300 sq Ft or less to go to someones house and spend time setting up, working, then breaking everything down. For a small job I may be there for 1 hr. or 1 1/2 hrs. So that is why I have a beginning price. Not to say that I don't come off of that price because I will and I have. I notice with interest some of you say that your job will be free if the customer is not satisfied. I have never done a job for free. I stay till it is done right. Go into a job with the right attitude, be happy about what you are doing and everything will work out. Richard

**booster** · 08-07-2009, 02:55 PM

It is nice to see others with a high standard for quality and service. Have you run the numbers for the service you provide? I think you may be selling yourself a little short in your geographic market. What are others charging for the service you provide?more information

**tony123** · 09-02-2009, 07:11 PM

i think peeps with a TM can get complacent!

if you put down a nice strong pre-spray, scrub it throughly and let dewell for the right time, then the rest is easy.

The only pros fora truckmount in my book is, time! it saves lots of time. i.e. more power makes the job quicker. plus you dont have to empty the wast tank or fill up!

but apart from that, the same lelve of quality can be achived with a porty.