Would like to know how some of you guys go about offering discounts to prospective customers....
We offer 10% discount to widows, seniors, spouses of deployed service men and women, and members of our networking groups...BNI, chamber, etc...
Normally ,though, I wait to apply the discount and wont say anything about it until we send the final bill. The customer usually doesn't know they are getting it.
We don't sell our service with a "discount" tagline in there...
One reason we don't do it is to be able to have something to offer when a customer does what they did to me yesterday.
Friday we quoted a job in a nice gated community - 2 story garage roof softwash, soft wash garage(stucco), soft wash eaves facia and dormers on the home.
The home owner has a power washer that he uses to clean his house with, and its clean, but he couldn't reach the high stuff, so he called us. No problem, we gave him a decent price all things considered.
So that was Friday, he called us on Sat. asking if we offered any discounts or had coupons we could apply because he had a painter quote him half of what we did...LOL...I couldn't help but laugh out loud...
So, I told him that we do offer a %10 discount for seniors and he said great, I am a senior.
I told him great we can give you %10, but you know if those guys will be willing to do that 12/12 2 story roof along with all of the other stuff for half of what we quoted, you should probably use them, if they are insured and you think they can do the job....LOL....He then said, uh no, I'd rather have you do the job, so we have him on the books in 3 weeks.
I think he just wanted to feel like he was getting a "deal" and I wonder how many of you guys have customers come back to you after you've already gave/offered a discount for even more of a "deal"?
If I had offered the discount on the front end I wouldn't have had anything else to give him.
Bryan P said
Feb 26, 2017
I have started offering discounts for multiple services. They save more by buying more. Roof cleaning, no discount. House wash no discount. Roof & House 15% off. Roof, house, driveway and gutter cleaning 20% off. That way I still price with my square foot price so there's a concrete value rather than me just saying "I can do it for...." They know a roof cleaning is worth $xx per square foot, but they get a discount if they order more.
I also have some $25 gift cards (real printed cards with my logo, etc.) I can offer in a situation like yours.
And I love those "We've got a pressure washer and cleaned up as high as we could..." calls. (not really. They don't like it when I tell them I can't clean the top half of their house for half price.)
Aqua Boy said
Feb 26, 2017
Multiple Service Discounts are a nice way to increase sales and offer a price break incentive.
I agree Bryan - "the I can do it for" ???? Is a road we don't travel down in my opinion- sounds like your opening the talk for price negotiations. Just my thoughts..
We have not used gift cards, but considering it.
Philip we have customers try to capitalize on all the discounts possible.
Example:
Mr. Jones I want to earn your business, but don't sell our service on price alone...
We do pretty much the same as Bryan. It starts at 10, 15 end ends at 20. Churches get 30%. The ones who ask, I explain we are making one trip and all the pricing has a trip charge figured in. I have never had someone ask for more of a discount once they get the one offered for their job.
Oh the one dirty side and the up high jobs! I almost always turn the dirty side into a complete house wash and won't clean it unless it's the entire house. I never get the high stuff they can't reach because the price is the same as a house wash.
Philip McCullough said
Feb 27, 2017
Thanks Guys!
Brett, he is paying full price on house wash and the rest of the services...I didn't put the per sq ft charges on this estimate, just price for each service he wanted.
I'm gonna look at multiple service discounts, but my price point may have to increase to cover them....lol
Thanks again guys!
Poppa Roof said
Mar 3, 2017
Bryan,
I offer a similar type deal. I'll do a multi service or I'll call it a book it now discount. Either of them is tied to the customer having to do something, buy more or commit to doing it now. I've been told I can use the discount as a deduction, we'll see.
DirtyRoofcom said
Mar 6, 2017
I have literally had people ask for discounts and best price. then when it came time to pay they say "whats the best you can do"
Philip McCullough said
Mar 6, 2017
DirtyRoofcom wrote:
I have literally had people ask for discounts and best price. then when it came time to pay they say "whats the best you can do"
I haven't had that happen yet....When/If it does I'm sure it wont be a good thing.
What did you tell them? Did you cut them a break?
PowerShine Property Services said
Mar 7, 2017
This is my 1st full season back doing pressure washing, roof cleaning exc. I put out flyers for a discounted driveway clean in specific neighborhoods. This was my way of getting new customers. Depending on the neighborhood they were 69.00 to 89.00 one time driveway clean. They take me 45 min to an hour to clean usually. Many times this past year I have had customers say to me "well, you are doing my driveway for $69 why is it $150-$175 to clean my screen enclosure and lanai". I kindly have to explain to them I was offering a discounted driveway clean in an attenpt to gain more customers. Not all customers are like this but some are. Or I like the " you did that persons for this price why is mine more" meanwile the job is twice the size.
-- Edited by PowerShine Property Services on Tuesday 7th of March 2017 10:08:15 AM
Bryan P said
Mar 7, 2017
Then there's the guy in the million dollar house who you've already given 15% to that asks you to "sharpen your pencil" :-/
Art O said
Mar 7, 2017
When they asked me if I can do better I say "No That's my Price" I don't give a price so I can Drop it!
Fred W said
Mar 7, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
Then there's the guy in the million dollar house who you've already given 15% to that asks you to "sharpen your pencil" :-/
I think I've had that said to me maybe 4 or five times in my full business life and my reply has always been the same.......I use a pen.
Philip McCullough said
Mar 7, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
Bryan P wrote:
Then there's the guy in the million dollar house who you've already given 15% to that asks you to "sharpen your pencil" :-/
I think I've had that said to me maybe 4 or five times in my full business life and my reply has always been the same.......I use a pen.
Hahaha! I'll have to remember this one!
Philip McCullough said
Mar 7, 2017
Art O wrote:
When they asked me if I can do better I say "No That's my Price" I don't give a price so I can Drop it!
I'm with you Art!
Bryan P said
Mar 8, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
Bryan P wrote:
Then there's the guy in the million dollar house who you've already given 15% to that asks you to "sharpen your pencil" :-/
I think I've had that said to me maybe 4 or five times in my full business life and my reply has always been the same.......I use a pen.
:) Right! haha.
tjteed said
Mar 10, 2017
I like when I am asked if that is your best price or do you have whatever discount. It means they want to buy. A good response is Are you able to make a decision now, or what did you have in mind. You can offer options that are good for both of you. gift card if they refer a neighbor, If you can schedule on a certain day, if they leave a referal , if they put yard sign up etc...
Would like to know how some of you guys go about offering discounts to prospective customers....
We offer 10% discount to widows, seniors, spouses of deployed service men and women, and members of our networking groups...BNI, chamber, etc...
Normally ,though, I wait to apply the discount and wont say anything about it until we send the final bill. The customer usually doesn't know they are getting it.
We don't sell our service with a "discount" tagline in there...
One reason we don't do it is to be able to have something to offer when a customer does what they did to me yesterday.
Friday we quoted a job in a nice gated community - 2 story garage roof softwash, soft wash garage(stucco), soft wash eaves facia and dormers on the home.
The home owner has a power washer that he uses to clean his house with, and its clean, but he couldn't reach the high stuff, so he called us. No problem, we gave him a decent price all things considered.
So that was Friday, he called us on Sat. asking if we offered any discounts or had coupons we could apply because he had a painter quote him half of what we did...LOL...I couldn't help but laugh out loud...
So, I told him that we do offer a %10 discount for seniors and he said great, I am a senior.
I told him great we can give you %10, but you know if those guys will be willing to do that 12/12 2 story roof along with all of the other stuff for half of what we quoted, you should probably use them, if they are insured and you think they can do the job....LOL....He then said, uh no, I'd rather have you do the job, so we have him on the books in 3 weeks.
I think he just wanted to feel like he was getting a "deal" and I wonder how many of you guys have customers come back to you after you've already gave/offered a discount for even more of a "deal"?
If I had offered the discount on the front end I wouldn't have had anything else to give him.
I also have some $25 gift cards (real printed cards with my logo, etc.) I can offer in a situation like yours.
And I love those "We've got a pressure washer and cleaned up as high as we could..." calls. (not really. They don't like it when I tell them I can't clean the top half of their house for half price.)
I agree Bryan - "the I can do it for" ???? Is a road we don't travel down in my opinion- sounds like your opening the talk for price negotiations. Just my thoughts..
We have not used gift cards, but considering it.
Philip we have customers try to capitalize on all the discounts possible.
Example:
Mr. Jones I want to earn your business, but don't sell our service on price alone...
www.aquaboypowerwashing.com
www.youtube.com/watch
South Jersey Roof cleaning
South Jersey Soft Washing
South Jersey Power Washing
We do pretty much the same as Bryan. It starts at 10, 15 end ends at 20. Churches get 30%. The ones who ask, I explain we are making one trip and all the pricing has a trip charge figured in. I have never had someone ask for more of a discount once they get the one offered for their job.
Oh the one dirty side and the up high jobs! I almost always turn the dirty side into a complete house wash and won't clean it unless it's the entire house. I never get the high stuff they can't reach because the price is the same as a house wash.
Thanks Guys!
Brett, he is paying full price on house wash and the rest of the services...I didn't put the per sq ft charges on this estimate, just price for each service he wanted.
I'm gonna look at multiple service discounts, but my price point may have to increase to cover them....lol
Thanks again guys!
Bryan,
I offer a similar type deal. I'll do a multi service or I'll call it a book it now discount. Either of them is tied to the customer having to do something, buy more or commit to doing it now. I've been told I can use the discount as a deduction, we'll see.
I haven't had that happen yet....When/If it does I'm sure it wont be a good thing.
What did you tell them? Did you cut them a break?
This is my 1st full season back doing pressure washing, roof cleaning exc. I put out flyers for a discounted driveway clean in specific neighborhoods. This was my way of getting new customers. Depending on the neighborhood they were 69.00 to 89.00 one time driveway clean. They take me 45 min to an hour to clean usually. Many times this past year I have had customers say to me "well, you are doing my driveway for $69 why is it $150-$175 to clean my screen enclosure and lanai". I kindly have to explain to them I was offering a discounted driveway clean in an attenpt to gain more customers. Not all customers are like this but some are. Or I like the " you did that persons for this price why is mine more" meanwile the job is twice the size.
-- Edited by PowerShine Property Services on Tuesday 7th of March 2017 10:08:15 AM
I think I've had that said to me maybe 4 or five times in my full business life and my reply has always been the same.......I use a pen.
Hahaha! I'll have to remember this one!
I'm with you Art!
:) Right! haha.