Really hacked off right now. I just lost an account to a "competitor". Apparently "Teen Challenge" ( the guys who wash cars in parking lots) is a faith based addiction recovery program and are now getting into the house washing business.
Had a Realtor ( albiet a cheap one) choose their bid over mine, even though I have worked with glowing results & reviews on several occasions for this office. The difference in bid price was $80 for 4 townhouse units. ( $20 per unit).
The thought of competition doesn't bother me so much, but I don't like competing on an unleveled playing field. My bid could be MUCH cheaper if I had no/reduced labor costs, such as "Teen Challenge" does.
So now in addition to every Tom, Dick and HArry who buys a $200 pressure washer from Home Depot, and calls themselves a cleaner, I now have to compete against Not For Profit Corporations with free labor!!!!!!!
Also, I'm all about recovery and redemption, but seems not too smart to unleash a group of addicts on your customer's house.
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
I have a competitor who cleans roofs for $200. I'm out bided everyday in his part of my coverage area. I do not understand why someone wants to work 3 times as hard as they should to make minimum money, not to mention water down the market.
Really hacked off right now. I just lost an account to a "competitor". Apparently "Teen Challenge" ( the guys who wash cars in parking lots) is a faith based addiction recovery program and are now getting into the house washing business.
Had a Realtor ( albiet a cheap one) choose their bid over mine, even though I have worked with glowing results & reviews on several occasions for this office. The difference in bid price was $80 for 4 townhouse units. ( $20 per unit).
The thought of competition doesn't bother me so much, but I don't like competing on an unleveled playing field. My bid could be MUCH cheaper if I had no/reduced labor costs, such as "Teen Challenge" does.
So now in addition to every Tom, Dick and HArry who buys a $200 pressure washer from Home Depot, and calls themselves a cleaner, I now have to compete against Not For Profit Corporations with free labor!!!!!!!
Also, I'm all about recovery and redemption, but seems not too smart to unleash a group of addicts on your customer's house.
Sounds like a bad plan.
If they are challenged now, wait 'till they inhale SH all day [ along with whatever else they may be inhaling ] and fall off a roof on their heads!
Now, they will really be challenged!
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Let nature take it course.I have a painting company and trust me I deal with same $hit. In the long run those customers will realize they made the wrong choice..all you can do is have patience.
He must be the same $200 guy that beat me out on a couple.
Yes David I think we are talking about the same guy. I've given up on Raleigh.
Outsell his ass rightfully, by showing your credentials, work ethics and work process (RCIA style of course). Insurance cert issued, show your county license, rightfully warn the client about the weekend hacks and smoke his ass - straight up.
If they're a bottom feeding client only worried about price, let 'em go to the low baller. Some people drive Yugos.... Other drive fine autos and pay for them accordingly.
I have a low ball copy cat hack near me, for now. I plan on buying his rig dirt cheap very soon whe he folds..
He must be the same $200 guy that beat me out on a couple.
Yes David I think we are talking about the same guy. I've given up on Raleigh.
Outsell his ass rightfully, by showing your credentials, work ethics and work process (RCIA style of course). Insurance cert issued, show your county license, rightfully warn the client about the weekend hacks and smoke his ass - straight up.
If they're a bottom feeding client only worried about price, let 'em go to the low baller. Some people drive Yugos.... Other drive fine autos and pay for them accordingly.
I have a low ball copy cat hack near me, for now. I plan on buying his rig dirt cheap very soon whe he folds..
I think a lot of you missed the point: Its not a PERSON/COMPANY i'm competing against, its a NOT FOR PROFIT charity who enrolls addicts into the program and gets free labor from them. I deal with lowballers all the time, and I am comfortably successful with my business. The point is WHO i am competing against now. Its fair warning to everybody out there. Many larger cities have the "Teen Challenge" program, so this may be coming to your area too.
I did ask the Realtor why and it was a simple answer of price, that why I said in my original post the was a "cheap one".
The whole point of the post was to 1) vent 2) share where competition was coming from.
__________________
Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Ray if i'm correct, a "not for profit" corp. "manager" or other "administrator" still gets paid a "salary".
Sounds like someone figured out if they start up a "non profit " entity they could get cheap or free labor, funding, tax exemption, etc. Difference from For profit and Not for profit is lets say the guy takes a $2000/wk salary and makes $2500/wk, $500 has to go to the "cause". But he still gets $2k salary. Doesn't make $2.5k/wk, he can use the extra $500/wk give-back to compensate.
If one of us "for profit" business's takes $2000/wk salary and we too make $2500, $500 goes into the "business" acct. effectivley you can then take profit out of the business and pay tax on that. Or we can come up short some weeks and after meeting payroll/overhead, there's not $2k for your salary theres only $500 left over for you that week.
Less cost on overhead(tax exemption) and labor costs, this guy can undercut everyone.
I don't know if this is a scincere guy or someone scammin the system but either way its screwin the private market.
And by the way, sounds like its not a "not-for-profit charity" your dealin with, its a "not-for-profit corp." I'm not fully sure of the distinction.
Are these people workmans comp exempt?/what about liability insurance etc. They would have to have those things in place which cost money. hmm looks legit the website but the question is where the professionalism lays and selling this to property owners.
As for the last post; I was under the assumption it was some random company setup as a N.F.P. Just re-read 1st post and saw that it is this Teen Callenged group. Saw the site too, definilty seems legit. Personally, I think if these kids are workin, they still should get some compensation. Money is a great motivator and positive reinforcement to change their lives.
Plus it would keep prices "competitive"
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Monday 18th of July 2011 08:16:03 PM
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Monday 18th of July 2011 08:17:32 PM