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Jarrod

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Posts posted by Jarrod

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Hey,

    I am south of Atlanta. We maintain several pharmacy type stores as far as pressure washing, and have so for almost 3 years. Have decided to dabble in residential. Gave our first quote, using 1.00 linear foot as price. We were told we were too high.

    Did a second house estimate, using .75 linear foot, and have not heard back on this estimate, so I guess we did not get it either.

    Are we pricing too high for this area?

    Thanks!

    You are about to make the same toxic mistake that many in the pw biz make all the time. It's not you, it's them. Who is "them?" "Them" are the cheap people you should not be marketing to.

    Whatever you do, don't drop your prices b/c 2 "thems" wont hire you. Learn how to market your biz better.

    Hint - demagraphics

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Tiered pricing is fine BUT your lowest tier cannot be a lowball price. Even more, do NOT advertise with prices. If you do, you'll have to stick with them and when you don't, you'll have to "justify" the hell out of why it's higher. The customer will think that you are just lying to make a profit. Your "justifications" will be viewed as lame excuses.

    As far as my prices go, I will never tell anyone local what I charge. Most hacks will just underbid me.

    I will tell you this though, you can easily double your prices and make a good living.

    Ed, you have to make a choice - do you want to be busy, OR do you want to be profitable.

    It's as simple as that.

    I have almost 20 years of sales experience, I know what I'm talking about.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Jarrod

    I agree with most of your posts . But don't be so harsh . We are in the business 7 years like you . I started kind of like Ed - low prices but luckly for my customers I already have 1 season of learning with other pw company . It took me only 1 season to see that low prices = lot of customers BUT also pointless to be in this business . So prices went up . It's crazy to clean the decks for $89, $99 or so . I don't like cheap customers ...there is always problem with them . They want Cadillac in VW price .

    Ed , we meet twice and I know you are nice guy with big dreams in PW business - good for you bro , but looking at the picture from your website ( other post is liking to it ) tells us a lot about quality/experience you have.

    I can't even begin to explain how tired of these $99 morons I am. I view them all as scum and just an annoyance to the industry.

    This guy has been in business for a few years now and still hasn't learned.

    I know I come across as harsh, but instead of helping these hacks, I'd rather just get rid of them. They simply can't be helped b/c of their mentallity.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    1. I haven't had a request for a house wash in 2 years. So I haven't taken any anyone off the market. I'm not talking about your house wash prices. It's your deck ad that sucks. I was trying to get the little jobs, you know like the front porches/decks

    2. Are you they guy who stole my signs last year? (Rephrase) - Are you the guy that did the public AND the industry a great deed last year? So you are the guy who took my signs

    3. Why don't you send me an email telling me what prices you think are fair. My prices do change depending on what my materials are, but seriously can you really get $2 a square foot in Michigan in today's economy? If so you really are a better salesman then I. You already believe that it can't be done, so the answer is "No, you can't do it." I've had many customers tell me they laughed at some guy trying 2 a square or even 1.50

    4. You call be a lowballer, I disagree. My prices are fair. i lost a job to someone who washed a Gazebo for $25. Really $25. I won't work for $10 an hour as my reate is several times that. $89.00 deck ads? I saw your ad. Yes, it's competitve as you should know there are about 10 others with the same numbers, 4 starr, millenium? 1800 deck seal, etc. they all have fine print, chemicals extra, must also purchase stain for XX,

    5. A disgrace, I've seen many, many, many others in the same publications we are in at $99. It's being competitive. I lost my corporate job because of competition. That's life. Yes I'd like to make $10 bucks a square, but that is not reality. Go get another corperate job. I always found corp. guys to be useless and ignorant (false sense of reality) Being competitive? Why not try charging more, giving a better service and being successful? (I really don't know why I waste my time.)I'm sure my work is on par and I have always been successful. I've paid for college while working in a shop, and am probably more handy then you.

    6. Just because you've been in the industry doesn't mean your doing everything right! Just longer. Doing things right = doing things longer.What? Bad equasion. Each job should be done right period.

    7. I'm going to be here so deal with it. That's fine, you can have the crumbs that fall from my table. When you starve on them and go under, I'll still be in business - deal with that. Not going to happen, your not conversing with an idiot. I'm glad your diversified as I'm sure I'll take some of the residential market away.

    8. I'm fair and reasonable.Rephrase - "I'm a lowballer." Not quite, I don't take people for rides just because I can.

    Fellow pros, this is an example of what I'm surrounded by every year. People wonder why I HATE the $99 hacks so much, well this is why. They are all the same - stupid, useless idiots that do nothing but cause this industry to suffer.

    Do hacks actually spend time learning about their craft and going to these forums for useful tips? - No they don't. If I didn't care about what I do I wouldn't be here in the first place. Trying to get better. That is what should really bother you. I can compete at a different price level and deliver the same or better results.

    Some of you reading this are probably thinking "Wow, Jarrod's being kinda harsh." Yes, I am! And rightly so. One thing is for certain, you can't change a lowballer's mentallity. They are that way because that is simply that way they are wired. I refuse to even attempt to help them anymore. Instead I treat them accordingly - like an irritating peice of gum on the bottom of my shoe - scrape it off and move on.

    You reap what you sow. I believe in treating people fair and with respect. That is why in time I'm sure I will have no problem keeping my customers. People like honest people with integrity.

    You just don't get it. Go work at McDonalds

  18. Posted · Report reply

    true Jarrod. you meant there where yer at.. But fair enough to ask it of this here forum too as Shane obliged.

    personally I a bit lost at this point and asleep due to not having clear definition of what the $99 amount applies to. Does it apply to a min. amount to show up?.. a 1.5k shack of a housewash or a 2.5k or what exactly?

    It comes off by the way you address it Jarrod that it don't matter and if the job is less than a c note the guy must be a lowballer.

    I'll start the washer for $80 if I am there or on a scheduled routine but that don't mean anything but a min. to unroll. It don't apply but for a small area of crete usually as an add on to other work. If I had 10 $99 driveways tomorrow I would be there and make some good bank.

    The ad reads - any deck power washed $89.00 (up to 500 sq. ft.)

    So, tell me Kevin, is this type of advertising good or bad for the industry?

  19. Posted · Report reply

    HMMM..thought it was clear by other discissions that low price don't equal lowballer..always thought of lowball meant the guy who undercut the next guy just enough to get the job...90% of people here do that?.. don't think so. Who here offers to change their rate for what they already may have quoted based on customer giving up anothers rate as a bargaining chip?.. I just try to help them out on what they might offer compared to I and if it turns out I do more than I may decide to offer to do less for equal amount...

    This thread is as usual leaning towards abuse... can't you all just get along without insults?....haha. nah me neither...screws to all you 10% folk...you know to batten down yer hatches...lmaof..:umbrella:

    Here, means in my area. $99 idiots are lowballers - period. Wake up man!

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Jarrod -

    1. I haven't had a request for a house wash in 2 years. So I haven't taken any anyone off the market. I'm not talking about your house wash prices. It's your deck ad that sucks.

    2. Are you they guy who stole my signs last year? (Rephrase) - Are you the guy that did the public AND the industry a great deed last year?

    3. Why don't you send me an email telling me what prices you think are fair. My prices do change depending on what my materials are, but seriously can you really get $2 a square foot in Michigan in today's economy? If so you really are a better salesman then I. You already believe that it can't be done, so the answer is "No, you can't do it."

    4. You call be a lowballer, I disagree. My prices are fair. i lost a job to someone who washed a Gazebo for $25. Really $25. I won't work for $10 an hour as my reate is several times that. $89.00 deck ads? I saw your ad.

    5. A disgrace, I've seen many, many, many others in the same publications we are in at $99. It's being competitive. I lost my corporate job because of competition. That's life. Yes I'd like to make $10 bucks a square, but that is not reality. Go get another corperate job. I always found corp. guys to be useless and ignorant (false sense of reality) Being competitive? Why not try charging more, giving a better service and being successful? (I really don't know why I waste my time.)

    6. Just because you've been in the industry doesn't mean your doing everything right! Just longer. Doing things right = doing things longer.

    7. I'm going to be here so deal with it. That's fine, you can have the crumbs that fall from my table. When you starve on them and go under, I'll still be in business - deal with that.

    8. I'm fair and reasonable.Rephrase - "I'm a lowballer."

    Fellow pros, this is an example of what I'm surrounded by every year. People wonder why I HATE the $99 hacks so much, well this is why. They are all the same - stupid, useless idiots that do nothing but cause this industry to suffer.

    Some of you reading this are probably thinking "Wow, Jarrod's being kinda harsh." Yes, I am! And rightly so. One thing is for certain, you can't change a lowballer's mentallity. They are that way because that is simply that way they are wired. I refuse to even attempt to help them anymore. Instead I treat them accordingly - like an irritating peice of gum on the bottom of my shoe - scrape it off and move on.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Ed, I REALLY hope that you stop being a $99.00 guy. I have seen your ads and they are a disgrace to the industry. I am so sick & tired of the $99 morons in this industry. Just B/C you have a lower overhead than guys like me and other pros, doesn't make it right for you to be a lowballer.

    I have been in this business a lot longer than you, so don't **** in my pool.

    I have a family to feed too, so change your ways or GET OUT OF THE INDUSTRY!

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