Vendor Problems with National Company

sweetwater

sweetwater

New member
We contract six area Walmarts from a large national vendor based in Florida. We clean 2x per month for them. Is anyone else out there having paperwork nightmares with vendors such as this? It seems we spend more time resending paperwork to this company than we do actually cleaning.

I don't want to name names publicly here yet, but I will follow up with a PM if I see others are having the same issues.

I am at my wits end with this account. Its not huge money (20K year) but the work helps me fill out my night crews schedule. However, its getting to the point that it may not be worth it anymore.
 
Russ, it's only 30 feet of sidewalk at the front door whole job takes us less than 40 minutes per location. That figure also does not count for store cleanings smokers lounge washing, garden center washings either. My problem is with the contractor who hires us. My office is literally spending more time on paperwork submission, lost files, duplicate send outs then we spend washing the stores. I know this vendor coordinates Walmarts in several states and was just wondering if other cleaners were having the same issues.
 
sweetwater said:
We contract six area Walmarts from a large national vendor based in Florida. We clean 2x per month for them. Is anyone else out there having paperwork nightmares with vendors such as this? It seems we spend more time resending paperwork to this company than we do actually cleaning.

I don't want to name names publicly here yet, but I will follow up with a PM if I see others are having the same issues.

I am at my wits end with this account. Its not huge money (20K year) but the work helps me fill out my night crews schedule. However, its getting to the point that it may not be worth it anymore.
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I think we got the call from the same company last week wanting us to handle a Large Drug store chains pressure washing and window cleaning. I did the numbers and it just didn't add up for us.
 
Steven Button said:
Unless a national service company has realistic numbers or has consulted with contractors on pricing - I do not waste my time anymore.
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That's just it, we weren't that far off the number that I needed to agree and move further into negotiations. I told them the number that I felt I had to have and they would not budge, so I thanked them and hung up.

I'm just concrened that for the price they were offering the service will be well below average and give our Industry another black-eye.
 
It was done with 7-Elevens and Burger Kings down here, they went through 2 service companies before I think each client abandoned them.

I hear you Guy in being close with numbers, but they get blinded by the value of their slice of the pie or he pie isn't big enough to start with! There are more than a few good contractors out there willing to charge a fair price - they wonder why thy go through so many vendors and have issues with service quality.
 
I would like to do commercial work such as store fronts and windows. I live in a small area with limited national chains here. I currently do most of the privately owned stores but am looking to get into the walgreens, walmarts, and home improvement stores. I don't feel real comfortable with my skills to hunt down the person or company I need to talk to to get into these operations. I have been trying to find out if they are handled by a national or regional service provider but have not had any luck yet.
 
My issue isn't with the price. I'm paid fairly for the time spent cleaning. My issue is with the utter confusion and difficulty in paperwork submission. It seems like each and every week, I'm getting a call back to resend an invoice they have lost, or didn't receive. All my complaints fall on deaf ears. Instead of them finding what they have lost, they want me to go through the motions of resending an invoice from 30 days prior.

That's what I'm wondering if others are experiencing. Or do I just have a crappy account rep?
 
Ray Have you called the BOSS? Talk to Steve if there's and Issue. Explain you will continue but all further invoice paid outside the 30 will have a FEE. Send it all Certified once, if your a good provider they will not want to loose you. If they are just broke then you will find out.
 
Yeah..that's who I'm talking about. I dont think it's a money issue at all. I think it's a disorganization issue, and I'm wondering if others are having the same problem. Also, since I'm relatively new to this game, maybe it's just they way thing go. I just don't know.

I called April (steve's right and left hand) I'm sure she'll get to the bottom of it!

Also, Ron, that thing with them that I called you about a few months ago......I was told this week that it worked out! So another reason I don't want to rock a boat too much.
 
I understand , I was talking with them about using pwi and UAmCc guys.

Lets hope it's growing pains , the money and numbers on stuff are pretty good.

They had issues finding the right people.

Lets hope they get this ironed out!


Text me anytime for question 480-522-5227
 
Ron Musgraves said:
I understand , I was talking with them about using pwi and UAmCc guys.

Lets hope it's growing pains , the money and numbers on stuff are pretty good.

They had issues finding the right people.

Lets hope they get this ironed out!


Text me anytime for question 480-522-5227
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Sidewalks, gum, drive-thru, dumpster pads, curbing, windows inside and out, working at night, and can't pay on time for the price I was quoted???? Money pretty Good??? I don't see it Ron. Now if a business was set up like yours yea this would work, but for most guys they'll just end up wearing their equipment out for very little profit.

For $55.00 more dollars they wouldn't have issues finding the right company here in NC.

Their loss not mine.
 
Guy, I want to reiterate its not a problem getting paid with these guys! The problem comes in with the paper shuffling and amount of extra work it puts on my back office. But I've never had a payment issue!

the intent of this thread was asking the question if others had similar paperwork issues with national vendors. This is my first rodeo and I'm not sure what to expect.
 
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