Do you tell customer your Competitors Suck?

I don't do it, unless they start it.
 
FullBlast said:
I don't do it, unless they start it.
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I think I have never had a good outcome, most people will let you know and tell you that they chose you because you didnt bad mouth them.

I have even actually had people bait me for negative comments.
 
I don't Believe in it in my opinion it makes you look bad as well I tell them to be careful of who they have do the washing and make sure they have knowledge of their chemicals and equipment but no bashing but that's just me:shrug:
 
Saument said:
I don't Believe in it in my opinion it makes you look bad as well I tell them to be careful of who they have do the washing and make sure they have knowledge of their chemicals and equipment but no bashing but that's just me:shrug:
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there is a difference, telling people what you can do and not what others cant is the right answer.
 
I've been in sales for 8 years, and have learned that bashing the competition makes you look insecure, like you are hiding something yourself. It will never win you contracts. Even if they start it, I don't agree or disagree.
 
JMooney said:
I havent had to do that yet but I suppose if it gets really competetive, it would be hard not to.
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I know you have been pressure washing but I never got a sale that way, I have lost some early in my life.

I have many stories about people that follow and talk poorly about others. Always lead to us getting the work eventually, people find out that most people that cant perform put others down.

Jim, called you about a three storie Garage again today. Also had a reclaim job & ariel job. You need to get that phone changed because I know they called you before me because I asked them? They used your name and I said i would try to call you for a second Bid. ( maybe they got ahold of ya)

One was at Fiesta the other on Thomas and 52st. my sale people will measure both in the am, let me know if these sound close or familiar.

Answer that Phone, sunday I had at least a 1000 relcaim job in Scottsdale. Alleys in Scottsdale you gotta reclaim,

If you want I can stop trying you?
 
Scott D. said:
I've been in sales for 8 years, and have learned that bashing the competition makes you look insecure, like you are hiding something yourself. It will never win you contracts. Even if they start it, I don't agree or disagree.
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Nailed it, Scott are you attending Florida? been calling ya bro.
 
You've got to be careful about your guys saying crap about the competition too. This is rampant in the HVAC field. Every technician thinks the one before him was an idiot. The customer doesn't know who to believe. I hope our industry never comes to that. It is sickening to see the effect it has on the customers and the industry.
 
I was about to clean one of my new locations and asked them about a part of it and they said that it was already done. Hmmmmmm............
The floor was very dirty and had old sealer there and they told me it was just cleaned last week. I asked them if it got that dirty in a week and they told me yes.

I was thinking that maybe it was just not cleaned that good but I was not going to bad talk or bash the current cleaner but I wanted to see if I could get it cleaner but in a tactful way ask them if I could.

I asked them if I could do a quick demo to see what I could do and the manager said ok.

We talked a little bit and he said that he was happy that the current guy has a vacuum surface cleaner so the manager does not need to pay 3 employees a few hours squeegeeing but that contractor cannot get the place that clean.

This is the same situation that got me 2 locations 4.5 years ago and they have been using me since. They told me that they had every company in town try to clean the areas and even a couple from out of town but they could not get it that clean.

I cranked up the machine and got the classic out and turned on the burner and let the water get hot. I did not have time to spray hot soap down as they were trying to leave for the day so not a lot of time there.

I did a small spot and got it cleaner than their current contractor and layers of stuff that had been down for years.

I asked the manager if it was worth it to pay a few guys a couple hours squeegeeing to get it that clean or is he really happy with his current contractor.

I asked what his budget is for cleaning and it is about the same as what I charge here. I told him to think about it and let me know as the managers here are very happy with my work and have turned down other contractors when they ask for work.

The manager told me that he wants me to do the work from now on and since they already spent the money they want me back there in 3 months for a good cleaning and that is the start of a great relationship.

I am very happy. Cool!
 
Christopher said:
I was about to clean one of my new locations and asked them about a part of it and they said that it was already done. Hmmmmmm............
The floor was very dirty and had old sealer there and they told me it was just cleaned last week. I asked them if it got that dirty in a week and they told me yes.

I was thinking that maybe it was just not cleaned that good but I was not going to bad talk or bash the current cleaner but I wanted to see if I could get it cleaner but in a tactful way ask them if I could.

I asked them if I could do a quick demo to see what I could do and the manager said ok.

We talked a little bit and he said that he was happy that the current guy has a vacuum surface cleaner so the manager does not need to pay 3 employees a few hours squeegeeing but that contractor cannot get the place that clean.

This is the same situation that got me 2 locations 4.5 years ago and they have been using me since. They told me that they had every company in town try to clean the areas and even a couple from out of town but they could not get it that clean.

I cranked up the machine and got the classic out and turned on the burner and let the water get hot. I did not have time to spray hot soap down as they were trying to leave for the day so not a lot of time there.

I did a small spot and got it cleaner than their current contractor and layers of stuff that had been down for years.

I asked the manager if it was worth it to pay a few guys a couple hours squeegeeing to get it that clean or is he really happy with his current contractor.

I asked what his budget is for cleaning and it is about the same as what I charge here. I told him to think about it and let me know as the managers here are very happy with my work and have turned down other contractors when they ask for work.

The manager told me that he wants me to do the work from now on and since they already spent the money they want me back there in 3 months for a good cleaning and that is the start of a great relationship.

I am very happy. Cool!
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Great post!
No bashing needed, let your work speak for yourself!
 
I would have done that reclaim job in Scottsdale, but I had more important things that I needed to take care of. There could likely be more of these in Scottsdale since they are really cracking down on the smells outside of the restaurants.
 
I should clarify myself on that.
What I meant by then starting it, I still don't just bluntly say the other company sucks but...

I have had calls for me to come out a fix up some companies jobs a few times and they went off on a rampage about how the other guy just plain made a mess and he really did and was not the first time I had to do this for this guy, so yes we did discuss the other company and all was cool.

Even then I watch how much I say.

Do I go out and look at a job and they say they are getting other bids and I find out who and start bad mouthing them? NO!!
 
I'm too busy to worry about my competition.
I put my energies into selling my service and performing my job well.
Karma, full circle, yadda yadda.
No time for them.
 
I lost 2 jobs about 2 years ago the same franchise. It was on a 15 and a net 7. This guy came in and said that he had water that was "300*" and he used only steam. to clean the concrete. And i was doing a bad job and charging way to much. He bashed my work real bad,said i was a rookie too,and he knew me. So the GM called me and canceled the contract. I tried to save it but he was sold. All i asked was let me stop by right after he cleaned it so i can show him the difference. he said no it wouldt be fair. In a 2 month period they had it with this guy not showing up or calling that he wasnt going to make it. He was cutting corners bad no chems in the drive-tru/ dumpster pad areas and mostly cold water all the way through. When i saw this guy he had a brand new lil hot water unit on a trailer no tank, a 32" northern tool SC, 1 hosereel and the PW split into 2 guns??? I got a call after 2 months and told them that i would only clean on a 3year contract and I would have to rebid. the price was higher now. He didnt hesitate to sign.but the loyalty factor was gone. they were just another job after that. Point being let your work speak for itself, and ask for the chance to earn their bizz. dont trash talk
Ok im done with my rant :meeting::haha:
 
Bashing doesn't help. I told a manager about a guy that was blasting away and using engine degreaser of some townhomes, doing some real damage and not getting all the mildew & mold off, thought I was real tactful but I know I somehow offended the manager after we talked and didnt hear from that manager for over a year.

hacks, true hacks drive me crazy and I would like to warn managers, heck I'd like to scream it to customers, but I think they just have to figure it out on their own
 
No, we aren't those kind of people anyway.
<O:p
We have had a few customers start off by complaining about other companies (not anyone we are familiar with) but we just choose not to contribute to that part of the conversation. <O:p
<O:p
The best we can do is tell them how we would complete a job and what our company standards are. It's not worth trash talking. <O:p
<O:p
~Jen <O:p
 
I don't bad mouth competitors or use the words "previous" or "existing contractor" when talking about work that has been done - I sell on the merits of what CleanFast USA offers. However, in giving an analysis of the condition of a sidewalk or building
where someone has obviously blasted the tits out of it, I will say 'someone' has been negligent at one time in the method used to try and clean this.

Good, bad or indifferent, I will tell them what I see - while I want our service to be part of the 'education' in what is good or bad, it does no harm to highlight some reasons for poor quality work.
 
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