New Ad says 15% any written estimate!

[deckrock]

Ok, so the new phone books came out. OH MY GOD. These guys must be jumping out of the wood work, there's about 10 more guys than last year with decent sized ads and now every painter in the world owns a pressure washer and knows how to do decks too! (Our ad is under deck maintanance and also under pressure washing).

So, one guy has a HUGE ad, in color, in the phone book. He apparently has 20 years experience in 'high pressure cleaning', a 5,000 PSI machine. Not sure what this means, but he does carpets, rugs, floors, tile, wood and brick and window cleaning. (do we now pressure wash rugs and carpets?) He has an ad under deck maintanance and pressure washing also.

What gets me.... is his HUGE ad says he'll honor 15% off any written estimate.

We're paying $750. / year for our 1" ad. If questioned by a potential customer, how can we save our *** about 'the guy who'll beat our estimate by 15%' ..... ?????????????

Competition is fierce.

 

[grasshawg]

This guy's pretty brazen. He openly says he will lowball anybody. The consumer will probably jump at the chance to save some money, but in the future will come back to the professional to fix his crappy job on their deck. Not to worry. Time always roots out and exposes the ripoff.
Randy

 

[Aplus]

If you can weather out this year, then next year will be better after people realize the effects of a low baller. (maybe). Best bet is to educate your customers about why you are the best choice, even though you may not be the cheapest.

 

[Larry L.]

If I was you I'd get all my friends a deal and make fate invoices or bids for them to show him.I'm sure they'd like a 50 dallor house wash after discounting the discount,more ways than one to f... a lowballer.

 

[PressurePros]

So, one guy has a HUGE ad, in color, in the phone book. He apparently has 20 years experience in 'high pressure cleaning', a 5,000 PSI machine. Not sure what this means, but he does carpets, rugs, floors, tile, wood and brick and window cleaning. (do we now pressure wash rugs and carpets?) He has an ad under deck maintanance and pressure washing also.

Competition is fierce.

Educate your potential customers. You know enough about wood care to find things to discount from that ad.

5000 psi?
Jack of all trades?

You are a wood specialist. New decks are very expensive to build. With ever rising lumber costs due to Katrina and the diminishing forestry would a person realy want someone that boasts using a 5000 psi machine to clean their deck and risk having to replace floorboards and rails prematurely? Most people know that using high pressure is a very bad idea even if they know nothing about wood care. This guy slit his own throat and gave you all the ammunition you need to take business. Don't worry about price, there will always be 'come and go' low ballers. Target your market. You don't want customers that shop on price, they have NO loyalty.