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Before shopping for a carpet cleaning professional you should have the facts. We will show you how not to be lured in by misleading sales tactics and expose the misconceptions about sub-standard cleaning methods. This insiders' guide will put you on the right path with the information that you need to achieve cleaner and healthier carpets. |
"Bait and Switch" I'm sure you've seen the incredibly low price some carpet cleaners are advertising. We look at the money mailer, valpak, and others and see pricing like $9.95 a room and think " Wow, what's the catch?" The catch is they "bait" you with low price to get their foot in the door. This low low price includes a simple "maintenance cleaning". This type of cleaning has no protection, no spot cleaning,no deodorizing, or prep work for heavy soiling. Maintenance cleaning is designed to keep carpet clean, not to clean dirty carpet! If your carpet has spots, wear patterns, soiling, or odors then this type of cleaning is not enough for you. The "switch" is, most people do not fit in the maintainence cleaning category, so when they get in your home they pressure and up-sell you into buying the additional services. The Additional Services that most of us need can add up and get quite expensive. Next time you get such an advertisement read the fine print. |
"Per room Pricing" Sounds simple, right? Alot like bait and switch this too can be a misleading sales tactic to get a foot in the door. What you define as an area usually is different than what the carpet cleaner defines as an area. They won't tell you on the advertisement or over the phone that a room has stipulations. For example: It may be $20 a room but if the room is over 250 square feet it becomes two rooms or if the room is over 500 square feet it becomes three rooms. Often times this is only explained to you after they are already in your home and given you the price. Again, read the fine print in advertisements and when over the phone always ask: "How many square feet is a room?" Also, ask what services are included in the per room price. "Does it include a protectant, deodorizing, disinfectant, stain removal, and moving furniture?" Asking the right questions will ensure that the price you are quoted reflects the services you want performed. |
"Low Balling" This method is very similar to "Bait and Swtich", companies that charge by the room with seperate costs for additional services use "Bait and Swtich". "Low Balling" is most commonly used by all inclusive companies. Let's say for example, you want your living room, three bedrooms, and a hallway cleaned. If the other quotes you've received have been around $150 to $180, a low baller will quote something like $100. By doing this, the company gets the job knowing good and well that he can expect the total bill to be at least $150. Once in your home, the technician measures the rooms you want cleaned and gives you the total of something like $205. This is very frustrating and aggrivating to consumers, this company is already in your home, you have scheduled your day around this appointment, so you say: "OK". At the end of the job, it is very unlikely that you will call on this company to return, and will not be referring them to your friends and family. |