Ironing - if you sent it out, would you rather pay per item or on an hourly rate?

[Cluckyagain]

Hi - that's it really. Investigating setting up a small business with a friend to do ironing (not including collections or deliveries) We're stuck on deciding between the two.....which would you prefer? TIA

[Beauregard]

Hourly rate i think

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Per item. Definitely. Infact, I wouldn't use a service that charged per hour.

[Cluckyagain]

Thanks pelvic - 1 vote duly noted!

[nancy75]

dont they usually do it on weight? i am sure lots of people would be wary of hourly rate, how much would people expect to be ironed in an hour?

[nowwearefour]

per item. i definitely wouldnt use a per hour service either- if i pay per item then it is your problem how long you spend. if i pay y hour then it becomes mine!

[needahand]

I pay per weight

[LadyMuck]

I pay per item. Agree with nowweare four re hourly rate. Plus I assume that you will want to make some money at doing this and I would prefer for it not to be too transparent!

[Cluckyagain]

OK -

so per hour - 1, against - 2
Per item - 2
weight - 2

Ta so far

[Cluckyagain]

ladymuck - hadn't thought of that!!

So - per item seems to be winning the race (I've given up counting already!)

[bibbitybobbityhat]

I pay £10 per 12 items here in sunny London, if that helps. Excluding bedding - they charge extra for that.

[Cluckyagain]

Bibbity - it does indeed...we're in (rather dull today actually!) Surrey.

[Cluckyagain]

Bibbity - I meant to ask - does that include delivery or collection? We are pretty set on not doing either but wonder if that would put off lots of people? We are fairly rural and journeys round here to small villages can take a good 35 minute round trip of you're lucky.

[maddylou]

per hour is much easier and I have had no problems with it

[NotanOtter]

hourly deffo

[Lonicera]

I pay by weight, collection and delivery included.
TBH I wouldn't use a service that didn't offer collection and delivery

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

by weight or by item. I think hourly rate is open to abuse. you only have their word for it that it took them X amount of time. Plus hourly rate encourages dragging of the heels

[NotanOtter]

my ironer is a whizzer
she does two blue ikea bags a week and it is rarely over £5!

[hullohullowhatsgoingonherethen]

I think per item as the client can work out how much they are spending more easily. But I too wouldn't use a service that didn't collect or deliver.

Perhaps you need to include the transport costs into the price.

Why not ring some of your competitors posing as a client and find out how they charge?

[HerHonesty]

i pay per hour and then part of hour thereafter, and it works very well for me. includes collection and delivery. wouldnt see the point of dropping off and picking up to be honest. more hastle.

[Lonicera]

NotanOtter that is bargainacious

I pay about £20 for a binbag full ( pay by weight )

[TabithaTwitchet]

I think I would prefer to pay by weight.

If it is per item, then do people usually pay a flat rate whatever the type of clothing, or is there a price list for different items? (would personally prefer the latter)

[GooseyLoosey]

As I would have no idea how long it would take you to iron, I would rather pay by item or weight. I pay by the bag load.

[flowerybeanbag]

By item or weight definitely, to avoid risk of people claiming it took them three hours to do a shirt or something

I also probably wouldn't consider a service that didn't collect/deliver.

[Katz]

could you buy some cheap plastic boxes/bags and charge by the bag?

[GooseyLoosey]

Forgot to say, I wouldn't go for someone who didn't collect and deliver - too much hassle and the whole point is having less hassle!