AIBU to tell her to fuck off if she can't afford it?

[cleanerlondon1]

So I’m advertising on the next door app for my cleaning services, and this woman decides to send me a long message saying ‘how dare I charge £13 an hour, when the going rate is £8-9 ‘ ‘ people can’t afford it, and I’m being unfair’.

I just feel like there’s millions of cleaners out there advertising, and if she can find one she can afford she should go for that. Why send me a message complaining about the price? I could understand if it was £50 an hour or something like that. I even offered her a discount and said I’d do it for £10 an hour for her first clean, but no she wanted it under a tenner

I’m in East London btw, and I know people here charge £12-13 an hour.

I'd just say "It looks like I won't be able to help you. If there are people charging £8 or £9 an hour then good luck to you, and them. Goodbye."

She probably sends the same message to every cleaning service on NextDoor and Gumtree hoping someone will bite.

And they probably will.

Just a numbers game.

Ignore the lunatic.

Because I genuinely thought if I did a good job, I could 'win her over

Seriously, could you not see what kind of customer she was going to be though? Just ignore her.

We pay ours £14 an hour because she’s great and goes above and beyond what we want her to do and we don’t want to lose her! She asked for £12.

If someone quibbles about the price at the start they'll carry on doing the same for the entire time.
I hadn't realised people were being forced to have a cleaner though - the poor woman!

She does understand that she does not have to buy services she considerst too expensive? Ignore.

I'd be wary of doing anything for people like her whether she pays your going rate or get a discounted rate, she sound the type to nit-pick and refuse to pay due to some fabricated reason. Just ignore her.

I pay £13 in Yorkshire and I know of plenty who charge more than that! The going rate hasn't been £8 or £9 for many years, even round here. She's a CF. Don't undervalue yourself - compete on quality, not price.

Dont bother yourself you'll still get loads of work you dont need this cf

If there is anyone charging £8/9 ph then they are underpricing themselves, especially in an expensive area.

The NMW for over 25s is £8.21 ph and that's for employed workers who don't have the costs of moving from job to job and if they do, they are paid travelling time and expenses from their employer.

For you to earn even NMW from your cleaning business, you need to charge above NMW to account for your travel costs and time, admin etc.

I'm sure you'll find plenty of clients at that rate, so I'd either just ignore her, or politely tell her that's the rate. People can afford different things, but what people can afford is irrelevant, goods and services are priced at the level that the market can bear, affordability is not a factor most of the time.

You need to get tougher - this is your business, your livelihood, you don't need to "win" anybody over. The price is the price.

Don't bother, even if you did it at a reduced price she would be the kind of person who would find fault and want a further discount. She's a trier.

Block and move on. And don't barter with your prices, you charge what you charge for your services. If they can't afford it it's not your problem

“Thank you for responding to my ad , I wish you luck in finding a cleaner who suits your requirements “

We are in a cheaper area than you. A cleaner is £12.50 an hour- and at that price working every hour they are "open" honestly dont waste your time on people who do not already appreciate the service you are offering is worth what you're asking.
They will be the worst clients who expect you to do more in an hour than you can, theyll find reasons not to pay. It's not worth it.

you need to get tougher - this is your business, your livelihood, you don't need to "win" anybody over. The price is the price.

This is my problem, I'm too 'nice'. When I can see a client is hesitant, I just offer a discount. 9 out of 10, they like the way I clean and they always tell me to come back and they pay the full price this time. So I thought she was one of those clients, I only realised she was a CF when she wanted it done under £10.

I've never had anyone ask for less, everyone always accept the discount.

Ignore her, if you post something rude back it could come back to bite you.

My cleaner charges £15 an hour as a basic rate, if you also have laundry she charges £18. It’s worth every penny.

I even offered her a discount and said I’d do it for £10 an hour for her first clean

Not a good idea IME. You won't "win over" someone like this and it would just turn into "I didn't get to the bank" or "I didn't really need the full hours" next time

Does she nag Sainsburys because Home Bargains sells groceries for less? Or M&S because that jacket she wants is cheaper on ebay?

Thought not

Don't be nice. This lady isn't nice. I wouldn't clean for her under any circumstances- she's already complaining and a bit nasty. Block her and move on, don't try to engage with her.

I haven't seen any cleaners round here (Birmingham) for less than £12 an hour. For £10 an hour as a one off I'd say yes please! I don't actually have a cleaner as it's not an expense we can justify right now But would love one so the price would be important as money is a bit tight. She is being a CF.

There will always be chancers like this. I took a load of brand new baby outfits that I never ended up dressing dd1 in (FTM, bout pretty dresses, realised they were a faff and never bothered). The ones that still had the tags on showing they cost £15+ I asked for £2 per outfit. One woman kicked off that I wouldn't accept 50p. She stook their arguing and insisting to see if I would break. I didnt. Id sooner have given them away! This person is doing the same. Politely wish her good luck in her search and then ignore.

Bought^

“Please go ahead and contact those who charge under £10. My fee is £13”

That is all you needed to say

When I can see a client is hesitant, I just offer a discount

Oh dear - that's not "being nice" OP, it's being a pushover

I don't know if you've been doing this very long (?) but many people get their cleaners through recommendations, and each of these clients will be telling their friends "she'll do it a bit cheaper if you push"

Not really the basis of an ongoing successful business is it?