rug cleaning costs, when / how do you pay?

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kaluki

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As some of you are aware I have my own small rug cleaning buisness. Last year was the worst year ever for people paying me.
What I was doing, was notifying people when i was returning rugs, and asked them to leave payment, at the yard for me to collect. Most of the time this is what they were doing. When no payment was left, I would ask them to post me a cheque, to save me returning rugs again.
Unfortunately quite a few people didnt keep their word, so was constantly chasing money last year.
So this year, I will not leave rugs unless payment has been left, have already ''upset'' 2 customers with this.

So how do you pay and when??

Would be interested to hear from other rug buisness's as well, how do you collect your money?

thanks for getting this far!!:)
 
The washer guy picks them up from my lorry...then texts a couple of days before they are due back with the costs.

I leave the money in my lorry and he takes it when he drops the rugs off.

Works for me.
 
the chap i used for rug cleaning went out of business at the begining of 2012 due to non-payers.
the people i used this year got billing wrong, had the rugs for 3 weeks instead of one, and took 17 rugs returned 11 so i spent 2 wks chasing the 'lost' rugs up which at first they denied having them they found them when i produced a list of the ones they had taken then they returned rugs without notice and were cross i was not there and there was no money left.

i think these days you have to be competetive and part of the competetive edge is being efficient.

i think you need to give a collection/return date that is mutually convienient as early as possible and all rugs need to be signed out from the yard and back in again, if you return them and no-one/the money are not available you take the rugs back with you and there should be an extra charge, if people are not happy with that then they pay before they are returned and waive their right to check the rugs are all there upon return.

i just want someone efficient and reliable-cheap is good but not as important as getting the rugs back
 
jenz87 said:
Ive only had rugs cleaned once but I met them at the yard with money. Aybe only agree to drop off to them in person?
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this easier said than done, when you have 5 peoples rugs, and they go to work, not every one is available during the day to meet you.

Jools, that is what i was doing notifying people that rugs were done, cost and payment methods and when i would return, giving 24/48 hrs notice, they would in most cases acknowledge texts say they would leave money in a certain place and dont, usually give it a week to arrive, when it doesnt......

This little buisness doesnt earn a huge amount of money, I am seriously debating going back to 'work' and my last 'job' was filling vending machines!
sometimes its more trouble than its worth.:(
 
I bought a heavy duty clothes rail can hold human weight. holds rugs well up to 6 ft 9 and is also good for showing rugs off to resell
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http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/useful-ideas.html is on this page too of the site

Brought a katcher sprayer and use that spray on fabric washer then jet off. Cost me next to nothing , I never use cleaner on the outside of NZ just use the hose without the jet so as not to damage reproofed material.

So my rug cleaning bills for 3-4 horses new zealands is about £ 10 in water and cleaner = 25 rugs cleaned
 
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I use a company that picks up from a local feed/tack shop/agricultural merchants where I have an account. The rug company charge the costs to my account. This is the easiest way.

My friend uses a company. When you call, you have to book the rugs in (they come to the yard to pick them up) they work out what the costs will be & the cheque/cash has to be left with the rugs. If there is a problem eg) the rug requires more work & therefore additional costs the owner is called to see if they want it doing & to arrange how the costs can be paid - usually a cheque left.

Could you accept PayPal or bank payments? The company who supplies my hay/haylage has started taking bank transfers it makes life so much easier.
 
My rug person collects/delivers from/to my place of work. She texts me when she arrives and I meet her outside the office. She leaves me with a bill which I pay (the same day) by bank transfer. I do wonder how many of her customers are bad debts.

Her prices are very competitive given the costs of fuel.
 
I gave up with 3 different local companies as always a dispute about how many rugs, when they were coming back etc.

Have now used local tack shop for past 3 years, yes its more pricey but I know when they are coming back, they will repair if required, I know when they are open for me to pop in & pay & collect - and most importantly: they havent lost one yet! :)
 
kaluki said:
this easier said than done, when you have 5 peoples rugs, and they go to work, not every one is available during the day to meet you.

Jools, that is what i was doing notifying people that rugs were done, cost and payment methods and when i would return, giving 24/48 hrs notice, they would in most cases acknowledge texts say they would leave money in a certain place and dont, usually give it a week to arrive, when it doesnt......

This little buisness doesnt earn a huge amount of money, I am seriously debating going back to 'work' and my last 'job' was filling vending machines!
sometimes its more trouble than its worth.:(
Click to expand...

i think if you dont get a text to aknowledge your one then you keep hold of rugs till you are contacted. if when you arrive payment has not been left then you do not leave the rugs and there is a charge to re-deliver. problem is for the chap i mentioned who closed is business he ended up with so many rugs that no one ever collected or paid for. so yes is it still a viable business?
 
As a customer I would expect to have to pay/leave money ready for when rug returned. No payment = no rug. The company who service the liverpool yard leave a clear price list, along with an A4 sheet where we complete our name and contact details along with description of each rug.
There are also labels with serial numbers so you attach one to rug and it is returned with numbered label on bag.
Perhaps you need to be clearer about costs and payment system at outset? Also conditions for non payment eg after 28 days rug will be sold to cover outstanding bill unless alternative agreed.
 
Maybe

Your rugs are ready for collection/ delivery on receipt of your payment I can leave them at a convient place for you.......


I use my local tack place as they wash on site.... Always pay up front even though I know them well ..... They have costs too.
 
Cash on collection when they were done by a local company. Have recently had them done by a lady on our yard who sends a bill at month end and then payment is due.

I've started doing my own though cos I've found the proofing to be not great the last few rugs I've had done.
 
For cleaning could they not pay up front?

For repairs if you have a clear and simple structure of charges they could pay up front for those too

It may not be the 'done thing' but if you are good at what you do with a solid reputation you could have the upper hand so get away with that

Pointing out to customers that you can keep charges down that way may swing it as they will be currently subsidising those that dont pay
 
Normal washes and reproofs, gets payment when you collect rugs.

Either has a simple strcured charge list for repairs or contact them asvising of cost and dont leave rug until paid.

Clearly state that non payment within 28? days will resukt in the rug being sold to recoup costs.
 
What about Paypal? Customer pays on collection of their rugs. Or if you are dropping back to they yard, text or call the customer - with your paypal details, once the payment has gone in then return the rug.

Might work :) Good luck :) x
 
I've a friend with a rug cleaning business. People tend to drop off and collect rugs - she doesn't often deliver them back. She texts or rings them when they are ready with the total amount due. Terms payment on collection. No money = no rug.

She does get people dropping rugs off early spring and then not collecting them for ages which is a pain for her, not having a massive amount of space.
 
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