"Is This Necessary?"

[mustluvdogs1]

Today a new caller on the phone asked my price.. I don't answer until I get some details. What type of dog, weight, location, age, when last groomed, ever had mobile before? The woman said (I think mobile) might have to give up business. I said I am friends w/ many oh, no who? Would not say. I asked the routine questions, a few then she said, "Is this necessary?" in an exasperated tone. I said I am sorry but I can't give you an acccurate answer without some details. "I just wanted a price on a town & Country." I said between ----- and -----. Then she gave some excuse for not continuing conversation and hung up. Sometimes, I think they are other groomers checking prices. If she really was just a dog owner, I don't think I would want her with her attitude. Red Flag .People don't want to answer any questions, they think all dogs are the same and the price should be too. Just tell me the price they say. They won't listen to what I offer, spa package etc. I say a figure they hang up, some say thanks and hang up. Shopping, everyone is shopping.

[Pixie]

I may get into trouble for saying this but yes, I think it is necessary. I do it. I'm not going to go somewhere that I don't know the price of something. I like to shop around. I know it is a bit frustrating but it happens and we just have to deal with it I guess.

[GroomSaloon]

I have a salon and get that 'attitude' too. Yes they are price shopping. But now I say "Who am I speaking with' Then I introduce myself, try using their name and say "Betty (ex.) do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your dog, in order to give you a fair quote?" Most will say they do not mind.

Some definitely ARE other groomers. I went to http://www.411.com a few weeks backed and entered a phone number - it came out to another groomer's salon in the next town. We all did that when we first started out, curiousity is just human nature. Most new clients are pleasant and love to talk about their pets.

[misscatahoula]

I got alot of those calls my 1st year. How much for a bichon? How much for a schnauzer? How much for a Shih Tzu? Asking the prices for several breeds. So I ask a few questions, and if they are looking for an appt, and the call would shut down immediately. No, just asking about prices right now, click. No return call, of course. I'd rather have a competitor call and be honest instead of starting the call trying to come off as a customer. I found it annoying.

[Poodlefluff]

I posted an advertisement on craigslist for my housecall grooming and I put that I don't charge a trip fee for residents of one specific area, because A. it is a small area, and B. I am already driving around it all day long anyways. C. Most of my salon clients live in this area and I didn't really want to raise their prices. I feel great just getting 100% commission now. I love it.
Well to get to my point, a mobile groomer sent me a nasty email saying my prices are too low and that I was a disservice to other mobile groomers undercutting this business. That they are trying to raise mobile grooming prices to earn a descent living and that if I wanted all of the cheap skates she would send them my way.
I wrote her back and said -look I don't have an $80,000 groom mobile to pay for, that gets 6mpg. So my prices may be lower, but I have barely any overhead, my small suv gets 18mpg, and I use peoples, tubs, towels, and house. I charge a trip fee IF I have to travel outside my area, but it is still lower than most mobile prices and it is because I am different from mobile. And yes PLEASE by all means send me your "cheap skates" I am still building my clientle! -- I thought it was very unprofessional of them to send me a nasty email. As Stephen has said before there are plenty of grooms for the amount of groomers there are.

[Arrooh]

I agree

that often I just want to know the price of an item, won't go further unless it is something I think is fair and in my budget. But when it comes to the fur kids, I forget about price often. I interviewed a reportedly wonderful Man owning a boarding kennel. I was really thrilled with his love for the animals. I left forgetting to even ask for the price, then called back to ask. He was so pleased that I forgot.

Well only once, and I do mean only once, have I ever had a caller for grooming book if the first question out of their mouth was "How Much Does It Cost?" or such wording. Funny though that ONE customer has two dogs and booked every 5 weeks standing, so you never know.

One should always, always be pleasant though because you never know and you never know that they might refer you to a someone they know partly because you were pleasant to them.

[rapuzzled]

I get quite a few too. The ones that make me sigh and laugh all at the same time are the ones that call and say, How much to groom my dog...welll...like I charge the exact same price for all dogs regardless of breed, size, etc.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

I just want to know why this is in the beginners forum? Did I miss something?

Tammy in Utah

[mustluvdogs1]

OOOps, I could have sworn it was in off topic.

Well, I must have been sleepy, cuz I meant to scroll to the end to OFF Topic. It would be good advice for a beginner, however. I feel a lil stupid. At least it was a groomer / client subject.

[rapuzzled]

Well, I must have been sleepy, cuz I meant to scroll to the end to OFF Topic. It would be good advice for a beginner, however. I feel a lil stupid. At least it was a groomer / client subject.

Don't feel stupid. I accidentally posted about my dogs e collar and surgery on the bichon styling thread of all things, lol.

[baddog]

[QUOTE=mustluvdogs1;41363]Today a new caller on the phone asked my price.. I don't answer until I get some details. What type of dog, weight, location, age, when last groomed, ever had mobile before? The woman said (I think mobile) might have to give up business. I said I am friends w/ many oh, no who? Would not say. I asked the routine questions, a few then she said, "Is this necessary?" in an exasperated tone. I said I am sorry but I can't give you an acccurate answer without some details. "I just wanted a price on a town & Country." I said between ----- and -----. QUOTE]

Maybe you were being to nosey about who was possibly going out of business. Your posts tend to ramble on, maybe you didn't realize you were talking too much.
BTW if I want to "price shop" I call the groomer and identify myself and tell them why I am calling and how I just want to stay with in the area standard for pricing, they usually thank me for being honest and tell me everything I need, a little professional courtesy goes along way.

[mustluvdogs1]

Woman who said "Is this necessary"

Hand a private number. Often they are shoppers or perhaps other groomers. The last member who replied here I don't read cuz every reply to me is rude. The replys from that individual are blocked. I accept fair and constructive advice, not nasty criticism, and insinuations. Everyone else is great.

[Doggone]

I get my fair share of price shoppers and I reaaly don't mind as I understand,esp.since I am the only mobile groomer in my area.What bugs me are the "I have to ask my hubby if it's ok" responce.I agree that a husband and wife should discuss things,but we are talking a grooming here not a boat! lol

[baddog]

Hand a private number. Often they are shoppers or perhaps other groomers. The last member who replied here I don't read cuz every reply to me is rude. The replys from that individual are blocked. I accept fair and constructive advice, not nasty criticism, and insinuations. Everyone else is great.

And that reply isn't nasty???? You seem to have communication problems with a majority of your clients, it's just constructive advice to keep it simple and to the point.

[txgroomer]

It wasn't a "nasty" email

I posted an advertisement on craigslist for my housecall grooming and I put that I don't charge a trip fee for residents of one specific area, because A. it is a small area, and B. I am already driving around it all day long anyways. C. Most of my salon clients live in this area and I didn't really want to raise their prices. I feel great just getting 100% commission now. I love it.
Well to get to my point, a mobile groomer sent me a nasty email saying my prices are too low and that I was a disservice to other mobile groomers undercutting this business. That they are trying to raise mobile grooming prices to earn a descent living and that if I wanted all of the cheap skates she would send them my way.
I wrote her back and said -look I don't have an $80,000 groom mobile to pay for, that gets 6mpg. So my prices may be lower, but I have barely any overhead, my small suv gets 18mpg, and I use peoples, tubs, towels, and house. I charge a trip fee IF I have to travel outside my area, but it is still lower than most mobile prices and it is because I am different from mobile. And yes PLEASE by all means send me your "cheap skates" I am still building my clientle! -- I thought it was very unprofessional of them to send me a nasty email. As Stephen has said before there are plenty of grooms for the amount of groomers there are.

Yes, that was me and you took it way wrong. I talk with a lot of the mobile groomers out here and yes there is PLENTY of business to go around we all get along quite great! In fact I DID give a lady out in California your website address because her husband wanted his dog done and none of us could get to him in the time frame he wanted. Yes I do feel your prices are WAY too cheap especially in the "certain area" we are referring to and your prices are not much higher than the petsomethings. Your work is WAY better than that and I do think you should charge more we are all out here working very hard to get the prices up because people want to pay what they at petsomethings for something that is a specialized service. Even the salons in the area offering express service are higher. My van is paid for I paid cash for it I have no overhead either but you still have maintenance and costly vehicle repairs that occur not to mention the price of gas, wear on tires, brakes etc.. you can bet I am going to charge high for specialized services. I also live in the area and I can put $50 in my van and it lasts all week but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out and give discounts just because I'm in the area. I get a lot of calls from owners using petwhatevers & how unsatisfied they are and I tell them the price and then they bat off they can get it done cheaper there (petwhatevers).. then it makes me wonder then why these people are calling me and griping how horrible the groom was and then gripe about the price you get what you pay for. We are not all charging the same out here but the difference might be a dollar or two higher or lower than each other. I charge out the whazoo for cockers because I simply hate doing them so if someone is willing to fork out the bucks for what I charge for a cocker than it's worth my time to go out there. My question is and I don't mean this in a nasty way, but if you plan on getting something to groom out of instead of in house it's going to be tough to go up to what you're going to need to charge to keep it going. I charge high enough to where I don't have to work myself to death anymore. I've been doing this over 20 years and I've had my "super groomer" years of 15+ dogs a day. Now I can do 4-6 dogs a day and make more than what I was making breaking my body down at 15 dogs a day. Just a thought. Charge more work less and make money.