Beware of Unscrupulous Sales Tactics

A while back I wrote a blog post discussing three reasons you should not choose carpet cleaners on price alone and one of those reasons was the topic we are hear discussing. Bait and switch tactics consist of different specifics, but no matter how they vary, each has a common purpose - lure you in with a low price and change the details implied to increase the cost of your bill.

Cheap Carpet Cleaning Comes at a Price

We have all seen the ads or coupons in newspapers or magazines offering a great deal on carpet cleaning. In fact, some of those specials appear to be too good to be true. This article is meant to point to out a specific tactic that unscrupulous carpet cleaners use that make their offers 'to good to be true'.

How this tactic works is the customer schedules an appointment to have the carpet cleaned for the advertised price. However once the 'service technician' arrives, the customer discovers that the coupon does not apply to their specific job. That is when the selling starts based on different rates. these charge can climb rather quickly to a price that is very different from the price you originally saw advertised.

Services do vary and it is possible that you could prefer services in addition to the ones that come with an advertised price, but be on the lookout for a ridiculously low price in an ad. Many of those ads advertise prices that simply cannot be met if a carpet is cleaned appropriately.

So if you want a professional carpet cleaning service and you live in the Branson or Kimberling City area, contact Lakes Area Carpet Care for more information.

Three Reasons You Should Not Choose a Carpet Cleaner on Price Alone

One of the biggest factors for many people when trying to decide on a carpet cleaning company is the price. This is for good reason, no one wants to pay more than they need to for a service. However, when it comes to making a decision on carpet cleaning professionals, there are other factors that need to be kept in mind. Here are three factors that can affect the price of the service. 

 

Bait and Switch Tactics

The first reason to avoid choosing a carpet cleaner on price alone is that some companies use low prices to get you hire them and then once they are at your home or business, they begin trying sell you more services or products. Remember the old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

 

Reputation and Customer Service

Another important aspect of choosing a carpet cleaner is the company’s choice of service policies. Prices might be low, but how is the service. Do they have a guarantee of some kind? If a business is willing to guarantee the work performed, they are showing that they are confident in their ability to do a great job. What about their reputation? If the company you are considering has been in business for many years, then you may know someone that has made use of their services. This can be a valuable resource to you. Consider asking around to get an idea of the reputation of each carpet cleaner you consider hiring. 

 

Cleaning Methods and Equipment Quality Varies

There are a variety of methods that are used to clean carpeting. Since this is the case, it is wise to get some clarification on what type of cleaning methods each company uses. Some cleaning methods do not get your carpeting as clean as others do. This differentiation can affect the price. Additionally, cleaning equipment comes in a variety of forms and not all machinery is the same in quality or performance. Professional cleaning machines are more costly than other machines and as a result, they can cause variations in prices.

What to Consider When Choosing a Carpet Cleaner - Trustworthiness

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a carpet cleaning professional is the reputation of the company. This is not always easy to determine. However, there are some indicating factors that you can look at to help you get a feel for the degree of trust you can feel toward the company.

The Company's History Can Foster Trust

While history alone does not necessarily reveal the degree of trust you can invest in your carpet cleaning service, it is a good indication of how long that particular company has been performing the service. The company's history can give an indication of how long the company has been in business. Additionally, you may be able to determine if the carpet cleaner has been working in your area or if they have recently started serving your neighbors.

If the company has been in business for a number of years, most likely you can find a friend or family member that has heard of or even used the services of the company you are considering. This can be a valuable resource to you in making your decision.

Advertising Can Play a Part

If the carpet cleaning company advertises through television or print, the message conveyed in the ad can ad a sense of security or throw up a red flag. If marketing message is solely focused on price and that price sounds extremely low compared to other pricing you are familiar with, you may want to beware. Often times companies will use a low price to get into the home and then the team will try to sell additional services or even worse, change the deal altogether. Our official web site features a news video that demonstrates bait and switch tactics being done in one area.

Up front pricing that may seem like higher prices could end up costing less in the long run and a company that is honest with you about pricing will most likely be honest about other aspects of the service.

In conclusion, when choosing a carpet cleaning company, make sure you have a good indication of what the company is focused on and if they have a history of treating customers honestly.

Common Carpet Questions

We regularly get questions about carpeting, carpet cleaning, and related topics. Some of the questions we often get are listed below, if you would like to get the answer to one or more of these questions why not check out our FAQ page on our web site?

Here are some common questions people ask:

• How much time will it take to clean my carpet? 
• Will water ruin my carpet?  
• How much time will it take for my carpet to dry?  
• I've heard that cleaning makes my carpet soil faster, so why have it cleaned?
• Do I need to move my furniture before the cleaning crew arrives? 
• Do I need to remain home while my carpet is being cleaned? 
• Will the cleaning agents used to clean my carpet harm my children or pets?
• How much time do I have to wait after cleaning to let my children or pets on the carpet? 
• Is it possible to have both my area rug and the carpet that it sits on cleaned at the same time? 
• What should I do in the event that the stains that were cleaned reappear? 
• Do you guarantee customer satisfaction?
   

If you do not find your question listed here, why not give us a call?