....I need your advice. If you do not use a cleaning service please spare me condescending responses. I get it- my western problems are not that bad.
Okay, so I've been happy with this cleaning service. They come once a month. They do a good job. Not the best, but good. I have trusted them and appreciate that they own their own business. I have had bad luck with cleaning services that hire out the work. I pay a little more for this husband and wife team, but so far its been worth it. I've been planning to give them a christmas bonus in the neighborhood of $100.
However, they are supposed to be here the first Tue of every month in the late morning. They used to call and give me a time frame the day before. I've been accommodating when they need to change it up, so long as I have warning. I have two small kids so I need the advanced warning to tidy up and plan an outing for my kids to get them out of the house. This month is the second month I did not hear from them so I called to see when they would be coming. No response, so i figured they were moving my day and planned to run errands. I called one more time in the afternoon to make sure and they said they were coming at 4:00. Major pain in the butt. I tried be polite but firm that I needed better warning so I could plan my kids, their meals, their outings around the cleaning. I will now have to take the fam out to eat because I will not have access to my kitchen and my kids eat promptly at 5:00 or meld down city. So in this moment of requesting better communication she then raises my price by $30/ cleaning.
So my question is, do you think this lady wants me to cancel the service? Why would she raise the price when she already knows I'm ticked ? as for the bonus, I don't want to be a jerk, but not exactly feeling generous toward them. Have not decided what I'm going to do about that, but I need to decide quick.
Well there was some confusion and while we sorted that out I'm still not pleased with why they are skipping my cleaning this week. She does not speak good english so her daughter called me. She confused me for another woman with the same first name. They are hanging christmas lights and was quoting me that price and scheduling that job (on my cleaning day). She did not increase my price, however is booking holiday work on my cleaning day. she asked if she can move my cleaning to next week. In which case I wish I had told her I will just clean my own house this month because my toilets are growing cultures!!!!!!! I will give the christmas bonus. But I have told them that I don't want to be at the bottom of their priority list for extra holiday jobs or I will find a new service. I think bumping me for temporary work is not smart, but I believe in second chances.
I pay $130 for 3000 s.f. for the monthly cleaning and I do some (floors, sinks, counters, toilets) in-between cleaning so it does not get as dirty as it could if it were truly only cleaned 1 x mo.
She may, or she might be having staffing problems. I'd just tell her, that the price hike is not acceptable, nor are the inconsistencies in their schedule. Based upon her response to that, you might have to tell HER to take a hike.
I also used a cleaning lady for a while. Because of the changing times and days and making it more of an inconvenience to me I dropped it all together. I know several women who are so happy with their cleaning ladies, I would hire them if I decided to go back and get help with the house.
They have had their ladies for years. Same day, same time and no price increases. They have no problem suggesting to them what more or better ways to clean. One lady used a green scratch pad and scratch up a sink...because she does such a great job and is on time she just asked her not to bring in the green scratch pads again to her house...it wasnt a problem. Now thats worth paying for. Good luck!!
Craigslist here I come, there are a ton of cleaning service providers on there who want to work.
To your original question, before this incident, $100 would have been an acceptable gift.
i wouldn't care what she wanted, i'd go ahead and cancel. that's ridiculous, the agreement is tuesday mornings, with a courtesy call the day before... not tuesday evenings, with no call at all! she should be DEEPLY reducing your rate for today, with a sincere apology for dropping the ball on her end. i think i'd tell her no thanks for today, and start looking for a new service. good luck!
I would look at it as a business decision. If you can't work with the new price and parameters then tell her thanks for your business, but I'm letting you go. If you want to negotiate, then push back, but it sounds like they're no longer the right match for you.
We tried two services before finding our current lady, who is wonderful.
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I would not try to second guess what she wants. I would directly ask her. Tell her you were already ticked and when she increased the price it feels like she wanted you to quit. If she says no, that wasn't her intent be ready to discuss the increase. Decide first if you are willing to pay an increase and if so how much.
When I think about it, I wonder what does it matter if she wants you to quit? I doubt that's the case because If so, she can quit without raising the price. I think the main issue is whether or not you want to stay with their service at the increased price.
Another thought. She may have raised the price because she was irked that you were questioning when they performed the service. I suggest that this happening is a sign of the need for better communication.
I suggest that you have a conversation with her about how you feel. Use I statements. Say that you wonder if she wants to stop the service?
Say you have to have them come in the morning and that you're disappointed/frustrated that they've changed the time without discussing it with you. If you're willing to pay the extra $30 use that as a bargaining tool. You will pay extra but in exchange you need such and such.
If they have never been structured it doesn't sound like this is a ploy to get you to dump them. What is the upside? Do you have a contract? If there is no penalty to dropping you as a customer there is no reason for games, ya know?
Chances are they are over scheduling trying to make more money. Apparently that isn't working so they raised their price.
I have always used friends from my parish that clean homes. They always came at the same time and the day planned. I don't think I could handle what you describe no matter how well they clean.
I agree with your observation on agencies, never had one of them worth a hill of beans.
You might avoid the hassles by using an actual service company. Our girl comes same time, same day, every other week. After trying a few different individuals, I found one I was pretty happy with and requested that I have her every time and they accommodated me. I had one that was great but had issues with her calling in sick or car problems (and then I would get someone different) so I asked that we get assigned someone new and they took care of it. They also call ahead to make alternative arrangements if our cleaning happens to fall on a holiday. We use MaidPro which are franchises so the owner wants to keep his business reputable.
She probably raised the price because she was offended. Which is ridiculous. You should know when they are going to come, its not a big request. If they were professional enough then they would be already telling you and you wouldnt have this problem.
It sounds like the past services were good, but maybe its time to change to someone elses company. One that will give you proper notice, or will come at the same time each time. You shouldnt be calling them for time frame, they should be already letting you know, as to keep a happy customer.
Do some research online and get some good reviewed companies and find yourself a new cleaning person.
And one that wont raise your price because they are mad.
I've used a cleaning service before. They are awesome. I've used 3 companies - one sweet lady retired, one was a brother/sister business and they ended up moving back to Mexico, one was a Mexican woman and her friend and they took care of me for almost 6 months while I recoverd from complications due to c-section/childbirth - they wouldn't let me do anything and would shoo me off to bed while they worked and even made me lunch. I had an American company of 3 women come out and they charged me $400 the initial visit b/c they didn't realize my house was so "big" (2500 sqft) and had so many windows. Don't have one now b/c I'm sah and can't really justify the expense, plus I don't mind it. Anyhoo...
Give them a call and tell them what you think - that you like them, would like to keep them, but they've been late in the past and its an inconvenience for you and your family. B/c of that, and in light of the recent "mix up" you don't understand why she is raising your rate. Ask her "Can you help me understand what is going on?".
You don't want to assume or accuse or even hint that they did anything wrong until they can explain themselves, for just that small teeny weeny offset chance there is nothing wrong and they really innocently raised their rates not realizing you had an issue with them.
gl
I would DEFINITELY cancel them!!! We have used different maids in the past.. With "my" experience, they seem to get a little lazy after about a year or two... A little too comfortable for me..Where they start telling "me" what their going to do... So I always switch out every couple years...
Wow! And to think she would have gotten a generous Christmas bonus. Talk to her about communication and ask her why she raised the price. Be upfront. Good luck to you!
You did not mention how much you pay for the 1xmonth cleaning?
My hunch is that because you only use their cleaning services just once a month....your house is probably more difficult to clean, especially with kids and they are probably wondering if they have a job each and every month. You could easily call the day before and cancel on them and / or reschedule. It's also a long time between cleanings. Twice a month seems to be more the norm for this business. They also sound like they need the $$ and employment, thus the light hanging. If your job fell through they need to make it up somehow.
My experience with non-English speaking domestic help is that they typically have a very subservient mind set and need a lot of reassurance that they are indeed being counted on to return. My Mexican help always return to Mexico for at least a month for Christmas. The Philipino or Vietnamese help always leaves for a month or two in the summer. So what I have figured out, is that long term work is not a common mind set. They are always very happy to be 're hired' when they return from their extended visits, but usually do not expect it.
I've not had that problem with our cleaning services. We haven't used one in 7 months....I truly miss it.
You are not being a jerk.
I would start searching for a new service. If you lived here in VA - I could recommend two WONDERFUL services that I have used. Talk to a "chain" and tell them the problems you have had in the past and see what they will do.
People are realizing that customer service is key to keeping customers..
NEVER GIVE UP!! NEVER SURRENDER!! :)
I have been having similar issues like this with my lady. I think she doesn't want to work with me anymore? Which is odd... but I guess maybe that's it? I'm like you (I think) and clean up for the most part - but I do need help with the deep cleaning. Seems like an easy job to me. ?!?!? Strange.
Just chiming in. I really have no advice.
:)
My cleaning service comes every other week, within a two hour window mid-day. They have never let me down. I think she would just quit working for your before raising the prices and hoping you stop using her. I pay less per service because it is twice a month rather than monthly and I tip each time so I wasn't planning on a big bonus. They get much more this way and are always asking me if there are special tasks I would like done. If I am not getting a service I pay for I speak with them, have the conversation and clarify. What percentage increase is the $30? How was your pricing before? If you are not happy, move on. There are others out there willing to do the job.
You only have them come once a month?
I cleaned houses while I was working on my Ph.D. I had lots of requests for 3 or 4 weekly cleanings. Guess what? I quickly got rid of them.
She raised the price because houses need cleaning services more often than once a month. Your money isn't worth it to them because they can't maintenance a good level of cleanliness if they only come once a month.
I learned quickly to only allow bi-weekly cleaning. It was the only way I could keep the house somewhat clean for them. Otherwise, I would be there all day, when I only had 3 hours. The extra $30 is very reasonable for a monthly service. I charged $15 extra for a 3 week service.
