Roof shampoo - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Dan Dykstra · Senior Member

Roof shampoo

Alejandro Riojas · Community Member

Dan Dykstra wrote:
I have a roof shampoo guy in my area that I often have to bid against on jobs, well today I get a call from a lady that I gave a quote to and she asks me about my process, she told me that she also had roof shampoo give her a quote and he told her that I use bleach and that my process will kill her plants. She said that he told her that he uses a safe chemical then he uses rinse equipment to clean the roof. I asked her what rinse equipment was, she stated he never really said, so I told her that the equipment is a surface cleaner that they use on the roof. Then I had to explain our process and how we protect her plants.
when I go do quotes I never talk about the shampoo guy, and if a customer asks I just say that we use different methods, but I never talk bad about his method. I am now rethinking this, even though I said I would never put down a competitor. But I guess he is really laying it on thick when he speaks with potential customers. Any thoughts?

Dan I have a roof shampoo guy in my area but never have really met the guy. The last costmer that I had ask me about him and I told her never met the guy. She then goes on explaning to me that her neighbor hired him and that he was using a surface cleaner and that he messed up her shingles . So there you go! Haha

Alejandro Riojas · Community Member

Basically the guy is really not my comp and he is usually the lower bidder and even at that I still get most of the jobs! I'm like you I don't like talking bad about the comp. I usually explain my services our method for plant protection and that's all that's needed!

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

There is noting wrong with educating your customer about the methods and equipment you and he use. If YOU don't, no one else will. Just don't knock or talk in a negative way about the person or his business. Concentrate on the methods. I have never gone up against one of these shampoo guy's but if I did, I think I would probably show a video of them using a surface cleaner on a roof and then show them an actual live demo by firing up my surface cleaner. Then say, go ahead mam, put your hand underneath there. (of course grab her hand if she tries too) then fire up the roof pump and show her how SOFT AND GENTLE our process is.

His use of the word "will" is highly inappropriate and only meant to scare her. Let her know that. I am sure she uses bleach in some form or fashion everyday. The key is she "knows how to use it"

Chris Wegner · Junior Member

Well said Doug.....you took all the words right out of my mouth.

Dan....just remember "NO PRESSURE....NO DAMAGE!" "SOFTWASHING"

Kristofer

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

in my presentation I show photo of guy using roof broom, a guy using roof shampoo and photo softwashing. I explain that their key word is "low pressure" rinse. I ask why don't they say that it is hooked to a pressure washer. I ask if she waters her roses with the shower setting on her garden hose two inches from the flower.

Doug G · Junior Member

Dan Dykstra wrote:
she told me that she also had roof shampoo give her a quote and he told her that I use bleach and that my process will kill her plants. She said that he told her that he uses a safe chemical then he uses rinse equipment to clean the roof.

Yes Ma'am, it sure is a shame they can't compete with us on a professional level, don't you think?.....Ma'am, can I ask you a question......If you hired my company and we came out and killed your plants, would you ever hire us again? Would you tell your friends to use us? Our process has been used on over 100,000 homes nationally.....have you seen any news article about our process killing the plants?

The fact is Ma'am, you're talking to a competitor who just cant compete with us on a professional level. Do you feel it's professional for one business to bash another? When you deal with a professional like Your Roof Cleaner you will get professional results! When you deal with someone who you know does not act in a professional manner do you feel they will give you professional results?

Now explain your process and his. Remember....I never once used his name or his company name. I never once put him down. I asked her questions that lead to her putting him below me in her mind (where he belongs). If you look at the questions you pose to her you are setting her up to defend him while at the same time asserting that he can't be a professional if he acts that way......all truth and no lies or deception!

Yes Ma'am, it sure is a shame they can't compete with us on a professional level, don't you think? You just told her he is not a professional without badgering him and by asking her it makes it her choice to see him as not being professional.

If you hired my company and we came out and killed your plants, would you ever hire us again? Make her think about reality. If you were killing plants you would be the low-baller, have a bad reputation and be out of business......period.....

Do you feel it's professional for one business to bash another? Again reinforce that his actions are not consistant with a professional. Making her question his professionalism puts you one step closer to the job and one step closer to more jobs. The odds are he will either get tired of bashing you and losing the jobs or he will start bashing you even harder and start losing more jobs to you!

I could go on but I'm rambling.......My point is to put her in a position to defend him and for you not to defend yourself or your process. The odds are she will then see him for what he is and you get the job. I'm in now way saying not to explain the differences in how you do your job I'm saying make her defend him......make her defend him.....she wont.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

The biggest thing I see that Roof Shampoo does that annoys me is lowering a heavy surface cleaner down a roof, blowing and blasting, while using no ropes or fall protection equipment at all. Every video they have online and every picture posted shows guys in jeans and t-shirts lowering heavy equipment down roofs with no protection. That is a sin in my books and chills my spine.

THIS IS WHY I SAY NEVER GET ON A ROOF WITHOUT YOUR ROPES ON! EVEN IF THE ROOF IS A 2/12 PITCH AND COMPLETELY SAFE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A COMPETITOR IS GOING TO GET A PIC OF YOU ON A ROOF WITH NO ROPES ON USING IT AGAINST YOU AND THE REST OF US.

AC