Client requesting NOT to use surface cleaner on driveway?!? price and method question

So I went to give an estimate last night. 6 townhomes shared driveway, about 3,200 sq ft. at one point I mentioned I would be using a surface cleaner and he immediately told me not to. He was very adamant about it and apparently he’s had bad experiences in the past with surface cleaners leaving “swivel marks”. I assured him I would go slow and make sure there were no marks but if he insisted I would do it with the wand. He ended by saying he just didn’t want swivel marks! He asked me a bit about my equipment (gpm) and mentioned he had some knowledge/experience in the washing business. I came home and emailed him the estimate (a little over 500, this includes 6 walkways that lead up to the front doors of each home). He emailed me saying he liked me and my professionalism a lot, but that I was the highest of 4 bids he got. He got $260, $350, and $467 and wanted to hear my thoughts. Did I come in too high? would any of you guys go out to do that job for $260?? any suggestions in case I do get the job and he insists on me just using the wand?

Its also not a regular driveway, I’ll attach a picture. Never done a driveway like this one before. Was planning on doing the same way I do regular concrete driveways. DS solution, dwell, then surface cleaner. Will this work just fine?

I know we say this a lot on this forum but I would bounce. First of all the guy tries to tell you how to do the job which means he has no confidence in you and then tells you that you are the highest bidder but still wants to work with you? I smell trouble. And by the way .15 a sq ft is not unreasonable in my opinion. If that’s your price, then stick with it.

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I would say…, Mr customer seeing that you have experience in this field, then you can appreciate that in order for some one to do this job at the low prices quoted, they are going to have to sacrifice quality or insurance or something… Then shut up and let his experience in cleaning work on him.

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If you are a professional using professional tools, and someone tells you that they don’t like your choice of tools, you walk away and encourage them to call you when they don’t get the satisfaction they seek from someone else. Period.

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I’d walk away…

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I think we know my response

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Think about this too, he wants you to lower your price AND use a wand. And he doesn’t want any striping to boot.

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I’m with everyone else walk away.

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I agree 100 % with what IB says lol

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I would say “See Ya’”…and be gone.

Let him do it the way he wants it done.

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Ya. No way in he’ll would I use a wand on that drive way. The guys full of sh*t. That’s like telling a painter that you want him to use a 4" brush instead of a roller. Ridiculous. You can’t win them all.

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I tune out as soon as somebody says anything about getting quotes. I don’t have time to play a chess game to maybe have a shot at washing somebody’s driveway.

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I’d tell him my quote was based on using surface cleaner. If you want me to wand it would be 50% more. Let him smoke on that.

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I do a lot of over the phone quotes when some one says they are taking bids … this means they are almost always going with the lowest bid period … I’m with you I’m not driving out and wasting time to maybe wash a driveway or even a house … I have set prices and that’s that … take it or leave it I still have plenty of work … I have been in this situation a few times and have been taken in … it’s always a huge pain and I’m always mad at myself for it …@instock

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You’d wand a whole 3200 sq ft driveway for just $250 more than you would surface clean it for??!?!?!

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LOL, heck no. I’d softwash the heck out of it in 30 min, then play around with my wand rinsing on medium for 30 min then check please for $750 on that drive.

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Rick wouldn’t waste his time on a loser like that. Anybody who knows anything about pressure washing wouldn’t dictate his tools. This guy is a fool, that guy with a fur coat who thinks he’s a gorilla… @Racer was merely suggesting an alternate way to blow him off!

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How about going the other direction with this individual. Instead of lowering your cost increase your bid by bidding on the wash of the townhouses. Tell him no one else bid on the whole package because they couldn’t see the whole picture that we offer cleaning services not just manual labor.
You can offer a demo of the surface cleaner. If the test area is good then he may tell you to finish right there on the spot.

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You know there really is the possibility that some bone head really did use a sufurce cleaner incorrectly and leave a bad taste in this guys mouth.
Secondly Every one tries to negotiate price can’t ding him for that.
The last part saying he has experience - did he mean he himself had experience in cleaning or did he mean he has experience with cleaners from past work done on his property?
Anyways just do the job, make sure BEFORE you start to whip out the camcorder or camera, make sure he sees you then again after the job is done. This is where a good walk around with the customer to point out problem areas come in handy. It only takes a couple moments to document everything and he will realize you are a professional. It also will stop any false claims in their tracks…

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