Every consumer is looking for rewards. What started with airlines has spread to every corner of the economy. There is no better case in point than carpet cleaning rewards. We know of Washington DC carpet cleaning firm in which customers receive a punch card, and each time they refer a paying customer, the card gets punched. The referrer then receives a reward for each punched hole, such as $20-worth of cleaning service for free. This kind of program is win-win: the cleaner gets new business and the referrer gets free services. It turns out that the carpet business thrives on referrals from existing customers. To qualify as a referrer, you must first be a paying customer. You can recommend anyone: friend, family, colleague, neighbor or a total stranger.
The reward entitles the referrer to the specified amount of carpet, upholstery, rug or leather cleaning for free. Since there are no limits on this reward, you could get free carpet cleaning for life if you refer enough paying customers.
Another program variation rewards customers with an additional discount if they refer someone to occupy the next open spot on the cleaner’s schedule. The offer exists from the time the customer makes an appointment until the cleaning is completed. A typical reward is a five percent discount on your current bill. Of course, you still get the $20 referral fee. This is pretty innovative, we think!
These newfangled programs are designed to replace older programs where coupons are mailed to prospects. The coupons offer low-ball prices from a cleaning company you’ve never heard of. The problem with these offers is that they are often bait and switch scams, in which the cleaner “discovers” extra cost items that need to be performed. Before you know it, you are paying a small fortune for a second-rate job. The referral reward program is superior because you already know the cleaner is reputable. Most reputable cleaners offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee – if you are not satisfied, the cleaner returns within 48 hours to fix the problem, up to and including a full re-cleaning.
One last thing – it’s good to reward the environment by using a “green” carpet cleaning service. These services use chemicals that produce the least ecological impact and allergic reactions. The chemicals are usually 100 percent organic and non-toxic. Steam systems can be just as environmentally sound as dry carpet cleaning, as long as the right chemicals and techniques are used.