Question:
We are thinking of charging customers a monthly damage waiver fee for portable restrooms if they don’t sign and return the customer service agreements. Have any of you ever done this? Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:
I looked into customer agreements and service charges a while back and determined that the expense of the paperwork versus the actual amount of damage we receive in a year did not make it worthwhile for me. Another thing I noticed was the better service I provided and the cleaner I kept the toilets, the less damage I got.
At the end of the day it is better to have the customer than lose them over an extra charge. But go with your gut, and if you think they will damage your toilet no matter what, maybe it isn't worth your time.
Do you dry serviced units?
Question:
How many of us dry our units after hosing them out? We dry our units to make it more comfortable for the users after we leave and it gives us one more chance to catch dust, dirt or grime that might not have come off in the scrubbing process. It requires more time, effort and supplies. If you are in a hot, dry climate where the unit will dry in a few minutes you might not want to bother with it. We are in Oregon and if we didn’t dry the unit, it would stay wet for at least a day in most cases.
Answers:
We do not dry any of our units. If the customer asks, I tell them that taking a rag and rubbing it all over the unit just spreads germs that come from the truck, the rag, the technician or from the toilet itself, making sure the unit is covered in germs. Plus most disinfectants work best if left on for several minutes. If customers persist, I squeegee the seat area off.
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I disinfect the inside, rinse off, chamois, and then buff with dry cloth. In the winter, I use a spray bottle with disinfectant mixed with washer solution to help avoid freezing before I’m done with the cleaning.
Calculate fuel surcharges
Question:
How do you come up with a dollar figure or a percentage for a fuel surcharge? In the past, we have raised the rates due to increases in fuel costs, but in our current economy I feel presenting it as a fuel surcharge might be more understandable for the customer.
Answer:
A standard formula for fuel surcharge calculation is to charge a 0.5 percent surcharge for each $0.05 fuel climbs above your base rate. To determine your base fuel rate, check the Energy Information Administration Web site, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. This includes regional fuel cost data and history, which will tell you what your fuel price was at the time you set your current service prices. Take the current fuel price and subtract your base rate from it. Divide the difference by $0.05 and multiply that amount by 0.005. This will be the percentage to multiply your service rate by in order to determine a fuel surcharge.
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