it all started after I had won a gift certificate for a kitchen cleaning by Maidpro in Smithfield. I called them up to schedule the cleaning and honestly, everyone I spoke to on the phone was pleasant and cheerful. I agreed to their estimates but obviously - since they hadn't been in the house yet - I assumed there would be some adjustments to estimates, needs, expectations, etc. I have worked with cleaners in the past and had some experience with how these things can fluctuate. I fully understood that expectations for both parties can change and I was prepared to be flexible.
She was there for a long time. She maintained composure but honestly, by the end she seemed frazzled. The floors ended up with only the barest vacuuming. That being said, I was still impressed with the overall cleaning and was certainly grateful for the help! I paid the fee I had been quoted. I gave her a decent tip and a rave review. I told her how amazing she was and how much I appreciated her efforts.
The most bizarre aspect of the phone call: "If and when you can get everything in the house restored let us know. We could consider cleaning it again." I felt like I had just gone on a blind date and been told, "you are too old, too fat, your eyes are the wrong color, and I don't like your hair. But if you can fix all that, give me a call and I'll consider taking you out again." Gee, thanks. I feel so special! ;-)
I have looked all over the official Maidpro website and have seen nothing to indicate what kinds of floors they will clean and what floors they won't. I haven't seen anything to let me know what conditions need to be present in order to be considered a "good fit." Nothing on the website backs up the manager's insistence that I fork over $1,000s of dollars to redo the house to their exacting standards before they could even consider cleaning again. To be honest, I'd love to plop down $100k and totally restore this 125+ year old house to perfect condition! Sadly, I am not independently wealthy and I'm forced to work on this house project by project. In the meantime, I have a household to run and was hoping for some help with the cleaning. I have seen repeated claims on their website that they will work with clients to come up with customized cleaning plans. This seems like this could have been an option for me, but I guess my money simply wasn't green enough :(
When I worked with a previous cleaning company in Virginia, they came to the house, we went around and confirmed everything they would and would't do, she wrote up an estimate and that was that. I am honestly confused as to why they were so unwilling to work with me at all - under any circumstances. What had I done? I had been only pleasant, accommodating, flexible, and willing to pay. All I asked in return was for the dust and hairballs be cleared away and surfaces scrubbed down. They had two weeks to talk to me about their expectations and needs. I would have been happy to arrange a different schedule, I would have been willing to have them say there were certain floors or whathaveyou that they would prefer not to clean. In other words, I would have been eager to work with them to come up with a customized cleaning plan.
I believe in my heart that these are good and kind people. I am sure they are sweet, funny, kind, and well loved by friends and family alike. That being said, I am honestly confused by this behavior. I never went to business school, but maybe there is a school of thought that rejecting clients is a good way of getting more business? Or maybe this franchise is already so incredibly successful they only work when the mood strikes? I have no idea. I will say this: Their phone skills are excellent and the jingle is certainly catchy. It may even be that they are excellent regular cleaners. I honestly have no idea. My experience was that they were quick to say yes and make a deal, then just as quick to quit at the last moment. Ultimately, they were not particularly professional or reliable no matter how sharp their website, or cheery their jingle. read more
