Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: James Styles on July 23, 2019, 12:00:18 pm
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I was out doing a house this morning and seen another window cleaner doing a house across from me, he didn’t look pleased to see me lol he just did a front in like 5 mins then sat in his van watching me work for like a minute or two, I caught him looking and he still never said hi or looked away, I carried on working and then he drove off after bit.
Seemed a rude person from first impressions.
is this how competition/local workers act towards each other?
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Every window cleaner I've seen around has either stopped and come over to say hi and chat a bit or at least acknowledge me and wave. I know several and we help each other out.
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It's the norm, don't worry as you will get a mix of reactions.
I kinda know most of the shiners who work near where I do and we at least say hi and acknowledge one another. Other times we might have a chat.
Yet there's one shiner who lives round corner from me who always scowls whenever he drives by and often shouts some rubbish whilst driving by, but his clapped out car makes that much noise when he drives by that I never quite hear what he's saying, apart from knowing it ain't a nice comment he's saying.
Apart from him, it's no bother at all, in fact I've passed some jobs onto one or two of em as well
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Wait for a post later to say he was watching another wc from his van today who seems to be taking ages to a simple job :D
Back on subject. Most I come across are always pleasant. Customers in the road watching will respect that and will be glad they are not using a trader with anger or similar issues.
You will come accross the odd one who will ignore you. But that's their problem not yours. As long as you are seem to be professional and a people person you will be fine.
Never be put off by another wc. If you see one working when you pull up just carry on as normal and say hi. Never let yourself be intimidated.
I have had some really good chats with other wc when working on neighbouring houses.
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When I was out and about I'd be aggressively friendly with his sort, there's loads of them about. Usually; they're not very bright.
Most other window cleaners are fine.
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I was out doing a house this morning and seen another window cleaner doing a house across from me, he didn’t look pleased to see me lol he just did a front in like 5 mins then sat in his van watching me work for like a minute or two, I caught him looking and he still never said hi or looked away, I carried on working and then he drove off after bit.
Seemed a rude person from first impressions.
is this how competition/local workers act towards each other?
Sorry James , I didn’t realise it was a fellow CIU member 😂😂 I wasn’t 5 minutes either .. I was 7 🥴
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all the cleaners on my side of the water in Southampton get on well and there is no rivalry
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I got the impression he was looking at me like an amateur as I work from my car, or he seen it as his territory 🤪
when he drove past he just kept looking but never said a word lol.
Maybe I should of waved haha.
If I ever see new window cleaners about when I’m established I’d just be polite, no need for people to be so angry and territorial.
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I got the impression he was looking at me like an amateur as I work from my car, or he seen it as his territory 🤪
when he drove past he just kept looking but never said a word lol.
Maybe I should of waved haha.
If I ever see new window cleaners about when I’m established I’d just be polite, no need for people to be so angry and territorial.
Are you sure it wasn't just your perception of the situation? Maybe he was watching wandering why you never said hi?
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around my way I get on with most very well but your always gonna get the misrable sod, but that's just the way it is I've started to see some larger vans in certain area's they drive past with thumbs up but never stop for a quick chat, they must be so busy they ain't got time,
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All in all not much of a problem round here, varies between a nod or wave and one guy who likes to flash his led lighting fitted to his van ;) Nice guy though.
The most rude person I came across was a few years back, I was parked pretty much opposite him and just thought I'd pop over say alright.
I could tell straight away he was a tw8t, more or less blanked me! Fair enough, wouldn't make that mistake again.
Funny enough he is a member on here.
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I got the impression he was looking at me like an amateur as I work from my car, or he seen it as his territory 🤪
when he drove past he just kept looking but never said a word lol.
Maybe I should of waved haha.
If I ever see new window cleaners about when I’m established I’d just be polite, no need for people to be so angry and territorial.
Are you sure it wasn't just your perception of the situation? Maybe he was watching wandering why you never said hi?
Why would I say hi when he was just staring without saying a word lol I’m not sure he even knew I noticed him staring, he might of just been watching how I work I dunno ???guess I’m paranoid haha
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You can always be the bigger person and say hi! At least you will find out if you are right or not.
Also, in a previous post you put when your more established you wouldn't be like him and you would say hi to newbies.
why wait until your established to be friendly and give acknowledgement to ones.
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You can always be the bigger person and say hi! At least you will find out if you are right or not.
Also, in a previous post you put when your more established you wouldn't be like him and you would say hi to newbies.
why wait until your established to be friendly and give acknowledgement to ones.
I obviously would be polite now aswell I more meant when I’m established I wouldn’t see newbies as a threat and give them evil stares or any hassle.
Yeah next time I’ll just say hello but this guy didn’t appear friendly the way he was looking over, I could be wrong though.
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All good where I am, really nice, most of them.
Just been to the pub with 2 of them.
One of them, I gave 3 jobs to today (one which he quoted and got worth £150). He bought me lunch and beer.
Just go and say hello. I had a window cleaner, cleaning my customer's gutters and soffits. Great big guy in a vest and jogging bottoms. (I'm only little, so no real threat). I went and had a chat with him (his quote was cheaper than mine) so I thought fair play. We had a bit of a laugh over it, which was good cause his mate was round the back cleaning too.
Anyway, he said he wouldn't try and nick the window cleaning and speaking to the customer later, he didn't try, so fair play to him. She said he wouldn't have got it because they were a bit 'rough and ready' and this is a nice area.
Always talk to people and be nice, if they aren't friendly don't worry about it, life's too short!
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I was out doing a house this morning and seen another window cleaner doing a house across from me, he didn’t look pleased to see me lol he just did a front in like 5 mins then sat in his van watching me work for like a minute or two, I caught him looking and he still never said hi or looked away, I carried on working and then he drove off after bit.
Seemed a rude person from first impressions.
is this how competition/local workers act towards each other?
yep i was sat in my van cooling off with air con on full blast......i thought to myself "he ll never make any money going at that speed!"......then i thought about slashing your tyres or cutting your hose but in the end i couldnt be bothered....maybe next time eh? ;D
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I was out doing a house this morning and seen another window cleaner doing a house across from me, he didn’t look pleased to see me lol he just did a front in like 5 mins then sat in his van watching me work for like a minute or two, I caught him looking and he still never said hi or looked away, I carried on working and then he drove off after bit.
Seemed a rude person from first impressions.
is this how competition/local workers act towards each other?
yep i was sat in my van cooling off with air con on full blast......i thought to myself "he ll never make any money going at that speed!"......then i thought about slashing your tyres or cutting your hose but in the end i couldnt be bothered....maybe next time eh? ;D
😂😂
Thought it might of been you daz chilling there in the van doing no work ;D
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All good where I am, really nice, most of them.
Just been to the pub with 2 of them.
One of them, I gave 3 jobs to today (one which he quoted and got worth £150). He bought me lunch and beer.
Just go and say hello. I had a window cleaner, cleaning my customer's gutters and soffits. Great big guy in a vest and jogging bottoms. (I'm only little, so no real threat). I went and had a chat with him (his quote was cheaper than mine) so I thought fair play. We had a bit of a laugh over it, which was good cause his mate was round the back cleaning too.
Anyway, he said he wouldn't try and nick the window cleaning and speaking to the customer later, he didn't try, so fair play to him. She said he wouldn't have got it because they were a bit 'rough and ready' and this is a nice area.
Always talk to people and be nice, if they aren't friendly don't worry about it, life's too short!
Really good advice mate cheers
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All in all not much of a problem round here, varies between a nod or wave and one guy who likes to flash his led lighting fitted to his van ;) Nice guy though.
The most rude person I came across was a few years back, I was parked pretty much opposite him and just thought I'd pop over say alright.
I could tell straight away he was a tw8t, more or less blanked me! Fair enough, wouldn't make that mistake again.
Funny enough he is a member on here.
Did I flounce? :P
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When I was in the UK I often saw other window cleaners, and most would say Hi or we'd have a bit if a chat.
Over here it's a different story. Apart from a few friends of mine who are also shiners, they're a grumpy lot! It doesn't worry me though. I've only had one 'get off my patch' idiot, but maybe the others think it without actually saying it!
John
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when we go back to the uk and work with the son we always see the other to where we flash the light and flip them the bird , or hang out the window and shout get off my patch they hate it ;D
we even keep sore now . best bit is we have been flip the bird up at this chap for over 4 years and now he does it back with a grin on his face at last somebody that likes a joke
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I'd find out where he lives and torch his van.
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I got the impression he was looking at me like an amateur as I work from my car, or he seen it as his territory 🤪
when he drove past he just kept looking but never said a word lol.
Maybe I should of waved haha.
If I ever see new window cleaners about when I’m established I’d just be polite, no need for people to be so angry and territorial.
Are you sure it wasn't just your perception of the situation? Maybe he was watching wandering why you never said hi?
Why would I say hi when he was just staring without saying a word lol I’m not sure he even knew I noticed him staring, he might of just been watching how I work I dunno ???guess I’m paranoid haha
I usually lift my hand in a motionless wave for a second and then turn my hand into a thumbs up.
There is a trad windie in our area who ignores everyone but he was forced to respond when we ended up cleaning the same block of flats who he has one customer in. He turned out to be a very shy guy and was pleasant to talk to. But he still won't talk unless he has to.
It could just be his personality or he could be nervous about talking as he has canvassed ground floor flats and easy to reach first floor flats at a cheap rate. That leaves us wfpers a problem because the downstairs neighbours get 'excited' when we arrive to clean higher up. He doesn't know it but I've got rid of 90% of those customers because I can't be bothered with the neighbour drama.
But you never know James, maybe he was watching you hoping to learn from your technique. If I see a fellow windie working, I will usually discretely stop and watch. There is always something new to learn, even if its not how not to clean a window. I watched a fellow window zip through a clean once. I reasoned that he didn't do a good job as he didn't spend long enough cleaning . When he was gone and I had finished my cleans, I checked the windows he had cleaned and they were perfect. So I learned that I'm 'over' cleaning. (In 15 years of wfp I still tend to over clean.)
We past some of our work onto a new window cleaning husband a wife team about 3 years ago. First time out with the pole she struggled to lift it - an SLX18 with a cill brush on the end. This was also commented on by a couple of our remaining customers a short time later. Fast forward to recently. I have another van and we pulled up to clean the one house we have in the cul de sac and they were working our 'old' customers in the street the cul de sac joins. She was cleaning the front of the house and I sat in the van and watched. Boy, did she do a good job, very professional. I was well pleased as they are working that section of the round for us.
I saw them a few days later and commented to her how well she cleaned that house and how professional she was. She told me she saw the van pull into the cul de sac and was conscious of someone watching her, but she didn't know it was me.
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Wait until you take one of "his" customers. How dare you ??
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Better to get on with other windies, win, win all round