dazmond

  • Posts: 23599
Aggressively canvassing someones work
« on: June 27, 2012, 08:17:41 am »
have any of you guys done it? ;D ;D ;D ;D

when i started back in 1993 i started from scratch.id worked for a window cleaner for a year first then started on my own working a few days for him while i built my own round up.

it was hard going i was canvassing nearly every night and weekends for 6 months.i also found out about a few guys that were not doing a very good job in my local area so i targeted their work and canvassed and canvassed.i never offered to do them cheaper just asked them were they happy with their current cleaner.i picked up a few then word spread and i picked all their work up plus some more to add to it!!i was well happy!! ;D ;D

i did get them trying to threaten me but when they squared up to me they realised the best thing they could do was get back in their battered old escort and do one!! :D :D :D

i was young and pretty wild.no one was gonna stand in my way of building a round up for myself.i also did this in 2 other areas and again picked up a fair bit of work in a few months.

if you can find people who are really fed up with their window cleaner then there could be a chance for you to get in there and show them there is better cleaners out there!!


best wishes to you all


dazmond
price higher/work harder!

sham33

Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2012, 08:33:42 am »
There's no such thing as some one patch as far as I'm concerned. If I was threatened it would make me do it even more lol.

colin purewater

  • Posts: 2282
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2012, 08:48:35 am »
I got a referral in a street of 40 houses, so I went to clean it,
Them a few of the neighbours came out of the wood work after
A quote! It was like a scene from Shawn of the dead  ;)

Started cleaning there's as well, few months later I got threated by a
Gang of lazy traders who didn't clean any frames.  " they said if
I catch you round here again you'll be in trouble"  :'(
Most people in the street were fed up of them doing a poor job
And there weekly cleans  :o bit the has been no other windies on the area.
So I took it upon my self to get the rest of the street I've only got
8 left to get and the threatening traders have stopped coming  8)

I would normally target people's work  by the way
It was only the idol threat that spurred me on
keep it simple

Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2012, 09:03:30 am »
I had a call last week from someone who is upset with me leafleting a area, saying I'm the local window cleaner as I'm not according to him as he hasn't seen me.

When I asked what area he was on about, as I work all over, it turned out to be the estate I live on and have done so for over 20 years, how local do I have to be to be local ???

Anyway my new 12500 cards are ready to be picked up this week and should be going out next week, as this estate has only just been done I will use it, as a test estate, as these cards are different to the leaflets I normally use and they will be delivered differently.

Last month I picked up 6 new jobs from this estate and 4 came from a local cleaner who is cheaper, but he does a lot of work on the estate and I know a lot of his customers want to move to another cleaner, so let the fun and games begin.

Window Washers

  • Posts: 9036
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2012, 09:03:58 am »
There's no such thing as some one patch as far as I'm concerned. If I was threatened it would make me do it even more lol.
threats are a waste of time, its the ones that don't give threats are the ones to look out for, Dazmond, your postings of late have taken a not so nice tone

Agressively canvassing other peoples work!, if that does it for you fair play to you, I prefer to just go and get work, I dont need to target other peoples business on purpuse.
If your not willing to learn, No one can help you, If you are determined to learn, No one can stop you ;)

Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2012, 09:53:46 am »
Ian

I think that daz has a point, I don't know what your areas are like with window cleaners, but some of the guys who work (legally) where I work, give cowboys a bad name, they abuse or are agressive to their customers, don't do a real clean or even clean all the windows etc etc

These cleaners need a reality check and the influx of good cleaners are giving their customers more choises.

I had one joker a few years ago, who thought it was perfectly normal to egg all his customers windows who left him and went to another cleaner, if they were women/ elderly or on their own he would turn up and rant and rave.

You have met me and you know I am a softly, so imagine his shock when I turned up on his doorstep for a quite private chat. ;D

He has now left the trade which is a good thing.

Window Washers

  • Posts: 9036
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2012, 11:55:21 am »
I do agree with some of what Dazomnd has said just not the way it sounds to me, I know your a big softy  ;D
If your not willing to learn, No one can help you, If you are determined to learn, No one can stop you ;)

C o z y

  • Posts: 7775
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2012, 12:57:07 pm »
Fax they are right mate, have you started drinking

Ps if I caught you purposely canvassing my work I would take that like your kicking me in the nuts. And I don't care how big and wild you are mate you would be picking your front teeth up. I do hope it ain't drink talking on a serious note as you had a problem with it before mate.

If someone canvassed your customers you would knock them about would you? Or have I mis-understood your post?
No still don't understand, I must be thick

Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2012, 01:24:59 pm »
we are all business owners and competition is good for the trade, the customers get more choise and maybe a better price but hopefully a better quality of cleaner.

I have loads of cleaners targeting my work, whether its on purpose or not, doesn't really matter, I am confident that I offer a 1st rate service that my customers want and are willing to pay for.

If I started to lose work, I would need to ask why ???, not who's teeth can I kick in. :(

mind you I did have one guy who knocked my customers doors offering to do their windows cheaper than me, I was also in a pub I do when the phone rang and they said they would beat whatever price they where paying and a few more over the years.

So far I have not lost one customer because of these methods and I don't think I will lose a true customer ever, of course I will lose some who jump onto the cheapest cleaner they can get and good luck to them, because I will never put them back on my list again.

at the moment there are plenty of customers still out there for everyone, but with more and more cleaners coming into the trade, these will start to dry up and then the weak, the stuck in his ways cleaner, the bullyboy and cowboy will go to the wall.


C o z y

  • Posts: 7775
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2012, 01:30:33 pm »
I know about 20 or so customers from the competition around where I work. So I don't target them. However, if the competition decided to canvass my customers on purpose, I can honestly say that I'm not really bothered. If I lose customers for price or because they're not happy with me, then what have I lost?

I've had one joker going around telling customers I've packed the game in and no longer work. I've lost none to the competition for years. No I'm not the cheapest by the way before you ask lol  ;D

Never saw a reason to give someone a slap. Best way to stop other windies getting in your face is get as bigger round as you can. The best way to beat these type of guys is to demoralize them by getting all the work you can in the area they work in. It's always worked for me.
No still don't understand, I must be thick

dotty

  • Posts: 371
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2012, 04:32:43 pm »
i am working hard to build my round like to think i do a proper job been in doncaster today and theres 4 window cleaners nr me they are shocking i wore better cloth when was down pit ones car with bold tyres i would not have my windows cleaned by them
p doherty

dazmond

  • Posts: 23599
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2012, 04:37:37 pm »
this was way back in 1993!no need to canvass work these days!!im just saying what it was like for me back then!

one window cleaner whos son was my friend used to beat the c**p out of him and his mother so i canvassed all his work and eventually picked them all up and more!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

happy days!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D


regards


dazmond
price higher/work harder!

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2012, 04:45:20 pm »
this was way back in 1993!no need to canvass work these days!!im just saying what it was like for me back then!

one window cleaner whos son was my friend used to beat the c**p out of him and his mother so i canvassed all his work and eventually picked them all up and more!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
happy days!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D


regards


dazmond
Yeah, that'll really have lightened his mood going home to your 'mate' and his mum!

Pete10

  • Posts: 120
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2012, 05:04:41 pm »
....Daz, I'mjust wondering have you recently upped your intake of red meat??? ;D ;D

Window Washers

  • Posts: 9036
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2012, 06:11:27 pm »
....Daz, I'mjust wondering have you recently upped your intake of red meat??? ;D ;D
;D
If your not willing to learn, No one can help you, If you are determined to learn, No one can stop you ;)

Roy Cauldery

  • Posts: 497
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #15 on: June 27, 2012, 10:18:20 pm »
One of my guys was threatened by the 'this is our patch brigade'
I go after their work like a man possessed and have canvassed their patch every other month for the last 8 months -picked up 2 today as a matter of fact
I will succeed, they will not bully me or my staff, I will be victorious
Thank you-rant over
Regards
Roy
we succeed because others can't or won't

colley614

  • Posts: 1557
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #16 on: June 27, 2012, 10:51:23 pm »
This is a reply to the original post. I've not read replies.

Daz,

I went out today leafleting a nice area by mine. About 10 doors in, I walks down the drive of this big detached house with 2 merc's parked outside and the lady in the garden asked me to price the house up so I did. Then she grabs my sleeve and marches me next door and basically demanded her next door neighbour to let me give her a quote too! anyway I booked the big house in and the neighbour said she would get back to me in a couple of weeks and they were telling me how there last window cleaner had been a nice piece of work but hadn't called for months. So I carried on with my leaflets and a guy on his drive asked me for a quote so I obliged. Only when I finished he said "Well we have a couple of window cleaners round here and they are to big skin heads, don't take no for an answer, that type of thing.." So I told him to get in touch with me if they ever let him down but he said that nobody in the area want them doing their windows just that they don't want to cancel in case. Now this area isn't to be sniffed at, they are all really big houses and by the sounds of it these lads aren't going to take kindly to me stepping on their toes. So what do you think should be the way forward for when I do step on their toes? As these guys aren't providing a good service and I'd like a few of these houses for myself 

dazmond

  • Posts: 23599
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #17 on: June 27, 2012, 11:00:45 pm »
just canvass as normal mate.dont let anybody intimidate you!!if they were happy they wouldnt take you on!!this doesnt apply if your  canvassing in bolton or salford though as you ll probably get your van smashed up or worse!! :( :( :( ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

mind how you go!! ;D ;D ;D


dazmond
price higher/work harder!

colley614

  • Posts: 1557
Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #18 on: June 27, 2012, 11:04:19 pm »
I'll just say "Nothing to do with me mate, speak to my boss."

(The Wife!!) ;D ;D ;D

Re: aggressively canvassing someones work
« Reply #19 on: June 28, 2012, 11:44:07 am »
This is a reply to the original post. I've not read replies.

Daz,

I went out today leafleting a nice area by mine. About 10 doors in, I walks down the drive of this big detached house with 2 merc's parked outside and the lady in the garden asked me to price the house up so I did. Then she grabs my sleeve and marches me next door and basically demanded her next door neighbour to let me give her a quote too! anyway I booked the big house in and the neighbour said she would get back to me in a couple of weeks and they were telling me how there last window cleaner had been a nice piece of work but hadn't called for months. So I carried on with my leaflets and a guy on his drive asked me for a quote so I obliged. Only when I finished he said "Well we have a couple of window cleaners round here and they are to big skin heads, don't take no for an answer, that type of thing.." So I told him to get in touch with me if they ever let him down but he said that nobody in the area want them doing their windows just that they don't want to cancel in case. Now this area isn't to be sniffed at, they are all really big houses and by the sounds of it these lads aren't going to take kindly to me stepping on their toes. So what do you think should be the way forward for when I do step on their toes? As these guys aren't providing a good service and I'd like a few of these houses for myself 

what would you do, if these people broke into your house and nicked everything? because if you let them carry on cleaning in a area you can earn money in, then they are taking this money and food off your table