[SB Cleaning]

Spoke to this customer last night explained  about the rain got this text at 7.30am

"Morning!  It's Jenny. I think we need to cancel this morning don't we!  We'll go for d drier day ok. Thanks. Jenny

So i put back

"Jenny

We have to clean in the rain if we didn't we wouldn't get anything done, we always offer a 24hr guarantee in which I've had 2 call backs in 8 years, the rain isn't even that heavy today, thanks for your business but we wont be returning."

Shaun@SB Cleaning Services


Really gets on my nerves people like this!!

[JandS]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

[SB Cleaning]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It could be a lovely sunny morning when i clean then in the afternoon it could tip down with rain so whats the difference!!

[Bungle]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It could be a lovely sunny morning when i clean then in the afternoon it could tip down with rain so whats the difference!!

Exactly!! It's always going to rain at some stage between cleans. Has she got form for messing?

[SB Cleaning]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It could be a lovely sunny morning when i clean then in the afternoon it could tip down with rain so whats the difference!!

Exactly!! It's always going to rain at some stage between cleans. Has she got form for messing?

I've cleaned her place for 3 years Steve and cleaned it in the rain a few times never had a problem...reason i got rid was i told her about my rain guarantee last night she was fine then got the text this morning which pi$$ed me off as it messed up my schedule £100 job too! She is the snooty type and always late paying so she's gone!

[nathankaye]

When i first switched from trad to wfp, i took the time to print of letters explaining about working in the rain and referred many to my website when I sent out texts to open gate that I now work in the rain.
Did an entire street with no problems, customers were in and paid. Got to the last one and chap came out and ssid not to clean as its raining..... Its only drizzle. I explained how i niw work in the rain and referred to the letter I gave him the previous month. He still said no and so I thanked hime for his yrs of custom but Im in a position not to loose half my wage anymore due to the rain and that he needs one who does.

[SB Cleaning]

When i first switched from trad to wfp, i took the time to print of letters explaining about working in the rain and referred many to my website when I sent out texts to open gate that I now work in the rain.
Did an entire street with no problems, customers were in and paid. Got to the last one and chap came out and ssid not to clean as its raining..... Its only drizzle. I explained how i niw work in the rain and referred to the letter I gave him the previous month. He still said no and so I thanked hime for his yrs of custom but Im in a position not to loose half my wage anymore due to the rain and that he needs one who does.

I always tell new customers that i work in the rain too Nathan but theres no getting through to some of them

[JandS]

I'll work in drizzle but not all out rain.
Think for a £100 job I'd be happy to re schedule.

[Splash & dash]

We explaine that we work in all weathers at the point of quoting if they arnt happy with that that’s fine we walk away , if they then later complain that we are working in the rain and they don’t want it doing I remind them of that , dump and don’t go back ,over the years I have had several dumped customers phone wanting me to clean there windows as they cannot get a reliable cleaner I remind them why I stoped doing there windows and won’t take them back as once a messer always a messer

[John Mart]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It’s rained I reckon 8 out of last 10 days so we’ve obviously upset a lot of people. Oddly, none have complained and any that do would struggle to find a wc around here that doesn’t work in the rain. Anyone running a serious business has to work in the rain.

[Bungle]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It could be a lovely sunny morning when i clean then in the afternoon it could tip down with rain so whats the difference!!

Exactly!! It's always going to rain at some stage between cleans. Has she got form for messing?

I've cleaned her place for 3 years Steve and cleaned it in the rain a few times never had a problem...reason i got rid was i told her about my rain guarantee last night she was fine then got the text this morning which pi$$ed me off as it messed up my schedule £100 job too! She is the snooty type and always late paying so she's gone!

Sounds like one I've got on the Malvern road. Agreed 6 weekly then after that it's been ooh I'm away can you come at 10:00 on Wednesday? Err no I'm not in your area next Wednesday. Can you come at 10:00 on Saturday. Ok. Then get text asking to come at 11:00. Then get text cancelling due to bad weather forecast. She followed me into the tip back of Holdens last Saturday  . Not cleaned hers since last Autumn and I'm not interested in going back. She's a bit doolally 

[Splash & dash]

I'll work in drizzle but not all out rain.
Think for a £100 job I'd be happy to re schedule.

Trouble is they then get out of sink with other work in that area and you have to make a special trip to do it also if you are busy with work when do you fit it in ? Once they start wanting it add hock they will always want that , I had a £75 job woman wanted me to do it when she was in as I traumatised her dog if she wasn’t there , I said sorry I cannot let a dog organise my schedule for me 😂😂😂😂 instant dump she has tried 4 other cleaners all have dumped her and now she cannot get anyone to do the job shame really as it was a nice job but I won’t be messed about simple as that , Ime not desperate for work I have more than I can shake a stick at so any that are a pain go simple as that my customers value the service that we supply so this rarely happens now as after 20 years of refining my work I have removed most messers

[Soupy]

We explaine that we work in all weathers at the point of quoting if they arnt happy with that that’s fine we walk away , if they then later complain that we are working in the rain and they don’t want it doing I remind them of that , dump and don’t go back ,over the years I have had several dumped customers phone wanting me to clean there windows as they cannot get a reliable cleaner I remind them why I stoped doing there windows and won’t take them back as once a messer always a messer

Totally disagree.

[SB Cleaning]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

It could be a lovely sunny morning when i clean then in the afternoon it could tip down with rain so whats the difference!!

Exactly!! It's always going to rain at some stage between cleans. Has she got form for messing?

I've cleaned her place for 3 years Steve and cleaned it in the rain a few times never had a problem...reason i got rid was i told her about my rain guarantee last night she was fine then got the text this morning which pi$$ed me off as it messed up my schedule £100 job too! She is the snooty type and always late paying so she's gone!

Sounds like one I've got on the Malvern road. Agreed 6 weekly then after that it's been ooh I'm away can you come at 10:00 on Wednesday? Err no I'm not in your area next Wednesday. Can you come at 10:00 on Saturday. Ok. Then get text asking to come at 11:00. Then get text cancelling due to bad weather forecast. She followed me into the tip back of Holdens last Saturday  . Not cleaned hers since last Autumn and I'm not interested in going back. She's a bit doolally 

There's a few like that around here mate

[Splash & dash]

We explaine that we work in all weathers at the point of quoting if they arnt happy with that that’s fine we walk away , if they then later complain that we are working in the rain and they don’t want it doing I remind them of that , dump and don’t go back ,over the years I have had several dumped customers phone wanting me to clean there windows as they cannot get a reliable cleaner I remind them why I stoped doing there windows and won’t take them back as once a messer always a messer

Totally disagree.

. 




 From experience that’s what I have found , over the years I have dumped ones like this and the issues have not reoccurred so it works for us , perhapses you could share your experience?

[dazmond]

You ever think about it from the customers point of view.....maybe they don't want to have to mess about calling you back.
You probably get on their nerves when you  clean them in the rain.

you cant write the day off at 730 am in the morning...it often rains heavy early morning and clears up by 9 or 10am......i wont have it.....im not letting a customer dictate to me when i should clean their windows in that manner....id dump them too(whether its a £100 job or not)......

if you want to keep to your window cleaning schedule then sometimes your gonna have to work in the rain sometimes....

[harv deek]

its a part of every business , the messer .    restaurants get them  as do  shops ,pubs etc etc  . youv got to get rid as pleasantly as you can and grit your teeth ,not let em eat at you

  if a messer insults me now thats moved it onto a different level.    i get rid of them  but make a note in my diary for a few months later to  wreak havoc on them -  revenge is best served cold .  i usually only do it twice a year , this stops me getting bitter

[John Mart]

its a part of every business , the messer .    restaurants get them  as do  shops ,pubs etc etc  . youv got to get rid as pleasantly as you can and grit your teeth ,not let em eat at you

  if a messer insults me now thats moved it onto a different level.    i get rid of them  but make a note in my diary for a few months later to  wreak havoc on them -  revenge is best served cold .  i usually only do it twice a year , this stops me getting bitter

Hope you've got further coping strategies because that alone isn't working. 

[deeege]

its a part of every business , the messer .    restaurants get them  as do  shops ,pubs etc etc  . youv got to get rid as pleasantly as you can and grit your teeth ,not let em eat at you

  if a messer insults me now thats moved it onto a different level.    i get rid of them  but make a note in my diary for a few months later to  wreak havoc on them -  revenge is best served cold .  i usually only do it twice a year , this stops me getting bitter

Who’s the guy that used to post on here that used to return to any messers and push a slither of bamboo into the key holes?

This fella I’ve quoted has got to be him?

[harv deek]

its a part of every business , the messer .    restaurants get them  as do  shops ,pubs etc etc  . youv got to get rid as pleasantly as you can and grit your teeth ,not let em eat at you

  if a messer insults me now thats moved it onto a different level.    i get rid of them  but make a note in my diary for a few months later to  wreak havoc on them -  revenge is best served cold .  i usually only do it twice a year , this stops me getting bitter

Who’s the guy that used to post on here that used to return to any messers and push a slither of bamboo into the key holes?

This fella I’ve quoted has got to be him?

  u got it !      last year i did the bamboo slither ,probably for the last time. why?   well just a hair second after i did it ,the door opened and the lady said Ahah its You,,, iv got your money here for you

 felt a bit bad about doing it  ,tho there never was any followup  probably blamed it on kids !

 this year im moving into a diffrent revenge field ,the successor to bambooing . But  iv got to be sure and double sure and Treble sure they really deserve it.   
   

[C & S]

If somebody cancels like you say a £100 booked in job on the day.

Ask you to reschedule.

You have lost £100 that day. (presuming you cant crack on with any other work)

So effectively if you do that same job say the following week you are doing it for free!

Bye bye Blocked

[JandS]

I could quite easily drop it for a different day and still get a full days work in.
I rarely have problems with messers but I won't clean in anything above drizzle.
Can't think of the last time somebody said "leave them this time" without a good reason,  usually because they are replacing them the week after.

[Soupy]

From experience that’s what I have found , over the years I have dumped ones like this and the issues have not reoccurred so it works for us , perhapses you could share your experience?

If a customer is a 'messer' (read as - not having the service offered explained to them properly by their window cleaner (we're all guilty of it)) and their issue comes to a head like this; I've found that it's often the case that having wasted their time with lesser window cleaners, they become more appreciative of proper window cleaners (read as - couldn't give a toss if it's raining because cleaning windows is their livelihood). Reliability becomes their priority and as such they are some of the most loyal customers you can have (assuming of course that reliability is also your priority).

[Splash & dash]

From experience that’s what I have found , over the years I have dumped ones like this and the issues have not reoccurred so it works for us , perhapses you could share your experience?

If a customer is a 'messer' (read as - not having the service offered explained to them properly by their window cleaner (we're all guilty of it)) and their issue comes to a head like this; I've found that it's often the case that having wasted their time with lesser window cleaners, they become more appreciative of proper window cleaners (read as - couldn't give a toss if it's raining because cleaning windows is their livelihood). Reliability becomes their priority and as such they are some of the most loyal customers you can have (assuming of course that reliability is also your priority).

Lol totaly confused by this reply but still stand by my other post that before we take a customer on I explaine that we work in all weather if they dont want that then that’s fine I walk away and they can find someone else to do the job , if they accept my terms cleaning in rain then they don’t want it doing beacause it’s raining they get dumped simple as that I remind them of the original terms for the job if you say ok I’ll leave it this time there are weeks where we would not work at all if everyone said the same thing , if there is a genuine reason for not doing them ie building work going on : decorating : new windows about to be fitted that’s fine , I had one woman say to me years ago leave the windows this time it looks like it might rain !!!! Then phoned up 3 months later complaining that I hadn’t been I wasn’t rude but told her straight that I wouldn’t do much work each year if I didn’t work when it looked like it might rain , don’t need customers like that there are plenty  of good customers out there that are happy to be reasonable and happy to receive a regular and professional service that’s what we supply as I said once they start messing you about they usualy continue to be that type of customer

[JandS]

A professional service that cleans with a mixture of pure and rainwater that may or may not have dirt in it.

[Stoots]

End of the day you can either not clean in rain and earn less money per year.

Or you can find customers that don't mind you cleaning in the rain and earn more per year.

It's entirely up to you.

Some customers mind some don't, find the ones that don't... simple

[G Griffin]

last year i did the bamboo slither ,probably for the last time.

I thought I saw you do it on Strictly but I never realised it was a farewell performance.
Such a shame we'll never see it again.

[harv deek]

last year i did the bamboo slither ,probably for the last time.

I thought I saw you do it on Strictly but I never realised it was a farewell performance.
Such a shame we'll never see it again.

    i take it youv not done the bambooing ever?

 so whats your tonic to the messers?

   messers, the messer phenomenom ,,,,,whats this all about?  think about it.

think,,, about  IT
 its about eating sh/t ,over and over .   wev all done it in this trade ,stood in some too-

 thats
another sign !     we are good targets,the window cleaner he can take a hit and the hitter feels good inside .

[Soupy]

From experience that’s what I have found , over the years I have dumped ones like this and the issues have not reoccurred so it works for us , perhapses you could share your experience?

If a customer is a 'messer' (read as - not having the service offered explained to them properly by their window cleaner (we're all guilty of it)) and their issue comes to a head like this; I've found that it's often the case that having wasted their time with lesser window cleaners, they become more appreciative of proper window cleaners (read as - couldn't give a toss if it's raining because cleaning windows is their livelihood). Reliability becomes their priority and as such they are some of the most loyal customers you can have (assuming of course that reliability is also your priority).

Lol totaly confused by this reply but still stand by my other post that before we take a customer on I explaine that we work in all weather if they dont want that then that’s fine I walk away and they can find someone else to do the job , if they accept my terms cleaning in rain then they don’t want it doing beacause it’s raining they get dumped simple as that I remind them of the original terms for the job if you say ok I’ll leave it this time there are weeks where we would not work at all if everyone said the same thing , if there is a genuine reason for not doing them ie building work going on : decorating : new windows about to be fitted that’s fine , I had one woman say to me years ago leave the windows this time it looks like it might rain !!!! Then phoned up 3 months later complaining that I hadn’t been I wasn’t rude but told her straight that I wouldn’t do much work each year if I didn’t work when it looked like it might rain , don’t need customers like that there are plenty  of good customers out there that are happy to be reasonable and happy to receive a regular and professional service that’s what we supply as I said once they start messing you about they usualy continue to be that type of customer

I agree with all that.

What I'm saying is once it's come to a head like that and you've walked away (or stomped off or flounced or whatever)  having explained your position in clear no-uncertain terms, in 6 months or a year if this person asks you to come back they are unlikely to now be a 'messer', they've seen firsthand the consequences of 'messing' (they got some halfwit ape with a ladder and a bucket who did them twice for 36p and never came back, now they're stuck with grubby windows and the mother in law is coming round on Saturday). Most folk just want a reliable window cleaner and don't look at it from your point of view, why would they?

Once a messer not necessarily always a messer.

[John Mart]

A professional service that cleans with a mixture of pure and rainwater that may or may not have dirt in it.

Look up the definition of professional. 

[AuRavelling79]

last year i did the bamboo slither ,probably for the last time.

I thought I saw you do it on Strictly but I never realised it was a farewell performance.
Such a shame we'll never see it again.

You owe me a new keyboard Griff.  I was drinking coffee when I read that! 

[G Griffin]

last year i did the bamboo slither ,probably for the last time.

I thought I saw you do it on Strictly but I never realised it was a farewell performance.
Such a shame we'll never see it again.

    i take it youv not done the bambooing ever?

 so whats your tonic to the messers?

   messers, the messer phenomenom ,,,,,whats this all about?  think about it.

think,,, about  IT
 its about eating sh/t ,over and over .   wev all done it in this trade ,stood in some too-

 thats
another sign !     we are good targets,the window cleaner he can take a hit and the hitter feels good inside .

I stop cleaning their windows and try not to think about them again. If you do that, then they are not a messer.
Course I lose money occasionally but I don't have many big, well priced jobs (well I don't have any well priced jobs) and if I sense someone could cause problems I don't let the problems mount up. 
It's very rarely personal so don't think that it is. I doubt many set out to get one over the window cleaner to feel good inside.
I don't think we are that important.
Don't let them be that important to you either. You are not eating sh/t so don't resort to criminal damage.

[Soupy]

i take it youv not done the bambooing ever?

 so whats your tonic to the messers?

   messers, the messer phenomenom ,,,,,whats this all about?  think about it.

think,,, about  IT
 its about eating sh/t ,over and over .   wev all done it in this trade ,stood in some too-

 thats
another sign !     we are good targets,the window cleaner he can take a hit and the hitter feels good inside .

And.... the dreaded window cleaner's inferiority complex strikes again.

Get over it, we aren't as important to these people as we sometimes think we are.

[dazmond]

i agree soupy SOME messers can turn into good customers once they know you dont suffer fools gladly and are the "real deal" professional window cleaner working to actually make a living out of it.....

[Soupy]

i agree soupy SOME messers can turn into good customers once they know you dont suffer fools gladly and are the "real deal" professional window cleaner working to actually make a living out of it.....

Yup. I've not disagreed with that. My issue was with "once a messer, always a messer".

Most messers are completely unaware that they've done anything to annoy you. They've no idea what a delicate bunch you lot are.

[dazmond]

i agree soupy SOME messers can turn into good customers once they know you dont suffer fools gladly and are the "real deal" professional window cleaner working to actually make a living out of it.....

Yup. I've not disagreed with that. My issue was with "once a messer, always a messer".

Most messers are completely unaware that they've done anything to annoy you. They've no idea what a delicate bunch you lot are.

its nothing to do with being "delicate" mate...i just dont like being messed around thats all.....the NO 1 immediate dump has got to be "not today as its forecast rain later!" ....not had one of them for a few years now though........

[Soupy]

its nothing to do with being "delicate" mate...i just dont like being messed around thats all.....the NO 1 immediate dump has got to be "not today as its forecast rain later!" ....not had one of them for a few years now though........

Sure, snowflake. 

[P @ F]

Had my first messer from the leaflet drops today , went like this .

C . How much to clean the windows please ?
M . £12 every month .
C . I will ring husband to see if ok .
 C . Husband wants to go ahead and just ring as and when needed.
M . Sorry I dont work like that , 2 monthly is the biggest lapse I do , or Im wasting my time .
C . Ok , I will ring him again to see .

She never came back out to let me know , and I sure as poop wasnt ringing the bell to find out   

[Splash & dash]

Had my first messer from the leaflet drops today , went like this .

C . How much to clean the windows please ?
M . £12 every month .
C . I will ring husband to see if ok .
 C . Husband wants to go ahead and just ring as and when needed.
M . Sorry I dont work like that , 2 monthly is the biggest lapse I do , or Im wasting my time .
C . Ok , I will ring him again to see .

She never came back out to let me know , and I sure as poop wasnt ringing the bell to find out 

Classic waist of time : these people think that you are sat by the phone praying for it to ring so you can go and clean there windows : the one that cracked me up is we would like our windows cleaned Thursday at 2pm , what planet are these people on we are booked up solid at least 4 weeks ahead all year for extra jobs and will only do one offs if it’s neer where we are working and we will fit it in when we can I certainly am not going to put jobs like that ahead of good regular customers

[nathankaye]

Not that its the same at all, but a light change of subject.

I got a new customer today whom house I used to clean up until last year when the old dear died.
I was cleaning the neighbours house when the new owner came out and asked if I used to clean her house.? It turned out she was the sister in law of the deceased.
Anyways, she asked if I could start cleaning for her and I said I could and that I can start today for £x amount and she paid cash and is signing up (has signed up tonight) for go cardless later.
So I finished the clean and she came out to pay me and gave me a whopping pound tip because I was able to clean it today