[will01]

Had an Lr cpt and 3pce suite to to this morning. Lady phones me at 0800 this MORNING to cancel
Excuse was that she's decided to lay a wooden floor (that old chesnut) and was sorry for inconvienence. I then asked if she still wanted her suite cleaned. She got kinda flustered and said she would call me in New Year.
Anyway I thought I would do some leafleting thru the several villages on route to my next job and it just so happened that the ladys house was in one of these villages in a little private cul-de-sac.

Anyway started leafleting in said cul-de-sac and lo and behold who was parked in her driveway but the local "Wild West cleaners" complete with old, battered steameasy and old early 90's red escort van. What really got me was that the machine was still in van but had hose extensions!!!
When I got to her house butch cassidy was pouring his dirty water down a storm drain out front!!. I bid him good morn and was about to throw a leaflet thru her opened door when she emerged from the kitchen and took it herself.
I then asked her if I could make a suggestion...... "As you've decided not to have your carpets cleaned due to the fact that you're having a wooden floor laid may I suggest real wood instead of laminate because real wood wood is a much better job, it looks better and after all you get what you pay for!!" I think she then twigged just as "Butch" was coming back from the storm drain and had noticed my nice shiny signwritten van and cobult blue shirt with embroidered breast pocket. I bid them good day and the look on their faces was damng priceless. I think it will most definately cheer me up for as long as I am on Gods earth!!

[*paul_moss]

Nice one.

[cleaning co]

how do u know he didnt do a great job? he may hav an old machine an a old van but he might just be starting out  dosnt make him a cowboy , bit of a insulting post really imo

[Macarthur]

I agree with Gary here, I know it can be a right pain losing jobs to others that underprice you, happens to me regularly and I am sure many others on here.  When I first started for the first few years I was loading up everything in my Ford Mondao, before I purchased my first van. Even some of my customers could not believe it.  But I have always done a good job for them and continually get recommended to others.  Not everyone (myself included) wants to go out and get a £15-£30.000 loan when they first start out.
I have built up my business on a gradual basis, continually upgrading and will continue to do so.  At least I have no business related debts and plenty of extra money in my accounts.
Nigel.

[Liahona]

Have to agree with Gary. Everyone keeps saying its not the machine its the person using it. This in mind whats the problem here. Not only that but at the end of the day he was getting paid for cleaning and you were putting out leaflets. Best, Dave.

[will01]

sorry guys. Maybe I did'nt make myself clear. The guy in question is a well known local cowboy. The sort that flits from being a window cleaner, to a carpet cleaner to a general handyman etc etc.. I know several reputable cc's in my area who (like me) have done work for people who have used this guy before. The same stories almost always emerged that the suite and carpet were wet for days and dried out sticky with stains wicking back on carpet.

I'd have thought that the fact that he was using a steameasy still in his van with considerable extensions would have been a clue to the reason why these soft furnishings were wet for longer that they should have been.

I have nothing against good competition and believe me there are quite a few round here. Nothing wrong with that at all.

What goads me is these fly by night idiots charging 50.00 for a suite (and get your carpet cleaned for free!!). They use up all the customers they can and as they get nil referrals move onto something else for a few months then its all change again!!

best rgds

Will

[Neil Grainger]

Will01

Just a thought, did you go and see her to quote or was it over the phone.

Phone converstations never give you info on the type of person you are going to see. For me if you quote over the phone you are wide open to this sort of thing happening.

The whole point of a quote is to sell you and your cleaning, you cant do this over the phone. I find that customers looking for phone quotes want the cheapest Job going and will show no loyalty to you if they can find a cheaper price.

Going to see them gives you the chance to get to no them and for them to get to no you.

Being cheap is no sign of doing a bad job, Cheap may mean more jobs for less money and some people really like to work hard rather than less.

[will01]

Neil:

Must admit that it was a phone quote.  Was xmas time and was extremely busy but I take your point that it would have probably been best to call with her.

I realise that being cheap is SOMETIMES not a sign of doing a bad job but if you read my last post then you'll realise what a rep this gentleman has.

Will

[Neil Grainger]

Will

If he did a bad Job or you think he did send the customer a letter saying that you will do the job for your price minus the cost of the Dodgy CC's fees to make up for the problems that he left you with. They will feel warm and it will make them realise what a good company you are. Less for more.

If they go with it, you will have a customer for life and will be able to make up the loss in future Jobs for them.

[calmore]

When I got to her house butch cassidy was pouring his dirty water down a storm drain out front!!.

I would have politely mentioned to the lady that what he was doing (Disposing of chemical waste down a storm drain) was completely illegal and could land him/her with a £2000 fine, (or however much it is).

If you feel really vindictive you could grass him up!

[murky]

I'm with Will.

100%

I have had a few custys over the years who have come back to me after using cheaper but not as good cc's.

You get what you pay for (usually).

[Phil Marlor]

How can any of you call his post insulting, the only insulting person here is the customer who choses to call at 08.00am this morning to cancel.

Personaly, and this may be a strong word,  but these people are scum in my eyes, who mess about with people's livelyhoods, this is our living and for someone to phone at such a late stage to cancel is totaly wrong.

I hope the bloke did a crap job and her carpets are wet for the rest of the week!

Phil

[cleaning co]

yes phil u right the custy is out order, but not the cleaner doing his job to earn few pounds
happy new year to u phil 
gary

[Phil Marlor]

Happy New Year to you too Gary, 
Had my best year ever,  hope next year is as good.

Phil

[craigp]

someone said on here that there local water authority adviced c/c ers waste is best going down the storm drain.

they even said they had it in writing

[will01]

Must admit it's the first i've heard of that.

[calmore]

I have been told on more than one occasion that it's illegal to tip it down the storm drain 'cos it enters the watercourse/rivers.

Even if you clean the carpet with pure water the carpet (And thus the waste water) could contain all sorts of toxins depending on what has been spilt on the carpet and used to clean in in the past.

[calmore]

Certainly illegal in the States:
http://www.hydramaster.com/inside/articles/article1.asp

[Matt Read]

so where do you dispose of yours calmore ?

[scott.]

I was of the opinion that all water, even the bog water was re-cycled, so whats the difference.....more to the point...whats wrong with extension hoses..saves your back carrying machines upstairs...and...maybe the guy was happy with his old van...Why buy a brand new van?...dosnt make a blind bit of difference...mine is 10 yrs old...havnt been told to p**s off yet.....hard cheese...there tight gits out there....I just laugh at them, and let them learn by their mistakes....had it a few times.

[cleaning co]

yes its def illegal to pour down storm drain, and if u carry waste water on u van u met to hav a licence, and tell them were u are going to dispose of it and they hav to agree to it, a truckmount freind of mine was reported for dumping outside his house and told if caught again he get 5000 fine

[Ian Rochester]

Can't see the difference between a cc pouring dirty water down a drain and someone washing their car with a TFR on the side of the road and it all going down the same drain.

A few gallons of water with the remnants of your cleaning formula left in is unlikely to create an issue for the waterboard.

When I first started I was told by the local authority to dispose of it down the toilet or in a roadside drain.  We now have the local authority contract and still do the same.

[carpetguy]

I could be wrong' but , my understandin, is, that it's illegal to dump into the drainage system and we are supposed to dump ever , ideally, a grassed area which offers some filtration, prior to the chemical joining the drainage system.

Crazy really, when you consider the much heavier chemicals deposited on roads, which are washed down the drains.

P/C.................not me !

robbie

[gwrightson]

I was told that disposing of waste either down the custys loo, or tip it through a gravel bed!!


As for the cleaning of cars   I cannot understand how some of these people get away with the washing of cars in carparks, etc etc as the waste is just dumped down a storm drain. Not that I am personaly bothered, because if I am honest about it , I dont ask a custy if i can put it down the loo,
and more often than not i put it down a drain.

My point been,  if it is illegal ,and i,m sure it is   how do the car cleaning operators get away with it?

Geoff

[ollie]

I applied for a license to clean cars in a layby and i asked the council the question you just asked about about carparks and apparently if the car park is flat the water will naturally evaporate and the chemicals will breakdown.   (the layby i wanted to do it in was on a slope so i was refused)

[cleaning co]

some countys might hav diffrent laws but in essex its illegal , i aksed the same q about washing cars and the same rules applie buts its unforceable as they would be very busy on a sunday morning , they look at carpet cleaning as a comm bizz so they would inforce it if u was caught, u can dump the waste water anywere as long as it dosnt go anywere near fresh water , but if u want to dump at home into foul drain u must ask and buy a licence
p.s and u need a licence to carry waste water  which again u hav to buy

[bennymon]

i put down loo or in garden

[craigp]

in reality i think its no more harmful than when Joe Bloggs washes his car on the drive and the waste runs to the nearset storm drain.

its soiled water with bit of detergent in it

[spindle]

i dipose of my water down custys toilet. my chemicals are surely less damaging than bleach/limescale remover etc....

i am one of those who refuses to get a large loan to get myself started

i am working my way up the ladder

i have to load all my equipment in the back of the car!!!!
it is a pain in the ass but i dont have to make large repayments on a loan plus interest!!or pay extra for insurance/road tax/petrol for the van.

i am saving my money untill i can pay cash for my van..........i will get a better discount on that purchase.

my equipment i have bought as  i go along........i cannot justify taking a large loan to buy it all in one hit.............because then you must earn a certain amount every month to be able to make the repayments for the loan

also the machines/equipment has been bought at different stages therefore i hope that they breakdown at different times(we all know they breakdown at some point) when it is time to repair/upgrade them i wont have to do it all at the same time

i aim to clean to the best of my ability.......i have never damaged a carpet/rug whilst cleaning.....i have been called back to a job once!!!........
i do very little advertising.most of my work is word of mouth.

i have a good rapport with all my custys.........i am honest with my prices and with the assesment of their carpets

i dont feed my custys sales "bull" to up the price


i dont see the point to slag off the guy in the escort van.
he probably was unware of the customers decision to use a cheaper cc.

do you not have a late cancellation fee?? i.e min charge??

this is not having a go at anyone but we must all start somewhere!!!

rant over

 

[Steve Chapman]

I was told by the company i brought my t/m from that it is ok to dump waste water in road side drain :

They reasoned that the concentration of chemicals is so weak it wouldn't have hardly any effect on the water system and it wouldn't be likely for a one man operator to be fined

Technically i know that's probably wrong, but obviously many must do it.

regards
steve

[AquaMagic]

I spoke to our local water authority Yorkshire Water and they said that i had to dispose of it down a Foul Drain only ie A Toilet or a drain that collects water from the kitchen sink etc, other drains such as the ones that catch rainwater from your guttering and the storm drains on the road all lead back to lakes and rivers untreated and therefore shouldnt be used when i asked about Microsplitters the same was true, i also asked if it was acceptable to dump on grass or wasteland and was told not to becuase the waste water could still find its way back to the natural water table.  So the bottom line was Foul drain only.

Dene

[will01]

I get the impression on here that people think I bought my equipment through a loan and have only recently started up. Possibly because I have just started posting on here.

I have been in business since 1998 and like a lot of you Im sure started with very little and have worked my way up to where I am today.
I too was extremely consientious (s) when starting out which is why I have been in business for 8 years.

The "cleaner" in question (with steameasy and old van) has no intention of being consientious. he is well known in my area for being a jack of all trades and master of none. He floats about from job to job as he get very little if any recs.

I would not have minded in the slightest (well maby a little!!) if he was just starting out, had the basic equipment but was intent on providing the customer with the best possible service. The problem is he has no intention of doing this as come April he could well be a landscape gardener!!.

I also noticed that some of you had no problem with keeping a steameasy in the van and running extentsion hoses. I suppose each to their own but when I owned my first steameasy I would never have kept it "truckmounted" due it only having a single 3 stage vac and 140wl. I dont believe that the performance would have been there to give the customer the best job poss.

Again the cleaner in question was parked a considerable distance from customers front door so they would have been runnning at least 50ft of hose.  Okay if you own a scorpion, speedster or ninja etc.. but a steameasy?

Finally It would be appreciated it if some of my fellow cleaners on this site would take the time to read my previous posts in full before posting replies on this topic.

best Rgds

Will 

[spindle]

 will...........i wasnt having ago at you in person.........i never suggested that u have taken a loan.only that some had.

i dont know that bloke in the escort van i am not defending him.

i was pointing out my situation!! and how people think that other cleaners are not as good because they dont have a van!!

i have been cleaning for 2 years.....i always quote in person....so i know what equipment that i need to take to the job....

so i dont need to have a van full of equipment .................just the spare room full of equipment 
much to the wife's dissapointment!!!!!!!

each to their own!

[will01]

Spindle2k:

Take your point but who was the guy in the escort van who was "probably unaware of the customers decision to use a cheaper cc"?

Again read previous posts please. Not much to ask

best Rgds

Will

[Macarthur]

Same here Will, not suggesting you have taken a loan.
I agree, to use extensions on a Steameasy from the back of van is crazy, bet their carpets were wet for days afterwards.
Nigel.

[scott.]

What's wrong with a hose extension??
 I asked prochem and woodbridge about these extensions, as my back was playing up, carrying portables up and down stairs.
I enquired about the effect on the pumps and suction loss etc, and they both told me that as long as it wasn't over 100ft, it would have little or no effect on the suction....so how could the customers carpet be wet for days, in this instance?

I know what y'all mean about cowboys though...Had a call from a luxuary apartment last week...and quoted her £120 to do a vary badly stained hallway and living room...she said, that the last guy turned up with a "small yellow machine" , told her that the draught marks along the walls, which at this stage had turned green...couldnt be removed...it only  took 2 days to dry, she said, and he only charged her £60 for the whole 3 bed apartment....you guessed...she never called me back :

[will01]

Well Scott it could be a no if things. Bad wand technique, vaccum on it's last legs, maybe he wasn't using the proper pump for the steameasy and the single vac could'nt cope with a greater psi, maybe he was applying too much prespray. I dunno you'd have to ask him.
The fact remains that his rep is not the best to say the least.

Nothing wrong with hose extentions at all on certain machines but I certainly wouldnt be using a 100ft hose on a steameasy!!!

[scott.]

Wasnt that one of prochems old machines?....I use a twin pump machine from woodbridge...maybe thats why the extensions are ok....I discovered something last year that baffled me for months, about the vac pressure dropping in my machine, and water back-flow from the wand...I thought a pump was knackered, but appearently if you dont flush out the waste tank and dump valve thoroughly, it can alter the vacuum within...and cause water to flow back out your wand...even if it seems to shut properly. doesnt take much, appearently....weird...had me going....I was about to set fire to it

[spindle]

will

cc= cowboy cleaner

i did read post properly

yes u must have been disapointed at losing the job to a jack of all trades
who probably did a job worthy of the amount money she paid!!!!

you pay peanuts...............................................you get monkeys!!!!!!!

but i would like a picture of that moment when she recognised u!!!

[The Great One]

Hi

I can understand your anger, we have all been there

But...

The New CC was asked to do a job, which he quoted X amount for. Do you expect him to say 'No thanks, please use the other guy, as he was first'?

Of course not, he was asked by your customer to do a job, which he did, people are presuming he did a bad job, you are angy so your veiw is bound to be jaded by losing said Job

Some you get, some you don't.

It happens all the time in this and other businesses, I can only agree that she should of given you more notice.

He might of done a fantastic job, we only have your point of view that he didn't.

Regards

Martin

[nevil]

One of my customers asked me to quote to clean several carpets last summer.

I told her how much it would be, she said she wanted it done cheaper. I told her that I couldn't drop any lower as my prices are already very reasonable.

Three weeks later they phoned to book me.

Apparently during the three weeks they had called my local competitor who really is very cheap. He turned up with nothing but a domestic steam cleaner, the type you see on the shopping chanels for cleaning tile grouting and ovens.

That really is taking the p**s.