Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tom2009 on September 14, 2010, 05:10:52 pm
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Thats what I had off a customer today. They're on a 12 week clean. Only done them 3 times. Trying to be flexible but still a bit annoyed. Replaced them though this afternoon. What would you have said when they said 'see you....' and what would you say in the spring if they ring and ask to be cleaned?
Tom
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sorry to busy,thats the polite version ;)
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Tell them that you have the nasty habit of wanting to eat all year round and need regular work. Dump em mate!
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How much do you charge for a 12 weekly clean and how big is the house and how easy to get to?
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This is the reason all jobs must be at one-off prices and reduced if they maintain a good frequency.
"No problem, I have a new pricing structure now..........." (See above)
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they got to be having a laugh , just dump them and when they phone you to go back tell them to f off .
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12 weeks is too long unless commercial work. Not regular, especially 12 weeks, easily dumped, too much hassle for what it is.
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learn to keep them, if you get angry and uncomfortable then you will burn your bridges.
Keep the details and go back in the spring. Over a few years you will get quite a collection of people who all want the same. Just treat it in a similar way to an annual clean and charge accordingly. If they have it done once they will have it done again, you just need to work out their frequency.
I am on the coast, and all the seaside shops will be closed and the place will be a ghost town. Every year at the end of the season I thank them and make sure I can come back next season. The winter then spent finding good quality customers who want the windows clean year round.
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12 weeks is too long unless commercial work. Not regular, especially 12 weeks, easily dumped, too much hassle for what it is.
Would it be too much hassel if it was twice the price?
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How much do you charge for a 12 weekly clean and how big is the house and how easy to get to?
Quite easy to get to, gate is only bolted. Charge £15 (probably a bit cheap) but feels about right - windows/time/quiet estate(ie. only the odd bird bomb to deal with) - but it's a bit out on a limb. Just felt it was cheeky. The wife took ages to pay last time so probably no bad thing to lose them. I don't seem to have much luck with this particular section of society!
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i have 2 on 12 weekly clean and priced it as if it was a 1 off clean.
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go back in the spring but ask for more dosh ;these jobs are great its like geting a new custy
in winter you can hardly cope anyhow ;)
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Good points well made - thanks for feed back. If I do go back then it will cost them a tenner more. Still makes it a good deal for them over the year. ie 3 cleans.
Tom
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12 weeks is too long unless commercial work. Not regular, especially 12 weeks, easily dumped, too much hassle for what it is.
Would it be too much hassel if it was twice the price?
Not at all for double the price of a normal customer providing I only had a handful like this as better to have regular, sensibly priced work which is the bread and butter all year round.
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12 weeks is too long unless commercial work. Not regular, especially 12 weeks, easily dumped, too much hassle for what it is.
Would it be too much hassel if it was twice the price?
Not at all for double the price of a normal customer providing I only had a handful like this as better to have regular, sensibly priced work which is the bread and butter all year round.
How about three times the amount?
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I made the mistake of taking on big jobs which led to even bigger jobs and so on (commercially). Trouble was, when I lost one housing association contract, I lost several other jobs all related but in other locations.
Now I only do jobs which take no longer than 5 hours and never keep all my eggs in one basket.
I vary my work by locations, types of buildings, commercially, industrial and domestic. I only have a small percentage of regular holiday accomodation property and second homes which I set a limit on so I don't leave myself short of regular work out of the holiday season, which ensures my mortgage and all my other bills get paid promptly.
Yes it's very nice to charge double or even quadruple the price on certain jobs and new cleans but I look after regular customers as my first priority.
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Hey Tom,
Ill have some dosh for you this week mate :)
Dean
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We offer three options: 4 weekly, 8 weekly or 'premium'. Premium means they can call anytime they like and we will clean either that day or the next. This service starts at £50.
We have a few who find this suits their requirements.
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We offer three options: 4 weekly, 8 weekly or 'premium'. Premium means they can call anytime they like and we will clean either that day or the next. This service starts at £50.
We have a few who find this suits their requirements.
Ian!!! Where have you been???
;)
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Not worth doing mate.Tell them to find another w/c if they can for a 12 week clean.If all customers did that we'd all have a lot less work and more importantly money.How would they like it if their employer said they only needed them 6 months of the year instead of 12? They'd be in the job centre trying to find another job.'Loyalty' is a very important word in our job 'you look after me and i'll look after you'.
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This happend to me last year, I was not happy at the time and said no way would I take him back on.
However he rang in the spring and said would I clean when convenient please and carry on. (admitedly this is a monthly job)
He caught me in a good mood so I thought what the hell, money is money.
he has been as good as gold all summer but I expect I will get a call soon.
But I have £105 in my account thanks to him.
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Why don't you offer them a residential service agreement to clean insides and out on a quarterly basis. ?
I have have quite a few customers with this in place, and it works well. It is not profitable to clean outsides only on a 12 weekly schedule.
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Coincidentally, I have just had the same thing happen tonight. Only done it twice, then last month he said can you leave it this month cause of holidays and a lot going on. I said sure, no problem. Rang him tonight and he said the same thing, so I said, no, what's the problem? He said they only want it doing in the summer. I told him it will be twice the price next year. What a waster. The windows and frames were green the first time I got there.
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We had one who is supposed to be 12 weekly but is actually whenever she feels like it. She even lets you book in and cancels you on the day. We like to give customers a fair chance but she just takes the mick. Won't be going back again.
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We offer three options: 4 weekly, 8 weekly or 'premium'. Premium means they can call anytime they like and we will clean either that day or the next. This service starts at £50.
We have a few who find this suits their requirements.
This based on another topic ian but would you price higher for 8 weekly than 4??
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cant see the problem on a 12 week clean you will only miss 1 clean
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Thats what I had off a customer today. They're on a 12 week clean. Only done them 3 times. Trying to be flexible but still a bit annoyed. Replaced them though this afternoon. What would you have said when they said 'see you....' and what would you say in the spring if they ring and ask to be cleaned?
Tom
I would quote them a one off cleaning price without a doubt.
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Hey Tom,
Ill have some dosh for you this week mate :)
Dean
Cheers Dean! ;D
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Thats what I had off a customer today. They're on a 12 week clean. Only done them 3 times. Trying to be flexible but still a bit annoyed. Replaced them though this afternoon. What would you have said when they said 'see you....' and what would you say in the spring if they ring and ask to be cleaned?
Tom
I would quote them a one off cleaning price without a doubt.
I will do if I do them again Ian. Money is money after all - just annoying as, like the previous poster when I first did them they were mingers.
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Thats the polite way saying they will phone you in the spring but they dont, so I would assume they dumped you or they have changed to every six month been 24 weeks or even only having twice year cleans. Can see price rising twice a year for custy like that lol.. but if your happy with custy's like that then keep them.
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We offer three options: 4 weekly, 8 weekly or 'premium'. Premium means they can call anytime they like and we will clean either that day or the next. This service starts at £50.
We have a few who find this suits their requirements.
That’s very interesting Mr. Lancaster, yes I shall do that
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We offer three options: 4 weekly, 8 weekly or 'premium'. Premium means they can call anytime they like and we will clean either that day or the next. This service starts at £50.
We have a few who find this suits their requirements.
Ian!!! Where have you been???
he Has been on his nice caravan holidays ;-)
;)
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I had one yesterday, every other month, £15. Done them 3 times this year, yesterday she says can you leave them until next April as cannot see point in having them cleaned through winter >:( I just smiled and said yes ok, But seriously doubt i will be going back unless at a premium, Cleaned next door 2 houses (sort of posh converted farm, all horsey people) Then picked up the big old farm/manor type house in same block/rural estate thing. £45 every 2 months..Bonus ;D But not sure what to do about this cancel until spring one, After all its money when in same area, Probably charge extra as others might catch on if i let her get away with it
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most of the time its an excuse to get rid of you and they never phone back, but if they do its your call do you need the custom or not? depends how you are fixed at the time and if you are happy with your lot. sometimes with new customers the novelty of clean windows just wears off especially if it is expensive to them.
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How much do you charge for a 12 weekly clean and how big is the house and how easy to get to?
Quite easy to get to, gate is only bolted. Charge £15 (probably a bit cheap) but feels about right - windows/time/quiet estate(ie. only the odd bird bomb to deal with) - but it's a bit out on a limb. Just felt it was cheeky. The wife took ages to pay last time so probably no bad thing to lose them. I don't seem to have much luck with this particular section of society!
As it is out on a limb and they are bad payers I would not try to get them back. If they phoned me in the spring then I would say £30 for the first clean "as it has six months of winter muck on it and I have to be fair to my regular customers" And I would want paying on the day. If they baulk at that then I would say bye bye. But I do have too much work on.
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i had someone try and tell me that today as a matter of fact .
I told her if everyone said see you in spring ill be out of business at first she looked at me like what do i care..... but then she realised that i was politely saying no i will not see you in spring ill see you in 8 weeks or i wont see you again lol
so then she realised before i was about to drive away and never return she ran up the drive and said , actually come in 8 weeks then! i guess its ok cos you do a good job etc.
i would maybe tell em how it works that if all your customers were gona say that you would not have a job and you need to be strict on this..
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i had someone try and tell me that today as a matter of fact .
I told her if everyone said see you in spring ill be out of business at first she looked at me like what do i care..... but then she realised that i was politely saying no i will not see you in spring ill see you in 8 weeks or i wont see you again lol
so then she realised before i was about to drive away and never return she ran up the drive and said , actually come in 8 weeks then! i guess its ok cos you do a good job etc.
i would maybe tell em how it works that if all your customers were gona say that you would not have a job and you need to be strict on this..
Well that’s not strictly true is it, most businesses have a mixture of repeat business and new business, it’s the way we progress. Sadly many on here feel that as soon as they have x amount they don’t need to do anything to attract new customers, then when someone cancels or postpones they panic and get all mardy with the customer.
There is no such thing as a bad customer, just a bad price.
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after six months dirt and hard water can become hetched into the glass and frames and get to a state of disrepair! you must stress this!
if glass starts suffering with stage one corrosion it will need restoration. if it gets to stage two corrosion its a replacment glass job!
if plastic gets too dirty it will also need resteration!
i always stress that window cleaning is not just to make windows look nice its also to maintain the integrity of the units!
G.B
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why turn down money if you dont have a full round, if they call you in the spring or if you go back and do them just charge the 1st clean at DOUBLE the price and tell them its an activation clean
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cant see the problem on a 12 week clean you will only miss 1 clean
And it's the one due in December ??? Most of mine want me in December then hiss me about come Jan
Lee
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old biddy took me to one side "can i ask you a favour...?
Yes yes of course,what is it
"can you leave it for 6 months ?
mmmm, okay, see you in february ,can i be the first to wish you a happy xmas
" well can you come and clean them just before Xmas ?
CHEEKY OLD BAG !!!
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There is no such thing as a bad customer, just a bad price.
Occasionally as I travel through life I see, amongst the dirt at my feet, the glitter of a diamond.
I've just had one of those moments. What a perfect statement!
Vin
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sorry im not buying that! there are definatly bad customers & also bad prices!
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sorry im not buying that! there are definatly bad customers & also bad prices!
Not necessarily - think of Ian lancaster's £50 premium service. If a £12 house (regular) becomes a £50 job cuz custy wants it whenever I could live with that.
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i got the same thing from 2 custys the first said can i leave the windiws until autum xxxxxxx i thought . said ok (not) the next door said the same i tried to explain only do monthlys as agreed he turned round and said we where only using you as an experiment to see how long it would take for the windows to become dirty again (cheeky twats)any body top that >:(
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sorry im not buying that! there are definatly bad customers & also bad prices!
I don't want you to buy it or buy into it!
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after six months dirt and hard water can become hetched into the glass and frames and get to a state of disrepair! you must stress this!
if glass starts suffering with stage one corrosion it will need restoration. if it gets to stage two corrosion its a replacment glass job!
if plastic gets too dirty it will also need resteration!
i always stress that window cleaning is not just to make windows look nice its also to maintain the integrity of the units!
G.B
This is a joke right?
Are seriously saying that after 6 months windows become so bad they need "restoration", any longer they need replacing? If that was the case half the windows in the UK would be useless as many have not had them cleaned in years.
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after six months dirt and hard water can become hetched into the glass and frames and get to a state of disrepair! you must stress this!
if glass starts suffering with stage one corrosion it will need restoration. if it gets to stage two corrosion its a replacment glass job!
if plastic gets too dirty it will also need resteration!
i always stress that window cleaning is not just to make windows look nice its also to maintain the integrity of the units!
G.B
This is a joke right?
Are seriously saying that after 6 months windows become so bad they need "restoration", any longer they need replacing? If that was the case half the windows in the UK would be useless as many have not had them cleaned in years.
I have recently moved into a house that has been empty for nearly 2 years, The windows had stickers from the manufacturers stating customer name/delivery address etc dated from 2006, I do not know when they were actually fitted, but would assume 2006 and doubt they have ever been cleaned as stickers were still on insides. I did them last week and they come up a treat......restoration, What a load of b******s
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what makes it all easier to swallow is gathering new customers. I've knocked and leafleted today and got some more new regulars. Just have to forget the messers.
Tom
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just put there price up in the spring
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How many of you guys wash your windows throught the winter months? very little i would expect! so why would you expect a customer to do what you dont do yourself some need to practise what they preach!
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How many of you guys wash your windows throught the winter months? very little i would expect! so why would you expect a customer to do what you dont do yourself some need to practise what they preach!
Don't judge me by your standards James. lol
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How many of you guys wash your windows throught the winter months? very little i would expect! so why would you expect a customer to do what you dont do yourself some need to practise what they preach!
hardly wash mine throughout the rest of the year!!!! I dont get paid for it :P
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I m always cleaning mine live on a main road and get dirty 4-5 weeks
Had my first leave it till april yesterday
You can call in April if your still around
I just laughed and said i hope i ll be around but i wont be doing them in april thanks for being a loyal customers i really appreicate your custom. and walked off with the money
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Had one yesterday. Told her that we'd be replacing her and thanked her for her custom - that surprised her!
I think windows need more cleaning in the winter because they get more dirty with all the wind and rain. We had a few 'wait till next month' during all the hot weather because customers didn't think they were dirty enough.
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Had one yesterday. Told her that we'd be replacing her and thanked her for her custom - that surprised her!
I think windows need more cleaning in the winter because they get more dirty with all the wind and rain.
The sun is also lower in the sky, that highlights how dirty they are.
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Had one yesterday. Told her that we'd be replacing her and thanked her for her custom - that surprised her!
I think windows need more cleaning in the winter because they get more dirty with all the wind and rain.
The sun is also lower in the sky, that highlights how dirty they are.
Quite right ;D
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I am so glad all you lads can be bothered with all this 8, 12, 3 times a year cleaning. LOVE IT.......
Leaves me with all the 'every 4 week' customers.... Thanks lads. keep it up ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
My kids like to eat every day. ;)