Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Leighbrad on November 30, 2010, 09:13:00 am

Title: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Leighbrad on November 30, 2010, 09:13:00 am
He we go again only a month or two early this year! Most of the country comes to a standstill........ the phone rings but instead of the pre christmas bonanza its customers cancelling due to the inclement weather but learning from past experiences of going out in such conditions we have called time untill things clear up abit, a killer financially but it would be even worse if you lost your van and use of truckmount!
whats every one else doing?  :(

Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: robert meldrum on November 30, 2010, 09:19:18 am
Only about 8" of snow here so ................I was out yesterday cleaning upholstery and I'll be out today.cleaning a leather suite.

How would you feel if you were unable to get your regular shopping, or repairs to central heating, etc, done because someone could'nt be bothered making an effort
Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: JandS on November 30, 2010, 09:20:06 am
3 jobs today - first one re-booked half an hour ago.
Thought she might with the access.
Nothing now till 12 but both on fairly main roads.

John
Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: Mike_Roper on November 30, 2010, 09:21:56 am
We've had it up here in Whitby for nearly a week with n sign of stopping. You've just got to way it up but as you say no point in risking van etc for a few £. Have all on keeping the gear from freezing .Getting t most jobs ok, diary full .
Give up trying to get more winter tyres for the transporter nobody's got any !
Mike
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Leighbrad on November 30, 2010, 10:52:45 am
Robert
Whilst its commendable to have such a bulldog  spirit ......your quote (because someone could'nt be bothered making an effort) begs some questions?
one being if you own a truck mount and wish to go out in such weather and you have an accident  or more likely...... some dipstick ploughs into you...... you are stuffed.... this happened last year and because they were not insured we lost our no claims + £350 excess and 10 days of van being of road with subsequent income loss .
Two,  very few clients want there carpets cleaned with portables when you have sold them the advantages  of the truck mount and Robert your clients must be something special because none of ours want their carpets or upholstery cleaned in weather such as we are at present experiencing! They.... not us are  the ones cancelling!
Another point for consideration is if you insist your operators work in such conditions what would be the outcome if they slipped on ice and broke a limb  ???

Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on November 30, 2010, 12:35:32 pm
Took the easy way out and cancelled ,my little van did a 360 last year ::) so not chancing it. Custy's ok with it so far.
Pretty thick here in the south east.
Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: fitz2kleen on November 30, 2010, 12:46:15 pm
as long as we can get out and customers want us its business as usual here.
with regard to risking van and equipment.... isnt that a risk every time you get behind the wheel?
this country beggars belief at times..... a little bit of adverse weather and everything comes to a standstill.  ::)
Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: Leighbrad on November 30, 2010, 01:40:54 pm
There are some stalwart cleaners out there!........ but I dont think some of  you guys  understand my point!
If it was law that everyone had to use snow chains or snow socks like the rest of Europe,  then people would be able to drive in such conditions but you get morons driving like they are  out on a mid summers day dash to the beach still...... check out the insurance stats for such spells of weather! there is often a twenty fold increase in claims made worse because local government haven’t got the proper resources for clearing roads and unlike America where if you went a**e over tip  on a clients iced covered driveway  or footpath  injuring yourself you could sue!........    Here 9 out of 10 people cannot even be bothered to clear their  footpaths let alone driveways!  Also if you employ people and they injured themselves because you had instructed them to work  Iam sorry to say you would be liable especially with the present appetite for health and safety in the Uk, but if you are self employed and have got no qualms about the increased risk to loss of livelihood and injury then by all means fill your boots    ::)
 Leigh
Title: Re: To work or not to work
Post by: murky on November 30, 2010, 02:13:42 pm
Leighbrad.

I had a pair of those snowsocks on last year, got them off ebay. They are brill. and easy to put on. I got around quite easily only got stuck once and that was my fault.

Trouble is they got thrown out in the summer cos they were in the wrong box! Gonna get some more today.
Murky
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Leighbrad on November 30, 2010, 02:28:16 pm
I got snow socks for all our vehicles ! but its like pantomime on ice on Essex roads at the moment...... I keep on saying it does not matter how careful you are its the others road users and some are not fit to drive in decent weather let alone these adverse conditions  ???
Leigh
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: chrisjohn on November 30, 2010, 04:12:45 pm
Ive put back todays work till next week,customers been great about it.Todays work was in a cul de sac(3 jobs) with a really steep hill.Rang customers advised me that I may get down the hill,but would struggle to get back up.Not worth the risk.Tomorrow nice little job 30 seconds from my house.Its all about risk and potential injuries.

Chris
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Doug Holloway on November 30, 2010, 04:33:45 pm
Hi Guys

As Leigh says Essex it is pretty impossible to drive a van with a TM in.

I will wait for the thaw.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 04:44:00 pm
went out with truckmount thismorning and ended up with a van full of snow and water. I even managed to fall over. Would have been great for Beagle. Absolute nightmare. Next job was done with back up porty. Rebooked job that was booked in tonite... Roads just ca otic   Havin a beer instead...well after emptying van of water from this morning
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: clinton on November 30, 2010, 06:28:09 pm
Am only doing only very local jobs till it thaws as am not chancing my van any further till it clears.
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 07:26:44 pm
Working still - at least my hoses dont get muddy - afterall it only frozen water - or should I say WIFE is
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Neil Williams on November 30, 2010, 07:36:23 pm
Had to walk to a quote this morning.
Managed to get half way up the hill on the estate but being front wheel drive the transit was having no more of it. Dropped down to a side street and walked to the house.
Got the job and booked in for next week, but she's already aware that's only on proviso the road is passable.
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: robert meldrum on November 30, 2010, 08:06:35 pm
Any day of the week you could be involved with a "muppet" driver  and why overstate the advantages of a T/M over portables when it's the person operating the machine that matters.

You must have one hell of a line in brainwashing if you have a single client who'd refuse to have her carpets cleaned with a modern portable. A bit stupid really as you could easily find the need to use a portable on occasions.

  
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: fitz2kleen on November 30, 2010, 08:25:22 pm
Any day of the week you could be involved with a "muppet" driver  and why overstate the advantages of a T/M over portables when it's the person operating the machine that matters.

You must have one hell of a line in brainwashing if you have a single client who'd refuse to have her carpets cleaned with a modern portable. A bit stupid really as you could easily find the need to use a portable on occasions.

  

Justice for porty operators  ;D
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 08:31:51 pm
We use both TM and Portables, depends whats best for the job :)
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: jasonl on November 30, 2010, 08:42:01 pm
We use both TM and Portables, depends whats best for the job :)

What TM did you get in the end ?
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 08:47:00 pm
Steam Genie 45 Dual Wand. I have fitted into a renault master van. Orsome machine. Was going to contact you when i heard you got banned from driving and wondered if you wanted to work with me with this machine. I do the driving and we both do the cleaning
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: jasonl on November 30, 2010, 08:52:06 pm
Good Idea , most of my work is on the south coast though , and I think Sheffield Shaun has South Yorks sewn up for TM work .

Where did you get Steam Genie from? pretty rare they are
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Jim_77 on November 30, 2010, 08:54:11 pm
My problem isn't getting out, it's getting back up my drive :(  I have to reverse up a slope onto my drive, almost didn't make it twice last winter and thats a real problem when you need to plug a heater in!

The neighbours must think I've got some sort of psychiatric condition - I'm out there for ages before I leave, sweeping every last molecule of snow off the road in front of the house so I can get a good run-up on the way back in!

I did get stuck once last winter, took 90 mins to dig myself out with a shovel borrowed from the customer!
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 08:57:24 pm
Good Idea , most of my work is on the south coast though , and I think Sheffield Shaun has South Yorks sewn up for TM work .

Where did you get Steam Genie from? pretty rare they are

Shaun f***ing aint got it sewn up. We need to talk. Steam Genie, got it for a very very very very good price and added Fresh Water Tank, so self sufficient. Big Gap inbetween here and there which can be filled !!
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Jim_77 on November 30, 2010, 08:58:49 pm
Oooh fighting talk!  Handbags at dawn :D
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 09:00:11 pm
My problem isn't getting out, it's getting back up my drive :(  I have to reverse up a slope onto my drive, almost didn't make it twice last winter and thats a real problem when you need to plug a heater in!

The neighbours must think I've got some sort of psychiatric condition - I'm out there for ages before I leave, sweeping every last molecule of snow off the road in front of the house so I can get a good run-up on the way back in!

I did get stuck once last winter, took 90 mins to dig myself out with a shovel borrowed from the customer!
My Brother has got a very good business running at the moment pulling people out - failing that, buy some GRIT SAND, it works for me everytime lol
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Jim_77 on November 30, 2010, 09:02:29 pm
The problem with rock salt is it washes away so quickly, and also nobody had any last winter!  I looked at getting a 1 ton bulk bag and splitting it several ways with people, would have been quite cheap, but never bothered in the end because the sun came out ::)
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 09:03:10 pm
At the end of the day there is enough for everyone and i thought competition was healthy and good for the  giving them freedom of choice
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: jasonl on November 30, 2010, 09:05:21 pm
Yes I agree , just looked up steam genie looks a nice machine , what dealer sells them?
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 09:05:34 pm
If you want i will come and steam genie off the drive for you... at the right price. Ha ha ha
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 09:09:05 pm
They only sold in US but parts easily got hold of. At the end of the day its an engine... a blower... and a pump and put together with hoses.
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on November 30, 2010, 09:10:06 pm
Next time you about pop round and have a look
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: jasonl on November 30, 2010, 09:17:08 pm
Will do , sounds like a bargain
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: Leighbrad on December 01, 2010, 12:45:34 am
Quote from: robert meldrum on Yesterday at 08:06:35pm
Any day of the week you could be involved with a "muppet" driver  and why overstate the advantages of a T/M over portables when it's the person operating the machine that matters.
You must have one hell of a line in brainwashing if you have a single client who'd refuse to have her carpets cleaned with a modern portable. A bit stupid really as you could easily find the need to use a portable on occasions.


Robert have you got a problem  accepting that a 20 fold increase in driving accidents in such weather as we are experiencing now does not dramatically increase the risk of  having a road accident ??? and also judging by the tenure of your  comments one must assume that you may  not understand  that with a truckmount if  you get your van shafted it is not a simple exercise   just moving your equipment to another van like you can do with a portable machine (a good reason for keeping your portables ;D) and please explain where you feel I overstated the advantages of a  truckmount  over portables? It is the clients who state their preference and many of ours prefer us to use the truckmount when cleaning for them for  a number of reasons! Now  because this is a matter of personal opinion and I make the point that I  graciously accept yours and  will not  even bother trying to explain what we feel are the merits and advantages of cleaning using truckmounts :-X  And just for the record we still clean using portable machines on some  inaccessible  jobs and the odd small carpet so personally I have no issues so let’s not  get personal “Quote” You must have one hell of a line in brainwashing  my question originally was To work or not to work in the snow and as it is very topical considering the weather conditions I cannot understand why you are making  assertions that are clearly not in any thing I have said, maybe this is a point that any moderator reading  this thread would like to take up  ???
Title: Re: To work or not to work in the snow
Post by: The Carpet Cleaning Pro on December 01, 2010, 01:06:36 am
Wow