Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 28, 2011, 04:52:23 pm

Title: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 28, 2011, 04:52:23 pm
just an observation as above does some customers like you as we have a few who dont like me but ok with my wife and visa versa your views
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: mlscontractcleaner on January 28, 2011, 04:56:29 pm
We make a point of taking all our customers out on a Friday night for a bite to eat; then back to their's for a night of mind blowing sex. It's a bit odd I grant you but we like our customers to like us and this is the best way, in our opinion, to make that happen ;)
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: dave.e on January 28, 2011, 04:57:46 pm
We make a point of taking all our customers out on a Friday night for a bite to eat; then back to their's for a night of mind blowing sex. It's a bit odd I grant you but we like our customers to like us and this is the best way, in our opinion, to make that happen ;)

 :D ;D ;D ;D





Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Slash on January 28, 2011, 04:57:57 pm
Yeah,I have one,he can't stand me and I get on great with his missus,I always say to her when are we going to run off together then,it really winds him up,she obviously wears the trousers in the house,I never liked him but would'nt say that to him or her,he is really sly and sneaky,it makes my day when I go round there! ;D
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Lee GLS on January 28, 2011, 04:58:03 pm
None of mine have a problem with me, I get on well with pretty much all of them, but there are those who just give you the money and shut the door types, and there are those that would never offer a cuppa even if it was -20 deg.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: lcwalker on January 28, 2011, 05:02:48 pm
Are you a husband and wife team then?.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: PAIN IN THE GLASS on January 28, 2011, 05:06:52 pm
I agree with lee. But you dont want them to chatty or you wont get bugger all done. Just be polite and take there money. As long as they happy with there windows thats all what counts
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: bobby p on January 28, 2011, 05:09:11 pm
pays not to get too friendly . an old alcoholic on my round  tries his best to find out stuff about me /  ok,so hes lonely  but i dont trust why he insists on giving me various things hes bought off the net. dvd , mutton cloth,screwdrivers  etc .   ive no need for any of them  

 its a bit awkward as ive other customers on the same road.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on January 28, 2011, 05:09:37 pm
all mine love  me
even ian 101 s custys love me  ;D ;D ;D
jsm s custys hate me  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 28, 2011, 05:18:26 pm
its a bugger when they rabbit on but the wife goes and rings me up to get away earlier
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Ian101 on January 28, 2011, 05:21:07 pm
all mine love  me
even ian 101 s custys love me  ;D ;D ;D
jsm s custys hate me  ;D ;D ;D

i have taken a leaf out of Gav "i dont want to know their names" Camm's book ... be polite but not become a friend to them ...
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 28, 2011, 05:29:56 pm
u ok dave just came down the A449 by wombourne mate watch there is a police all around dragging vans in the layby checkin the vans 
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Kate2 on January 28, 2011, 05:41:00 pm
Im going to stick my neck out here, and wait for the retaliation.  I believe because you are in a personal service industry, alot of this is built up through trust and familiarity, remember your encroaching on their personal territory.  Not knowing names, builds a bridge of unfamiliarity, personally I think it is essential to build good customer relations with people to sustain longevity and loyalty

If you become impersonal I think you will be treated as come and go (this is where the phrase, "ive had the same cleaner for years") thats built out of trust.

Dont know thats just the way, I know if somebody was at my house, I would want to know their first name and be on that level with them.

Community comes into it also, I think.  Because you are a community business, the saying word of mouth works both ways, you also get a bad reputation if you do a bad job.

So I think its good to be on some sort of semi-familiar basis, because I think that builds loyalty and retention

Not over friendly, but professionalism with I know your name, I know your personality, I know how to react to you

Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: andy1975 on January 28, 2011, 06:40:05 pm
i get some women who now and again come across as being moody,i just think ive caught her when shes on the blob
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 28, 2011, 07:13:26 pm
i get some women who now and again come across as being moody,i just think ive caught her when shes on the blob
;D ;D ;D ;D nice one mate
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 28, 2011, 07:22:46 pm
i go out cycling and running with a few of my custys. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: dave.e on January 28, 2011, 08:09:48 pm
u ok dave just came down the A449 by wombourne mate watch there is a police all around dragging vans in the layby checkin the vans 



hi mate they are always down there nothing else better to do. i am in wombourne tomorrow most of the morning give me a wave if you see me i will be in a white vivaro with a white sun strip
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Paul Coleman on January 29, 2011, 04:30:00 am
I've gradually moved away from the too friendly approach as I found that some would use it to get unpaid favours.
Polite, happy but businesslike too seems to be the way because no-one would like a miserable git working around their house.
Also, NEVER get drawn into conversations about politics or religion.

I do prefer to know their names.  It is generally helpful to be able to address someone as "Mr X" or "Mrs Y" but in this business, it's not something I regard as crucial.  It is also helpful to know who the cheque has come from if they forget to put the address on the back.

I used to be far too friendly with customers years ago and although a small degree of familiarity is sometimes helpful, for the most part I found it counterproductive.

I knew one window cleaner who used to know many of his customers' and customers' childrens' birthdays etc.  I thought that was just way over the top.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Mike #1 on January 29, 2011, 06:02:15 am
i know most of my custys quite well some i will stand and talk to for 20 mins like kate said above it builds trust,   I have gained a lot of custys through recommendation because i get on well with custys ,   I have one custy who puts the kettle on everytime i go and i will sit in their kitchen for half and hour or more and have  a good old chin wag and eating their chocolate cookies
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Paul Coleman on January 29, 2011, 01:33:33 pm
i know most of my custys quite well some i will stand and talk to for 20 mins like kate said above it builds trust,   I have gained a lot of custys through recommendation because i get on well with custys ,   I have one custy who puts the kettle on everytime i go and i will sit in their kitchen for half and hour or more and have  a good old chin wag and eating their chocolate cookies

You have just listed some reasons why I don't get too friendly.  Those chats could cost £30 a day on a bad day.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 29, 2011, 03:45:59 pm
dave u ok think i did see the arse end of ya van earlier just picked a custie up who i think has a skip business and he does a collection in willenhall for a company who chucks poles in skips had a look at one he has got looks like unger green collars and end caps have ask him to keep a few   and nice soft nylon brush on these aswell hes gunna ring me when hes got another collection
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 29, 2011, 05:55:04 pm
the customers ive had from very early days i am very well known too, but tend to just say, cant stand and chat, often when collecting i will spend 5 mins saying hi how are you , family etc

But i try now not to get that close, and just be friendly, and get off quick :)

but in answer to "how well do i know my customers" ?? pretty well i would say

i dont think most would leave me for undercutters
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Johnny B on January 29, 2011, 06:38:12 pm
I get on very well with most of my customers.

For some I am just the window cleaner, although I am always treated respectfully by all. Others so look forward to seeing me as they like a chat and they know I am always happy to give them some of my time. This is one reason I will never give up collecting.

John. 
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: LEEZEKLEEN on January 29, 2011, 11:43:36 pm
Fermilarity breeds contempt ,i am polite and courtious but thats about it.
Title: Re: how well do you get on with your customers
Post by: Richard Neal on January 30, 2011, 12:05:58 am
I am always friendly and polite but i will never remember all of my customers names!! i would end up causing offence by getting the wrong name!

 I have a few that i will stop and chat to for 5 minutes as i genuinely like them but usually i am just curtieous and polite and then off to the next one.

Its the best form of advertising i find good old word of mouth.