Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Twc services on March 28, 2012, 03:44:54 pm
-
Looks like they are out early this year due to the good weather just lost a £20 monthly to someone doing it for £10. Makes me mad >:(
Anybody else find this yet ?
-
Is it because they use ladders, or because you've been undercut, that has upset you?
Don't let it bother you. Customers who jump ship for a cheaper price are not worthy of your business.
Wait for them to return begging for your services when newbie disappears later in the year. ;D
John
-
I think its more the customer thats annoys me they have been with us for years !!
-
I dont know how long the job takes, but you could have tried offering to negotiate the price, as WFP is a lot quicker than trad, especially with this weather, as had to do a couple of commercial entrances today, very busy pedestrian traffic, and the window was drying in seconds.
idealrob
-
I dont know how long the job takes, but you could have tried offering to negotiate the price, as WFP is a lot quicker than trad, especially with this weather, as had to do a couple of commercial entrances today, very busy pedestrian traffic, and the window was drying in seconds.
idealrob
bad advice no dont drop the price! wfp has far more expenses so of course it needs to be faster than a ladder monkey
-
do u think the costs of wfp are 2 times trad, 3 times , 5 times ? just curious
-
The problem with the ladder brigade is they only clean when times are good and run away in the cold,wet winter back to the dole and a worm house. ??? ??? ???
-
Looks like they are out early this year due to the good weather just lost a £20 monthly to someone doing it for £10. Makes me mad >:(
Anybody else find this yet ?
Is it a big job? How long does it take?
-
The problem with the ladder brigade is they only clean when times are good and run away in the cold,wet winter back to the dole and a worm house. ??? ??? ???
Not all of us. My horse needs feeding all year round so I need to be out there shining.
John
-
I dont know how long the job takes, but you could have tried offering to negotiate the price, as WFP is a lot quicker than trad, especially with this weather, as had to do a couple of commercial entrances today, very busy pedestrian traffic, and the window was drying in seconds.
idealrob
bad advice no dont drop the price! wfp has far more expenses so of course it needs to be faster than a ladder monkey
Why is it bad advice ? You have lost £20 job, you might have has a £15 job, and as for expense, it minimal, my other business has a £120k factory unit, rates, electric, £100k of equipment etc and the list goes on , and pound for pound on investment, there is nothing as good as wfp for return on investment, thats why still going strong after 55 years and still doing some customers for 50 of them. Good advice is keeping customers,
idealrob
-
The problem with the ladder brigade is they only clean when times are good and run away in the cold,wet winter back to the dole and a worm house. ??? ??? ???
Why so offensive?? We trad clean windows 52 weeks of the year, been doing this for 17 years. everypenny declared to hmrc, I now have 2 houses and drive a nice Jag. We are buying a wfp system later this year, but most work will still be trad for the time being.
-
How do you know its a so called ladder monkey as it could be that whoever that has undercut you might been cleaning longer than one thinks, and all they doing is expanding there business.
And he might worked out a price structure where he doesn't need to over price his business.
Like myself I use both methods and offer the customer what they are looking for a good reliable and reasonable priced for window cleaning as many customers do think they are getting ripped off for our service.
And most window cleaners who use wfp most would of started off as trad cleaners.
And like any business its dog eats dog out there on those streets, its fair game for all as you will gain some good experience from this as no matter how long you have a regular customer they aren't as loyal as you and me are to this business.
Where one leaves you, you will gain with another one in which might be higher or lower price but they normally tell there friends and family so where one customer gain can lead into neumorous of customers.
Sorry it is long winded this is life as a window cleaner as we know it ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
"The problem with the ladder brigade is they only clean when times are good and run away in the cold,wet winter back to the dole and a worm house. "
It really pes me off when idiots say crap like this!! what a propper tard >:(
I have been trad now for just over 3 years and have never been on the dole, always payed my taxes and worked come rain or shine, ill be going WFP soon as it seems to be the better way forward not to mention the safest way! and at least this ladder monkey can say i have some knowlege of traditional window cleaning!unlike some! Rant over :P
-
I know he was trad as the customer told me he was walking round with his ladder and bucket and a bit of dirty rag over his shoulder. Probably dont pay tax and wont turn up again and is probably on the sex offenders register ;D or so i will tell people if he carries on
-
I know he was trad as the customer told me he was walking round with his ladder and bucket and a bit of dirty rag over his shoulder. Probably dont pay tax and wont turn up again and is probably on the sex offenders register ;D or so i will tell people if he carries on
glad you had time to talk about me,and they do make a nice cuppa :o ;D
-
Is there not enough work out there for new window cleaners??
We have a couple of lads round here walk around with there ladder and bucket and thats because they haven't passed there driving test yet and two there customer base is compact work so wouldn't justify for them to have a vehicle as they do leave there ladder at customers house for next day working and another plus side its low overheads.
Just because one is trying to get there foot in the door in this game doesn't mean they are all like you said they are.
Most new customers I meet for pricing up they mention we are a dying breed to find, so encourage these people to make there mark in this game.
Give them the benefit of the doubt stop dis these people who you do not know personally.
Maybe you might have issues that what you are saying about these people is that you are doing these yourself ;D ;D ;D
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
-
Is there not enough work out there for new window cleaners??
We have a couple of lads round here walk around with there ladder and bucket and thats because they haven't passed there driving test yet and two there customer base is compact work so wouldn't justify for them to have a vehicle as they do leave there ladder at customers house for next day working and another plus side its low overheads.
Just because one is trying to get there foot in the door in this game doesn't mean they are all like you said they are.
Most new customers I meet for pricing up they mention we are a dying breed to find, so encourage these people to make there mark in this game.
Give them the benefit of the doubt stop dis these people who you do not know personally.
Maybe you might have issues that what you are saying about these people is that you are doing these yourself ;D ;D ;D
Well said. OP just concentrate on your own business, some you win some you lose. Price well and fair and then if customer leaves then f*ck em they aint worth it anyway.
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
i would really love meet you face to face vince,your just a pr ick,boring boring boring! get your business sorted and you wont need worry about anyone else,hmrc get a life!
wizkid,normally like your posts, but why say this or are you just trying wind trad guys up there are far more ladder monkeys who work all year round than wfp,frezzing hands in winter but keep going,think alot just lose work this time of year an think its a new starter,lets be honest who would start a window round in winter anyway ???
-
Vince i will drink to your comment ;D doley scum
-
Vince i will drink to your comment ;D doley scum
I think you've gone too far; you don't even know this guy, why call him scum?
-
To Jonny, Steven, Mark and Jackal. maybe you fellows have the bull by the balls or I HAVE These treads always appear every year at this time. The ladder brigade are not the trad cleaners who work hard all year round to make a living I to also did this for a long time. The ones that I do not like when I slog all winter in the snow with frozen hands.These gentleman only work in the summer sun and try the easy way by under cutting your price to threaten and disturb your round. A lot of customers are price aware trying to save a buck.These fellows would never service the customer in the rain or cold. THEY ONLY TAKE OUT NEVER PUTTING BACK IN EFFORT. I have not meant to offend traders who work all year round and of which I was one once. :-[ :-[
-
dont sweat, if the custards are daft enough to leave a reliable windy for a ladder monkey who works until sept/oct then packs in then let them..
No better feeling than telling them where to go when they come grovling back.. ;D ;D ;D
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
God you really are stupid. I assume thats the alcohol talking though.........idiot.
-
If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
A slight over reaction ;D.
-
I think this is a thread about nothing much really going by the original posting.
Someone loses one job to someone who gave a cheaper quote?
Hardly an extremely rare occurrence is it?
Then there's the name calling, the anger, the assumptions and all that stuff and then there's the enemy, the customer.
Perhaps this is maybe more about insecurity than anything else.
-
am a trad got me own van sign writtern home tell number on proper uniform with company name and number on work in all weathers on verge off going wfp i look very smart live nr barnsley any one wont to come and see me working can come am not a fxxking srubber
-
after having a day with other problems i still picked up a new house today off a ladder monkey.he was charging £10 for a detached 4 bedder.the frames were minging and he cleaned the glass monthly.
i offered to clean all frames,doors and glass for £20 8 weekly.all wfp.she accepted and seemed really pleased!!she meant to catch me last time when i cleaned her neighbours.she was fit too!!i seem to get a lot of young blonde professional women wanting my services lately.this must be the 5th blonde this month that has asked me to clean her windows!!!
happy days.i seem to attract work by word of mouth and recommendation a lot of the time these days.i must be doing something right!! ;) ;D ;D ;D
-
after having a day with other problems i still picked up a new house today off a ladder monkey.he was charging £10 for a detached 4 bedder.the frames were minging and he cleaned the glass monthly.
i offered to clean all frames,doors and glass for £20 8 weekly.all wfp.she accepted and seemed really pleased!!she meant to catch me last time when i cleaned her neighbours.she was fit too!!i seem to get a lot of young blonde professional women wanting my services lately.this must be the 5th blonde this month that has asked me to clean her windows!!!
happy days.i seem to attract work by word of mouth and recommendation a lot of the time these days.i must be doing something right!! ;) ;D ;D ;D
Daz you are a respected, frequent poster on here. I know you will get customers from trad, but it also works the other way. In this as any other business the customer is king. We have many, many customers who have come over to us from wfp operatives who do not have a clue what they are doing. (Obviously no one who posts on this forum). By the same token we have lost the odd one or two to wfp ops who have under cut us. Its all swings and roundabouts really. One lot slagging off the other does no good at all to any of us. We dont advertise anywhere but keep getting more work esp at this time of year
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
i would really love meet you face to face vince,your just a pr ick,boring boring boring! get your business sorted and you wont need worry about anyone else,hmrc get a life!
Jackal, when you have got as much money as me I will listen to you. Get my business sorted? My busisness is well sorted and I can drive out as many doley losers as I like. The fact that I enjoy it is just a bonus.
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
God you really are stupid. I assume thats the alcohol talking though.........idiot.
No; I don't drink, this what I'm like stone cold sober. Shame I can't find anywhere to report them for breathing, if I could I would do that as well.
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
i would really love meet you face to face vince,your just a pr ick,boring boring boring! get your business sorted and you wont need worry about anyone else,hmrc get a life!
Jackal, when you have got as much money as me I will listen to you. Get my business sorted? My busisness is well sorted and I can drive out as many doley losers as I like. The fact that I enjoy it is just a bonus.
oh my god its just gets worse,your loaded now aswell and worry about losing a custy,go to the trouble to find details about other windys to report them,loads of money but no life that will be you,what a loser!!! The end.
-
Nothing wrong with ladders, no need to stereotype just because some people have stuck trad and havent been out and bought all the Wfp gear. WfP is too expensive, massive start up costs + running costs, far more things can go wrong or break. I'm guessing that's why Wfp users have to charge so much, trad could undercut them all day long even though it can take up to twice as long!! £50 an hour window cleaning I've heard on here! No way that any window cleaning is worth that to anyone, specially when most younger people could get up and do it theirselves!
-
Its not meant to be a swipe at trad cleaners. The thread should have said the summer brigade. Or the cheap/ looks like he found them in a skip ladders brigade
-
Lets just call them" THE HAPPY SUNNY SEASONAL WINDIES THAT DON'T HAVE LADDER AND NEVER TRAMP ON ANY TOES AND UPSET EVERYONE BRAGADE"IT JUST SOUNDS BETTER,DON`T YOU ALL THINK. Then lets all be friends and have a pint on it. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
:'( :'( :'( :'(still some one not happy then take a razor blade and sit in the corner and play ,I will call mummy when you turn red. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D HAHA haha ha ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
im 1 of the ladder brigade and have been for years making alot of money taking work of you wfp muppets so keep doin a crap job an il keep takin work of u clowns hahahahahahahahaha
-
Read all the tread Mate, it helps. At this rate we will all be pushing pins through dolls with squeegees and wfp in there hands .abra ca babra. ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
im 1 of the ladder brigade and have been for years making alot of money taking work of you wfp muppets so keep doin a crap job an il keep takin work of u clowns hahahahahahahahaha
I am surprised primary school children are allowed to use ladders.
-
Think you mean a monkey with a pole
-
The problem with the ladder brigade is they only clean when times are good and run away in the cold,wet winter back to the dole and a worm house. ??? ??? ???
your talking a load of rubbish mate there r a lot of good trad window cleaners out there who make a good living out of window cleaning using ladders
-
Nothing wrong with ladders, no need to stereotype just because some people have stuck trad and havent been out and bought all the Wfp gear. WfP is too expensive, massive start up costs + running costs, far more things can go wrong or break. I'm guessing that's why Wfp users have to charge so much, trad could undercut them all day long even though it can take up to twice as long!! £50 an hour window cleaning I've heard on here! No way that any window cleaning is worth that to anyone, specially when most younger people could get up and do it theirselves!
As you said more things can go wrong or break, well a pole can be replaced or repaired, but what price do you put on your life, for me and my family, its priceless
idealrob
-
free country
-
im still in the ladder brigade, 25 years on, when i first started there was no scrims , we used to rip towels and sheets up got bad stares from mrs, made sure it was old bedding, there was no such thing as a water fed polewe wore no gloves, just gritted your teeth in the winter and got on with it. The newbie wfp cleaners always think they are a cut above. the traditional cleaners you may need your ladders when things go wrong. be happy with the work you have got no matter which method you clean theres too many people not working now in desperate circumstances yet some window cleaners still think they can over charge for there service they provide,some WFP cleaners still charge the same as trad cleaners summers coming overpriced cleaners may loose some work. not just by the ladder brigade
-
Classic story - WFP must equal all above board!! How about everyone report everyone and see who's paying their taxes and who isn't?! Just cause you've got a pole doesn't mean your not on the dole!!! Honestly, reading these posts makes me laugh, a website for window cleaners, more like a website for pompus W@NKERS!!
-
Classic story - WFP must equal all above board!! How about everyone report everyone and see who's paying their taxes and who isn't?! Just cause you've got a pole doesn't mean your not on the dole!!! Honestly, reading these posts makes me laugh, a website for window cleaners, more like a website for pompus W@NKERS!!
Hear hear
-
Classic story - WFP must equal all above board!! How about everyone report everyone and see who's paying their taxes and who isn't?! Just cause you've got a pole doesn't mean your not on the dole!!! Honestly, reading these posts makes me laugh, a website for window cleaners, more like a website for pompus W@NKERS!!
I agree. By the way I am 100% trad, 15 years in the game. I have always paid tax and NI, and I claim zilch from the government. :P
John
-
Yeah them poley doley brigade
-
I'm ping meself here laughing at the idiots fighting over bloody window cleaning jeez man get over it .
:P :P :P :P :P
-
I thought ladders were banned ;D ;D ;D
-
think some will be wearing three pice suit with dicki bow
-
does everybody think we will all be ladder brigade if it dont rain
-
one day we will take our kids to Madam Trousseau to see what a tradder looked like. Long live this uneek species. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Don't give him the benefit of the doubt. Take his car number and report him to the benefits hotline and HMRC. I am not nice or charitable so before anyone says thats a really nasty thing to do, I don't care. If they are taking food out of my kids mouths they are going to have to expect some grief from me.
Grassing is effeminate, better just confront the guy ;)
-
theres no crooks on this site is there, would you pay some one £20 to spray a bit of water on the end of a pole at your windows for five minutes, most tradders take pride in what they do thats why they are sought after, take your time do a good job and earn a good living, not spray and run, there should be a site for tradders only...........pete
-
So many crooks wiping the glass with dish washing up liquid and scraping it of again.Wears the pride in that.Thief. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
As you said more things can go wrong or break, well a pole can be replaced or repaired, but what price do you put on your life, for me and my family, its priceless
idealrob
you could die in crash getting to work? you cant live in a bubble. ladders are fine if you know what your doing ;D
-
some really childish people on this forum at times.trad windows cleaners are not "sought after" at all in my area!why would they be?most dont clean frames or doors or clean awkward windows over connys.i on the other hand do!i do trad some ground floor windows on some properties because its easier sometimes or if the frames are bad and oxidised with bad rubber seals.
WFP done properly including frames and doors is just so much better on most properties.no question!!
any of you guys that are trad only then fair play to ya.i was for 16 years but WFP over the last 2 years has transformed my business and standard of cleaning.
i just couldnt go back to ladders full time.it would be too unsafe and slow on some jobs ive picked up over the last 2 years.the standard of clean wouldnt be as good either!!
if you want to stay trad then thats fine but if its fear of losing customers because your thinking of switching to WFP.its NONSENSE!!
done right wfp is king for nearly all window cleaning work.its a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal!!!!
-
some really childish people on this forum at times.trad windows cleaners are not "sought after" at all in my area!why would they be?most dont clean frames or doors or clean awkward windows over connys.i on the other hand do!i do trad some ground floor windows on some properties because its easier sometimes or if the frames are bad and oxidised with bad rubber seals.
WFP done properly including frames and doors is just so much better on most properties.no question!!
any of you guys that are trad only then fair play to ya.i was for 16 years but WFP over the last 2 years has transformed my business and standard of cleaning.
i just couldnt go back to ladders full time.it would be too unsafe and slow on some jobs ive picked up over the last 2 years.the standard of clean wouldnt be as good either!!
if you want to stay trad then thats fine but if its fear of losing customers because your thinking of switching to WFP.its NONSENSE!!
done right wfp is king for nearly all window cleaning work.its a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal!!!!
Well said Dazmond.
-
There are good and bad windows cleaners both trad and wfp.
I was trad for quite a few years and now I use wfp. I still do some downstairs trad and sometimes after doing others with wfp, I go round with a microfibre and dry the glass. It depends on the job and it depends on the customer.
Having used ladders without one single incident or near miss, I would only go back to using them if a drought order means I can't use wfp but I do sometimes use ladders for access etc. I think most ex trad window cleaners have the same view.
I didn't realise what a relief it would be not to use ladders untill I stopped using them which is a very hard point to get across to someone who is 100% trad.
As for the quality of the job if done right, I think wfp has the edge. It certainly wins hands down when it come to time. I can clean a whole conservatory spotless including all the whites and the guttering in the fraction the time it would take to do trad.
If I was just cleaning the glass of the same conservatory without worrying about the whites, then there would hardly be any difference in time between a good trad cleaner and someone using wfp.
When it comes to awkward to reach windows only a fool would say trad is better.
I think the difference between trad and wfp in the minds of most trad window cleaners is in the perceived view of what the customer would think if their windows were to be done wfp.
As for one system versus the other, if someone is happy cleaning windows trad then that is it and the same goes for cleaning windows with wfp.
I don't understand this constant competition.
-
Let's hope if the hosepipe ban does get serious that you wfp guys who keep knocking us mere traders stick to yer guns and don't get yer ladders out. I'm sure us paupers can do yer work for you while waiting for it to finish lol.
-
its gonna be pouring down next week ;D
-
i really dont understand why some say wfp does a far better job than trad ??? why does it,its cleaning a window for god sake,i do the frames aswell,if wfp is so good stop tradding some ground floor windows,
and dazmond your right in saying theres some childish lads on here,most seem to be wfp guys :-X
-
when glass is clean its clean...its the frames where there is a difference the brush and water
gets into every nook and cranny then rinsing flushes it all away the overall effect because
of this is greater compared to cleaning frames when trad
-
some really childish people on this forum at times.trad windows cleaners are not "sought after" at all in my area!why would they be?most dont clean frames or doors or clean awkward windows over connys.i on the other hand do!i do trad some ground floor windows on some properties because its easier sometimes or if the frames are bad and oxidised with bad rubber seals.
WFP done properly including frames and doors is just so much better on most properties.no question!!
any of you guys that are trad only then fair play to ya.i was for 16 years but WFP over the last 2 years has transformed my business and standard of cleaning.
i just couldnt go back to ladders full time.it would be too unsafe and slow on some jobs ive picked up over the last 2 years.the standard of clean wouldnt be as good either!!
if you want to stay trad then thats fine but if its fear of losing customers because your thinking of switching to WFP.its NONSENSE!!
done right wfp is king for nearly all window cleaning work.its a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal!!!!
how can saying trad window cleaners are sought after be childish its a fair comment, if its not broke why fix it, people want quality for there money not spray and run, statistics show that
-
and dazmond your right in saying theres some childish lads on here,most seem to be wfp guys
Not some 90% are. You know all them busy window cleaners who sit on here all day saying how much they earn 8)
-
After six years WFP I still find it hard to walk away leaving the windows wet. I will always believe trad is best its just not commercially as viable. Two issues getting crossed here. When I go out in the morning I do so to make money not to produce a work of art.