Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: bad trippy on March 30, 2012, 10:46:33 pm
-
Why are you trad?
I reckon we earn around 50 to 60% more money per hour now we are WFP
Im not having a pop at you, so dont take this the wrong way, but i really would love to know why you folks stick to trad?
-
good question! tell us why??
-
Come on, don't be shy! ;D
-
eh! why whats this WFP you talk about??????
-
Gold: Can I tell you why I resisted changing over for longer than I should have?
Interested forum members (2 off ): Yes please we'd love to know!
Gold: OK here goes:-
1. Fear of rejection, lack of confidence and fear of losing what I had.
Being fearful that customers wouldn't "have it" and that I would lose the mediocre income that I had. I overcame this by explaining to and starting all my commercials first; then about 3 months later, once I was convinced I was okay at wfp I chose an area comprising (bigger, taller houses) about a third of my domestic stuff and explained and changed that over.
Then after that worked I changed all except an estate of low end easy ladder work. And within six months of buying wfp - finally that too.
2. Cost.
I spent about £1500 on a trolley system with unger aluminium poles from Peter Fogwill (including R/O, storage butts etc) and worked out of my estate car.
Hindsight tells me I should have gone for a van from day one but I did so when my car got clobbered by a lorry about a year later.
I don't "like" credit - but financing a van and system (self built) was the best thing I ever did in window cleaning terms.
-
Two guys from Easton pulled over for a chat on Sunday Malc, both said they knew you, one is errrr Eugine the barber (has a couple of brothers)
The other was a shiner, cant think of his name now, never met him before, may have been Nigel
-
I'm trad cos I do windows part time . I live in a flat so have no where to store Or make pure water . I have a small car limited funds so I fill up my bucket with fairy and go my customers are happy so that's why I'm trad I see people still using hammers and nails all the time why when paslode nail guns are available and reasnobly priced yet not everyone who works with wood uses one this is only one example I can think of!! each to their own mate just sayin
-
I'm trad cos I do windows part time . I live in a flat so have no where to store Or make pure water . I have a small car limited funds so I fill up my bucket with fairy and go my customers are happy so that's why I'm trad I see people still using hammers and nails all the time why when paslode nail guns are available and reasnobly priced yet not everyone who works with wood uses one this is only one example I can think of!! each to their own mate just sayin
good on you, you make a living out of shinning glass, that is that matters, doesn't matter how you do it really, just that you do ;)
-
Stu, I agree totally. Each to their own and according to their circumstances.
It's as simple as that.
If someone is happy 100% trad, then that is up to them.
If they want to go down the wfp route, then that is up to them also.
Why worry how others clean windows?
-
Why are you trad?
I reckon we earn around 50 to 60% more money per hour now we are WFP
Im not having a pop at you, so dont take this the wrong way, but i really would love to know why you folks stick to trad?
I would really love to be part of your money orientated gang Trippy,unfortunately I do not fit the strict criteria. Along with my WFP work ,I must confess and I do feel ashamed to say that from time to time I do use a pad and squeegee, :-[
-
you must have been slow trading then, ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
i like being trad,plain and simple, old school and all that. i also quite like a bit of fear ,a shot of adrenalin feels good
-
i went wfp main reason saftey to be honest partley money side as well but over all we are on this planet a short time i for one plan to be here as long as possible
-
Because on some property its simply quicker
-
Ive got both and the biggest thing that stops me going full wfp, is the hastle. When im trad i pull up at 9 work all day til 4 and not move car. When im wfp i have to move car loads and creates hastle. The 50 - 60% per hour is a bit steep. You must have been one slow tradder.
-
Good exercise , ease of work, bare minimal equipment, I believe some customers prefer to see you up the ladder with your mop and blade, (shows ya puttin some effort in when they pay ya an ya drippin wi sweat!!) especially old folk anyway which seem to be about 80% of all mine
-
i don't think there is a massive difference when you take into account the running costs of wfp Van insurance cost more plus you have water rates, equipment ect.
Paul
-
I love the simplicity of tradding.
I potter along every day, take my time to do a job my customers are happy with, chat with them and come home with enough money in my pocket at the end of it all.
Stress levels are zero, maintenance or repairs of equipment are cheap and negligible, and I am very content with my lot. :)
John
-
I'm only around 6 weeks since I started and I went for wfp,but I can see why people prefer prefer trad,its simplicity,doesn't leave the exterior of the house saturated with water ,no drips,finished result instantly,hardly any cost and as for the danger of ladders its not that common to slip,mostly operator issues.
-
We offer both wfp and trad. Some customers prefer wfp but most prefer trad - particularly the bottom windows. We nearly always blade off the kitchen and lounge windows even if all rest done wfp - because it keeps customers happy.
We have picked up work off wfp only cleaners because the finish has just been terrible but we've picked up work off bad tradders also! They are two methods of cleaning both are right in certain circumstances.
I think the biggest gain time wise for wfp is on leaded windows; takes for ever doing them trad. On none leaded especially smaller houses not sure it makes that much difference timewise.
As others have said above there is also a lot more work and expense keeping wfp equipment in working order and of course purifying water.
I think the best approach is to have an open mind to both methods of working using the right method for the right set of circumstances and always working safely!
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
-
im 100% trad coz i pick loads of work of wfp an i would like to keep picking up work of them. plus im happy with the money i make of being trad.
-
a few of my wifes friends keep asking me could i go round and clean their windows as they want them done right as the wfp keeps leaving marks on windows this is different window cleaners in different areas
-
im 100% trad coz i pick loads of work of wfp an i would like to keep picking up work of them. plus im happy with the money i make of being trad.
same here mate, most of the people i speak to turn there nose up at wfp
why would i want to spend poop loads on wfp equipment when trad does the job for a fraction of the cost? dont care about the safety risk, you could die in a crash going to your next job.
allot of wfp snobs on here. ::)
-
Your all right wfp is the devil im going to sell my system on ebay and buy some more scrims and a new domestic ladder i want to be a proper window cleaner :o :o
Paul
-
i was at the point of jacking it in a few years ago.16 years climbing ladders 100+ times a day was starting to wear my right knee out.i was also knackered and frustrated at the end of the day as i wasnt earning what i wanted from the job even though i had plenty of work.
those of you still tradding might feel different once you ve been climbing ladders for 16 years day in/day out.
despite the higher costs and occasional hassle with hoses,poles,batteries etc.WFP IS EASIER AND I MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY.in fact im earning £10,000 more a year after 2 years WFP than i was on the ladders but work less,enjoy my working day more,safer etc.
AND i dont spend anything like £10,000 a year on WFP equipment!GO FIGURE!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
i was at the point of jacking it in a few years ago.16 years climbing ladders 100+ times a day was starting to wear my right knee out.i was also knackered and frustrated at the end of the day as i wasnt earning what i wanted from the job even though i had plenty of work.
those of you still tradding might feel different once you ve been climbing ladders for 16 years day in/day out.
despite the higher costs and occasional hassle with hoses,poles,batteries etc.WFP IS EASIER AND I MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY.in fact im earning £10,000 more a year after 2 years WFP than i was on the ladders but work less,enjoy my working day more,safer etc.
AND i dont spend anything like £10,000 a year on WFP equipment!GO FIGURE!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
well said Daz, we sound very similar, both my kness are well and truely shot mate, was 14 yrs of ladders
-
I can remember days using ladders when at the end of the day, I was so knackered I could hardly get the ladders on the roof rack.
I can also remember days getting home so done in that come bed time, I would struggle to get out my chair.
-
i keep fit so can do ladders all day evry day;do use wfp for some jobs.
but to be honest never get any hassell with trad and make money as much as ever
and being fit and healthy with all the exercise im less condecending ;)
-
yes rosskesava i was the same!!trying to get a good day in then sometimes i would have to take 2 days off to recover!!now wfp i can pace myself more throughout the week and still get more work done!!its great isnt it??!! :D :D :D :D
IM WELL HAPPY I SEEN SENSE AND INVESTED!!!
best move i ever made in window cleaning by a long way!!!
-
i went wfp because it made life easier,window cleaning a doddle,fascia gutter cleaning
a doddle con roof cleaning a doddle.
trad is considerably much harder work and i use backpacks it gave me the
opportunity to earn the same or more money and best thing it aint hardwork
which suits me fine as im a lazy numpty ;D
-
Ego will mess up your neck and back lol
There's no getting away with no pain no gain ,in this job.
-
wightsurf my antidote to RSI is knowing when to take time off!i use an slx and im taking 10 days off now!going back on the tuesday after bank holiday monday!! :D :D :D :D
-
Sounds like a lot of you gave it up not through saftey but because her unfit and knackard lol
-
both methods have its advantages , best to offer both . i charge more for trad . you get more satisfactory results trad . and i bet statistically trad gets less complaints
-
Sounds like a lot of you gave it up not through saftey but because her unfit and knackard lol
nope laziness ;D
-
I turn 50 this week, have 15 years under my belt and am fitter than when I worked in an office,
I work at a steady pace and can happily put in 10 hour shifts and come home without aches and pains.
I get very, very few complaints (I had one single complaint in the last 8 months) and in building my business from scratch in a land where there is a recession like you would not believe, I am earning enough. I am not greedy or ambitious to build an empire, neither do I wish to put anyone down for their choices.
In other words, trad works for me and I am happy for you all for whichever methods you use.
John
-
fair play best wishes johnny! ;D ;D ;D
-
Whatever way floats yer boat. I hope all you guys that constantly knock trading will not get your ladders out if the hosepipe ban does get serious. I'm sure us mere tradys can do your work for you while your waiting for it to finish. You don't wanna eat humble pie now do you.
-
Unless its bigger than your average 3 bed semi I dont find wfp any quicker.
-
Unless its bigger than your average 3 bed semi I dont find wfp any quicker.
there is this obsession with whose quickest the fact of the matter is its easier on thebody
generally leaving you less tired i can clean lightening quick if needed i dont doubt there
are trad cleaners who are quicker than me out there but you are having to expend loads of
effort and energy to keep thta pace up,for me im using minimum energy making my life easier
then if i want to ive plenty of energy and time to fit those extra gutter fascia cleans con roof
cleans.
common sense tells me that its better to do the same or more for less :)
-
i think wfp guys have this obsession with using the best system. funny the thing is i get more custys wanting trad than the other way round , customer always right scenario . i offer both so not biased and speaking from the little experience i have . wfp is easier but trad is superior
-
sorry dont want argue but trad isnt superior,hold onto to that sad train of thought
but it boils down to fear of change which in the long run can only be of benefit to YOU!
when a potential customer phones me looking for a window cleaner and most of
my work comes through recomendation if they dont already know about the way i provide my service
i give them the full description i dont then out of fear tell them they can have it anyway they like
and then shove a broom up my arse as well.
i sell my service and myself its all about having faith in the system you are using i decide
the way i clean not the customer if you decide to use trad if it suits your purposes fair enough
but not because a customer is dictating the way you work.
since 2007 i have had only one potential customer who didnt want a quote because
i use wfp
-
I have been trad for 7 years now and intend staying like it ,on a round quite spread out and like the simplicity and hassle freeness of trad. Ive also continually picked up other customers ,previously Wfp. Having said that im not knocking the system.its what suits everyone ,and just dont get why people on here are so obsessed with whose doing what /
-
i sell my service and myself
Gary, you're on the window cleaning section. We all know about you on the non-cleaning bit, but is that relevant here? ;D
-
you must have been slow trading then, ;D ;D ;D ;D
Or really quick and off up the road with wfp!!!!
-
i sell my service and myself
Gary, you're on the window cleaning section. We all know about you on the non-cleaning bit, but is that relevant here? ;D
git! ;D
-
Unless its bigger than your average 3 bed semi I dont find wfp any quicker.
there is this obsession with whose quickest the fact of the matter is its easier on thebody
generally leaving you less tired i can clean lightening quick if needed i dont doubt there
are trad cleaners who are quicker than me out there but you are having to expend loads of
effort and energy to keep thta pace up,for me im using minimum energy making my life easier
then if i want to ive plenty of energy and time to fit those extra gutter fascia cleans con roof
cleans.
common sense tells me that its better to do the same or more for less :)
Piece work, quicker I finish the better, whichever way is quickest suits me. As for the tiring out bit, I must be a freak, I can do a day on the windows, ladder, pole whatever and it doesn't really wear me out, every now and then I'll ladder a big job just for the fitness element, that is if I have time to do it and the weathers decent, helps if there is a nice view as well
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
I just don't get this. I am wfp only. I have only had one customer in two years say they prefer trad, but after one wfp clean they wouldn't go back. The only people I hear say that their customers prefer trad are those that are trad or offer trad.
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
I just don't get this. I am wfp only. I have only had one customer in two years say they prefer trad, but after one wfp clean they wouldn't go back. The only people I hear say that their customers prefer trad are those that are trad or offer trad.
I do both and I have several who insist on trad, some dont like the windows left went and some have had bad wfp cleaners before me
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
Proves my point. ;D
I just don't get this. I am wfp only. I have only had one customer in two years say they prefer trad, but after one wfp clean they wouldn't go back. The only people I hear say that their customers prefer trad are those that are trad or offer trad.
I do both and I have several who insist on trad, some dont like the windows left went and some have had bad wfp cleaners before me
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
I just don't get this. I am wfp only. I have only had one customer in two years say they prefer trad, but after one wfp clean they wouldn't go back. The only people I hear say that their customers prefer trad are those that are trad or offer trad.
I do both and I have several who insist on trad I let dictate to me how I will clean their windows, some dont like the windows left went and some have had bad wfp cleaners before me
FTFY ;)
-
as long as you clean and rinse well the finish is perfect... its the wfp cowboys giving it a bad name ;)
-
Gold, i offer both, if they prefer trad and I think its safe to do trad thats what I do, if its not I will tell them, I have no problem with the customer choosing trad, why would I? Its not a case of them dictating, I offer a choice. As for the dictate bit I am doing a school tomorrow, all ground floor and they have requested I do it Trad, £400 for a days work or tell them no because I want to pole them instead, what do you reckon I should do with that. Turn them down because they are dictating to me or accept because they have asked me to use traditional methods? Dictate or politely request, I guess it depends how they ask, but nobody has ever dictated to me how I work, not since I was self employed, at least.
-
This post is getting off topic to me the question was why traders still clean their way and they have given the answer ( some people prefer trad pick up work from WFP and some just love cleaning trad )
Iam WFP only because it works for me there is work out there for both ;D
Adders
-
sorry dont want argue but trad isnt superior,hold onto to that sad train of thought
but it boils down to fear of change which in the long run can only be of benefit to YOU!
when a potential customer phones me looking for a window cleaner and most of
my work comes through recomendation if they dont already know about the way i provide my service
i give them the full description i dont then out of fear tell them they can have it anyway they like
and then shove a broom up my arse as well.
i sell my service and myself its all about having faith in the system you are using i decide
the way i clean not the customer if you decide to use trad if it suits your purposes fair enough
but not because a customer is dictating the way you work.
since 2007 i have had only one potential customer who didnt want a quote because
i use wfp
[/quoteWell said that man :)
-
I use both but charge more for cleaning trad and pick up loads of customers who dont like wfp so if they want me to clean trad i will but charge more but if the customer has a hard to get to window they understand that i will use wfp plus i enjoy ladder work as well as pole work
I just don't get this. I am wfp only. I have only had one customer in two years say they prefer trad, but after one wfp clean they wouldn't go back. The only people I hear say that their customers prefer trad are those that are trad or offer trad.
You must be very lucky or very good. I have picked loads of wfp work up. I still believe trad is better but also think we pick it up coz wfp is not done properly by a lot of people giving the good guys a bad name
-
i bet if the tradders had a few month poling they'd never go back to climbing ;)
-
i must have been one of the worst critic of wfp until i went out with a pal who showd me what wfp could do when used correctly so i went out a few times with him to get the hang of it what a big differance, i only lost one custy cause he dint like windows wet his wife went nuts. ho and i could get windows over the conni roof/ may be its a few things like fear of loosing custys and change over or just not having the confidence in ones abilityto try some thing diferent . rant over glad i went WFP ;D
-
GOOD GRIEF GUYS!!!!!....Give it a rest..Pleeeze!....Have done Both..WFP and TRAD..I happen to prefer trad and most of my work is trad.I am 57yrs old and fit as a fiddle, due in no small measure to being active cleaning windows...The people SHOUTING LOUDEST about WFP seem to be trying to convince THEMSELVES.....(empty vessels make the most noise)....I am happy,am my own boss,work when i feel like it,DO NOT SIGN ON,make a very good living,Blah!Blah!Blah!....What more could you ask for??..TRAD, i LOVE TRAD..BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY.. so do my CUSTOMERS..go figure!! ;) ;) ;)
-
GOOD GRIEF GUYS!!!!!....Give it a rest..Pleeeze!....Have done Both..WFP and TRAD..I happen to prefer trad and most of my work is trad.I am 57yrs old and fit as a fiddle, due in no small measure to being active cleaning windows...The people SHOUTING LOUDEST about WFP seem to be trying to convince THEMSELVES.....(empty vessels make the most noise)....I am happy,am my own boss,work when i feel like it,DO NOT SIGN ON,make a very good living,Blah!Blah!Blah!....What more could you ask for??..TRAD, i LOVE TRAD..BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY.. so do my CUSTOMERS..go figure!! ;) ;) ;)
i think there is a little sensitivity here i dont believe for one moment just because you are a ladder jockey
you are a dole dosser :)
nothing wrong with what you are doing if you are happy my customers love the way i clean
and im wfp :) my personal point with wfp is it is safer easier and more financially viable in the long term
as for convincing ourselves and empty vessels and all that the same could be said for trad guys.
if points raised by wfp operators wer just shouting nonsense you wouldnt have so many guys
who were long time tradders convert succesfully over to wfp and stick with it.
at 57 i obviously understand that you are to long in tooth to change and coming to the end of
your time,so no biggy ;D
just joking ;D ;D
-
Wake up!!
Unless the weather changes dramatically - Come July every wc down south will have to be trad. Goodbye wfp - HS wont save you as windows dont need to be cleaned ....
-
Wake up!!
Unless the weather changes dramatically - Come July every wc down south will have to be trad. Goodbye wfp - HS wont save you as windows dont need to be cleaned ....
i dont live down south severn trent have guaranteed no hosepipe bans for us ;)
im wide awake ;D ;D
-
Wake up!!
Unless the weather changes dramatically - Come July every wc down south will have to be trad. Goodbye wfp - HS wont save you as windows dont need to be cleaned ....
This indeed grim :'(
However, I am busy building a pipeline to the channel as we speak(which, if I am correct has not suffered like the reservoirs have in recent years)
.I will then pipe to a de-salination plant(why haven't the goverment done this??) and covert to pure- and then I shall go on my merry sprinkling way ;D
This may or may not be true of course but yeah...we could do with some rain, so we are considering the alternatives i.e buying in pure from other regions but would resist until the end going over to trad.
Thats not having a pop at trad as there is place for both methods, if BOTH done correctly but each to their own(and budget)
Fingers crossed for a wet summer tho 8)
-
Wake up!!
Unless the weather changes dramatically - Come July every wc down south will have to be trad. Goodbye wfp - HS wont save you as windows dont need to be cleaned ....
I dont think they guaranteed anything. They said its highly unlikely they will restrict the water in the area but will monitor the situation. Its only a matter of time imo until its restricted somewhere
i dont live down south severn trent have guaranteed no hosepipe bans for us ;)
im wide awake ;D ;D
-
Wake up!!
Unless the weather changes dramatically - Come July every wc down south will have to be trad. Goodbye wfp - HS wont save you as windows dont need to be cleaned ....
I dont think they guaranteed anything. They said its highly unlikely they will restrict the water in the area but will monitor the situation. Its only a matter of time imo until its restricted somewhere
i dont live down south severn trent have guaranteed no hosepipe bans for us ;)
im wide awake ;D ;D
my water comes from wales mate soon as the summer comes it will bucket down
solidly l=for weeks on end like it always does.
i have faith ;D ;D
-
don't panic mr mannerings - it'll rain soon enough then we'll all be moaning about how cold and wet it is
-
Gary that is a fair comment, as soon as the kids break up from school it will hammer down!
-
GOOD GRIEF GUYS!!!!!....Give it a rest..Pleeeze!....Have done Both..WFP and TRAD..I happen to prefer trad and most of my work is trad.I am 57yrs old and fit as a fiddle, due in no small measure to being active cleaning windows...The people SHOUTING LOUDEST about WFP seem to be trying to convince THEMSELVES.....(empty vessels make the most noise)....I am happy,am my own boss,work when i feel like it,DO NOT SIGN ON,make a very good living,Blah!Blah!Blah!....What more could you ask for??..TRAD, i LOVE TRAD..BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY.. so do my CUSTOMERS..go figure!! ;) ;) ;)
have i got a twin on here ;D
-
a few of my wifes friends keep asking me could i go round and clean their windows as they want them done right as the wfp keeps leaving marks on windows this is different window cleaners in different areas
-
don't panic mr mannerings - it'll rain soon enough then we'll all be moaning about how cold and wet it is
Around here down on the south coast, the ash trees are in leaf whereas the oak aren't. There's an old wives saying about it for the coming summer months:
Ash before the oak is roasting
and oak before the ash is splashing
We're all doomed to go back to trad.