Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: magic moments on May 08, 2012, 07:14:07 pm
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Lol another 2 have contacted me and stated leave windows untill weather better,I have replied sure no problem as felt a bit harsh from my earlier reply,I'm going to use this as motivation to get out there and gain some more custom,but is it worth canvassing or leafleting in this weather at the moment any had results in poor weather.
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Personally, I wouldn't want customers like that; so I'd drop them.
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Tough when you start but sounds like using it as an excuse ... why do u have to text all these customers ?
btw Tosh is correct replace ASAP !
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What do you put in your text magic?
I text to but I very rarely get a leave it
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Didn't text these they simply text me they know what day there roughly due,just coincidence both in space of an hour lol,I'm going to get more and when they contact me hopefully il be to busy to clean there windows.
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I only text 7 out of 57 custys, I just say windows due tommorow please leave gate unlocked if out thanks.
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Dump 'em and replace with three!
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ive had a few recently cancel even with rain guarantee they are not interested
as one stated a twenty four hour rain guarantee is no good when it doesnt stop
raining for days on end these are good custies that have never given me a problem
it aggravates part of me but other part of me can see their point ,the weathers
been a bit extreme lately and i have no problem working in rain but there
have been plenty of days with strong winds and rain lashing down where it
would be pointless trying to clean.
it wont last though forever so will just crack on the best way i can
untill it gets better :)
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I text some but i am cutting back on this as much as possible now i have hose reel; would rather climb over where i can than text.
When i do text i put "Lee window cleaner coming tomorrow, can you unlock gate please"
Don't think it would make any difference but maybe that might be better than saying your windows are due.
I'm coming tomorrow and your not ganna stop me! ;D
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Any new custys from now on with access issues just get fronts cleaned unless there in ,I'm not texting anymore ,don't think it pays to be to polite in this game well in my short experience anyway.
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i think one of the guys on here when sending a text said his text is automated so dont reply ,i think i will try this ;D
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i think one of the guys on here when sending a text said his text is automated so dont reply ,i think i will try this ;D
are you having issues with texting?
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Any new custys from now on with access issues just get fronts cleaned unless there in ,I'm not texting anymore ,don't think it pays to be to polite in this game well in my short experience anyway.
Maybe say if not in will clean front, front and side and have a min charge for this.
Your catching on quick Magic; alot quicker than i did ;D
But as said by Gary we have been getting some bl00dy awful weather lately so there maybe some good custies in there don't dump em all just yet ;)
I'd take it all with a pinch of salt on here don't let people load the bullets for you to fire.
Someone said on here recently the answer to all the problems is more customers; the more you have the less they bother you.
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How much do you charge and what frequency did you agree with them
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Hi Magic
as your round gets larger,you will be able to bear these 'not today' a lot more.
I know its tough when you start out,but as has been said many times-its just a numbers game.Use this as your motivation to get out there and canvass your socks off and the better customers will come with time
As your fairly new to them at the moment,they dont 'feel'bad if they brush you off.Once you have been going a couple of years,they wont want to lose you and go through all the hassle of getting a new windy
Keep going mate,the summer is not too far away and all the doom and gloom will be behind us and you will have so much work that you wont know your ar*e from your elbow 8)
Good luck
Regards
Roy
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Thanks more customers less pressure you are right about the numbers, I have been going for 4 weeklys but looking at changing to 6
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Always offer a rain 'guarantee' especially when picking up new customers
I always tell new ones I clean in light rain and offer said guarantee (I promise that if they ever get a problem after rain, call within 24hrs and I'll re-clean any windows) I've never had a call back - if they agree at the start then no nasty surprises later (hopefully) !
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Lol another 2 have contacted me and stated leave windows untill weather better,I have replied sure no problem as felt a bit harsh from my earlier reply,I'm going to use this as motivation to get out there and gain some more custom,but is it worth canvassing or leafleting in this weather at the moment any had results in poor weather.
how do these people pay you ???
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Just a tips that might help you get off on the right foot.
1 Write down what you will not take from customer e.g. I do not take doorstep cancellation and don't compromise on these. Add to these rules from time to time.
When you text say I will be cleaning your window tomorrow, leave your access gate open and window closed. Don`t anticipate a answer. so don`t open a text from them. When you take on a customer put the name and phone number on your phone so you know when they call, you know who they are l and don't answer.
When you deal with customer be polite but stand your ground on you rules. TAKE CHARGE ON ALL DISCUSSIONS WITH CUSTOMER. Remember its your business and your term,not there's. If they don`t like the terms you walk away.Its not business at all cost.
All business have terms try to tell them how you want it and they will tell were to get off.Its very easy to stand your ground and be rude it take a guts to be businessman with balls to be in on top of your business. Its really a cop out to through customer without trying to turn them into good paying customer. GOOD LUCK MATE.
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It will be snow next
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Personally, I wouldn't want customers like that; so I'd drop them.
100% correct for a change as usual, Tosh! ;D
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How you word the text is definitely important.
We were stupidly saying we will be cleaning windows tomorrow if that's OK and personalising each one. Sent to 10 customers last Monday, 3 'leave it this time as weather bad other reason blah blah blah'. Annoying.
Text sent yesterday - 'we are coming tomorrow to clean your windows, please ensure all access gates left open and money left in agreed place as applicable' - no replies/leave it this time.
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i really dont have many problems with the weather issue apart from a long standing custy yesterday who i politely dumped on the spot! ;D ;D ;D
i can only think of a few instances in 18 YEARS OF WINDOW CLEANING where a customer has said"can you leave them this time as its forecast to rain tomorrow and the rest of the week"
when is does happen i explain i work in all weathers and i cant run a business if thats the reason for not having them cleaned.
if they think that ill just turn up when it suits them they are deluded!!they have to fit into my schedule or i wont make enough money and go out of business!luckily most people know that so very few problems. ;D ;D
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I don't know what the fuss is. I wouldn't want to pay good money to have my windows cleaned with this weather. Just skip them and say see you next time. Where's the big problem?
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I don't know what the fuss is. I wouldn't want to pay good money to have my windows cleaned with this weather. Just skip them and say see you next time. Where's the big problem?
+1
John
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the thing is vince the weather was nice and dry yesterday and i got "can you leave them as its forecast rain tomorrow".
dumped!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Personally, I can see a customers problem if it's pouring with rain/blowing a gale and I would just say no problems, see you next month (or earlier if can fit them in) because especially with windy weather I don't find the finish is that good - wfp or trad.
But in light/moderate rain, showers or rain forecast tomorrow/this week then that's just not on because that could easily apply to the weather for the whole year and we'd all be skint!
In my opinion, it's getting the balance right between doing a good job for the customer and keeping them happy but ensuring that you're business is run properly and that you're earning the money to pay the bills and enjoy life.
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Pretty much what was said up there ^^^
I find these posts can be quite controversial, very few agree on them. It seems to me because people have the ways they run their business and as that works for them don't consider entertaining the thought that running it another way might work also.
I imagine half the die-hard/black and white/ no room for compromise fellas aren't half as strict in reality as they like to make out on here. Its a case of sorting the wheat out from the chaff. Im not as strict a lot of the time as I'd like to think I should be, but when push comes to shove I'll usually agree to a customers request unless its unreasonable. I like to run my ship in a friendly approachable manner.
There are suppliers on here that we can all learn a lot from in the way they deal with the public. The hard hearted/hard faced, unreasonable/don't give a hoot about customer relations brodex crowd are run down continually for their sloppy customer attitude, the Gardiners crowd who listen and acknowledge the customers issue is nine times out of ten the attitude that attracts us, the punters.
Its exactly the same for your customers, do you want to be a Brodex or a Gardiner to them?
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I run things pretty much like matt as regards attitude to customers, one thing you need to realise magic is I believe your recently started in this game is some of the customers your going to get is cast offs of more established window cleaners the ones who dumped these customers for these reasons once they have built a good round up, the question you need to ask yoursellf can you afford to loose them for the sake of a missed clean at the moment. Having said that try and edgucate the customer before just dumping them that you can't provide them with a great service if they mess you about like that, this game is very rewarding once you get pretty established but its hard work getting there and sometimes you need to bite your tongue before making hasty decisions to just dump.
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'we are coming tomorrow to clean your windows, please ensure all access gates left open and money left in agreed place as applicable' - no replies/leave it this time.
That sounds a bit blunt. I try to be a bit more polite, but still don't ask if its OK? I say "Hi, I hope you are well. Window cleaning is due tomorrow, please leave your gate unlocked for access. Many Thanks, Andy"
For those of you who suffer a lot with the "leave it this time" brigade - Perhaps it's worth setting up customers to pay via standing order? The money will be going out of their account anyway, so they may as well have them cleaned even if its raining when you turn up!
I think it's all about educating customers though... If you spell it out to them from the outset that you are an all year round service, rain or shine then they have no excuse... Explain to them that out of all the cleans throughout the year on the law of averages only 1 or 2 are going to be in wet weather.
Andy
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Agreed,need to be a little more laid back,and play along just need the rain to stop ,its been near nonstop for 3 weeks,waiting to try for more custys how much longer will this weather last in the southeast.
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Just double the next clean price works a treat.
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My experience of the educate the customer statement is that you can stand there and tell the new customer all the things you like.
There not that intrested, just want there windows cleaned.
They have selected memory, they only remember what they want, you will be turned away if they want to do that.
I have stood there and explained wfp to custies.
Picked up new custy 3 months ago, demonstrated wfp, said looks like rain drops on glass dries to clear finish.
She phoned to say dried fine would like you to put me on your list.
Now done 3rd clean she asked me why windows were wet and dont i dry off? :'(
The only thing i can think of is her husband was in the car and wondered maybe what i was doing.
But i have many stories similar.
Maybe i just sound like the teacher from charlie Brown ???
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Just try telling Gardiners you want something different from that which was agreed and see what happens.
If you want to have a business where custies tell you how to do the job and under what conditions they are prepared to have you then good luck to you.
Wait 'til you have employees and they start getting turned away.
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I txt none , and none of them have a clue when im due as i run how i want , not to say im sloppy and unreliable , but i like to mix things up a bit and let them guess , txt for me has always been a no brainer , i would only ever consider it on a very large account that was too good to lose , im the boss not they !
Rich
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Just try telling Gardiners you want something different from that which was agreed and see what happens.
If you want to have a business where custies tell you how to do the job and under what conditions they are prepared to have you then good luck to you.
Wait 'til you have employees and they start getting turned away.
Posted by: P @ F Posted on: Today at 06:33:34 pm
Insert Quote
I txt none , and none of them have a clue when im due as i run how i want , not to say im sloppy and unreliable , but i like to mix things up a bit and let them guess , txt for me has always been a no brainer , i would only ever consider it on a very large account that was too good to lose , im the boss not they !
Rich
totally agree