Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian101 on May 28, 2012, 07:30:00 pm
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Came outta the blue from a customer this afternoon. :o
Reason being last time I came I scared her daughter who was in the bathroom as "the noise on the window sounded like world war 3" and she would like to be able to let other family members that the window cleaner is calling the next day as "they have a lot on and are busy people"
Why she didnt call me at the time 2 months ago I dont know as my numbers are on my slips ??
No access issues. ok price and reasonable payers online ... been cleaning em for well over a year.
I reminded her that she had changed me from middle of every other month to the end of every other month - this she couldnt recall.
If I bother to go back Im sure it will turn into a not this time so may just save myself the hassle and dump ??
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No way.
If the worst comes to the worst tell her you'll ring the bell before you start next time. Even that is pushing the boat out, but no way do you want to have to ring.
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Nearly told her to find another windie there and then but she pays online ;)
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so what was your reply when she phoned?
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can you get a jingle like the ice cream van man? this would be cool and all those disappointed kiddies faces come the summer hols ... i can't beleive you didn't think of this before
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Mountain out of a molehill, is it really that bad to have to call the odd customer? Its a wonder any of you have any customers left the way you talk about dumping....
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Nearly told her to find another windie there and then but she pays online ;)
So? I don't understand how paying online is better than any other payment method.
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we have all seen this type of customer for some reason the just want to put obstacles in your path
no matter what size round you have you dont need this
dump
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If its the first obsticle surely a bit of customer service is no big deal, I agree if they keep on putting up obsticles then could be an issue but she has been a good customer for over a year....
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serious question ;D
how do we define customer service ???
or what are the acceptable limits of customer service
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Flip the question, if you were the customer would you think it was too much to ask? I wouldnt.... I agree that you guys shouldnt jump through hoops and but the odd phone call is not beyond anyone....
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Mountain out of a molehill, is it really that bad to have to call the odd customer? Its a wonder any of you have any customers left the way you talk about dumping....
totally agree
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text her - but explain its not a reason for her to say she doesnt want a clean that day
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
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Just politely manage her expectations:-
I'd say - "I'm sorry your daughter was startled and I understand your family are busy people. So I'm sure you appreciate I'm extremely busy too. If I called all my customers before cleaning I'd be making 20 calls a day!
I hope you don't mind if I call as agreed and ring the doorbell to let you know I'm here?
She may well agree. If she doesn't then is she really the sort of custy you want?
Your decision of course ...
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
The problem with that bit in red is that "Super Company" "Competing on Price" "Customer Service" are uneasy bedfellows.
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It can be done...
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so what was your reply when she phoned?
Wasnt over phone ... was when I was there this afternoon ... she wasnt in when I started and arrived home just as I was finishing.
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Nearly told her to find another windie there and then but she pays online ;)
So? I don't understand how paying online is better than any other payment method.
its not its the the way I typed it .... get paid then dump
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can you get a jingle like the ice cream van man? this would be cool and all those disappointed kiddies faces come the summer hols ... i can't beleive you didn't think of this before
the gypos around my way use a continious loudspeaker of any old iron may adapt the idea to any dirty windows ,, any dirty windows ..... best stock up on some goldfish and find a ragmans trumpet on ebay. ;) ;D
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Mountain out of a molehill, is it really that bad to have to call the odd customer? Its a wonder any of you have any customers left the way you talk about dumping....
yup is a hassle when Ive had a long hard day to have to call ahead customers for next day and then I suspect the reply will be "leave em this time" .... 99% of my customers just expect me to turn up and do job after all its not rocket science or a massive task.
some on here happy to do it I prefer to keep it to a minimum where possible ... but thats me :)
if it means loosing a customer then never mind another one along soon enough and if not I can go canvassing for 10 minutes and find a replacement.
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Just politely manage her expectations:-
I'd say - "I'm sorry your daughter was startled and I understand your family are busy people. So I'm sure you appreciate I'm extremely busy too. If I called all my customers before cleaning I'd be making 20 calls a day!
I hope you don't mind if I call as agreed and ring the doorbell to let you know I'm here?
She may well agree. If she doesn't then is she really the sort of custy you want?
Your decision of course ...
hmmmmmmm with hindsight yup but not as fast as thinking as that this afternoon
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99% of my (250-odd) customers require me to call, knock or at least make an appointment before I can clean their windows. The other 1% I just ring the door bell and start working away.
This is how it works in Ireland. If I failed to heed these requirements, I would not have a business at all. I can't just dump and replace with two here. Finding any customers at all is a serious challenge. Keeping them long enough to get a second clean is an achievement, and getting beyond the third is real success. When you get to this stage, they are keepers as long as you keep them happy. All this is achieved by observing paragraph 1 and going the extra mile for them.
Yes it gave me some serious headaches at the beginning, and I even began to doubt if I could make it work here (I have well meaning friends here who didn't believe that I stood a chance), but I have now learned to adapt to what the customers, who pay my wages, require of me, and my determination to succeed is beginning to pay off. If it means acceeding to their wishes within reason, so be it.
John
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99% of my (250-odd) customers require me to call, knock or at least make an appointment before I can clean their windows. The other 1% I just ring the door bell and start working away.
This is how it works in Ireland. If I failed to heed these requirements, I would not have a business at all. I can't just dump and replace with two here. Finding any customers at all is a serious challenge. Keeping them long enough to get a second clean is an achievement, and getting beyond the third is real success. When you get to this stage, they are keepers as long as you keep them happy. All this is achieved by observing paragraph 1 and going the extra mile for them.
Yes it gave me some serious headaches at the beginning, and I even began to doubt if I could make it work here (I have well meaning friends here who didn't believe that I stood a chance), but I have now learned to adapt to what the customers, who pay my wages, require of me, and my determination to succeed is beginning to pay off. If it means acceeding to their wishes within reason, so be it.
John
well that would be me fooked ................ I admire your perserverance :)
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i let all my customers know im coming by either text posting card through doors
etc customer sees it as good customer service i see it as a benefit getting access to
rear etc.
i might get one aweek who comes out with not today with most its normally a reasonable reason
and i let it slide,if it looks like becoming a habit i dump them
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Thanks Ian.
Was a real culture shock I can tell you. When I had my business in England, it was a simple case or turn up, clean and knock for the money. Very, very few issues in over 14 years.
Over here it just doesn't work that way because regular window cleaning, particularly domestic, is the exception rather than the rule. So I need to make contact with my customers beforehand unless they say otherwise.
John
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i let all my customers know im coming by either text posting card through doors
etc customer sees it as good customer service i see it as a benefit getting access to
rear etc.
i might get one aweek who comes out with not today with most its normally a reasonable reason
and i let it slide,if it looks like becoming a habit i dump them
That card system seems like a good idea. I may give that a try. :)
John
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Flip the question, if you were the customer would you think it was too much to ask? I wouldnt.... I agree that you guys shouldnt jump through hoops and but the odd phone call is not beyond anyone....
Generally, it's not so much about making the call. It can be about the scheduling i.e. it's not always possible to be certain how far you will get in a day (should I phone this evening for the following day or should I leave it till tomorrow evening for the day after?). However, this one sounds like they could be phoned say 20 minutes beforehand and it would be enough. With mobile phones, doing it isn't a problem. Remembering to do it might be though (for me anyway).
There is also the line of thinking that goes, "If all my customers wanted me to do xyz, would my business be workable?"
I imagine the real issue here might be a power/control/ego thing - though I could be projecting my own issues onto someone else's situation.
I know that I was messed about so much by customers in the early years, it was many years before I took on any more jobs where I had to phone beforehand. This started before mobile phones were in common usage around and just became a habit. I got a mobile later than most people. I don't get messed around much these days but nearly all of it is when I am expected to phone ahead.
I can see why some companies will only do commercial work. There is much less micro-management needed in general.
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
Customer led, yes.
However, most window cleaning companies are quite small or one person businesses. If too many customers require a tight price AND high maintenance levels of customer service, that directly affects an individual's income. In a larger company that can be absorbed more easily.
I once had a customer whose list of "rules" gradually evolved into the following (this is not a joke - it actually happened).
1. Only allowed to clean when someone is at home - in spite of access being fine.
2. Had to be the first job of the day to ensure they were in (they refused to give out their phone number).
3. Had to knock on door before starting.
4. Had to knock on the door in a manner that did not wake her husband (even though it might have been 9 AM).
5 Had to knock on the door in a manner that didn't start the dogs barking as this would wake her husband.
6 Had to be within two or three days of the appointed day.
7 Had to not work if it was a bit cloudy.
(6 and 7 can work against each other. I can be on time if I work in adverse conditions but otherwise, I can be very late).
In the end, I stood at her door and tried to explain why her list of rules (I politely called them "requirements") meant that I could no longer provide her with the service. I also told her that if even a small percentage had such requirements, my business would be unworkable.
Even then, she still didn't get it.
That customer was a watershed because I vowed never to take on another customer unless it was turn up and clean. I have relented a bit from that in more recent years but to this day, I bet no more than 15 out of 300 get a call first.
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Flip the question, if you were the customer would you think it was too much to ask? I wouldnt.... I agree that you guys shouldnt jump through hoops and but the odd phone call is not beyond anyone....
Generally, it's not so much about making the call. It can be about the scheduling i.e. it's not always possible to be certain how far you will get in a day (should I phone this evening for the following day or should I leave it till tomorrow evening for the day after?). However, this one sounds like they could be phoned say 20 minutes beforehand and it would be enough. With mobile phones, doing it isn't a problem. Remembering to do it might be though (for me anyway).
There is also the line of thinking that goes, "If all my customers wanted me to do xyz, would my business be workable?"
I imagine the real issue here might be a power/control/ego thing - though I could be projecting my own issues onto someone else's situation.
I know that I was messed about so much by customers in the early years, it was many years before I took on any more jobs where I had to phone beforehand. This started before mobile phones were in common usage around and just became a habit. I got a mobile later than most people. I don't get messed around much these days but nearly all of it is when I am expected to phone ahead.
I can see why some companies will only do commercial work. There is much less micro-management needed in general.
Take on board the ego thing but its not ... not from my side anyway ... quite like the idea of customers thinking of me as just the window cleaner .... just prefer simple life ... turn up ... clean ... get paid ... I think she peed me off a little with the BS reasons of world war 3 on the bathroom window because as we all know with wfp and bathroom windows they get a quick brush and quick rinse .... I just know / suspected I was getting set up for a "oh we will leave it this time because the dog is having its birthday party in the garden type of excuse and would prefer them just to say were skint can we leave it this time or change to every 3 months and reprice accordingly.
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
Customer led, yes.
However, most window cleaning companies are quite small or one person businesses. If too many customers require a tight price AND high maintenance levels of customer service, that directly affects an individual's income. In a larger company that can be absorbed more easily.
I once had a customer whose list of "rules" gradually evolved into the following (this is not a joke - it actually happened).
1. Only allowed to clean when someone is at home - in spite of access being fine.
2. Had to be the first job of the day to ensure they were in (they refused to give out their phone number).
3. Had to knock on door before starting.
4. Had to knock on the door in a manner that did not wake her husband (even though it might have been 9 AM).
5 Had to knock on the door in a manner that didn't start the dogs barking as this would wake her husband.
6 Had to be within two or three days of the appointed day.
7 Had to not work if it was a bit cloudy.
(6 and 7 can work against each other. I can be on time if I work in adverse conditions but otherwise, I can be very late).
In the end, I stood at her door and tried to explain why her list of rules (I politely called them "requirements") meant that I could no longer provide her with the service. I also told her that if even a small percentage had such requirements, my business would be unworkable.
Even then, she still didn't get it.
That customer was a watershed because I vowed never to take on another customer unless it was turn up and clean. I have relented a bit from that in more recent years but to this day, I bet no more than 15 out of 300 get a call first.
;D I rekon eventually we all have our "watershed" moment
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have we created our own problems ???
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question :P
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
Customer led, yes.
However, most window cleaning companies are quite small or one person businesses. If too many customers require a tight price AND high maintenance levels of customer service, that directly affects an individual's income. In a larger company that can be absorbed more easily.
I once had a customer whose list of "rules" gradually evolved into the following (this is not a joke - it actually happened).
1. Only allowed to clean when someone is at home - in spite of access being fine.
2. Had to be the first job of the day to ensure they were in (they refused to give out their phone number).
3. Had to knock on door before starting.
4. Had to knock on the door in a manner that did not wake her husband (even though it might have been 9 AM).
5 Had to knock on the door in a manner that didn't start the dogs barking as this would wake her husband.
6 Had to be within two or three days of the appointed day.
7 Had to not work if it was a bit cloudy.
(6 and 7 can work against each other. I can be on time if I work in adverse conditions but otherwise, I can be very late).
In the end, I stood at her door and tried to explain why her list of rules (I politely called them "requirements") meant that I could no longer provide her with the service. I also told her that if even a small percentage had such requirements, my business would be unworkable.
Even then, she still didn't get it.
That customer was a watershed because I vowed never to take on another customer unless it was turn up and clean. I have relented a bit from that in more recent years but to this day, I bet no more than 15 out of 300 get a call first.
Hi Paul,
I have said back in the thread that no one should jump through hoops and I will stand by that, however calling the odd customer shouldnt be a problem.
You should also never prejudge any situation and dump a customer just because they might do something in the future, it feels like the situation where I used to dump girlfriends before they dumped me lol its like everyone gets a thrill from dumping a customer, it doesnt give you any power you just end up with less customers....
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I would call next time and if she says 'not this time', then I would get rid then. At least then you've given her a chance.
I would say it's 50/50 whether she will or not. Reason given for ringing sounds a bit rubbish to me......
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If they're busy people and you agree to call then they might not even be at home when you do. Then what? Keep calling - no, dump!
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If they're busy people and you agree to call then they might not even be at home when you do. Then what? Keep calling - no, dump!
if you get mobile then you could call that,
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We all live in different areas surrounded by 1000's if not 1,000,000's of people who want/need a window cleaner. Most of us have managed to put a half decent amount bof customers into our rounds/businesses. If we've managed to do that, then why is it a problem to get enough customers to make ANY micro-management a waste of time and effort.
A lot of people get into this "simple" business because it's "simple". Lifestyle is "easy going" and money is "good".
Why start moving to fit ANY customer who wants you to jump through hoops? I don't mean dump them, I mean just put another batch of new customers into the business. If you want to stay compact and have a "kingdom" where the competition would find it hard to encroach, then maybe it's slightly different.
Someone once said on here that it's easier to find customers than it is to find a good window cleaner. I stopped trying "too hard" when my customer base reached the size I wanted.
There're good points on most of the posts about this, but that's just my way of looking at my customers "demands".
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You should never stop trying hard in business, its attitudes like that that gives the whole industry a bad name. I have picked up hundreds of customers from window cleaners with attitude... Customers dont like them....
attitude and self importance are not nice personal traits....
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Yes, that's correct. There are a lot of customers dropped by a window cleaner or cleaners. Then they get the next window cleaner etc until one of the new window cleaners puts up with their "demands".
These are usually window cleaners who haven't got as many customers as they woud like or need, so they go the "extra mile" to provide a good service. While they're providing this "good service" for that customer, they haven't got time to find two other customers that are happy with what all the others are happy with. So they end up spending time with one "special" customer instead of two other customers.
Some think this is good. I know which I prefer, but I learned from a guy who had a huge round of domestics, and that's what I follow. Works for me.
1% of this business is technical, the rest is common sense. I find keeping it simple works best. I stopped trying to please all the people all the time.
It's all down to attitude I suppose. You're right GD, but not right enough for my way of looking at it. So I'll stick to my way of looking at things. If a customer starts dictating how a simple system works and effects my system of working, I need to get more customers and stop faffing around the "special" ones.
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What is so bad on letting customers know your going to turn up. I ring mine the day before to let them know and sort out where they can leave the cash. If no answer i text and ask if they can leave payment in a envelope in back garden by door. All my custies respect this and makes my life a lot easier as minimal custies owe.
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So what do you do if a gate is locked? So if a customer dares to ask for something that you are not happy with you just dump them? There are more and more people coming into the industry and its the ones that offer good customer service that will survive....
The world has moved on and too many cleaners want it all in their favour, its a customer led business and if someone comes into your area offering the full package you will lose customers.....
Someone said earlier that its a lifestyle business, thats true to a degree but that does not mean that you can treat people with contempt, most people are happy to just turn up so the odd phone call shouldnt be an issue....
When I started my round I text every single customer every single day and it worked a treat, its sorts the round into decent customers in a matter of months and they were made aware that the text wasnt a get out clause, it was just notice for the next day. It also meant 99% percent of the access issues were sorted....
And for those that think this takes too much time, it took less than 5 minutes to text them all as just had a template and just had to add the numbers....
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Gd why did u give up if your round was to a t???
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Simply wasnt for me, I prefer to work in sales and marketing.... I am slowly stopping the canvassing too as I am now involved in another company that I am spending more and more time on....
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Nothing is wrong with that Mick Kent. I'm talking about special customers.
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Just call, why is it a problem?
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So what do you do if a gate is locked? So if a customer dares to ask for something that you are not happy with you just dump them? There are more and more people coming into the industry and its the ones that offer good customer service that will survive....
The world has moved on and too many cleaners want it all in their favour, its a customer led business and if someone comes into your area offering the full package you will lose customers.....
Someone said earlier that its a lifestyle business, thats true to a degree but that does not mean that you can treat people with contempt, most people are happy to just turn up so the odd phone call shouldnt be an issue....
When I started my round I text every single customer every single day and it worked a treat, its sorts the round into decent customers in a matter of months and they were made aware that the text wasnt a get out clause, it was just notice for the next day. It also meant 99% percent of the access issues were sorted....
And for those that think this takes too much time, it took less than 5 minutes to text them all as just had a template and just had to add the numbers....
I thought I'd explained fairly well what my opinion was. I don't just "dump" anyone, I replace them as soon as I can. Seems hard for some to see any other point but their own on here at this time. Maybe it's the warm weather eh? You text who you want, and go that extra mile. What else do you need me to write so as to make it clear? Why must there be a right and wrong? Maybe you should try a debating club or something similar.
Nobody trying to take anything away from you GD. Calm down, and keep doing what you think is best for you. I haven't got that much time as I need to service the customers who want their windows cleaned. If they want anything "special" I'll be sure to pass their address onto someone who goes that extra mile.
When I started my round, there were no mobile phones, but if there were, you can guess if I'd have texted anyone. As I said, there's no right and wrong, just different attitudes really.
Funny the way we're all different isn't it?
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Lol I am calm, just trying to get my point across....
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what happens when you call no reply cant hang around for ever ive already dumped one for that reason ,phoneing haning around waiting for them to get sorted why make a easy job hard ??? just get rid ,ok if its a decent paying job
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Heaven forbid that anyone should give a customer what they want...
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Window cleaning has changed a lot in the last 5 years and its will totally change beyond our expectations in th enext 10 to 15 years.
Window cleaning is a service industry and people are used to having customer service in place, in the old days they never complained if they had to wait in line at the shops or for a taxi, not now, they want a till opened for them and 10 minutes to wait for a taxi when you are a regular customer is over the top.
I have always texted /phoned the night before because it gives me more control on my round and what I earn, I have worked it out, that if I did not cal the night before I could lose upto £800 per month because I cannot get to the backs.
I go with the flow with my customers and if they that the morning/afternoon is bad for them, I will re-gig the round and work them into it to suit them, if it cannot be done tomorrow it will be done that week, so I don't lose any revenue.
At times some customer will say not this time please, I always ask why, and most of the reasons they give is they have an appointment or don't have the cash in the house.
I then offer to clean their windows when they are at home and as for the money, no problem I can pick it up the next time I clean.
We all use services industries and we all notice and remember the companies that give us a better shopping expierence, when we order a part, that we need urgently because our system is broken, who would you recommend and use again, the comapny that ships the park straightaway, by a courier who will do a, am, delivery or the company thats ships the part when they like and the courier company will deliver it when its right for them.
I gain a lot of customers by pointing out that I do this and how long does it take to send 20 to 30 text/phones calls, you will get a 50/50 share of text/calls to do, texts are a doodle because it the same message that is saved on th ephone I just add the numbers and press the send button, I can do 20 in 2 minutes, phone calls take a little longer, I normally allow 15 to 20 minutes for the lot to be done.
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what happens when you call no reply cant hang around for ever ive already dumped one for that reason ,phoneing haning around waiting for them to get sorted why make a easy job hard ??? just get rid ,ok if its a decent paying job
So if its a good paying job you give more of an allowance?
If no reply you have done your bit and just crack on with the job, its not about jumping through hoops its about a bit of common courtesy.
Purehydro makes some very good points, I always try to reverse the situation and think how I would like it to be.
I know if I get poor customer service from any company I am the first to complain so its important to me....
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Re: Can you call before you come next time
« Reply #15 on: Yesterday at 10:02:52 pm »
Quote from: bobplum on Yesterday at 09:35:09 pm
have we created our own problems
many years ago window cleaners would just call and do the job
now i do appreciate that times have moved on and we need to adapt or die,technology as played a big part in this,ie texting but in our quest to be different from other windies are we not just compounding the situation and giving more power to the customer
this is a devils advocate question
Any business is customer led, I think too many on here forget that and think they are in charge. No customers equals no business...
If someone came in and offered a more customer led experience then the customers would follow....
I have said for a long time that sooner or later someone will set up a "super" company in the domestic market that competes on price and customer service and totally change the industry....
Somebody called??? 8)
Woah,only joking boys
Roy
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I agree with you Roy, times are changing and we all need to look over our shoulder to see who is coming.
Already a lot of sole traders are branching out, they are taking on staff, putting more vans on the road or even franchising, you also have to look at some of the big boys.
I think that the super company will come from the sole trader who wants to exploit the market he works in, the same is true with a franchise, as they grow they make more and more money, this can then be used to canvass/promote their services, the price on the work involved will not be affected at fist but customer service will be, as well as quality.
The customers will be given a better choise of service that is on offer and when someone offers a better service, with the same level of quality or better, then you will start to lose customers and once lost they are hard to replace as all will be left are the wannaby customers who really don't want a regular cleaner, but just to have their windows cleaned whenever they like.
Of course this is not going to happen overnight or all over the country but it has already started to happen and the future is not that far away in time.
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Simply wasnt for me, I prefer to work in sales and marketing.... I am slowly stopping the canvassing too as I am now involved in another company that I am spending more and more time on....
So you've given up your window cleaning ... obviously you didn't feel it was rewarding enough for you.
Perhaps that is because you didn't have the most rewarding of relationships with your customers?
I'm with Paul Coleman on this one.
Other points ... Access to the back? Use a gate ladder or obtain the key or a code. Want to have money put out for you? How quaint ... get paid on line or they can send a cheque.
I really don't have time to put up with unnecessary whims of customers.
And as for customer service - we turn up - we do a very good and thorough job and we go. On average we lift £10 to £20 from them per visit - I'm not selling Porsches!
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Lol you really want to sink to that to try and prove a point gold? I have friends now that were customers so my relationship with them was just fine. You stick in the dark ages and shy away from customer contact....
The funniest thing is trying to say that getting customers to leave money out is a bad idea, thats just plain hilarious.... How can that be a bad idea?
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I dunno GD you come from a funny old angle ... you have customers who are friends and you think that is a good business model?
I don't clean windows to make friends.
Leaving money out is completely unnecessary with cheques and now online payment it never has been.
What happens when Mrs. lady says "I left £20 under the plant pot!" and it's gone missing between her fair hand and my wallet? More trouble than it is worth.
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Simply wasnt for me, I prefer to work in sales and marketing.... I am slowly stopping the canvassing too as I am now involved in another company that I am spending more and more time on....
So you're not window cleaning any more but are now in sales and marketing?
I'm not that surprised really because you do seem to have a marketeers approach to window cleaning.
Just re-read that. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that approach. It just doesn't suit me personally. Trying to juggle schedules around individual customers' needs would have put me in the funny farm if I had continued that way. I ended up on CIU instead :)
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Do you not think being friendly with people is a good thing? Wow we do live in different worlds....
If you are friendly with your customers they are less likely to mess you about, yes I did and still do the odd favour for them even though they are not customers anymore but I would do anyone a favour anyway.... You obviously not.....
Not much more to say really as we are obviously so different.....
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Simply wasnt for me, I prefer to work in sales and marketing.... I am slowly stopping the canvassing too as I am now involved in another company that I am spending more and more time on....
So you're not window cleaning any more but are now in sales and marketing?
I'm not that surprised really because you do seem to have a marketeers approach to window cleaning.
Just re-read that. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that approach. It just doesn't suit me personally. Trying to juggle schedules around individual customers' needs would have put me in the funny farm if I had continued that way. I ended up on CIU instead :)
Re read everything I have said cos this is driving me mad, I never said juggle schedules or jump through hoops, just a bit of old fashioned customer service...
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Do you not think being friendly with people is a good thing? Wow we do live in different worlds....
If you are friendly with your customers they are less likely to mess you about, yes I did and still do the odd favour for them even though they are not customers anymore but I would do anyone a favour anyway.... You obviously not.....
Not much more to say really as we are obviously so different.....
Now you're twisting things GD - there is a big difference in being "friendly" to customers and making "friends" of customers. Surely you see that?
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Simply wasnt for me, I prefer to work in sales and marketing.... I am slowly stopping the canvassing too as I am now involved in another company that I am spending more and more time on....
So you're not window cleaning any more but are now in sales and marketing?
I'm not that surprised really because you do seem to have a marketeers approach to window cleaning.
Just re-read that. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that approach. It just doesn't suit me personally. Trying to juggle schedules around individual customers' needs would have put me in the funny farm if I had continued that way. I ended up on CIU instead :)
Re read everything I have said cos this is driving me mad, I never said juggle schedules or jump through hoops, just a bit of old fashioned customer service...
BTW. The bit where I wrote "Re-read that" meant "I have just re-read that [my own post]". It wasn't something telling you to read again :) . I should have written it more clearly.
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It's a funny thing because I found that I got messed about more when I was more friendly with customers.
I find it much easier keeping it to business - though I obviously do have a few long term favourites.
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Go on then, tell me whats so wrong with making a friend out of a customer.... I obviously need to learn from your superior business mind...
Just for the record I would rather lose a customer and make a friend if thats what it came to....
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It's a funny thing because I found that I got messed about more when I was more friendly with customers.
I find it much easier keeping it to business - though I obviously do have a few long term favourites.
Sometimes I think I live in a parallel universe lol....
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Go on then, tell me whats so wrong with making a friend out of a customer.... I obviously need to learn from your superior business mind...
Just for the record I would rather lose a customer and make a friend if thats what it came to....
Well I don't mind making a friend and losing a customer. I just don't feel that having someone as a friend and a customer is right for me personally.
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It's a funny thing because I found that I got messed about more when I was more friendly with customers.
I find it much easier keeping it to business - though I obviously do have a few long term favourites.
Sometimes I think I live in a parallel universe lol....
You seem to be stuck in The Matrix LOL.
Would you like a red pill or a blue one? :)
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It's a funny thing because I found that I got messed about more when I was more friendly with customers.
I find it much easier keeping it to business - though I obviously do have a few long term favourites.
Sometimes I think I live in a parallel universe lol....
You seem to be stuck in The Matrix LOL.
Would you like a red pill or a blue one? :)
;D
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GD - When I bought my van I didn't expect the salesperson to become my friend. He was friendly but we aren't "friends". Even less when I buy a dustbin lid from the local hardware store. Whether I spend 10K or 10 quid I expect politeness and competence in line with work involved to sustain the sale and make a business relationship; that's all.
I don't know if your "superior business mind" comment is directed at me or Paul but you're on a forum for window cleaners and that's what we do. You don't any more though do you?
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Go on then, tell me whats so wrong with making a friend out of a customer.... I obviously need to learn from your superior business mind...
Just for the record I would rather lose a customer and make a friend if thats what it came to....
Well I don't mind making a friend and losing a customer. I just don't feel that having someone as a friend and a customer is right for me personally.
Ok I get its not right for you personally but why cant customers be friends? Just curious to the issues you had as I found the more I got to know someone the less they messed me around....
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GD - When I bought my van I didn't expect the salesperson to become my friend. He was friendly but we aren't "friends". Even less when I buy a dustbin lid from the local hardware store. Whether I spend 10K or 10 quid I expect politeness and competence in line with work involved to sustain the sale and make a business relationship; that's all.
I don't know if your "superior business mind" comment is directed at me or Paul but you're on a forum for window cleaners and that's what we do. You don't any more though do you?
It was aimed squarely at you, I have been involved in the business for three years and still am on a daily basis so have plenty of right to be here....
This business is repeat, I have made friends in many types of business that I visit regularly.....
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Who said you had no right to be here GD? - you cooked that one up yourself.
Look; you're happy with your approach. I'm happy with mine. Let's leave it at that.
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I've a customer who I sometimes go out for a drink with. I've another elderly customer who my wife calls 'her second mum' and when I do her windows, my wife bakes a loaf of bread for her. Another, her husband died last year. She likes going out for walks and some Sundays if me and the missus are off out somewhere in the countryside, the missus phones her, we pick her up and off we go out for the day.
I've another customer who's very wealthy. For him, I almost tip my hat and call him m'lord. With him, being sort of subservient oils the wheels of business and he pays not only through the nose, but on it as well. I've another wealthy customer who always asks me if I want a cup of tea, and when I say yes, she says that I know where the kettle is and to help myself and to make her one as well. It's almost become a ritual.
Most other customers though, it's strictly business.
It's horses for courses and I don't think there's one style of working that will suit every window cleaner. I have my way and it works for me but it may not work for the next window cleaner.
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Everyone of my customers I like and hopefully they like me, some though are friends but most of these where friends before they became customers.
There is a difference between both and I am aware of them and keep the work on a friendly but professional basis, I don't mind calling the day before, its what I have done for the last 10 years and I will continue to do so, if I can use this add on to get extra work from cleaners who don't do it, then I will do so.
I don't mind the odd not this time, as long as the same customer does not keep doing it, I normally clean every 4 weeks, which means that over a year I should get 13 cleans off that customer, I never though work on that figure, I look at getting 10 to 11 cleans per customer per year.
I also do not phone all my customers, there are some who I can gain access to the backs or are front only, who either send a cheque or pay online, but the ones who I do call works for me.
As for using a ladder to climb a gate or fence, well I don't use ladders and that include the "step" variety, I do though have a step tool box that is 1 foot high.
When I price up a new customer I will give my price and watch for the reaction, if they say no problem and when can you do them, then thats great, but when they hestitate, I point out that I will clean the Glass, the Frames and Sills, I will clean the front and back door and if the garage door is white I will clean that as well, also if they have white panel on the house, then I will clean these as well as low level guttering, normally over the porch, I then mention that they will always know when I will be there because I call/text the night before.
After they have heard all I will be doing for them and most of this their prevoius cleaner never did, the higher cost I am charging is not so high anymore, instead they are getting a bargain.
But if you want to carry on doing what works for you, then that is fine as well. A friend of mine never calls and always goes back to collect his money, he works longer hours than me.
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What happens when Mrs. lady says "I left £20 under the plant pot!" and it's gone missing between her fair hand and my wallet? More trouble than it is worth.
In 10 years I have not lost one payment, I did have one where the money was stuck to the underside of the plant pot, but I have lost quite a few payments that have been sent in the post to me, this is mainly because if the postman cannot get into my block, my post is returned to sender.
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Imagine this, you have a full round of say, 350 to 450 customers who you service with clean windows every 6 weeks. They mostly behave and 90% pay on time and don't cause problems. OK so far?
Now a "special" customer calls (at 11 pm ??? ) and starts talking about a special arrangement for the service in that you "must" contact them first, before you intend to turn up and provide the service they want.
All they would hear from my side of the conversation would be a dial tone at the other end of the phone line.
I'd be looking for at least one new customer who fits the system that's in place to provide the service they want. No frills, just more customers than you can manage. As soon as someone wants "special handling", it's time to decide.
We DO provide a service, but because it can get very big for a one or two man set up very quickly, you need to stay 100% in control and not try to pander to everyone.
Just my opinion, but so far, after over 20 years in the game, works for me.
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all my customers know when im due ! , 4 or 8 weeks from last clean !
we always ring the bell or knock when we start ( out of courtesy , not to ask )
i only have very few who need calling due to access , if its not convenient for them when im in their road / immediate area then they wait till next month .
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Tony that is so short sighted, the customer service aspect there is to explain your services and how you work not just leave them with a dial tone, thats just plain rude....
I know these people can be turned into good quality customers as I have done it and seen it done many times by other window cleaners.....
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If you say so GD. I'd just pass 'em on to a customer relations expert. That leaves me an easier round to run. I'm only in this game to earn as much as I can in the shortest time and the lifestyle of being able to take time off when and if I need to.
I envy blokes like you who have lots of time for and interest in their customers. I'm not a "people person" really. Just the free time and money, thanks very much. Interesting points you made though. ;)
I'm out.
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getting too chummy is asking for trouble. i Never offer an opinion when a customer asks me for it on family matters for example.
an elderly gent customer was furious about his daughters ex who had "abused her something rotten " , and it seemed he wanted to hear me heap scorn on the abuser
it was none of my business whether it was downright mental cruelty abuse or was he too handy with his fists, non of my business thats how i like it
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We text or ring about 10-15% of our customers. Our books are pretty full so we don't do it out of desperation. I find that you might get the odd one a month that is doing some building work and says,"can you leave it please?". If somebody does it too much then I weed them out.
Texting and calling works for our benefit. On many occations the customer says ,"I'm glad you called I would have forgotten." They will often then leave the money for us and unlock the gate. It also provides a good opportunity to be friendly with the customers and that can lead to even more customers. There are far more positives than negatives.
Simon.
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For a successful business transaction its needs to be a win win situation. You both need to win. Whilst the saleman/service provider needs to be flexible there is a limit before a transaction becomes a win lose senario.
In the same way our customer can decide who he/she wants to do business with, we as suppliers have the same right. If we don't accept their conditions we can politely walk away from it. But things are not always fair in love and war as the markets usually dicate how far the pendulium will swing to either side.
Will Paul's customer ever think that those requirements were OTT? I doubt it. She will spend the rest of her life trying new window cleaners and the same thing will happen. She will probably spend the rest of her life thinking that all window cleaners are a waste of space. She will probably never consider her attitude the problem. None of us will change that, so why bother?
Spruce
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Well put Spruce. Top answer.
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It amazes me at times that cleaners do a lot to get a customer, from door knocking, leaflet drops etc over years in many cases.
Now they get the customer and will not call the night before so they lose income because of access issues, because this happens a lot they get more customers, except these customers do not fill up the round instead they pay for the ones you cannot get to the back to clean.
I have a smaller database of customers, but I work the round so that I get over 98% of income from it
I know for a fact that i would have to increase the amount of customers on my round by 25% to 35% just to earn the same amount of money, that is not a problem, but working 25% to 35% harder for the same amount of money, seems foolish.
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What a vague and strange post Pure Hydro. I've read your posts on other forums and you have repeatedly posted that you only have enough work for three days a week. You got a right kicking on there for these kind of posts and now you'd like to give an opinion about how you handle customers like the OP has described!!
It could only happen on the net ;D ;D I'll try and clear the point up for you. 350 to 450 customers. 90% are no problem. 1 customer wants to be called before you come to clean. The other 350 to 450 customers have to take the service as it stands, but this single customer wants you to call first. So YOU do. This is how you operate, so you say. The only difference is, you only have 3 days worth of work a week.
What's wrong with this picture?...........................
It's like giving advice about a super sports car when you drive a ford cortina.
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I wondered how long it would last before it got personal ;D five pages ... brilliant ... ;D
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What a vague and strange post Pure Hydro. I've read your posts on other forums and you have repeatedly posted that you only have enough work for three days a week. You got a right kicking on there for these kind of posts and now you'd like to give an opinion about how you handle customers like the OP has described!!
It could only happen on the net ;D ;D I'll try and clear the point up for you. 350 to 450 customers. 90% are no problem. 1 customer wants to be called before you come to clean. The other 350 to 450 customers have to take the service as it stands, but this single customer wants you to call first. So YOU do. This is how you operate, so you say. The only difference is, you only have 3 days worth of work a week.
What's wrong with this picture?...........................
It's like giving advice about a super sports car when you drive a ford cortina.
If I did not work the way i do by not calling the night before I would be working 5 days a week, instead I call most of my customers te night before and I only need to work 3 days, I now have 2 days free to fill up with new work.
A lot of people seem to think that you must be wrong 7 days a week and 10 hours a day to have a full round, I do not look at how many customers I clean each week, instead I look at how much money I earn, and if I can earn the same amount as someone who has a full round in 3 days, how am I getting it wrong.
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I didn't say you were wrong, I said to GD earlier, there is no right and wrong in this game. What I'm saying is, if you work 3 days, and this leaves you more time to find MORE work, why aren't you getting it? You just said you only have 3 days work.
If you want to look for more in the two days extra per week that you have (because you only have 3 days work) why look for more if 3 days is enough?? We had all this before! ;D
As Spruce said, customers like the one the OP mentioned, are never happy and always need new indow cleaners and NEVER see the attitude problem as their problem. ;)
How can someone that freely posts they only have enough work for 3 days a week so they need to look for more work give advice about customer retention? ??? If you could find customers AND keep them, why after years of being in this game have you only got 3 days a week full?
Please don't think I'm attacking you, I'm just surprised that of all people, you would like to advise someone about customer relations. Let's not go into how many "staff" you have either. That's a non starter.
Thanks for making me smile though. ;D
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Thanks for making me smile though. ;D
A pleasure
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also remember I don't just clean windows, that I do 3 days a week, the other 3 days I do Gutters/Solar and Carpet Cleaning.
and of course I don't employ, I just like transfering money into peoples accounts every month for no reason
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Tony your statements are so broad and sweeping that they make me laugh, if you just stood back and stopped prejudging people you might learn that not all people are the same.
Try educating them instead of putting the phone down, you never know it just may work.
You talk about no right and wrongs but being rude to people is wrong......
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Imagine this, you have a full round of say, 350 to 450 customers who you service with clean windows every 6 weeks. They mostly behave and 90% pay on time and don't cause problems. OK so far?
Now a "special" customer calls (at 11 pm ??? ) and starts talking about a special arrangement for the service in that you "must" contact them first, before you intend to turn up and provide the service they want.
All they would hear from my side of the conversation would be a dial tone at the other end of the phone line.
I'd be looking for at least one new customer who fits the system that's in place to provide the service they want. No frills, just more customers than you can manage. As soon as someone wants "special handling", it's time to decide.
We DO provide a service, but because it can get very big for a one or two man set up very quickly, you need to stay 100% in control and not try to pander to everyone.
Just my opinion, but so far, after over 20 years in the game, works for me.
Tony are you my twin brother ?? ... or have you read my mind .... totally agree with what you have posted ... makes perfect sense to me ...................... well said that man
and no its not me posting in another name incase anyone askes ;)
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If you say so GD. I'd just pass 'em on to a customer relations expert. That leaves me an easier round to run. I'm only in this game to earn as much as I can in the shortest time and the lifestyle of being able to take time off when and if I need to.
I envy blokes like you who have lots of time for and interest in their customers. I'm not a "people person" really. Just the free time and money, thanks very much. Interesting points you made though. ;)
I'm out.
oh yeah I like this one as well !!!
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Tony your statements are so broad and sweeping that they make me laugh, if you just stood back and stopped prejudging people you might learn that not all people are the same.
Try educating them instead of putting the phone down, you never know it just may work.
You talk about no right and wrongs but being rude to people is wrong......
Yeah, thanks for that tip. I'll log it into my "to do" list ;D ;D ;D
Hydro, You have multiple vans and staff and contracts and hundreds and hundreds of customers. You still work 3 days a week and look for more work in the other 2 days and pay staff.............. for 3 days?? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
You work alone and sometimes you have a family member help you out, according to your posts on other forums. The trick is, if you feel the need to exaggerate, develop a good memory mate ;)
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...customers like the one the OP mentioned, are never happy and always need new indow cleaners and NEVER see the attitude problem as their problem. ;)
You're extrapolating a lot from someone whose only crime is to have asked to be called before a visit.
Vin
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Tony your statements are so broad and sweeping that they make me laugh, if you just stood back and stopped prejudging people you might learn that not all people are the same.
Try educating them instead of putting the phone down, you never know it just may work.
You talk about no right and wrongs but being rude to people is wrong......
errr because you cant educate most of them if not any of them ..... been there ... tried it ... easier to spot the signs early on and replace asap ..... ok maybe I wouldnt have put phone down though ;D
world is full of good customers who dont make the job difficult ... after all its only window cleaning ... not like a kidney transplant that in fairness would need to be organised in advance but for some people I have "removed" from my round organising a kidney transplant would have been easier.
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...customers like the one the OP mentioned, are never happy and always need new indow cleaners and NEVER see the attitude problem as their problem. ;)
You're extrapolating a lot from someone whose only crime is to have asked to be called before a visit.
Vin
Well I'm impressed ;D I'll need to Google that one because I'm only a window cleaner with enough work and savvy to spot a bad customer;D ;D ;D ;D
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Do I win a prize for the most hotly debated posting of the week / month ;D
We certainly have some difference of opinions !!
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...customers like the one the OP mentioned, are never happy and always need new indow cleaners and NEVER see the attitude problem as their problem. ;)
You're extrapolating a lot from someone whose only crime is to have asked to be called before a visit.
Vin
Well I'm impressed ;D I'll need to Google that one because I'm only a window cleaner with enough work and savvy to spot a bad customer;D ;D ;D ;D
Are you for real?
Why not leave out the personal attacks (whether on Hydro's business acumen or my vocabulary) and try dealing with what people are saying rather than who is saying it.
Vin
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338403250_th_smiley_bored.gif)
;D
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...customers like the one the OP mentioned, are never happy and always need new indow cleaners and NEVER see the attitude problem as their problem. ;)
You're extrapolating a lot from someone whose only crime is to have asked to be called before a visit.
Vin
Someone that complained about the sound a brush makes on the glass and says to call because "we are busy people" when there are no access issues is not a customer I would want and would dump. And I am not full.
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'tony johns,' you made some interesting points about customers earlier. My thinking is also similar to that. :)
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Tony
I will not argue with you or your fantastic memory, but things change and I have updated along the timeline.
Over the last 2 years I have employed over 8 people including my nephew, who was sacked 6 weeks ago.
At the moment I only employ 1 person for 3 days a week, I have another who does the odd day, when I need him, I also have some contract work which requires me to call on other cleaners who I know.
I have also just taken on a full time canvasser who started this monday.
Like everythin but I though in life apart from window cleaning, things change and we adapt.
There are cleaners who know me personally who know what I say is true or not, personally I don't care anymore, but I thought that forums were for the exchange of ideas and working methods, when someone says that there is a new piece of equipment that can do the job quicker or better we all want to know, but as soon as you mention that you run your business differently and you end up working less or earning more for less hours you are attacked.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338403250_th_smiley_bored.gif)
;D
QED
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I hereby formally predict that "Tony Johns" will not be posting on this forum in three months. I've seen a hundred people like him on a dozen different forums. Come in all belligerent, ranting left right and centre, launching ad hominem attacks (that's against the person rather than against the argument, Tony) in every direction and always know best because they have been doing the job for a hundred years.
The last one on here was londoncleaners. This guy will go the same way.
They all run out of energy and disappear.
Vin
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There are both good and bad points on having either 1 man or 2 man van set-ups, personally I prefer a 2 man set up.
There are a lot of benefits for a start on large commercial 2 men are faster than one, on domestic although they will not be able to do twice as much work as a one man van, the costs saved from only using one van instead of two and the extra amount they can do is just the same as having two vans on the road.
The other thing is sick and holidays, you need to plan for both of these, on a two man set up if one is off at least the other can carry on, with a one man set up, when he is off that van is not earning.
With regard to the customers and them getting only to know the cleaner who turns up, well I always call the night before, so I am always meeting all my customers every month, even though I don't clean their properties.
and as for the cleaner doing odd jobs on the side or taking my customers and starting up on his own, well the first is easy, the van is set-up with a gps tracking device, I know where its been and for how long.
and on the second point I have a water tight employment contract in place and if they do take on any of my customers within the first year of leaving my company and I can sue them for the lost income, so thats what I will do, I will wait 50 weeks and then take them to court and get the past 50 weeks of work they have done and been paid for, paid to me.
Of course getting the right cleaner and paying well should stop this.
You need a good memory Hydro, e.g. what you post in what thread and when. ;D
I don't really care if you care. I try to advise peope if I know what I'm talking about, I'm not here to try and impress anyone, unlike one or two upset members on this thread. ;)
Can't keep everyone happy. ;D Like Steve sed has already pointed out, this customer "smells" bad. Simple.
That was a really good post about multiple vans though, even though you made it up as you went along. Forums are there to get help, advice and tips. They also attract Water Mitty types though. These are easy to spot, they use funny words and contradict their own posts. Nobody seems to have a strong enough memory to remember when the bullpooped and in which threads. ;D Anyway, hit the report to moderator button and hope the other members will forget that you tripped up. :D
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I hereby formally predict that "Tony Johns" will not be posting on this forum in three months. I've seen a hundred people like him on a dozen different forums. Come in all belligerent, ranting left right and centre, launching ad hominem attacks (that's against the person rather than against the argument, Tony) in every direction and always know best because they have been doing the job for a hundred years.
The last one on here was londoncleaners. This guy will go the same way.
They all run out of energy and disappear.
Vin
Fantastic post, but we've forgotten about the reason for this thread. The OP has taken what advice he wanted and will learn from it or maybe not. Try not to get too upset that he didn't thank you personally for your in-put. Maybe the next time you give an opinion, someone will agree. Who knows? :-*
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Oh by the way, I don't expect to be here longer than 3 hours!!! Feel the grim reeper with the "ban stick" very close already ;D ;D ;D
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Tony for someone that says there is no right and wrong you are very good at telling people they are wrong and totally ripping into them at a personal level...
You dont need a full round to have an opinion on customer service....
You are a relic who thinks he knows it all and are totally closed to new ideas, nobody is too good to learn....
you said you were out ages ago to me yet you still here having a pop!
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Yeah, as I said before GD
"They also attract Water Mitty types though. These are easy to spot, they use funny words and contradict their own posts". It seems to me that you're one of the members who are upset about the OP not taking your advice onboard. That's just what a forum like this is about. There is no wrong and right, just opinions, and this time yours wasn't taken up. Try to get over it, you won't get adoring fans every time you come out with your pearls of wisdom. That's the way it is.
By the way, "I'm out" was meant as a spoof of Dragon's Den, a TV show for people who think they're have a great idea. "I'm out" is meant that I don't agree in this case with what you or the other forum advisers were saying. Hope you're not too upset and will sleep well tonight.
Anyway, time for beebyes for me, see you tomorrow if I'm not banned for being "orrible" ;)
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Lol I couldnt give a monkeys if people take my line or not, there were plenty who agreed....
And normally dunc says no more once he says I am out....
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IAN..............WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU STARTED :-*
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IAN..............WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU STARTED :-*
not me nope .... its all Mrs Jones fault ;D
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There are both good and bad points on having either 1 man or 2 man van set-ups, personally I prefer a 2 man set up.
There are a lot of benefits for a start on large commercial 2 men are faster than one, on domestic although they will not be able to do twice as much work as a one man van, the costs saved from only using one van instead of two and the extra amount they can do is just the same as having two vans on the road.
The other thing is sick and holidays, you need to plan for both of these, on a two man set up if one is off at least the other can carry on, with a one man set up, when he is off that van is not earning.
With regard to the customers and them getting only to know the cleaner who turns up, well I always call the night before, so I am always meeting all my customers every month, even though I don't clean their properties.
and as for the cleaner doing odd jobs on the side or taking my customers and starting up on his own, well the first is easy, the van is set-up with a gps tracking device, I know where its been and for how long.
and on the second point I have a water tight employment contract in place and if they do take on any of my customers within the first year of leaving my company and I can sue them for the lost income, so thats what I will do, I will wait 50 weeks and then take them to court and get the past 50 weeks of work they have done and been paid for, paid to me.
Of course getting the right cleaner and paying well should stop this.
You need a good memory Hydro, e.g. what you post in what thread and when. ;D
I don't really care if you care. I try to advise peope if I know what I'm talking about, I'm not here to try and impress anyone, unlike one or two upset members on this thread. ;)
Can't keep everyone happy. ;D Like Steve sed has already pointed out, this customer "smells" bad. Simple.
That was a really good post about multiple vans though, even though you made it up as you went along. Forums are there to get help, advice and tips. They also attract Water Mitty types though. These are easy to spot, they use funny words and contradict their own posts. Nobody seems to have a strong enough memory to remember when the bullpooped and in which threads. ;D Anyway, hit the report to moderator button and hope the other members will forget that you tripped up. :D
If you read the post correctly I gave my opinion on what I think is the best set ups, and for domestic 1 man vans are ok, unless its tightly packed work where 2 men in 1 van will work better the same applies to commercial.
Yes you are right how can I give an opinion on what setup are best if I only work 3 days a week, well lets look at that, if I didn't employ or take casuals on, I would be working 7 or 8 days every week of the year with my current workload, I instead look at working a smarter way.
Some examples
I have a contract in Gloucester I do every 3 months, if one man was to do it, it would take him 3 to 3 1/2 days to do, 3 months ago I used 1 van and 2 staff and it took 2 days, last week I did the same job in 1 day, this time I used 3 staff and one van plus 2 backpacks.
Last year I did a carpet cleaning contract in sheffield that took one van 2 machines and 2 cleaners 5 days to do, this year I intend to use 4 staff and 4 machines and I should complete the lot in 2 days.
I do the same with all my work, every time I have to do it again I look at cleaning it faster, paying a wage for the day and being able to double my income is good sense to me, but others won't agree and thats fine with them.
I don't need to lie, my work is growing but I also look and use smarter ways to do this work, of course there will come a time when I max out on what can be done with what I have now, when this happens another van will go on the road.
a mate of mine works 5 days a week, from 8 to 5 with a helper and at times he earns the same or less than me, he know what I do, and how I do it, but he is happy with what he is doing.
Mind you, he has taken some notice to pricing and how I operate and his son who now looks after the window cleaning side has heathy small round that is growing faster than they thought.
But like you said its upto each one of us on how we run our businesses, but I feel that with my turnover into days worked and profit margins achieved does give me the right to post on topics.
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and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.
So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner
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I only phone 3 customers(when I remember)out of my whole round,to ask them to leave alarm off.In response to the OP's dilemna,I would get rid,more hassle than it's worth,sounds like she is a right messer.
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I recon she is well frustrated. Offer to give her a right good humping. Can turn them around to your way of thinking in no time!! Get's messy after a few month's though.
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and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.
So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner
The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call. This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route. I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far). I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean". I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that. Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen. This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now. The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.
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Turn up and clean when it suits me - that's all I want.
No time to fart around calling back when they decide.
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ruddy hell HYDRO!!you was on the phone 30 mins the night before?did you ask her how the kids were?and wheres shes going for her summer holidays? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
2 mins tops if i have to pre notify. ;) ;D ;D ;D
luckily its only for a few customers here and there.most are turn up and clean.just the way i like it! ;) ;D ;D ;D
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Hydro, I must remember to read all of your post when I
can be bothered have time. I'm sure you have a huge internetional business and it's hard to stay on top of things when running multiple vans and organising armies of workers. Hours spent on the phone every night making sure that your battalions of smartly dressed and well drilled window cleaners have access to the Gherkin and all the other properties in the Westminster area that you have in your huge customer base.......................................................................
Try not to contradict yourself so often Hydro, at least not on the same day!! :D :D
Three members on this thread are upset that their advice wasn't accepted with grateful grovelling from the OP. Get over your own ego's lads. It's only window cleaning, not "The Apprentice ??? If you feel the need to use clever quotes and like to impress people with your business "skills", get into a trade that needs barely more than 4 brain cells to handle.
Anyway, back to work for me. I feel truly humble in the presence of such business guru's as I've seen on this thread. I aspire to, one day, be called worthy to ask for your advice.
Now if you'll excuse me, there's a bucket outside that I need to be sick into ;)
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I recon she is well frustrated. Offer to give her a right good humping. Can turn them around to your way of thinking in no time!! Get's messy after a few month's though.
too old for me ..... more like Bob Plumbs cup of tea ... :o
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I would prefer to just turn up amd clean, just as I did in England for 14 years without any problems.
Here in Ireland it just doesn't work that way, so I have had to adapt my approach, and if it means that I have to call, phone or text beforehand, I will do that in order to stay in business.
Very interesting thread!
John
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I would prefer to just turn up amd clean, just as I did in England for 14 years without any problems.
Here in Ireland it just doesn't work that way, so I have had to adapt my approach, and if it means that I have to call, phone or text beforehand, I will do that in order to stay in business.
Very interesting thread!
John
Out of interest if say you have 15 jobs schedules for the day how many would turn into a not today or leave em this time ?
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ruddy hell HYDRO!!you was on the phone 30 mins the night before?did you ask her how the kids were?and wheres shes going for her summer holidays? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
2 mins tops if i have to pre notify. ;) ;D ;D ;D
luckily its only for a few customers here and there.most are turn up and clean.just the way i like it! ;) ;D ;D ;D
if you read the post, its what I have done this week, so the 30 minutes are over 3 days and out of all the calls/texts only 1 said they won't be in as they have a hospital appointment, the husband has cancer so I have transferred it from wednesday to today.
I am in the area anyway so it's not a problem, so instead of me driving to there house yesterday and cleaning only the front for £6 I will be able to do the front and back today for £15, so that text has earn't me an extra £9 this week.
With this customer and because of the cancer issue, I am willing to work around their times but if a customers was always saying not tommorow or whatever then they would be removed from the round and they can call when they want a cleaner at the one-off prices I charge and only when I can do them, unless they are willing to pay travelling time of £40 per hour.
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Oh I forgot, I had a text from a customer for 1, I should of done yesterday, they still have scaffolding around the house and I would not have even been able to clean 1 window let alone the whole house, so I would have lost 30 minutes in travelling time as well as diesel in getting there.
with calling to night before its swings and roundabout, sometimes they might cancel but at times it can save you time and money.
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and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.
So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner
The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call. This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route. I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far). I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean". I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that. Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen. This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now. The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.
Paul
What would have happened if you hadn't called and drove all the way to them and then they cancelled, that would be a waste of time and fuel.
I have a lot of properties where to gain access to the backs if they are not at home, would require me to parachute into their back garden, I could of course just turn up and clean the front, drop a slip and wait for payment, but I would lose money by not cleaning the backs, I would then have to start chasing payments from those who forget to send a cheque etc.
I have worked it out that if I did not call and they are not in, I would lose over £800 per month, the amount of time involved in small and yes you do get the not this time, but most of these are done within the next week to 10 days, only a very small percentage are lost from that months income figures.
I have a nursing home I do and it was due to be done next week, it takes the whole morning to do and I always drop the invoice off the week before I do it so the cheque is ready for me when I clean.
I turned up monday and the whole place is covered in scaffolding because they need a new roof and there is no way I could clean it.
It is now rebooked for 3 weeks time so I have not lost a complete clean, just 50% of it but it has saved me money by me knowing.
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and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.
So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner
The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call. This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route. I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far). I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean". I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that. Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen. This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now. The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.
Paul
What would have happened if you hadn't called and drove all the way to them and then they cancelled, that would be a waste of time and fuel.
It would have cost me of course, but it would only have cost me once. However, even when I do drive a fair distance, I usually tend to do it for at least a few jobs rather than just the one.
Over the years I have gradually moved on from work like that.
The vast majority of my customers are out when I clean anyway so I just turn up and clean, followed by a cheque in the post or a BACS transfer.
I would agree that it can take longer to get a settled round doing it my way but I feel that it is worth it.
I don't have any messers among my established customers. I occasionally get one amongst the newer customers but I winkle them out eventually. Also, bear in mind that I have a number of gate keys - this turns a pre-notify into a turn up and clean.
I am finding that, especially since the advent of WFP, I am gradually drifting into commercial rather than domestic anyway. Most of my work is still domestic but the percentage is slowly shrinking. I could accelerate that process if I canvassed more commercial jobs.
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Also, bear in mind that I have a number of gate keys - this turns a pre-notify into a turn up and clean.
That's the solution. I thought most window-cleaners had customers back gate keys. Its some much simpler. Call the night before? I think I have two on my round who I call before, one is £100 the other is £240.00. Thats not to let them know Im coming but to tell them to get the dosh out the bank ;D
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Been in nearly 4 months,I contact around 15 for access,started off thinking il contact everyone ,got a lot trying to change dates ,not this time etc,and the worst I don't like the pressure if it rains hard,bad weather having to retext or call to rearrange,and sometimes il decide to change order to suit me,so now I turn up clean for the majority and works well,,keeps window cleaning simples how I like it.
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(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/paulc222/success-failure.jpg)
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Mountain out of a molehill, is it really that bad to have to call the odd customer? Its a wonder any of you have any customers left the way you talk about dumping....
The good ole phrase "dump em and get two back"
cos its that easy, jokers
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jeeeesus!!I WAS JOKING HYDRO!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
some of you really do take yourselves far too seriously!!chill out!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
regards
dazmond
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Nobody jokes about business on ciu! :o
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I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.
So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.
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Get the key to the garage and go through it?
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My will to live is draining away ..........
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Get the key to the garage and go through it?
I asked and the answer is no as I have access to the house also the alarms will go off.
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I also do a few police officers houses as well, funny they won't give me keys to their houses ???
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I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.
So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.
I don't think anyone has said to NEVER pre-notify.
So it would depend I suppose what the access is like. Would they leave a side gate unlocked if you texted the previous evening? Or, if there is a gate padlock high up, would they consider using a combi lock and telling you the number? Or, would they give you a gate key assuming you can reach the lock from a stepladder? If so, then this is probably one of those where it's worth doing.
However, if you have to move your schedule around to accommodate doing them when they are at home, it may still not be worthwhile. I suppose much would depend on how easy they are to find at home and how much work you have in the immediate area.
There are usually ways of doing this without adjusting your schedule around people's shopping trips.
I've just re-read your post. Only access through garage and both out at work all day. Sounds like a weekend "special" appointment and a trip especially for one job.
No thanks.
I have done this before and it never worked.
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I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.
So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.
I like how you always manage to pick up a job which exaggerates a situation you are involved in debating/defending!! ;D
Must just be coincidence! :-X
I'm only surprised the back wasn't £250- you're slacking! ;D
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and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.
So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner
The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call. This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route. I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far). I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean". I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that. Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen. This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now. The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.
Paul
What would have happened if you hadn't called and drove all the way to them and then they cancelled, that would be a waste of time and fuel.
I have a lot of properties where to gain access to the backs if they are not at home, would require me to parachute into their back garden, I could of course just turn up and clean the front, drop a slip and wait for payment, but I would lose money by not cleaning the backs, I would then have to start chasing payments from those who forget to send a cheque etc.
I have worked it out that if I did not call and they are not in, I would lose over £800 per month, the amount of time involved in small and yes you do get the not this time, but most of these are done within the next week to 10 days, only a very small percentage are lost from that months income figures.
I have a nursing home I do and it was due to be done next week, it takes the whole morning to do and I always drop the invoice off the week before I do it so the cheque is ready for me when I clean.
I turned up monday and the whole place is covered in scaffolding because they need a new roof and there is no way I could clean it.
It is now rebooked for 3 weeks time so I have not lost a complete clean, just 50% of it but it has saved me money by me knowing.
That's marginally more interesting than my last Sainsbury's receipt I have from last Setember.
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Hi Paul
I do on some customers have key or access codes or they have a keysafe of their property, this customer though will make sure that someone is at home when I am call the night before, the house is only 3 miles away from me and I am always passing by it every week, so I not too bothered about a special trip.
I do though have some special customers who are on my saturday round, I think about 10 and I don't like adding them unless nessasary, but this round is very hit and miss if I do it on time, it depends on the night before and what the hangover is like.
When I first started I did not call the night before, but I was finding that my income was half wat it should be and when I did finally get access to the backs they where just like a 1st clean, you cannot keep on charging 1st clean prices on regular customers.
So I started to call/text the night before and I have done it since, yes at first I did have alot who tried to pull a fast one by saying not this time, I would just say no problem i will take you off my list call me when you want them done again and I see if I can fit you in.
This stopped the not this time in its tracks, the customers who now say this are the ones who have not got the money on them or they have a appointment they cannot break, normally these can be overcome by thats alright pay me next time ot what times your appointment, I then can plan my route around this time, so they will either be moved up to number 1 or the last on the list, if this is not possible for me then I put them on the next available day, this is normally within a week.
Time wise it does not take anything out of my day, I now get into the habit of calling/texting while I'm out cleaning, so while I'm waiting for my staff to finsh I will make a call/text.
In the past I have worked for years in the Taxi and Courier trades so planning routes and multi-picks and deliveries is normal, so planning a day cleaning windows is easy.
Unlike a mate of mine who tried to give a time of day he will be there I only give a morning or afternoon or before or after a certain time.
I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
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I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
Are you asking how many windies on here earn at that level who dont call ahead ............. ive reread it a few times and not sure what you are asking.
And are you talking turnover per week ?
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I can't be bothered to read all this post - but have picked up a few dodgy looking comments in it - so are you guys posting nicely? I have a feeling of getting some negative vibes off it.
You can robustly argue a point without having to get all personal and nasty about it, you know!
Now be nice to each other.
Thanks. :D
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All postings ok .... maybe a little heated and some strong opinions but nowt for you to worry about .... maybe if it was late on a friday and alcohol fuelled then different matter. ;D
Nothing to see here Mr Mod ;)
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:D
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So then Tosh do you call / text ahead for permission to clean ? ;) ;)
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I always email my clients a week before they are due.
The reasons are below:
I let them know the date and also on the email say if there is anything else that needs attention please let me know. (At the end of the email I mention we also clean insides, powerwash and guttering). It get me loads of extra work on average 2 jobs a week.
I weed out timewasters to get my round as 'perfect as poss'
Almost all my clients remark on its good to know when you are coming, not like my old window cleaner.
Helps with locked gates being open instead of locked.
I have a database that allows me to send all the emails for that week in a single click so no faffing about.
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Hmmm, how do you predict the weather a week in advance or does that not affect you?
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If its terrible weather you reschedule and send another email. I work in light rain anyway
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Hi Paul
I do on some customers have key or access codes or they have a keysafe of their property, this customer though will make sure that someone is at home when I am call the night before, the house is only 3 miles away from me and I am always passing by it every week, so I not too bothered about a special trip.
I do though have some special customers who are on my saturday round, I think about 10 and I don't like adding them unless nessasary, but this round is very hit and miss if I do it on time, it depends on the night before and what the hangover is like.
When I first started I did not call the night before, but I was finding that my income was half wat it should be and when I did finally get access to the backs they where just like a 1st clean, you cannot keep on charging 1st clean prices on regular customers.
So I started to call/text the night before and I have done it since, yes at first I did have alot who tried to pull a fast one by saying not this time, I would just say no problem i will take you off my list call me when you want them done again and I see if I can fit you in.
This stopped the not this time in its tracks, the customers who now say this are the ones who have not got the money on them or they have a appointment they cannot break, normally these can be overcome by thats alright pay me next time ot what times your appointment, I then can plan my route around this time, so they will either be moved up to number 1 or the last on the list, if this is not possible for me then I put them on the next available day, this is normally within a week.
Time wise it does not take anything out of my day, I now get into the habit of calling/texting while I'm out cleaning, so while I'm waiting for my staff to finsh I will make a call/text.
In the past I have worked for years in the Taxi and Courier trades so planning routes and multi-picks and deliveries is normal, so planning a day cleaning windows is easy.
Unlike a mate of mine who tried to give a time of day he will be there I only give a morning or afternoon or before or after a certain time.
I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
I can see that in a few circumstances, pre notifying in this way is not a problem. I even do a tiny bit of it myself. I have a row of three pretty large house on a private estate that I clean. One needs to unlock a bottom bolt on the gate, another has a gate in front of the drive which they are OK with me climbing over (very easy climb and barely 3 foot high). The other one is more secluded and has very high front gates and although they are OK with leaving them open for a couple of hours while they are out, they wouldn't leave them open all day. So the latter one is the one I have to work around. However, I earn decent money for the three properties and can treat it as a mini round on its own. It's about 8 miles from home and about 4 miles from my water supply. On the other hand, there is another area where most of the houses only have access through the garage, the road frontage is narrow for a large van, and a couple of them seem to think I can live on fresh air. I'm seriously considering dropping all I do in that road (£151 every 2 months). It came in a batch of work that I bought so I'm reluctant but it looks like I may have to cut my losses on those ones. It looks like I will only be keeping about 50% of the work I bought a while back. Pity really but live and learn I guess. I would have been better off going out canvassing for a few evenings and choosing my own work. I paid £2k but in view of the issues I've encountered, barely worth £1k really.
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Hmmm, how do you predict the weather a week in advance or does that not affect you?
He cleans when it's lashing it down & his customers love him for it! ;D
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So then Tosh do you call / text ahead for permission to clean ? ;) ;)
Never for permission, but I do for access. I'm pretty firm on my terms and conditions and rarely even do one-offs if I've regular work around. I might do a one off if I'm there and someone asks me and I stick a high price in and it gets accepted, but I'm reluctant to travel to quote for a one off.
But no, I don't ask for permission to clean; that's a given when I quote my price and frequency.
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I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
Are you asking how many windies on here earn at that level who dont call ahead ............. ive reread it a few times and not sure what you are asking.
And are you talking turnover per week ?
Hi Ian
As you know I call/text the night before and I have 194 Window Cleaning customers, I just checked on George and my average income was £658 per week, I haven't checked what the supposed turnover figure should be if all had their windows done both front and back.
I keep on hearing that most windies have 300 to 400 hundred customers, so I was wondering how my part time round compares to them who don't call.
So if a another cleaner has say 225 customers and they don't call the night before but still took £600 to £675 a week on average then maybe I am wasting my time calling the night before.
If though they are taking a lot less then maybe I am doing things right for me.
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I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
Are you asking how many windies on here earn at that level who dont call ahead ............. ive reread it a few times and not sure what you are asking.
And are you talking turnover per week ?
Hi Ian
As you know I call/text the night before and I have 194 Window Cleaning customers, I just checked on George and my average income was £658 per week, I haven't checked what the supposed turnover figure should be if all had their windows done both front and back.
I keep on hearing that most windies have 300 to 400 hundred customers, so I was wondering how my part time round compares to them who don't call.
So if a another cleaner has say 225 customers and they don't call the night before but still took £600 to £675 a week on average then maybe I am wasting my time calling the night before.
If though they are taking a lot less then maybe I am doing things right for me.
Now, is that figure for 3 days on the windows, or 5 days on windows/carpets/soloar panels etc? Is it just you or staff too?
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I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
Are you asking how many windies on here earn at that level who dont call ahead ............. ive reread it a few times and not sure what you are asking.
And are you talking turnover per week ?
Hi Ian
As you know I call/text the night before and I have 194 Window Cleaning customers, I just checked on George and my average income was £658 per week, I haven't checked what the supposed turnover figure should be if all had their windows done both front and back.
I keep on hearing that most windies have 300 to 400 hundred customers, so I was wondering how my part time round compares to them who don't call.
So if a another cleaner has say 225 customers and they don't call the night before but still took £600 to £675 a week on average then maybe I am wasting my time calling the night before.
If though they are taking a lot less then maybe I am doing things right for me.
Now, is that figure for 3 days on the windows, or 5 days on windows/carpets/soloar panels etc? Is it just you or staff too?
That is the Window Cleaning figures only over 3 days
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I would though, be intersted to know how many customers, cleaners have, who don't call to take home say £650 every week not what their round says they can earn but what they are getting on average.
This will let me know whether I am getting my sums wrong
Are you asking how many windies on here earn at that level who dont call ahead ............. ive reread it a few times and not sure what you are asking.
And are you talking turnover per week ?
Hi Ian
As you know I call/text the night before and I have 194 Window Cleaning customers, I just checked on George and my average income was £658 per week, I haven't checked what the supposed turnover figure should be if all had their windows done both front and back.
I keep on hearing that most windies have 300 to 400 hundred customers, so I was wondering how my part time round compares to them who don't call.
So if a another cleaner has say 225 customers and they don't call the night before but still took £600 to £675 a week on average then maybe I am wasting my time calling the night before.
If though they are taking a lot less then maybe I am doing things right for me.
Now, is that figure for 3 days on the windows, or 5 days on windows/carpets/soloar panels etc? Is it just you or staff too?
That is the Window Cleaning figures only over 3 days
Quite good for just you but crap for more than one man.
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I totally agree with you, this figure is ok for 1 man and a van, but I am looking at building it up to £800 to £900 for 2 men in 1 van.
Thats another reason I will keep on calling the night before, any that do cancel or cannot be done will be replaced by another customer so the daily income figure is roughly £300, the excess work will be cleaned by me at first until there is enough work to start another van on a 3 day week.
Hopefully I can keep on repeating this method and grow at a steady rate, but it will take time and I have allocated 5 years to achieve what I want.
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I totally agree with you, this figure is ok for 1 man and a van, but I am looking at building it up to £800 to £900 for 2 men in 1 van.
Thats another reason I will keep on calling the night before, any that do cancel or cannot be done will be replaced by another customer so the daily income figure is roughly £300, the excess work will be cleaned by me at first until there is enough work to start another van on a 3 day week.
Hopefully I can keep on repeating this method and grow at a steady rate, but it will take time and I have allocated 5 years to achieve what I want.
So what are you saying, is that figure for you & your staff or just you at this moment in time?
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I totally agree with you, this figure is ok for 1 man and a van, but I am looking at building it up to £800 to £900 for 2 men in 1 van.
Thats another reason I will keep on calling the night before, any that do cancel or cannot be done will be replaced by another customer so the daily income figure is roughly £300, the excess work will be cleaned by me at first until there is enough work to start another van on a 3 day week.
Hopefully I can keep on repeating this method and grow at a steady rate, but it will take time and I have allocated 5 years to achieve what I want.
So what are you saying, is that figure for you & your staff or just you at this moment in time?
that's me and 1 member of staff, i normally pick him up at 10am and drop him home by 3.30pm
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I totally agree with you, this figure is ok for 1 man and a van, but I am looking at building it up to £800 to £900 for 2 men in 1 van.
Thats another reason I will keep on calling the night before, any that do cancel or cannot be done will be replaced by another customer so the daily income figure is roughly £300, the excess work will be cleaned by me at first until there is enough work to start another van on a 3 day week.
Hopefully I can keep on repeating this method and grow at a steady rate, but it will take time and I have allocated 5 years to achieve what I want.
So what are you saying, is that figure for you & your staff or just you at this moment in time?
that's me and 1 member of staff, i normally pick him up at 10am and drop him home by 3.30pm
how the hell did you managed when you had 2 staff on that income on windows.????
i say it a again your full of it ;)
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I would prefer to just turn up amd clean, just as I did in England for 14 years without any problems.
Here in Ireland it just doesn't work that way, so I have had to adapt my approach, and if it means that I have to call, phone or text beforehand, I will do that in order to stay in business.
Very interesting thread!
John
Out of interest if say you have 15 jobs schedules for the day how many would turn into a not today or leave em this time ?
Good question Ian. When I started out here, I could have up to 75% or more that would say 'not today' on a second clean. It was driving me nuts at the time, but I have persevered and the way it works now as I am beginning to fill my run up is that if they say it to me now, it doesn't bother me so much as I can still earn close to what I need with more reliable customers I have since picked up. The 'not today' brigade are still on my books, but now only get my attention when I can fit them in, so the tide is now beginning to turn in my favour.
John
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I totally agree with you, this figure is ok for 1 man and a van, but I am looking at building it up to £800 to £900 for 2 men in 1 van.
Thats another reason I will keep on calling the night before, any that do cancel or cannot be done will be replaced by another customer so the daily income figure is roughly £300, the excess work will be cleaned by me at first until there is enough work to start another van on a 3 day week.
Hopefully I can keep on repeating this method and grow at a steady rate, but it will take time and I have allocated 5 years to achieve what I want.
So what are you saying, is that figure for you & your staff or just you at this moment in time?
that's me and 1 member of staff, i normally pick him up at 10am and drop him home by 3.30pm
how the hell did you managed when you had 2 staff on that income on windows.????
i say it a again your full of it ;)
lets think, o yes I was in plaster for 3 months, I was advised not to work for 1 year, I had a simple choose stay at home and earn nothing or employ a part timer and carry on working.
as you are such a wise one, I have another op planned in the next couple of months, the same one I had last year but on the other leg.
This time though I will not be able to do half of what I could last year, so whats your wise words.
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Out of interest if say you have 15 jobs schedules for the day how many would turn into a not today or leave em this time ?
Ian, i operate mostly this way. The amount that turns into a not today or leave it this time is generally nil. I'm generally ruthless at culling them, once i allow it and then second time i suggest i take them off and they can ring me when they want me (that comes at a premium). I'm already a premium rate as most can get a cleaner cheaper, but then........they just turn up you never know when they've been, i don't like the gangs of lads they have ...etc..... I know its not for everyone, and its not a time efficient way to run a compact round. But it is another way to run your business that works too. I just say...just letting you know i'll be round tomorrow. Never have an issue really.
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as usual on this and other forums people are attacked because they say and do things differently, normally these people don't winge when a customer cancels or it snows, or their hose reels fall apart.
These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone who is not in their special club.
I do things in my own little way, some things work, while others do not.
I want a lot from this business and I don't mind saying what I want.
When things don't go to plan I don't fall apart and start crying, I get on with it and carry on running my business.
My turnover figures in my opinion are low, my profits are even lower, unlike some I don't mind spending money on trying to improve my business, and I will continue to do so, because at the end of the day this will show me a return in higher profits down the line.
I have though noticed that these bullies always go on the attack because they are afraid that newbies will learn that there is good money to be made from window cleaning, and they will come into the trade and they will suffer from the extra competition.
Well I hope that thousands and thousands do come into the trade, maybe then the dinosaurs can be put out to grass and go into the abliss they deserve.
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as usual on this and other forums people are attacked because they say and do things differently, normally these people don't winge when a customer cancels or it snows, or their hose reels fall apart.
These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone who is not in their special club.
I do things in my own little way, some things work, while others do not.
I want a lot from this business and I don't mind saying what I want.
When things don't go to plan I don't fall apart and start crying, I get on with it and carry on running my business.
My turnover figures in my opinion are low, my profits are even lower, unlike some I don't mind spending money on trying to improve my business, and I will continue to do so, because at the end of the day this will show me a return in higher profits down the line.
I have though noticed that these bullies always go on the attack because they are afraid that newbies will learn that there is good money to be made from window cleaning, and they will come into the trade and they will suffer from the extra competition.
Well I hope that thousands and thousands do come into the trade, maybe then the dinosaurs can be put out to grass and go into the abliss they deserve.
Have you been drinking Pure HYdro? ;D
That's a complete contradiction to what you've always implied on another forum ??? ???
I don't think it's bullying but I have to agree that understanding how you do things is somewhat puzzling more often than not, especially when they seem to contradict constantly?
Each to their own eh ;D
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as usual on this and other forums people are attacked because they say and do things differently, normally these people don't winge when a customer cancels or it snows, or their hose reels fall apart.
These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone who is not in their special club.
I do things in my own little way, some things work, while others do not.
I want a lot from this business and I don't mind saying what I want.
When things don't go to plan I don't fall apart and start crying, I get on with it and carry on running my business.
My turnover figures in my opinion are low, my profits are even lower, unlike some I don't mind spending money on trying to improve my business, and I will continue to do so, because at the end of the day this will show me a return in higher profits down the line.
I have though noticed that these bullies always go on the attack because they are afraid that newbies will learn that there is good money to be made from window cleaning, and they will come into the trade and they will suffer from the extra competition.
Well I hope that thousands and thousands do come into the trade, maybe then the dinosaurs can be put out to grass and go into the abliss they deserve.
I didn't see anything myself that I would interpret as bullying.
I would also say that most on here have the goal of improving their business. The issue is that what one sees as an improvement, another will see as creating problems. The way of improving my business that I adopt is to try as far as possible to stick with decent paid, easy access work that requires the minimum of customer maintenance. I even have jobs where, to gain access, I get up a step ladder, lean over the gate and stretch downwards with a long crowbar to flip the bolt. I regard that as easier than phoning ahead.
If you or anyone else wants to spend time phoning ahead and sometimes juggling around the needs of individual customers, that is of course your prerogative. You see that as improving your business. I see the fact that I seldom need to do that as improving my business. Sounds like one of those "agree to differ" moments :)
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Imagine this, you have a full round of say, 350 to 450 customers who you service with clean windows every 6 weeks. They mostly behave and 90% pay on time and don't cause problems. OK so far?
Now a "special" customer calls (at 11 pm ??? ) and starts talking about a special arrangement for the service in that you "must" contact them first, before you intend to turn up and provide the service they want.
All they would hear from my side of the conversation would be a dial tone at the other end of the phone line.
I'd be looking for at least one new customer who fits the system that's in place to provide the service they want. No frills, just more customers than you can manage. As soon as someone wants "special handling", it's time to decide.
We DO provide a service, but because it can get very big for a one or two man set up very quickly, you need to stay 100% in control and not try to pander to everyone.
Just my opinion, but so far, after over 20 years in the game, works for me.
:o :o :o
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338403250_th_smiley_bored.gif)
;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Ian, i operate mostly this way. The amount that turns into a not today or leave it this time is generally nil. I'm generally ruthless at culling them, once i allow it and then second time i suggest i take them off and they can ring me when they want me (that comes at a premium). I'm already a premium rate as most can get a cleaner cheaper, but then........they just turn up you never know when they've been, i don't like the gangs of lads they have ...etc..... I know its not for everyone, and its not a time efficient way to run a compact round. But it is another way to run your business that works too. I just say...just letting you know i'll be round tomorrow. Never have an issue really.
Again,we run our business like this.It's not everyone's cup of tea,but it works for me
Five years in and just employed our third member of staff.I guess I'll just keep txting and phoning customers and jumping through hoops-it's not a problem,I'll get their money any way I can 8)
One of the best threads on here for a long time ......
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when I mention figures along with staff employed I am either accused of lying or full of it.
Because of certain disability problem my "working day" is no more than 2 hours, I cannot walk more than 1/4 mile without being in extreme pain.
This is a vast improvement on 12 months ago and in 2 months I will be back to the beginning where walking 5 paces requires pooploads of morphine.
Because of this I organise my business to work around what I can do, when I go into hosptital I will take on another member of staff to do what I cannot do.
Yes I could sack my staff and spread the work over 7 days and do it myself, but I will not have any room left for new customers or one offs, so my carpet cleaning side will come to a standstill and my business growth will be non-excistent.
Instead I spend a little money on wages, cram everything into the shortest period of time and have the capacity to take on extra work and have steady growth in my business.
If this is full of it, what are my options, cancel the operations, sell up and sign on the sick or go bankrupt.
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I would like to thank everyone on this topic who has posted about not calling/texting the night before, special thanks to those few who have had personal digs at me.
I went to a networking meeting this morning and in my speech, I mentioned this forum and showed all who were there this topic which I had printed off copies for them.
I stated that I am the village idiot ::) because I call or text the night before, and if possible I will work my round to help my customers.
I showed then some of the replys from those of you who do not call/text the night before and they were impressed with the Dump and Replace attitude from some ::)
Anyway I picked up 3 new customers, I have one meeting to quote for an office block and someone knows a lord who owns a stately home, I might not get the job but at least I get the chance to pitch for it.
I have now changed my website, I will be promoting my call the night before because it looks like there are customers out there who want this type of service. ;D
So once again, THANK YOU, without your input I would not have this new work. :) :) :) 8)
and I also mentioned some of the other things that was said as well on this topic, they really like them, so keep on posting it brightens their day up for them. ;)
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Bloody hell it's gone into the real world it'll be on "Today in Parliament" next R4.
1.2.3.4 how to start a forum war
5.6.7.8 trying to keep your custys straight ;D
It's brilliant!
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Hi Purehydro (William) - I know you've gone off topic but this has piqued my interest - you say you picked up 3 custies, and a couple of enquiries. Was that from fellow attendees of your breakfast club?
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when I mention figures along with staff employed I am either accused of lying or full of it.
Because of certain disability problem my "working day" is no more than 2 hours, I cannot walk more than 1/4 mile without being in extreme pain.
This is a vast improvement on 12 months ago and in 2 months I will be back to the beginning where walking 5 paces requires pooploads of morphine.
Because of this I organise my business to work around what I can do, when I go into hosptital I will take on another member of staff to do what I cannot do.
Yes I could sack my staff and spread the work over 7 days and do it myself, but I will not have any room left for new customers or one offs, so my carpet cleaning side will come to a standstill and my business growth will be non-excistent.
Instead I spend a little money on wages, cram everything into the shortest period of time and have the capacity to take on extra work and have steady growth in my business.
If this is full of it, what are my options, cancel the operations, sell up and sign on the sick or go bankrupt.
dont let some of the guys get to you bud. sounds like you got your business under control . you dont have to justify yourself to guys on here . seems to me some guys on here seem pretty negative to other people for some reason or another . i woudn't call it bullying. probably their nature . i get what i want from this forum which is good stuff generally but there are some know it alls on here . i laugh at some of their posts . nit picking cause you use the wrong word or phrase. small minded people tbh
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Hi Purehydro (William) - I know you've gone off topic but this has piqued my interest - you say you picked up 3 custies, and a couple of enquiries. Was that from fellow attendees of your breakfast club?
Yes, one was already a member, he is the solicitor, he wants me to do his house, his present cleaner won't call the night before so his back is never done, I have given a roough price of between £25 to £30 depending on how big his conny is, I do know that to get to one side of the conny needs to be done from the neighbours house, so he is going to have a word to see if I can get that as well, he has also arranged for me to go and quote for the office where his company work from.
The others were just visitors, 2 have been before but one was a newbie.
I did ask why they now want me as their cleaner and it was only because I told them all about this topic about me calling/texting the night before, all already have cleaners who don't or won't do this.
One of the visitors who wants me to do his parents house was giving me instructions on how to get there when he mentioned it was by this stately home and as a ad lib I said I would love to have that on my books, anyway he said he used to work there when he was younger, but his mum and dad know the Lord and Lady really well, they have been friends for a very long time and it would not be a problem for them to get me an indroduction.
I am really thinking of doing this one free of charge or at least at a very low price, I think that the spin-offs in me promoting that I clean it in the local area will get me loads of work, it will certainly be used on my web-site and leaflets.
I won't mention yet which one it is, but I will BRAG if I do get it ;D I have been watching the show about Chatsworth lately and I do clean the carpets in 2 apartment blocks in Bakewell every so often, so I might drop a hint or two to his Lordship should I get this one.
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I would like to thank everyone on this topic who has posted about not calling/texting the night before, special thanks to those few who have had personal digs at me.
I went to a networking meeting this morning and in my speech, I mentioned this forum and showed all who were there this topic which I had printed off copies for them.
I stated that I am the village idiot ::) because I call or text the night before, and if possible I will work my round to help my customers.
I showed then some of the replys from those of you who do not call/text the night before and they were impressed with the Dump and Replace attitude from some ::)
Anyway I picked up 3 new customers, I have one meeting to quote for an office block and someone knows a lord who owns a stately home, I might not get the job but at least I get the chance to pitch for it.
I have now changed my website, I will be promoting my call the night before because it looks like there are customers out there who want this type of service. ;D
So once again, THANK YOU, without your input I would not have this new work. :) :) :) 8)
and I also mentioned some of the other things that was said as well on this topic, they really like them, so keep on posting it brightens their day up for them. ;)
bit drastic that Hydro just to find someone who agrees with you ... well apart from one or two on this posting ;)
Ive got a spare orange box you can have for £5 if you fancy a trip to speakers corner though this weekend wont be many there wot with it being the jubilee and all that ;)
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when I mention figures along with staff employed I am either accused of lying or full of it.
Because of certain disability problem my "working day" is no more than 2 hours, I cannot walk more than 1/4 mile without being in extreme pain.
This is a vast improvement on 12 months ago and in 2 months I will be back to the beginning where walking 5 paces requires pooploads of morphine.
Because of this I organise my business to work around what I can do, when I go into hosptital I will take on another member of staff to do what I cannot do.
Yes I could sack my staff and spread the work over 7 days and do it myself, but I will not have any room left for new customers or one offs, so my carpet cleaning side will come to a standstill and my business growth will be non-excistent.
Instead I spend a little money on wages, cram everything into the shortest period of time and have the capacity to take on extra work and have steady growth in my business.
If this is full of it, what are my options, cancel the operations, sell up and sign on the sick or go bankrupt.
dont let some of the guys get to you bud. sounds like you got your business under control . you dont have to justify yourself to guys on here . seems to me some guys on here seem pretty negative to other people for some reason or another . i woudn't call it bullying. probably their nature . i get what i want from this forum which is good stuff generally but there are some know it alls on here . i laugh at some of their posts . nit picking cause you use the wrong word or phrase. small minded people tbh
I agree with you andrew, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of them are afraid of some of my and others ideas on this business, I think that they can see that if someone like us was to start up in their area, then they might start to lose work.
They also get very nevous when people start to talk about what can be earnt from window cleaning, they do not like this sort of talk, because if it gets out that window cleaning can be a good earner, there might be a bigger influx of new cleaners and for once in their lives they will have to complete for a living.
How you they can hide all the new shiny professional looking vans that are growing on our streets is a problem though.
Personally I love competition, I use to sell double glazing door to door and I was good at it, and you cannot have a tougher job than that.
I do know that if everything works out for me and i do suceed in what I want, well I will be BRAGGING about it from the roof tops, I already try and get more newbies into the trade and while I would have been quite about my sucess after all the knocks I have had on this and other sites, I have changed my mind and instead I will spread the word that window cleaning is a great way to earn pooploads of money, for a little outlay.
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the reason hydro people have a go at you like myself is that half what you say dont add up........simple
you just stated that you cant do more than 2hours work aday......the other day on another forum you said quote "3 window cleans and 1 carpet which I can do on my own,"
now surely that would take more than 2hours on your feet........
hydro you quoted"These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone"
never have i hid behind a fictious name,look in my profile,look at web-site your see who iam.and never have i bullied you.just pointed out things dont add up,if that bullying then you need to look up the meaning of it.
i say it to your face and have no problem with anyone doing the same back to me.
what people are saying is somethings NEVER add up with you over differnet forums.to lie you have to be good at it. ;)
and has being affaid of newbies ive help a few people start up on the forum and will continue todo so,what work for you doesnt work for everyone. ;)
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I would like to thank everyone on this topic who has posted about not calling/texting the night before, special thanks to those few who have had personal digs at me.
I went to a networking meeting this morning and in my speech, I mentioned this forum and showed all who were there this topic which I had printed off copies for them.
I stated that I am the village idiot ::) because I call or text the night before, and if possible I will work my round to help my customers.
I showed then some of the replys from those of you who do not call/text the night before and they were impressed with the Dump and Replace attitude from some ::)
Anyway I picked up 3 new customers, I have one meeting to quote for an office block and someone knows a lord who owns a stately home, I might not get the job but at least I get the chance to pitch for it.
I have now changed my website, I will be promoting my call the night before because it looks like there are customers out there who want this type of service. ;D
So once again, THANK YOU, without your input I would not have this new work. :) :) :) 8)
and I also mentioned some of the other things that was said as well on this topic, they really like them, so keep on posting it brightens their day up for them. ;)
Ive got a spare orange box you can have for £5 if you fancy a trip to speakers corner though this weekend wont be many there wot with it being the jubilee and all that ;)
Sorry I don't work at height
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I would like to thank everyone on this topic who has posted about not calling/texting the night before, special thanks to those few who have had personal digs at me.
I went to a networking meeting this morning and in my speech, I mentioned this forum and showed all who were there this topic which I had printed off copies for them.
I stated that I am the village idiot ::) because I call or text the night before, and if possible I will work my round to help my customers.
I showed then some of the replys from those of you who do not call/text the night before and they were impressed with the Dump and Replace attitude from some ::)
Anyway I picked up 3 new customers, I have one meeting to quote for an office block and someone knows a lord who owns a stately home, I might not get the job but at least I get the chance to pitch for it.
I have now changed my website, I will be promoting my call the night before because it looks like there are customers out there who want this type of service. ;D
So once again, THANK YOU, without your input I would not have this new work. :) :) :) 8)
and I also mentioned some of the other things that was said as well on this topic, they really like them, so keep on posting it brightens their day up for them. ;)
Ive got a spare orange box you can have for £5 if you fancy a trip to speakers corner though this weekend wont be many there wot with it being the jubilee and all that ;)
Sorry I don't work at height
;D ;D ;D
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the reason hydro people have a go at you like myself is that half what you say dont add up........simple
you just stated that you cant do more than 2hours work aday......the other day on another forum you said quote "3 window cleans and 1 carpet which I can do on my own,"
now surely that would take more than 2hours on your feet........
hydro you quoted"These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone"
never have i hid behind a fictious name,look in my profile,look at web-site your see who iam.and never have i bullied you.just pointed out things dont add up,if that bullying then you need to look up the meaning of it.
i say it to your face and have no problem with anyone doing the same back to me.
what people are saying is somethings NEVER add up with you over differnet forums.to lie you have to be good at it. ;)
and has being affaid of newbies ive help a few people start up on the forum and will continue todo so,what work for you doesnt work for everyone. ;)
Ok I have 3 window cleans and a carpet to clean and all in 2 hours, well although I say 2 hours it dosen't mean 2 hours to the minute, but lets play.
1st job is a pub I do, the outside windows take 12 mintues with wfp, the inside bar only 8 x 2' by 2' windows take 10 minutes tops, the carpet takes 15 minutes to set up and 20 minutes to clean, the carpet only covers half the bar, I will name the pub if you don't belive me and you can someone to check on the sizes.
2nd job
On Pinewood Drive, bartley green, the front takes 8 minutes the back needs a backpack because I have to go though the living room to the back 2 upstairs windows and 2 patio doors another 10 minutes.
I then have a bacon sandwich and coffee, they are personal friend of mine, so I normally chat for 20 minutes or so.
3 rd job on Ley Hill Farm Road, new housing estate, normal house 7 windows easy access, takes 15 tops.
all well within 2 hours, but I have also rested for over 3/5 of and hour because of the bacon sandwich and travelling time to the jobs.
My maximum on one site with out sitting down is about 2 hours, driving from job to job helps me to last longer but normally I rest in the van while my staff clean on their own if I am using them.
I think that a lot of the misunderstanding of what i do is I don't give updates on what happens on a daily basis, if I sack a worker, I don't post about it, if my van blows up I don't mention it, when I went into hospital I never mentioned it or the need to employ especially to survive.
When I take on staff, do I say they are part time or full time, do I mention how much I pay them at the end of the week, no I don't.
I do mention what I want to do and what I have planned, but I can and do change my mind, so these can alter.
I never before used promoted the fact that I call the night before unless I need to close a sale, by showing why they should use me instead of someone else.
This has no changed, especially after this mornings meeting and the work gained, I have come to the conclusion that their are potential customers who want a cleaner who will call them.
I also have other things that I am doing at the moment and these do include staff and more importantly funding for them, but I know that the riddicule will start again, so I will keep quite on this, which is a shame because this funding is available to everyone who wants to employ, but they will have to find out about this themselfs
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Must be terrible being bullied. I feel for Pur Hydro on this one. Must have felt strange showing lawyers and other professional people with connections to people with stately homes etc, transcripts from a window cleaning forum ;D
I can imagine it went down really well. "Look gentlemen, here's a forum I'm a big noise on, and look how I'm being bullied".
Did they read all 9 pages of what some window cleaners had to say about calling the night before cleaning?? I must get to take part in these breakfast clubs. Sounds really interesting. Are they free or do you pay a monthly sub? What's the next subject for next week? Moat cleaning forums or butler replacement kneecap costs?
I feel humble in the presence of such people that discuss such topics in depth.
(Some of the above was sarcasm )
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I only go every 2 weeks and I do pay a yearly fee and a meeting fee, but I have already got enough work to cover this from previous meetings.
and yes I think I will be looking for posts and posters that we can all laugh at, it certainly brighten the day up.
They did comment that some of the posts sounded like the unions of old who used the same type of reasoning and brought this country to its knees in the 70's
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Tosh
Lock it it's getting out of hand!
g.
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I only go every 2 weeks and I do pay a yearly fee and a meeting fee, but I have already got enough work to cover this from previous meetings.
and yes I think I will be looking for posts and posters that we can all laugh at, it certainly brighten the day up.
They did comment that some of the posts sounded like the unions of old who used the same type of reasoning and brought this country to its knees in the 70's
Now, there's a surprise,some fatcats downcrying the unions >:(.The Unions were there to protect the rights of the working class man.
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the reason hydro people have a go at you like myself is that half what you say dont add up........simple
you just stated that you cant do more than 2hours work aday......the other day on another forum you said quote "3 window cleans and 1 carpet which I can do on my own,"
now surely that would take more than 2hours on your feet........
hydro you quoted"These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone"
never have i hid behind a fictious name,look in my profile,look at web-site your see who iam.and never have i bullied you.just pointed out things dont add up,if that bullying then you need to look up the meaning of it.
i say it to your face and have no problem with anyone doing the same back to me.
what people are saying is somethings NEVER add up with you over differnet forums.to lie you have to be good at it. ;)
and has being affaid of newbies ive help a few people start up on the forum and will continue todo so,what work for you doesnt work for everyone. ;)
Ok I have 3 window cleans and a carpet to clean and all in 2 hours, well although I say 2 hours it dosen't mean 2 hours to the minute, but lets play.
1st job is a pub I do, the outside windows take 12 mintues with wfp, the inside bar only 8 x 2' by 2' windows take 10 minutes tops, the carpet takes 15 minutes to set up and 20 minutes to clean, the carpet only covers half the bar, I will name the pub if you don't belive me and you can someone to check on the sizes.
2nd job
On Pinewood Drive, bartley green, the front takes 8 minutes the back needs a backpack because I have to go though the living room to the back 2 upstairs windows and 2 patio doors another 10 minutes.
I then have a bacon sandwich and coffee, they are personal friend of mine, so I normally chat for 20 minutes or so.
3 rd job on Ley Hill Farm Road, new housing estate, normal house 7 windows easy access, takes 15 tops.
all well within 2 hours, but I have also rested for over 3/5 of and hour because of the bacon sandwich and travelling time to the jobs.
My maximum on one site with out sitting down is about 2 hours, driving from job to job helps me to last longer but normally I rest in the van while my staff clean on their own if I am using them.
I think that a lot of the misunderstanding of what i do is I don't give updates on what happens on a daily basis, if I sack a worker, I don't post about it, if my van blows up I don't mention it, when I went into hospital I never mentioned it or the need to employ especially to survive.
When I take on staff, do I say they are part time or full time, do I mention how much I pay them at the end of the week, no I don't.
I do mention what I want to do and what I have planned, but I can and do change my mind, so these can alter.
I never before used promoted the fact that I call the night before unless I need to close a sale, by showing why they should use me instead of someone else.
This has no changed, especially after this mornings meeting and the work gained, I have come to the conclusion that their are potential customers who want a cleaner who will call them.
I also have other things that I am doing at the moment and these do include staff and more importantly funding for them, but I know that the riddicule will start again, so I will keep quite on this, which is a shame because this funding is available to everyone who wants to employ, but they will have to find out about this themselfs
has i said you full of it.......
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I only go every 2 weeks and I do pay a yearly fee and a meeting fee, but I have already got enough work to cover this from previous meetings.
and yes I think I will be looking for posts and posters that we can all laugh at, it certainly brighten the day up.
They did comment that some of the posts sounded like the unions of old who used the same type of reasoning and brought this country to its knees in the 70's
Now, there's a surprise,some fatcats downcrying the unions >:(.The Unions were there to protect the rights of the working class man.
Yeh Right
I was a young tool maker when I was 17, I started about 3 weeks before the national AEWU strike started in 1978, on my 1st day I was told it was a closed shop and I had to join the union otherwise I would be sacked ??? I joined and paid my fees and dues for the next 3 weeks.
The national strike then started and like my fellow worker I went out on strike with them, I was told by the shop stewert that I would get strike pay.
I lived with my mother who was on a state pension that in them days payed peanuts, but I was assured that I would get some money from the union.
Anyway after 6 weeks with not money, I was told that because I have only just joined I cannot get strike pay, the social will not pay me a penny, so I had to carry on not working while me and my mother went without food.
Anyway I love my mother more than the union, so I went back to work.
I was now shunned, called a scab and even some tried to give me a kicking.
as it happened these workmates settled with the factory before the national strike ended, they ended up getting a higher settlement than the union got.
for the rest of my time there, I was treated me like scum, my mother died within 3 months of the end of the strike, the ones who gave me a kicking got a kicking in return and there are a couple who I would love to meet, and when the shop steward died a year later, I spat on his coffin and I hope he is looking into my mothers eyes for eternity, because that strike KILLED her.
I went back to work to feed my mother, they went back to work because they got a better deal.
Unions can f*** themselfs
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No need to swear, directly or otherwise. Lack of self control is a sign of wakness and poor discipline. Not good for an up and coming Breakfast Club member who deals with high flyers and stately home owners.
It's off topic and the unions didn't destroy anything without the help of the government. Calm down Hydro, nobody wants to bully you, that can only happen if you allow yourself to be bullied.
The OP asked for opinions. He has them and will deal with the situation in his own way. Best to avoid using these sort of threads to posture and bluster your way into a hole. Stop digging the hole you've already dug and hope the thread gets locked. The embarrassment will pass and everyone will forget what was posted. The next one will be along shortly to dig his own hole and you can sit back and laugh at their hole digging posts.
It's only a forum, and nobody dies, so relax and watch it all go on without you. You can always keep going to your "breakfast club" meetings. I'm sure you'll do really well.
Do us a favour though, any future replies, please try to keep them real and less than 4000 words if that's OK. I get halfway through, (I'm a fast reader) but my screensaver kicks in before I'm finished.
There's a good chap. ;)
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the reason hydro people have a go at you like myself is that half what you say dont add up........simple
you just stated that you cant do more than 2hours work aday......the other day on another forum you said quote "3 window cleans and 1 carpet which I can do on my own,"
now surely that would take more than 2hours on your feet........
hydro you quoted"These people also hide behind fictious names and try to bully anyone"
never have i hid behind a fictious name,look in my profile,look at web-site your see who iam.and never have i bullied you.just pointed out things dont add up,if that bullying then you need to look up the meaning of it.
i say it to your face and have no problem with anyone doing the same back to me.
what people are saying is somethings NEVER add up with you over differnet forums.to lie you have to be good at it. ;)
and has being affaid of newbies ive help a few people start up on the forum and will continue todo so,what work for you doesnt work for everyone. ;)
Ok I have 3 window cleans and a carpet to clean and all in 2 hours, well although I say 2 hours it dosen't mean 2 hours to the minute, but lets play.
1st job is a pub I do, the outside windows take 12 mintues with wfp, the inside bar only 8 x 2' by 2' windows take 10 minutes tops, the carpet takes 15 minutes to set up and 20 minutes to clean, the carpet only covers half the bar, I will name the pub if you don't belive me and you can someone to check on the sizes.
2nd job
On Pinewood Drive, bartley green, the front takes 8 minutes the back needs a backpack because I have to go though the living room to the back 2 upstairs windows and 2 patio doors another 10 minutes.
I then have a bacon sandwich and coffee, they are personal friend of mine, so I normally chat for 20 minutes or so.
3 rd job on Ley Hill Farm Road, new housing estate, normal house 7 windows easy access, takes 15 tops.
all well within 2 hours, but I have also rested for over 3/5 of and hour because of the bacon sandwich and travelling time to the jobs.
My maximum on one site with out sitting down is about 2 hours, driving from job to job helps me to last longer but normally I rest in the van while my staff clean on their own if I am using them.
I think that a lot of the misunderstanding of what i do is I don't give updates on what happens on a daily basis, if I sack a worker, I don't post about it, if my van blows up I don't mention it, when I went into hospital I never mentioned it or the need to employ especially to survive.
When I take on staff, do I say they are part time or full time, do I mention how much I pay them at the end of the week, no I don't.
I do mention what I want to do and what I have planned, but I can and do change my mind, so these can alter.
I never before used promoted the fact that I call the night before unless I need to close a sale, by showing why they should use me instead of someone else.
This has no changed, especially after this mornings meeting and the work gained, I have come to the conclusion that their are potential customers who want a cleaner who will call them.
I also have other things that I am doing at the moment and these do include staff and more importantly funding for them, but I know that the riddicule will start again, so I will keep quite on this, which is a shame because this funding is available to everyone who wants to employ, but they will have to find out about this themselfs
has i said you full of it.......
Full of what? come on you said you are not a bully? so where am I "full of it"?
Anyone can make statements, you say my facts or figures don't add up, well what about your facts and figures?
Prove to us that I never had an operation last july In The Woodlands in July 2011 or that I will be having not be having another one this year, my surgeon is called Mr Meda, you have my permission to phone him to check.
Prove to us that I don't employ anyone, this is an easy one, my accountant is Steve Brown from Pointon Young Accountants look up the phone number, I don't want to be accused of having someone else saying they are him when they are not, I will give him permission to reveal how much I have paid in wages over the last 2 years and to who including their names and addresses, just so you can check.
You say I am full of it, well prove it.
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I think it was more the 50k + earnings you claim, that dropped overnight to £600 a week for two (previously three of you), or maybe the multiple vans you don't actually own, possibly the franchise offer you have when in fact you earn very little, as you admitted last night. No-one is questioning your personal health are they? No one is bullying you. Just that nobody can understand the figures you give out - they change every week. Most people on here can't offer the "i'll come back and clean in the afternoon or at a time to suit you" policy simply because most of us have too much work to dart from one place to another. The only windies who can offer this are the ones without enough work like yourself. Phoning the night before is fine if that's what you want to do. Just doesn't suit everyone. I don't think the guys who don't phone have much to worry about to be honest.
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keep taking them tablets.
you said you was being bullied,,prove where......
no ones bullied you,just i dont believe you.
iam aloud a opinion,and can say what i feel,
the problem as stated before,i read your post over the years and it DONT ADD UP.
Franchise window cleaning, LETS START THERE,you aint quite got enough work to keep you going for quote "more than 3 days a week cleaning windows"
staff trip to gambia........yes right........ :P
so really, i think your full of it,dont try to be something you aint ;)
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Must be terrible being bullied. I feel for Pur Hydro on this one. Must have felt strange showing lawyers and other professional people with connections to people with stately homes etc, transcripts from a window cleaning forum ;D
I can imagine it went down really well. "Look gentlemen, here's a forum I'm a big noise on, and look how I'm being bullied".
Did they read all 9 pages of what some window cleaners had to say about calling the night before cleaning?? I must get to take part in these breakfast clubs. Sounds really interesting. Are they free or do you pay a monthly sub? What's the next subject for next week? Moat cleaning forums or butler replacement kneecap costs?
I feel humble in the presence of such people that discuss such topics in depth.
(Some of the above was sarcasm )
As far as I can see, almost every post you make is made up of nothing but sarcasm. Do you have anything to say that isnt aimed at people?
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No not really. That's what I do. I expose people who feel the need to bluster and pump themselves up. Just a weakness of mine. Feel free to report me if you feel threatened. Can we get back on topic now??
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Anyway, I have one customer who insists I phone the night before ever since I flicked the gate bolt back and walked past her topless in her hot tub. :o
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No not really. That's what I do. I expose people who feel the need to bluster and pump themselves up. Just a weakness of mine. Feel free to report me if you feel threatened. Can we get back on topic now??
I see what youre doing now. When someone points out that youre less than perfect, you dont deal with what they say you just claim to want to get back on topic.
Very clever until its seen through.
So, do you use anything but sarcasm? Is that all there is in your sad little world?
Now, can we get back on topic please? (see how daft you sound)
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OK, we'll put me on the spot. Never mind the topic of the OP. You've come to help the breakfast club member who has 3 days a weeks worth of work and is starting a franchise. I'm just a bully and I use sarasm. Luckily, you spotted that and have exposed me. Well done. Is there any chance of staying on topic?
Don't really know why I bother answering posts like yours. Must be getting old.
I've noticed Hydro, that people who have a problem with the "image" of this window cleaning game, they tend to try and give off some sort of image of businessman. They aren't window cleaners anymore, they are cleaning contractors, or small business owners etc.
When they are at parties or "breakfast clubs" they say they have a "small to medium sized cleaning set up". Easy to spot. Sad, but people are people. To wear a suit and work in Lidl as a "manager" on less tha 7 quid an hour is better than telling someone you clean other people's windows.
I was like that when I first started. I moved on and soon saw what could be earned in a short day in this game. One day Hydro, you may also reach the point in life where you realize it's not about image and posturing, it's about earning enough to have a good lifestyle and peace of mind or having your own business, or being happy about how you go through your day.
Just accept that window cleaning is a way of earning a living. The longer you struggle against what you are doing for an income, and try to make people think you're something else, the more unhappy you will make yourself, and the more ridicule you will attract.
We are all in the same boat, some earn more than others etc etc. It's like sex, the more you get, the less you need to tell everybody. Simple.
Shame you feel bullied, how could that happen??
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Anyway....
It was a nice day today in the warm sunshine and a nice day to be out working and cleaning windows.
The birds were singing away in the trees and I watched butterflies sunning themselves in the warm sunshine.
All in all, what a pleasant day and it's good to on this forum where everyone is such good friends and very polite to each other.
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William - I'm pleasantly surprised that people who go to "breakfast clubs" to gain and exchange contacts and "leads" would be overly concerned about their window cleaning. How many of these clubs do you belong to? And do you get that sort of response every week?
And what sort of business leads do you bring to the table in return? That's how it works isn't it?
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Is this carry on really a "window cleaning issue" because its in this section
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OK, we'll put me on the spot. Never mind the topic of the OP. You've come to help the breakfast club member who has 3 days a weeks worth of work and is starting a franchise. I'm just a bully and I use sarasm. Luckily, you spotted that and have exposed me. Well done. Is there any chance of staying on topic?
Don't really know why I bother answering posts like yours. Must be getting old.
I've noticed Hydro, that people who have a problem with the "image" of this window cleaning game, they tend to try and give off some sort of image of businessman. They aren't window cleaners anymore, they are cleaning contractors, or small business owners etc.
When they are at parties or "breakfast clubs" they say they have a "small to medium sized cleaning set up". Easy to spot. Sad, but people are people. To wear a suit and work in Lidl as a "manager" on less tha 7 quid an hour is better than telling someone you clean other people's windows.
I was like that when I first started. I moved on and soon saw what could be earned in a short day in this game. One day Hydro, you may also reach the point in life where you realize it's not about image and posturing, it's about earning enough to have a good lifestyle and peace of mind or having your own business, or being happy about how you go through your day.
Just accept that window cleaning is a way of earning a living. The longer you struggle against what you are doing for an income, and try to make people think you're something else, the more unhappy you will make yourself, and the more ridicule you will attract.
We are all in the same boat, some earn more than others etc etc. It's like sex, the more you get, the less you need to tell everybody. Simple.
Shame you feel bullied, how could that happen??
In what way is a single word of that on topic, sarcasm boy?
You really are a child arent you?
Now just make sure you get the last word in. Only a loser would let someone else say that last word. Show youre a real man.
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I would like to thank everyone on this topic who has posted about not calling/texting the night before, special thanks to those few who have had personal digs at me.
I went to a networking meeting this morning and in my speech, I mentioned this forum and showed all who were there this topic which I had printed off copies for them.
I stated that I am the village idiot ::) because I call or text the night before, and if possible I will work my round to help my customers.
I showed then some of the replys from those of you who do not call/text the night before and they were impressed with the Dump and Replace attitude from some ::)
Anyway I picked up 3 new customers, I have one meeting to quote for an office block and someone knows a lord who owns a stately home, I might not get the job but at least I get the chance to pitch for it.
I have now changed my website, I will be promoting my call the night before because it looks like there are customers out there who want this type of service. ;D
So once again, THANK YOU, without your input I would not have this new work. :) :) :) 8)
and I also mentioned some of the other things that was said as well on this topic, they really like them, so keep on posting it brightens their day up for them. ;)
I'm not particularly bothered what a load of Amway wannabes at a breakfast meeting think. I doubt any of them have ever tried cleaning windows as a business so they wouldn't get it anyway.
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Most people on here can't offer the "i'll come back and clean in the afternoon or at a time to suit you" policy simply because most of us have too much work to dart from one place to another. The only windies who can offer this are the ones without enough work like yourself. Phoning the night before is fine if that's what you want to do. Just doesn't suit everyone. I don't think the guys who don't phone have much to worry about to be honest.
I've snipped the other parts of your post aimed at someone else. You're assuming what you state here is true. None of it is.
I (we) can offer a clean at a time to suit you...(it comes with a price). I (we) can and do dart from one place to another, if you price for what you're doing the of course you can. Any of these will turn up......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/401014_295155860538976_100001336930947_787725_1954079115_n.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/406401_295157160538846_100001336930947_787729_179640284_n.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/426177_295156310538931_100001336930947_787727_1587797980_n.jpg)
Our rounds are full. Only a fool says no to more work at the right price.
As for if the guy who don't ring have nothing to worry about , then you might be right. But my experiece shows they are actually worrying..........
We where approached here whilst cleaning and called 'billy one job' by some local scarface/tattoed window cleaner who thought he was a hardknock. His gripe ? He'd been cleanig here for x amount of years.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/Screenshot-2.png)
I've left the road name in on purpose. Last time round he seen us he 'asked' us if we'd give it a miss so he could have them back. He was told ...no.
So whats the point of me mentioning this? He charges £3 for them. We charge £10. We got the work because of going the extra mile with customer care /contact. He wants to argue and fight over £3 jobs and we just keep getting more and more £10 plus jobs.
I'd never dream of telling anyone how to run their business..i.e phone, don't phone. I think you should do whatever suits YOU and your CUSTOMERS. But as far as i'm concerned what you above is completley wrong. We're full, we ring, and it works. And to take a leaf out of Billys book, yes we're looking to franchise out. Thats how much work we are getting using this method.
I was toying with the idea of not ringing and just turning up, and the getting 'lads' to work the round for us. You think this might be better for us? ;D ;D
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I was toying with the idea of not ringing and just turning up, and the getting 'lads' to work the round for us. You think this might be better for us? ;D ;D
And by the way, if reading here on this forum is anything to go by then i love the prospective employer questions !!! They range from...what can i get them to do, can i give a nil hours contract, do i have to pay when it rains and do i have to pay for bank holidays !!!
Don't want to pay nothing, don't want to charge much, don't want to cater to customers. You can see apattern here can't you?
Tell no one nothing, that's my motto. Oooops. i just broke it !!! ;D
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Most people on here can't offer the "i'll come back and clean in the afternoon or at a time to suit you" policy simply because most of us have too much work to dart from one place to another. The only windies who can offer this are the ones without enough work like yourself. Phoning the night before is fine if that's what you want to do. Just doesn't suit everyone. I don't think the guys who don't phone have much to worry about to be honest.
I've snipped the other parts of your post aimed at someone else. You're assuming what you state here is true. None of it is.
I (we) can offer a clean at a time to suit you...(it comes with a price). I (we) can and do dart from one place to another, if you price for what you're doing the of course you can. Any of these will turn up......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/401014_295155860538976_100001336930947_787725_1954079115_n.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/406401_295157160538846_100001336930947_787729_179640284_n.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/426177_295156310538931_100001336930947_787727_1587797980_n.jpg)
Our rounds are full. Only a fool says no to more work at the right price.
As for if the guy who don't ring have nothing to worry about , then you might be right. But my experiece shows they are actually worrying..........
We where approached here whilst cleaning and called 'billy one job' by some local scarface/tattoed window cleaner who thought he was a hardknock. His gripe ? He'd been cleanig here for x amount of years.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/mike28/Screenshot-2.png)
I've left the road name in on purpose. Last time round he seen us he 'asked' us if we'd give it a miss so he could have them back. He was told ...no.
So whats the point of me mentioning this? He charges £3 for them. We charge £10. We got the work because of going the extra mile with customer care /contact. He wants to argue and fight over £3 jobs and we just keep getting more and more £10 plus jobs.
I'd never dream of telling anyone how to run their business..i.e phone, don't phone. I think you should do whatever suits YOU and your CUSTOMERS. But as far as i'm concerned what you above is completley wrong. We're full, we ring, and it works. And to take a leaf out of Billys book, yes we're looking to franchise out. Thats how much work we are getting using this method.
I was toying with the idea of not ringing and just turning up, and the getting 'lads' to work the round for us. You think this might be better for us? ;D ;D
The difference being, Mark gets £10 for them too, at least, he's also pulled out with work but doesn't have to pi** about phoning them all up the night before! ::)
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I have only ever text people that have access issues.
I am thinking of just texting the lot day one to let them no and also they may pay quicker online, have to test this out first before/if I roll it out.
We will all run our business' diffferent, some have a lifestyle business, some run it as a business each is good for the person doing it.
This thread is massive, but great to read.
Some very good posts Ross makes a very valid point about 9000 posts back and a few others
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The difference is also that I have no houses on my round like the ones above, none at all. I don't need them and don't want them, I turn them away. I pick the houses and customers I want. So Mike, in my case what I say is true. Like has been said already on here it works for some, not for others.
I've never been to Liverpool either but from what I've seen it's vastly different from my neck of the woods.
I have no gripe with you either by the way.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338618567_freshford.jpg)
This is typical of my area, some have to be phoned the night before because they have electric gates but even these get dumped if they start the "clean it next week please" game.
This one below was dumped for that very reason, it takes twenty five minutes to get there and then I work my round back towards home. When they started messing about it meant nearly an hours extra driving for one house and a completely cocked up schedule. If they were willing to pay an extra £60 for lost time and fuel then I would do it but even these people wouldn't go for that.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338619436_woodwick.jpg)
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New sign writting looks good Mike !!!
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William - I'm pleasantly surprised that people who go to "breakfast clubs" to gain and exchange contacts and "leads" would be overly concerned about their window cleaning. How many of these clubs do you belong to? And do you get that sort of response every week?
And what sort of business leads do you bring to the table in return? That's how it works isn't it?
At the moment I am only a member of one club, this is a newly formed one at Sutton Coldfield, I use to be a member of 5 clubs and like any form of advertising it has to pay a profit, in all the other clubs I got business but the leads started to slow down, I was getting more refferals from visitors than members, so I will give these clubs a rest for a year or so.
I will go back as a visitir from time to time though.
All networking is a 2 way street and I do bring refferals with me, I know that when I left the Edgabaston club in January, I had been a member with them for 4 years, I had over that time recieved 126 referrals given and 97.
So far at the Sutton Coldfield club I have given 5 refferals, recieved 15 with 7 of these converting into business, this weeks meeting was my 5th time.
Everyone one of us network, whenever we post a topic or respond to a topic for "where can I get" we are networking by passing on or recieving a refferal.
Networking clubs are the same, it has been said that evryone of us has contacts to 200 people so for instance one member wanted indroduction to teachers, well I am a school governor, I clean another 2 schools and I have at least 5 customers who are teachers, I can now place on the staff notice board in these schools what she is looking for.
Another example, a customer of mine had her car stolen from her house, somehow they got into her home and nicked the car keys, they also did 3 of her neighbours, well I know a guy who runs a alarm company, so I called him and passed him her phone number.
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The difference is also that I have no houses on my round like the ones above, none at all. I don't need them and don't want them, I turn them away. I pick the houses and customers I want. So Mike, in my case what I say is true. Like has been said already on here it works for some, not for others.
I've never been to Liverpool either but from what I've seen it's vastly different from my neck of the woods.
I have no gripe with you either by the way.
No i know that mate. I just wanted to point out for some of us its a must. If you've ever seen them alley gates then almost everwhere has them here. You can't even climb over them, rollers and grease.
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I think it was more the 50k + earnings you claim, that dropped overnight to £600 a week for two (previously three of you),
I do wish that sometimes you take the time to read a post correctly, You say I quote a figure of £50k and then say I have averaged £656 per week over the last 13 weeks, but you forget this figure is just window cleaning, I have not mentioned what I earn from carpets/solar/gutters and gulley cleaning, but to give you a clue, last year one customer spent £4215 on carpet cleaniing, this year I expect it to be higher.
So please when you want to quote figures, try and quote the right ones, not the ones that make you look stupid or maybe you have problems with reading, that could explain why you are not a printer anymore.
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Hydro, I really can't be arsed. Your figures change faster than the weather. We've been through all this on another forum and we all know what happened that time. :)
Remember, I'm a failed printer these days ;D
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338618567_freshford.jpg)
This is typical of my area, some have to be phoned the night before because they have electric gates but even these get dumped if they start the "clean it next week please" game.
This one below was dumped for that very reason, it takes twenty five minutes to get there and then I work my round back towards home. When they started messing about it meant nearly an hours extra driving for one house and a completely cocked up schedule. If they were willing to pay an extra £60 for lost time and fuel then I would do it but even these people wouldn't go for that.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338619436_woodwick.jpg)
How far are these places from Gloucester? as I already have work there and as you keep pointing out, I'm not got a full round it might be worth a canvass drop and door knock 8)
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Wrong County. But you can pretend you clean them if you like. I won't tell anyone our secret. ;)
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The trick is on these kind of threads, tell the truth, you don't have to remember what you said then!!! Also, your figures would add up Hydro."hole, stop digging" ;) Too many members on here have caught you out in the past, no point trying to impress anyone really. It just gets worse for you mate. Next time you go to one of those
Amway breakfast cub thingies, just listen more than you talk. Nobody will notice when your figures are wrong if you say nothing. ;)
Hope this has helped. ;D
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Wrong County. But you can pretend you clean them if you like. I won't tell anyone our secret. ;)
I have to get them first, but let me worry over that small problem.
I was thinking of doing it after my next operation and I am out of plaster, so roughly 5 months time, just in time for xmas, I might start of with a xmas deal, 1st clean free of charge, they get the cashback after their 3rd clean.
What do you think? good idea or not, by the way how many houses in each village and where can I get their postals addresses from? I'm thinking of using dot mail to send out a personal letter to each person who lives in the villages and as they only cost 34p each including the printing/envelope and postage it might be cheaper than a leaflet drop.
I won't be able to clean many in a day though as my leg needs to heal, but if I can cover my diesel and say a profit of £50 for the day, I will be happy, of course if it works and the customers grow then I suppose I will have to look at employing someone local.
Buts let not talk about that just yet, thats for the future.
You have nothing to worry about as I offer a different service to you, I'm more customer friendly like if a customer says can you just do that little bit extra as a one off, well why not and no charge, and of course none of your customers will leave you because I call the night before.
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The trick is on these kind of threads, tell the truth, you don't have to remember what you said then!!! Also, your figures would add up Hydro."hole, stop digging" ;) Too many members on here have caught you out in the past, no point trying to impress anyone really. It just gets worse for you mate. Next time you go to one of those Amway breakfast cub thingies, just listen more than you talk. Nobody will notice when your figures are wrong if you say nothing. ;)
Hope this has helped. ;D
Thank you for the advice and I do listen when I go the those network thingys, I listened very well when I meet Sahar Hashemi at one in march, funny enough her and her brother came across many people like you when they first started their business, luckily for them they took no notice of what they said.
I think I will do the same. ;)
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William; shame you didn't have this thread to show her. She'd've enjoyed discussing its finer points over a cup of coffee with you. ;)
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Wrong County. But you can pretend you clean them if you like. I won't tell anyone our secret. ;)
I have to get them first, but let me worry over that small problem.
I was thinking of doing it after my next operation and I am out of plaster, so roughly 5 months time, just in time for xmas, I might start of with a xmas deal, 1st clean free of charge, they get the cashback after their 3rd clean.
What do you think? good idea or not, by the way how many houses in each village and where can I get their postals addresses from? I'm thinking of using dot mail to send out a personal letter to each person who lives in the villages and as they only cost 34p each including the printing/envelope and postage it might be cheaper than a leaflet drop.
I won't be able to clean many in a day though as my leg needs to heal, but if I can cover my diesel and say a profit of £50 for the day, I will be happy, of course if it works and the customers grow then I suppose I will have to look at employing someone local.
Buts let not talk about that just yet, thats for the future.
You have nothing to worry about as I offer a different service to you, I'm more customer friendly like if a customer says can you just do that little bit extra as a one off, well why not and no charge, and of course none of your customers will leave you because I call the night before.
Hydro, you can stay in bed for the next year if you like. Just send your fleet of imaginary vans down this way with all your imaginary staff. I'll give you some good B&B's if you want.
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Sahar Hashthingy is a mate of yours then?? Go on Hydro, tell me you visit eachother often etc etc.
C'mon, giz a laugh ;D ;D ;D
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Sahar Hashthingy is a mate of yours then?? Go on Hydro, tell me you visit eachother often etc etc.
C'mon, giz a laugh ;D ;D ;D
did I say she was a mate, I said I met her at an event, I also meet Vince Cable, Ed Balls and Selina Scott at the same event.
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[ [/quote] Hydro, you can stay in bed for the next year if you like. Just send your fleet of imaginary vans down this way with all your imaginary staff. I'll give you some good B&B's if you want. [/quote] Hydro I heard that Marks a tidy guy so he might put you up ;D Mike boxall was talking about all the members from this forum meeting up one day. What a brave man he is!!!!! There would be a pub brawl, guys can not even get on through a computer ;D so wot would it be like face to face and a belly of booze ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Sahar Hashthingy is a mate of yours then?? Go on Hydro, tell me you visit eachother often etc etc.
C'mon, giz a laugh ;D ;D ;D
did I say she was a mate, I said I met her at an event, I also meet Vince Cable, Ed Balls and Selina Scott at the same event.
I once met Prince Philip and he spoke to me.
He said, "Shift!".
I've also met Limahl from Kagagoogoo.
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So did you show them 9 pages of CIU members "bullying" you? The reason you're a magnet for negative is because you seem to be the only person who believes the stuff you post.
Walter Mitty. That just about sums it up Hydro.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338659385_pub.jpg)
Here we go ;D ;D ;D
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I might meet the Grim Reaper after this thread ::)
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New sign writting looks good Mike !!!
Mines not on yet Ian, i've part stripped most the old stuff off, not getting done till next month. Mine makes the fleet four vehicles between us. There's pretty much not much we can't cover between us.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338659385_pub.jpg)
Here we go ;D ;D ;D
I'm up for that!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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>William
Selina Scott - she was great in her prime - whatever happened to her?
In a previous life when I thought going to sales functions was a wise use of my time we (the sales team of the office equipment firm I sold for) got taken on a jolly (and this will show you how long ago it was) and Mike Yarwood presented it as Frankie Howard; Sue Cooke did the serious bits, Hale and Pace did the comedy and Roy Castle blew us away by playing requests on the trumpet.
Some wise guy asked him to do "flight of the bumble bee" and he did!
Mind you I don't see the relevance of such stuff to a window cleaner except perhaps to help make oneself feel "more important".
Now if you want to hear or read a motivational guy read or listen to Steven Covey. Really top stuff.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1338659385_pub.jpg) Here we go ;D ;D ;D
I'm up for that!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Sahar Hashthingy is a mate of yours then?? Go on Hydro, tell me you visit eachother often etc etc.
C'mon, giz a laugh ;D ;D ;D
did I say she was a mate, I said I met her at an event, I also meet Vince Cable, Ed Balls and Selina Scott at the same event.
I once met Prince Philip and he spoke to me.
He said, "Shift!".
I've also met Limahl from Kagagoogoo.
I heard a similar story from my old boss - he was a corporal on the "Queens Flight" in the RAF and he was doing last minute cleaning on the 'plane when Phil the Greek walks in and asks him why he's still there. My boss says he replied with "Cleaning sir!" and Phil the Bubble tells him to F off.
I asked my boss what he did and he said "I F'd off of course!"
Obvious really.
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Gold, I find Pat Condell better than Steven Covey ;D
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A few years back I used to clean the windows of Peter Brackley the football commentator. Very nice chap but our conversations were very few, usually revolving around how I like my tea and that conversation was usually with his wife. Problem was he was all talked out and I know nothing about football. Bit of non-event really - like this thread is becoming.
What was the point originally?
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>William
Selina Scott - she was great in her prime - whatever happened to her?
Mind you I don't see the relevance of such stuff to a window cleaner except perhaps to help make oneself feel "more important".
Now if you want to hear or read a motivational guy read or listen to Steven Covey. Really top stuff.
She got old, I was shocked when I first saw her.
I had to go to this event and I didn't even know she was going to be there, but I listened to her, she talked about how she first got started, all about the setbacks she faced, most where from professionals who said her idea would not work in this country.
She then talked about how her business grew and the mistakes she made, the biggest one she made was bringing in professionals to manage her company, she then lost control and sold up.
She then went on to start up another sucessful business and now she writes books and gives speechs.
There was also a marketing guru who is a expert on networking and linkedin, he also gave a brilliant speech.
While all of these people might not be relevant to window cleaning, their knowledge and experence are useful for someone who doesn't want to clean windows for a job, but to have a sucessful cleaning business.
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A few years back I used to clean the windows of Peter Brackley the football commentator. Very nice chap but our conversations were very few, usually revolving around how I like my tea and that conversation was usually with his wife. Problem was he was all talked out and I know nothing about football. Bit of non-event really - like this thread is becoming.
What was the point originally?
I bet it's hard to hold a conversation with one of those microphones stuck to your lips, though.
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For breakfast I had 2 slices of toast, a bowl of cornflakes and two cups of tea.
I really enjoyed it.
Sorry, have I gone off topic?
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For breakfast I had 2 slices of toast, a bowl of cornflakes and two cups of tea.
I really enjoyed it.
Sorry, have I gone off topic?
No, you had one the day before.
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>William
Selina Scott - she was great in her prime - whatever happened to her?
Mind you I don't see the relevance of such stuff to a window cleaner except perhaps to help make oneself feel "more important".
Now if you want to hear or read a motivational guy read or listen to Steven Covey. Really top stuff.
She got old, I was shocked when I first saw her.
I had to go to this event and I didn't even know she was going to be there, but I listened to her, she talked about how she first got started, all about the setbacks she faced, most where from professionals who said her idea would not work in this country.
She then talked about how her business grew and the mistakes she made, the biggest one she made was bringing in professionals to manage her company, she then lost control and sold up.
She then went on to start up another sucessful business and now she writes books and gives speechs.
There was also a marketing guru who is a expert on networking and linkedin, he also gave a brilliant speech.
While all of these people might not be relevant to window cleaning, their knowledge and experence are useful for someone who doesn't want to clean windows for a job, but to have a sucessful cleaning business.
It's all "My dads a policeman" really Hydro. How do you get on at these Amway breakfast meetings? If they don't agree with what you say, do you talk them to death like you do on here?
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i once put up a sign that fell on Nick Ross (off of crimewatch) head when he was in the middle of a presentation at a business function ... it was only foamex so no harm done ;D
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i once put up a sign that fell on Nick Ross (off of crimewatch) head when he was in the middle of a presentation at a business function ... it was only foamex so no harm done ;D
That's a relief, that the sign wasn't damaged.
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>William
Selina Scott - she was great in her prime - whatever happened to her?
Mind you I don't see the relevance of such stuff to a window cleaner except perhaps to help make oneself feel "more important".
Now if you want to hear or read a motivational guy read or listen to Steven Covey. Really top stuff.
She got old, I was shocked when I first saw her.
I had to go to this event and I didn't even know she was going to be there, but I listened to her, she talked about how she first got started, all about the setbacks she faced, most where from professionals who said her idea would not work in this country.
She then talked about how her business grew and the mistakes she made, the biggest one she made was bringing in professionals to manage her company, she then lost control and sold up.
She then went on to start up another sucessful business and now she writes books and gives speechs.
There was also a marketing guru who is a expert on networking and linkedin, he also gave a brilliant speech.
While all of these people might not be relevant to window cleaning, their knowledge and experence are useful for someone who doesn't want to clean windows for a job, but to have a sucessful cleaning business.
It's all "My dads a policeman" really Hydro. How do you get on at these Amway breakfast meetings? If they don't agree with what you say, do you talk them to death like you do on here?
I get on quite well at them thank you, unlike you and others they have an open mind, I don't tell them anything personal, just who I would like to meet or quote for, I have found that you cannot just ask for referrals for window cleaning, you have to be specific and you have to listen.
I listen and when they mention something that will work for me then I will ask to a referral into that company, for instance that how I got into the property management company I do a lot of work for, someone mentioned that they do business with them and I asked for a referral, this I got along with a testimonial into what I do, it worked and they started to give me little bits of work and as the years pass they have increased what they give me.
But its all a 2 way street, I listen to what they want and if I know someone I will pass on their contact details, it happened today, a customer wanted to know if I do deep house cleaning, well I don't but I know a company that does so I phone her up and passed my phone to the customer, he has now arranged for her to clean her mothers house who died, so he can sell it.
Its not all about getting work either, you meet loads of different people from all the trades, so if I want some advice about tax issues or employment law or where to apply for business grants and finance I know who to ask.
Of course none of this works, thats why 10's of thousands of businesses waste millions doing it
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Well it doesn't seem to work for you, still only got 3 half days worth of work. ???
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I bet it's hard to hold a conversation with one of those microphones stuck to your lips, though.
[/quote]
That never actually occurred to me. Perhaps that was the reason ;D
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I bet it's hard to hold a conversation with one of those microphones stuck to your lips, though.
That never actually occurred to me. Perhaps that was the reason ;D
[/quote]
;D
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Well it doesn't seem to work for you, still only got 3 half days worth of work. ???
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Well it doesn't seem to work for you, still only got 3 half days worth of work. ???
It works fine thank you, at the moment its paid for itself so as long as I'm not losing money then I'm happy.
Mind you I do know one company in the networking group, that can supply me with the data I need to canvass the following Trowbridge and Avon areas and all the villages around it. I was quite surprised how cheap this data is.
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Will I Am .......... a ballpooper! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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3 days at 5 hours a day Hydro. Hardly world domination is it? Why do you feel the need to keep digging? Don't tell people what you're going to do, just do it.
You're in a simple business. Turn up, clean windows, get paid. Repeat this until you have as much money as you want/need.
No need to talk people to death, just follow those steps and don't bullpoope, you won't have to remember what you said then.
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Just another thread that this forum is famous for. That`s why we have 24 thousand none active. members. ??? ???
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William - why would you want to canvass all around the "Trowbridge and Avon areas and all the villages surrounding it?" (as you have written)
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if he wants work down this way,then dont brother canvassing you can do some off mine. ;D ;D ;D
but there again he have tobe on his feet more than 2hrs, :o ;D
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William - why would you want to canvass all around the "Trowbridge and Avon areas and all the villages surrounding it?" (as you have written)
Well I already work in Gloucester and Avon is only 30 miles away and the houses look nice.
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William - why would you want to canvass all around the "Trowbridge and Avon areas and all the villages surrounding it?" (as you have written)
Well I already work in Gloucester and Avon is only 30 miles away and the houses look nice.
Avon doesn't exist - that database must be out of date! ;D
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I think this thread has run its course now, its just getting plain silly.
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