Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lozsing on June 24, 2012, 11:25:38 am
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Just texted a customer to let her know am calling tomorrow and to leave the gate open , classic reply can i leave it this month am skint ,
does wind me up although i know it would happen from this customer lol
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It would not change her answer but why are you texting so early for tomorrow?
I have found between 7 & 8 pm the best as they get up and do it at this time of the day don't they forget.
Art
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At least they were honest!
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obviously she doesn't want it done for financial reasons so next month perhaps? It's all good ;D
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Texted early because of england playing tonight
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skint is skint at least she was honest. and didnt get you to do them and not pay up. a lot of skint familys out there at the moment
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skint is skint at least she was honest. and didnt get you to do them and not pay up. a lot of skint familys out there at the moment
Totally agree about skint families or perhaps they banking with natwest!!!! I think for their honesty they deserve a free clean ;D ;D ;D ;D
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This customer messes me about regular i only put up with it because i do houses either side.
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This customer messes me about regular i only put up with it because i do houses either side.
charge the 8 weekly price or whatever next time maybe??
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This customer messes me about regular i only put up with it because i do houses either side.
next time dont text em and skip em if they ask why ur not cleaning theirs just say you're skint timewise ;)
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I had this also last night. Sent my usual texts abt 7ish and got a reply from a new custys who was due for there second clean this time round.
She put please miss me this time as its a bit inconvenient!! so do i be really strict and dump or just double the price next time as I do a few houses in the one little street??????
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sometimes its worth a gamble to allow a miss out via text when a customer is quite new ,can take a while for them to adjust to regular cleaning.
if i am doing the house next door i sometimes flick a load of dirty water over onto the miss-outs windows as a sort of encouragement to get them cleaned
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Seems like quite a good arrangement. You txt the night before and she comes back yes or no. That would work for me, not ideal I agree but is life always ideal?
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I would reply saying that's fine as this time, please note we only text you for access as the rounds have all ready printed and sheduled, normally we charge more for longer term cleaning, but as this is the first time this has happened, I will charge you your normal rate next time. thank you for being honest with me. See you soon.
something like that, be nice but let them know your not going to accept this on a regular basis
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....I would reverse the situation, do them for free (or just the fronts if gate locked) and send her a text saying something like "windows cleaned on a freebie, hope situation improves for you soon, see you next month"
Yes I know, word gets round etc etc, cant clean em all for free, but its great p.r. and shows your not just about the money....will get a great rep in the neighbourhood and she's less likely to cancel you altogether if things are tight.
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....I would reverse the situation, do them for free (or just the fronts if gate locked) and send her a text saying something like "windows cleaned on a freebie, hope situation improves for you soon, see you next month"
Yes I know, word gets round etc etc, cant clean em all for free, but its great p.r. and shows your not just about the money....will get a great rep in the neighbourhood and she's less likely to cancel you altogether if things are tight.
Good idea. And maybe drop her a few hundred quid to tide her over, as well ;D.
You're not serious, are you?
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....I would reverse the situation, do them for free (or just the fronts if gate locked) and send her a text saying something like "windows cleaned on a freebie, hope situation improves for you soon, see you next month"
Yes I know, word gets round etc etc, cant clean em all for free, but its great p.r. and shows your not just about the money....will get a great rep in the neighbourhood and she's less likely to cancel you altogether if things are tight.
I need to go and lay down in a dark room with a fruit cocktail and think about this one. ???
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....I would reverse the situation, do them for free (or just the fronts if gate locked) and send her a text saying something like "windows cleaned on a freebie, hope situation improves for you soon, see you next month"
Yes I know, word gets round etc etc, cant clean em all for free, but its great p.r. and shows your not just about the money....will get a great rep in the neighbourhood and she's less likely to cancel you altogether if things are tight.
Good idea. And maybe drop her a few hundred quid to tide her over, as well ;D.
You're not serious, are you?
I have done this a few times does work well, but this is reserved for my long standing customers not new ones
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I wouldn't do anything for free. They are your customers with whom you have a business relationship only.
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.....sorry been tied up cleaning windows for free ;D ;D ;D
....obviously this depends on the quality of the customer, only you can judge whether its a one-off or not. Needless to say I wouldnt make it a regular thing, and if you think about it they're unlikely to advertise that they were skint and accepted charity....i find people generally only shout when they're winning (e.g. had my best day ever...)
As an example i did a builders clean for a lady recently, they were a bit skint but wanted a regular service, i did four hours work for £26 as I wanted to be in the street/ area. Now its like the lady works for me in terms of advertising, I've got another four jobs from her and she's still spreading the word....all young mums in the area, total monthly value £80, @ 3x thats £240 quid...good return on my four hours, no?
As for giving her a few quid to tide her over? hahah, everyone old enough to vote knows the answer to that one, but a one-off freebie to show you arent a pure money machine won't hurt, especially in this environement.
In my humble opinion, there are too many Kiddies out there thinking you have to be like an Alan Sugar apprentice to make it work in business, a little kindness goes a long way to spread he word in my view....comments welcome though..... :)
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Go on, tell them all on here that you have over 500 customers and you still do freebies just so customers spread the word! If you're doing stuff for free, IMO, you haven't got enough quality work. Not trying to be funny, just my opinion.
If you have to keep 500 customers on time and happy, try and find time for a freebie now and again.
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....each to their own, fully respect your opinon. :)
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Go on, tell them all on here that you have over 500 customers and you still do freebies just so customers spread the word! If you're doing stuff for free, IMO, you haven't got enough quality work. Not trying to be funny, just my opinion.
If you have to keep 500 customers on time and happy, try and find time for a freebie now and again.
flip that round, if you have and dont have the time maybe you do have the quality work :-\ ( I don't know you work, just making a point so please don't be offended)
I service a lot of customers and there are always gaps here and there where this could be fitted in if needed, even if it meant working a little extra. Just because you don't do it does not make it wrong IMO
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i agree with you pete. in an area where youve not had much joy getting new customers, actions like this are very significant. even if it doesnt lead to any new customers, it'll put a great big smile on your customers face, and you'll feel pretty damn good as well
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Go on, tell them all on here that you have over 500 customers and you still do freebies just so customers spread the word! If you're doing stuff for free, IMO, you haven't got enough quality work. Not trying to be funny, just my opinion.
If you have to keep 500 customers on time and happy, try and find time for a freebie now and again.
flip that round, if you have and dont have the time maybe you do have the quality work :-\ ( I don't know you work, just making a point so please don't be offended)
I service a lot of customers and there are always gaps here and there where this could be fitted in if needed, even if it meant working a little extra. Just because you don't do it does not make it wrong IMO
Not offended at all Ian. IMO this game is for earning as much as possible in the shortest time with the least effort. I charge what I can get away with. I make a point of having too many customers so it leaves the option of concentrating on good customers (that pay on time and don't whine) and leaves me no time at all for customers who are " a bit skint" and can't afford a windy. Some of these jokers have 11 and 12 reg cars on the drive, but are "a bit skint". Funny thing is, when you see Goodfella's turn up with 20 quids worth of pizza, they're no longer "a bit skint".
My attitude in these cases is, "sorry to here that,......... next!" There are thousands of potential customers within 20 miles radius who aren't " a bit skint", I'll keep going after them. I do see your point, but as Pete already said,each to their own.
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thanks for comments...Its a funny thing though i do agree with Tony, but as i said it depends on the customer. As i'm sure is obvious I'm a newbie and learning as I go. I have recently reached the conclusion that there are many people out there who will drive a hard bargain using the "moneys a bit tight" routine.....then they'll spend the cash they save on luxuries.....thats not skint in my book, and yes I've found they are usually dripping in gold and driving the latest model Audi.
I thought it was a myth but i have found the people without the proverbial "pot to pee in" are the most generous....Its these people I'm referring to, if they were genuinely skint and were a good customer, as a one-off I'd clean them, as guys have said I too get alot from helping people out (occassionally)....but as Tony points out its unlikely to benefit you in a purely financial way. Would add I also like a good barter, wine shop of a friend pays me in good quality red....that way we're both earning....anyone else trade goods for services?
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thanks for comments...Its a funny thing though i do agree with Tony, but as i said it depends on the customer. As i'm sure is obvious I'm a newbie and learning as I go. I have recently reached the conclusion that there are many people out there who will drive a hard bargain using the "moneys a bit tight" routine.....then they'll spend the cash they save on luxuries.....thats not skint in my book, and yes I've found they are usually dripping in gold and driving the latest model Audi.
I thought it was a myth but i have found the people without the proverbial "pot to pee in" are the most generous....Its these people I'm referring to, if they were genuinely skint and were a good customer, as a one-off I'd clean them, as guys have said I too get alot from helping people out (occassionally)....but as Tony points out its unlikely to benefit you in a purely financial way. Would add I also like a good barter, wine shop of a friend pays me in good quality red....that way we're both earning....anyone else trade goods for services?
Fish and chips ;D and I get a right telling off from my youngest son (8) if I am late for any reason, each week he makes sure it is on the list bless him
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anyone else trade goods for services?
well,theres this girl I know........... ;)
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...knew i should've added "legally" ;D ;D ;D
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no money changes hands-nothing illegal there ;D ;D
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This customer messes me about regular i only put up with it because i do houses either side.
I remembered this bit, too, from the OP.
Missing someone who is skint is one thing, but free cleans? If you're talking about PR, then if word gets round that you get a free clean for being skint, then I'd bet you'd get more people wanting the same; even non-customers.
I'm sure you'd also get loads of 'I have to pay and I'm skint' complaints.
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This customer messes me about regular i only put up with it because i do houses either side.
I remembered this bit, too, from the OP.
Missing someone who is skint is one thing, but free cleans? If you're talking about PR, then if word gets round that you get a free clean for being skint, then I'd bet you'd get more people wanting the same; even non-customers.
I'm sure you'd also get loads of 'I have to pay and I'm skint' complaints.
they prob still moan about any runs / spots as well ;D
ffs doing it for free ... never heard the likes !!
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again, as i said, in my experience people rarely broadcast about accepting charity.....in my opinion, word is unlikely to get out in that way......other than "he's a good guy, goes the extra mile etc" but I could be wrong..... ;D
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again, as i said, in my experience people rarely broadcast about accepting charity.....in my opinion, word is unlikely to get out in that way......other than "he's a good guy, goes the extra mile etc" but I could be wrong..... ;D
I totally agree with wot you are saying Pete. At first when I said do it for free I was joking but having seen the various comments maybe it could work out well.
No one will admit that they were skint so they had a freebie window clean. But I bet that person will recommend you to family/friends hence free advertising for a very long time
Paul
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I suggest you do what you feel is right.
Everyone offers their opinions, which can be useful. But my advice would be do what feels right for you and how you work.