Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lcwalker on August 12, 2012, 12:36:39 pm

Title: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: lcwalker on August 12, 2012, 12:36:39 pm
I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: sham33 on August 12, 2012, 12:59:05 pm
Only if you like being messed about.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: niceandclean on August 12, 2012, 01:02:37 pm
I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

Yes, all my customers are called or text the night before. On our very first lot of flyers we mentioned it, but now we don't bother. We just mention it when we price the job.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Halfadaylee on August 12, 2012, 01:43:04 pm
Only if you like being messed about.


They only mess you about if you let them.
I text all mine.
Art
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Steve Sed on August 12, 2012, 01:50:35 pm
I did to begin with, now I won't text new customers. Especially those where I need to go through the house. It adds stress in terms of getting through the work before picking up my son before school and limits my earning ability as when I get a late "sorry, we are away" it is too late to replace.

Texting / calling as standard is a bad idea imho. Just a shame it took me two years to realise it.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Halfadaylee on August 12, 2012, 02:01:27 pm
I did to begin with, now I won't text new customers. Especially those where I need to go through the house. It adds stress in terms of getting through the work before picking up my son before school and limits my earning ability as when I get a late "sorry, we are away" it is too late to replace.

Texting / calling as standard is a bad idea imho. Just a shame it took me two years to realise it.

Good post and I agree with it to a degree.
I offered everyone a reminder text when I started for their convenience,but not to put me off. If they are away or forget the gate, I just do the front for 50% or my minimum charge, which ever is the greater.
My round is full and I'm not under any pressure to be anywhere else and can afford to be a bit picky with who I keep or drop.
Art
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: gary999 on August 12, 2012, 02:01:37 pm
yep text...get few problems if any
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: DG Cleaning on August 12, 2012, 02:19:36 pm
Why bother unless you need access. If my wc called me I'd find it a pain, just another company calling for no real reason
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Ian101 on August 12, 2012, 02:28:39 pm
ONLY for access issues I.e. Locked gates for existing customers.

Advoid taking any new customers who want a call before I call nowadays even for access issues as can't be bothered calling em as too busy and not a good use of my time plus can mess u up next day if u need to change things around.

Dropped a snotty cow 2 months back who wanted me to start calling night before as “they were a busy household” u can find old posting if u search can you start calling before you come ... Well I'm too busy for that .... Signs of a messer in the making IMHO ... In fact she was due end of July .. Oh dear never mind.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: AuRavelling79 on August 12, 2012, 02:44:36 pm
I don't. Odd exception on an occasional commercial.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: bobplum on August 12, 2012, 03:24:34 pm
I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

i honestly feel it has more negative results than positive
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: evo on August 12, 2012, 04:25:56 pm
I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

i honestly feel it has more negative results than positive




I could not agree more i have had this problem for the last 10 years and by god its doing my head in now.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: LWC on August 12, 2012, 04:48:47 pm
I ring the odd larger jobs, i can say from experience tho that it opens up the "not today" comment, if you turn up theyre less likely to turn you away.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: gary999 on August 12, 2012, 05:14:09 pm
i would lose far more money if gates werent left open for me etc

texting works for me,i think it is a case of each to their own
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: robertphil on August 12, 2012, 05:24:21 pm
    people asking for  a text /call  are  1 short step from saying "not this month" - usually they are lazy /ungrateful and often are  ugly    ive found    

Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: g.brookes on August 12, 2012, 05:37:18 pm
i text customers if i need them to leave a gate open.  i have never had anyone say leave it this month, and to be honest, thats they're prerogative.  there are many valid reasons for them not to be cleaned and if they dont do it regularly then thats fine in my books.  we are not in a binding contract and most window cleaners pick up work all the time
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: lcwalker on August 12, 2012, 08:34:26 pm
Thanks a lot of replies,and I think I'll leave it offmy new leaflets but we did call a customer (she's a good customer) but put us off as her husband was painting the house,a valid reason and if we hadn't of called we would have wasted our time.Tomorrow we do some pap bungalows and they always want a call.There is also another reason I like to call as I get them to leave the money out,as I have some 10/15 miles from mine and I'm not around that area untill I do them again.
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: britishwill on August 12, 2012, 08:57:24 pm
I email them and ask if they need any other services so I can get more work and also keep the clients happy. I can also maximise earnings etc
Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Johnny B on August 12, 2012, 11:57:36 pm
I have to knock most of my customers' doors before cleaning. A few get a text a night or two before they are due. Some I can just turn up and clean. This is how it is in Ireland. It did my head in at the beginning as it meant many of these were 'not todays'.

My run is now reaching the stage where the 'not todays' are reducing and I am picking up new work each week.

John 

Title: Re: Who call customers first to let the know your coming.
Post by: Ian101 on August 13, 2012, 05:50:42 pm
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=153075.0

previous short thread on this subject  :)