Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: H20cleaning on October 12, 2012, 11:59:44 am
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Haha just had this beauty text message off a customer I have a few ideas of texts back.....
1- could you please stay on our monthly system and we will make sure we do not clean them as good each month to make sure they are very dirty for the following month?
2- due to increased dirt and time taken on this job your price has now increased to £40.00 every 3 months( was £8.00) please
Call for more information
3- h20 have now cancelled the monthly cleaning with imediet affect, sorry you are unable to afford £2.00 a week to keep your property looking clean and standin out from the rest, in aprrox 8 years web your windows are stained and need replacing you will wish you payed £8.00 a month. Thanks h20
Haha wouldn't actually send any of these texts just humour and love a good rant
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Just do it every 12 weeks instead. Prob has money troubles.
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Haha just had this beauty text message off a customer I have a few ideas of texts back.....
1- could you please stay on our monthly system and we will make sure we do not clean them as good each month to make sure they are very dirty for the following month?
2- due to increased dirt and time taken on this job your price has now increased to £40.00 every 3 months( was £8.00) please
Call for more information
3- h20 have now cancelled the monthly cleaning with imediet affect, sorry you are unable to afford £2.00 a week to keep your property looking clean and standin out from the rest, in aprrox 8 years web your windows are stained and need replacing you will wish you payed £8.00 a month. Thanks h20
Haha wouldn't actually send any of these texts just humour and love a good rant
The truth is someone will do them every 3 months, 5 of mine are.
Price it to what you feel its worth for you to keep on the books.
I am finding new quotes are either asking for an 8 weekly or want to call as and when they feel they want it done. I'm happy with either as long as I know so I can price it accordingly.
Everything changes and the 4 weekly is a changing.
Art
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tell her thats fine but it will be 20 pound every 3 months .she will still be saveing money if you agree to every 3 months at 8 pound and every one on the rd finds out they will all want it
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I've found that in our area its always better to be polite and treat everyone kindly as you never know who knows who. I'm only just now beginning to find out which of my customers are friends with other of my customers, and I bet there will be many more revelations in the future.
Be smart/rude with one and you will damage your reputation elsewhere, sometimes with you not knowing it. We are professional window cleaners, not comics. If you can come to some arrangement that helps you both in these tougher economic times, then great. If you can't, then politely 'walk away'.
My personal take on this is to try to keep your customer base if at all possible. Once you walk away and they find someone else that will clean to their new requirements, then you have invited another window cleaner into your 'patch' - so there is also a bigger picture to be looked at as well.
This was especially true in the motor trade. If a customer was happy with your service he would always come back to you. If you upset him, he would go somewhere else and you didn't see him again. The loser was actually the saleman who upset him, not the customer who went somewhere else.
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I personally only take on 4 or 8 weekly's. if one of my custys asked for 12 weekly (every 3 months more or less) i would refuse BUT! if i like the custy i always say if ever you need a one off clean i can do that for you as and when for a premium!
Now in the past when i was more desperate for work i would let them go 12 weekly but the reason i dont do it now is becuase it clashes with my 4 and 8 weeklys.
Its fine if your pattern is 6 or 12 weekly though! Im currently trying(ish) to get commercial work but this is one reason that puts me off trying too hard to gain contracts, becuase the jobs will clash with my domestic round!
GB
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If it is £8.00 a month why would you or anyone charge less for for three months,ie 3 x 8 =24.00,why charge £20.00?
i have always been confused by this.
If you charge £20.00 surely you monthly price should be £6.66 and not £8.00
Why do we discount our prices.
If it is the end of 4 weekly cleans surely its partially do to our own stupidity in our pricing
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If it was me and I liked the customer / job then would explain only do 2 monthly as longest frequency.
Maybe stick £2 on it ... up to you ?
Spruce is correct you have to work on principal thay they all know each other.
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''If it is £8.00 a month why would you or anyone charge less for for three months,ie 3 x 8 =24.00,why charge £20.00?''
Is it because at £8 it may take 15 minutes to clean them each time at a monthly interval equaling £32 per hour,
but at £20 it may take 25 minutes to clean them each time at a three monthly interval equaling £48 per hour.
If I had enough customers I would prefer the second option
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i only do houses at 6 weekly anyway if they wanted longer i wont do them any more .i will gladly do one of cleans for them though at extra cost or would pass it on to another window cleaner
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after getting a text like that i never reply and then block the number on my phone.
lifes too short to start getting messed about,you set out your stall and then its take it or leave it like any other bizzes.
for example if i buy a box of cereal and the contents look a bit small i might /might not buy it again and i certainly dont go writing to the makers asking them to top the boxes up a tad
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after getting a text like that i never reply and then block the number on my phone.
lifes too short to start getting messed about,you set out your stall and then its take it or leave it like any other bizzes.
for example if i buy a box of cereal and the contents look a bit small i might /might not buy it again and i certainly dont go writing to the makers asking them to top the boxes up a tad
I like that :)
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monthly or 2 monthly take your pick on compact estate work.i dont clean any other frequency on this work but if its a stand alone bigger job then i may relent.
i always charge more for a longer frequency.i never used to but i do now.
i find most customers are happy with a monthly maintenance clean.
regards
dazmond
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If a custy wants to have windows cleaned every 8 wks i would charge between 25%- 50% extra possibly more depends on location really
For instance i have some houses that have a lot of trees bordering their houses and they are a bit of pain to start with so they would be charged alot more for example a £8.00 house would increase to £14.00 on an 8 wk schedule. MIKE
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i agree mike!some houses i clean are pretty filthy even though they are cleaned every month due to trees blowing crap all over the windows!one or two houses are almost like first cleans with sticky sap over connies esp if its been windy!!
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Totally dazmond one of my custys now has his windows cleaned every 3 wks instead of 4 wks , because if not it takes an extra 15-20 mins . sometimes when i go the back of the house were the trees are it looks like they have not been cleaned in months . MIKE
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I am finding new quotes are either asking for an 8 weekly or want to call as and when they feel they want it done. I'm happy with either as long as I know so I can price it accordingly.
Sorry but this is a terrible idea.
8 weekly, fine. But call you when they "feel" they want it done? LOL!
The best thing about this business is that you know the work is stable and regular and you can plan and provide a good service.
I would never in a million years allow the customer to tell me when I'm going to come. Its regualr service or nothing. End of.
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I am finding new quotes are either asking for an 8 weekly or want to call as and when they feel they want it done. I'm happy with either as long as I know so I can price it accordingly.
Sorry but this is a terrible idea.
8 weekly, fine. But call you when they "feel" they want it done? LOL!
The best thing about this business is that you know the work is stable and regular and you can plan and provide a good service.
I would never in a million years allow the customer to tell me when I'm going to come. Its regualr service or nothing. End of.
i agree mate! i woulddt mind buy everytime i phone my mortgage lender and say "im only going to pay you when i feel i have enough money" they just laugh at me for some reason? ???
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I am finding new quotes are either asking for an 8 weekly or want to call as and when they feel they want it done. I'm happy with either as long as I know so I can price it accordingly.
Sorry but this is a terrible idea.
8 weekly, fine. But call you when they "feel" they want it done? LOL!
The best thing about this business is that you know the work is stable and regular and you can plan and provide a good service.
I would never in a million years allow the customer to tell me when I'm going to come. Its regualr service or nothing. End of.
Hey Nick, whatever works for you. I always price irregular work as a one off.
I just think we will need to be more flexible as this industry changes.
GB, whilst I think I understand what you mean, customers have a choice of how often and who they use to clean their windows, with mortgages being indebted we are committed to repay on their terms
Art
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I am finding new quotes are either asking for an 8 weekly or want to call as and when they feel they want it done. I'm happy with either as long as I know so I can price it accordingly.
Sorry but this is a terrible idea.
8 weekly, fine. But call you when they "feel" they want it done? LOL!
The best thing about this business is that you know the work is stable and regular and you can plan and provide a good service.
I would never in a million years allow the customer to tell me when I'm going to come. Its regualr service or nothing. End of.
Hey Nick, whatever works for you. I always price irregular work as a one off.
I just think we will need to be more flexible as this industry changes.
GB, whilst I think I understand what you mean, customers have a choice of how often and who they use to clean their windows, with mortgages being indebted we are committed to repay on their terms
Art
That bit in red - epic fail if you want a good round.
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Okay let me put it another way...
When/if the day comes the custards gets to run the way i conduct my business, thats the day i sell up and start doing something else 8)
Im not in this because my passion in life is clean shiny windows! I'm in this game to make money, end of! ;)
All the best
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Havent read all the posts, no need for the smart text replies...just say yes thats fine. It will be £x amount, its their house and its their money at end of day.
My customers are on a 5 - 6 weekly basis, some every other which means can sometimes be 3 months and lets be honest...theyre not that much dirtier so no big deal to us. I know windows arent that dirty in 4 weeks hence why i do 5 - 6 weeks.
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Your right matt, it is there house and there money and at the end of the day its up to them but, Its my business/service and my frequency's!
So if they don't want the frequency's i offer, i will offer a "one off" as and when (if they were decent custy's) clean. For a premium off course! ;)
Regards
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I think that although the window cleaning industry has moved forwards into the 21st century, mainly because of WFP and H & S, the mindset of some cleaners are still stuck in the 19th century.
Before wfp, every cleaner worked off a ladder and there was a huge shortfall of window cleaners, mainly because not everyone wants or can do ladder work.
Now everyone can be a window cleaner, I even trained up a 15 year girl who turned out to be very good window cleaner.
We also have to realise that society is changing, no more are customers willing to accept that they cannot go shopping on a wednesday afternoon because the shops close down for half a day every wednesday, they now can go shopping 24/7 and even on chistmas day.
Another example is the taxi trade, years ago it was a special occasion to use a taxi, the customers would dress up in their sunday best and it would be a big event for them, nowadays they go and sign on the dole, while their taxi is waiting outside so they can get back to their xbox faster.
Window cleaning is a service industry and customers attitudes are changing on what/ how and who they have as a window cleaner.
More business minded people are coming into the trade because without too much effort or skill they can have a business that pays for a good lifestyle.
These same people also look at running their businesses differently to what the older window cleaning generation are use too.
The customers are also becoming aware that they don't have to look too far to find a window cleaner now, and these new guy/girls are becoming more flexible in what type of service they offer.
When I first cleaned windows over 30 years ago, most houses were cleaned every 2 weeks, nowadays it every 4 weeks and even that is changing to 6 and 8 weekly cleans.
Personally I will look at everything to make me stand out from the competition, I have customers who have their windows cleaned from weekly to yearly, they are happy with me and I am happy with them.
and if you don't want to do this, then that is fine, you can carrying on dropping these customers, some other cleaner will be willing to offer this service, they will pick up your old customers and when you decide that enough is enough and you decide to leave the trade because of customer attitudes, think first on what you will now do, what factory job is going to replace your old earnings, freedom and lifestyle that window cleaning brought you?
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I think that although the window cleaning industry has moved forwards into the 21st century, mainly because of WFP and H & S, the mindset of some cleaners are still stuck in the 19th century.
Before wfp, every cleaner worked off a ladder and there was a huge shortfall of window cleaners, mainly because not everyone wants or can do ladder work.
Now everyone can be a window cleaner, I even trained up a 15 year girl who turned out to be very good window cleaner.
We also have to realise that society is changing, no more are customers willing to accept that they cannot go shopping on a wednesday afternoon because the shops close down for half a day every wednesday, they now can go shopping 24/7 and even on chistmas day.
Another example is the taxi trade, years ago it was a special occasion to use a taxi, the customers would dress up in their sunday best and it would be a big event for them, nowadays they go and sign on the dole, while their taxi is waiting outside so they can get back to their xbox faster.
Window cleaning is a service industry and customers attitudes are changing on what/ how and who they have as a window cleaner.
More business minded people are coming into the trade because without too much effort or skill they can have a business that pays for a good lifestyle.
These same people also look at running their businesses differently to what the older window cleaning generation are use too.
The customers are also becoming aware that they don't have to look too far to find a window cleaner now, and these new guy/girls are becoming more flexible in what type of service they offer.
When I first cleaned windows over 30 years ago, most houses were cleaned every 2 weeks, nowadays it every 4 weeks and even that is changing to 6 and 8 weekly cleans.
Personally I will look at everything to make me stand out from the competition, I have customers who have their windows cleaned from weekly to yearly, they are happy with me and I am happy with them.
and if you don't want to do this, then that is fine, you can carrying on dropping these customers, some other cleaner will be willing to offer this service, they will pick up your old customers and when you decide that enough is enough and you decide to leave the trade because of customer attitudes, think first on what you will now do, what factory job is going to replace your old earnings, freedom and lifestyle that window cleaning brought you?
Thats two of us mad as hatters then.
Art
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keep it on the books AD,S just add 60per cent on. £ 13.00 @ 12 weekly. and explain the reasons why about the extra charge.
If it still fits in with your daily routine jobs a good un.
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I think that although the window cleaning industry has moved forwards into the 21st century, mainly because of WFP and H & S, the mindset of some cleaners are still stuck in the 19th century.
Before wfp, every cleaner worked off a ladder and there was a huge shortfall of window cleaners, mainly because not everyone wants or can do ladder work.
Now everyone can be a window cleaner, I even trained up a 15 year girl who turned out to be very good window cleaner.
We also have to realise that society is changing, no more are customers willing to accept that they cannot go shopping on a wednesday afternoon because the shops close down for half a day every wednesday, they now can go shopping 24/7 and even on chistmas day.
Another example is the taxi trade, years ago it was a special occasion to use a taxi, the customers would dress up in their sunday best and it would be a big event for them, nowadays they go and sign on the dole, while their taxi is waiting outside so they can get back to their xbox faster.
Window cleaning is a service industry and customers attitudes are changing on what/ how and who they have as a window cleaner.
More business minded people are coming into the trade because without too much effort or skill they can have a business that pays for a good lifestyle.
These same people also look at running their businesses differently to what the older window cleaning generation are use too.
The customers are also becoming aware that they don't have to look too far to find a window cleaner now, and these new guy/girls are becoming more flexible in what type of service they offer.
When I first cleaned windows over 30 years ago, most houses were cleaned every 2 weeks, nowadays it every 4 weeks and even that is changing to 6 and 8 weekly cleans.
Personally I will look at everything to make me stand out from the competition, I have customers who have their windows cleaned from weekly to yearly, they are happy with me and I am happy with them.
and if you don't want to do this, then that is fine, you can carrying on dropping these customers, some other cleaner will be willing to offer this service, they will pick up your old customers and when you decide that enough is enough and you decide to leave the trade because of customer attitudes, think first on what you will now do, what factory job is going to replace your old earnings, freedom and lifestyle that window cleaning brought you?
Great answer. Ditto me.
I offer whatever they want as long as I get paid well for it,
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Here here
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I think that although the window cleaning industry has moved forwards into the 21st century, mainly because of WFP and H & S, the mindset of some cleaners are still stuck in the 19th century.
Before wfp, every cleaner worked off a ladder and there was a huge shortfall of window cleaners, mainly because not everyone wants or can do ladder work.
Now everyone can be a window cleaner, I even trained up a 15 year girl who turned out to be very good window cleaner.
We also have to realise that society is changing, no more are customers willing to accept that they cannot go shopping on a wednesday afternoon because the shops close down for half a day every wednesday, they now can go shopping 24/7 and even on chistmas day.
Another example is the taxi trade, years ago it was a special occasion to use a taxi, the customers would dress up in their sunday best and it would be a big event for them, nowadays they go and sign on the dole, while their taxi is waiting outside so they can get back to their xbox faster.
Window cleaning is a service industry and customers attitudes are changing on what/ how and who they have as a window cleaner.
More business minded people are coming into the trade because without too much effort or skill they can have a business that pays for a good lifestyle.
These same people also look at running their businesses differently to what the older window cleaning generation are use too.
The customers are also becoming aware that they don't have to look too far to find a window cleaner now, and these new guy/girls are becoming more flexible in what type of service they offer.
When I first cleaned windows over 30 years ago, most houses were cleaned every 2 weeks, nowadays it every 4 weeks and even that is changing to 6 and 8 weekly cleans.
Personally I will look at everything to make me stand out from the competition, I have customers who have their windows cleaned from weekly to yearly, they are happy with me and I am happy with them.
and if you don't want to do this, then that is fine, you can carrying on dropping these customers, some other cleaner will be willing to offer this service, they will pick up your old customers and when you decide that enough is enough and you decide to leave the trade because of customer attitudes, think first on what you will now do, what factory job is going to replace your old earnings, freedom and lifestyle that window cleaning brought you?
Thats two of us mad as hatters then.
Art
Me too.
John
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the customer wasnt interested in having them cleaned anymore as she couldnt afford it.... i am only offering 4/8weekly cleans unless its over £30 worth from now on, makes things alot simpler!
and in response to some of you saying keep it professional etc, i obviously wouldnt say anything rude to the customer it was just a joke to brighten up the day :)