Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bay View WCS on October 19, 2012, 09:54:27 pm
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I don't have many of the over 65 category but the ones I do have can range from a right pain in the 'arris to just like me own nan and granddad.
I have one old fella and every time I clean his windows I end up stuck there for about 15 minutes while he stands there waiting for me to make conversation and giving me one word answers to my (running out) list of things to ask him about. He's a proper boring git.
Another old dear who's blind as a bat will stand at the door and talk for a full 20 minutes without taking a breath and without me saying a word!
Another old guy does nothing but complain about this or that neighbour and the things they are doing - telling me about the house up the road being a brothel (it isn't) and her next door but one being a benefit cheat (she's not).
I feel obliged to talk to them and feel a bit sorry for them to be honest - most are on their own and I get the impression that I'm the only chance they get to talk to someone in the day. Does tend to put me back a little tho.
Having said that they always have the money to pay as soon as the work is done and they are very grateful for the service I provide; I only have to ask and they will serve up a cuppa and a slice of cake or biscuit - which are very welcome sometimes.
So is it all part of the job or do you prefer to blank them and say you haven't got time to chat?
Cheers
Tom
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youre a scrote ! >:( how dare you diss the oldies,show some respect. if you were in my area id run you out of business for that post alone
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part of the parcel mate. Have one old dear who will hold the money there but wont part with it until she has told me a story
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In my experience the older generation tend to be the best customers. Never mess you around, always pay on the nail and many offer tea and biscuits. All they ask for in return is a little of our time for a chat, probably because they may have no-one else to talk to.
I'd be happy if all my customers were like them.
John
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youre a scrote ! >:( how dare you diss the oldies,show some respect. if you were in my area id run you out of business for that post alone
I guess you'd get really mad if I told you I miss out their bathroom windows and short change em every month!!
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i believe u do ,probably brag about it n all .
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I tell em I ay got time to talk crap about the war etc I'm losing money stood here listening to you waffling on .
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Moist of my oldies dont really want the windows cleaned, just someone to talk to once a month.
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Considering we all on the way to getting old we need to learn to be more understanding to the lonely old folk. I know its not always easy though.
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i find its the older ones who always say 'haven't you put the price up yet' or 'are you sure thats enough', they also hate getting behind & if i miss collecting always have money put aside somewhere & a lot of em have got some brlliant stories to tell - even if some are lies they're still good stories,
some old girls have been proper buggers in their youth & love someone listening to em
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Bay View
Your day will come - no one is immortal!!!!
The older ones are the ones who phone and say when can I pay you I don't want to get behind.
They don't hide behind the curtains when you go to collect.
They appreciate the work you do.
And the rest..........
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In my experience the older generation tend to be the best customers. Never mess you around, always pay on the nail and many offer tea and biscuits. All they ask for in return is a little of our time for a chat, probably because they may have no-one else to talk to.
I'd be happy if all my customers were like them.
John
Ditto - my older customers are my best. Always happy to see me, always pay promptly, always recommending me to friends. The only downside is that they tend to escape the mortal coil more frequently than my other customers - but in true CIU fashion I always try to replace with two 50 year olds. :)
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I was brought up to respect the oldies and still do , yeah it can become a pain when you want to get on with your work but as allredy mentioned you minght be the only person they see for days even weeks .
A lot do have good storys to tell about the good old days .
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In my experience the older generation tend to be the best customers. Never mess you around, always pay on the nail and many offer tea and biscuits. All they ask for in return is a little of our time for a chat, probably because they may have no-one else to talk to.
I'd be happy if all my customers were like them.
John
John i totaly agree with every word you have said, and we are all going to be their age one day, so its nice to treat people
like we would like to be treated in return when we are their age.
Regards lal
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i like the oldies ,regular never say not today and always pay on time
at least hey will pass the time of day with you.
not that it really bothers me at all..but i find most under fifty are miserable arrogant
and look at you like you have just crawled out of the nearest swamp
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i like the oldies ,regular never say not today and always pay on time
at least hey will pass the time of day with you.
not that it really bothers me at all..but i find most under fifty are miserable arrogant
and look at you like you have just crawled out of the nearest swamp
Bit in red - largely true - but I had one last month I dumped for a "not today, got no money" try and get her three neighbours' to stop me coming. And one of them did. I wouldn't mind but I took the four of them on at a lowish price (£10 every other time) out of the "kindness of me 'art" and only have two left! Of course being me I'd normally drop them all but these other two are so nice I can't do it.
Bit in Green - often true!
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i have several oldies, i usually leave them to the last house of the day so i can spend time chatting with them.
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The oldies aint no diffrent from the younger 1s you get the odd nut job here and there however old they are.
Personally i find the older 1s the best.
Regards
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i have several oldies, i usually leave them to the last house of the day so i can spend time chatting with them.
i hope they never owe you or it minght be a 6am visit ;D
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i say ive got a dental or doctors appointment to get away sometimes ;)
or sorry my mrs has just rang me and ive got to go now sorry ;)
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i can talk for england so they pay to get rid of me ;D
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totaly agree with johnny b oldies are the best you should never down them if it wasnt for most of them we all be talking germa.
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im with johnny b on this one 8)
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Most of my customers are good payers, not just the old ones, infact ive been bumped by a few pensioners where they have moved and not told me >:( , but when i get a custy who likes to chat, i work around them,, like leave them until last, or clean them when they' re out, i normally find that, that type of custy is on my not so good paying work, which is a pain, but im always chatty back, and always listen, ....when i do eventually clean them.. ;D
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We do blocks of flats where old folk live and it's brilliant for cash flow.
If some of them are out, because they all know each other thay all pay for each other so there's no calling back to collect.
Gotta love the old folks ;D
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Top tip knock before the job is finished ie straight away talk to the whilst working get paid everyones happy ;D
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Some of my best customers are the oldies, they pay on time no problem at all and most really appreciate a quick chat, you dont have to stay for ages with them, its just respectful to listen for a few minutes (which most of us understand).
I actually feel sorry for you "bay view", as your business is going no where if you cant respect anyone - sad really mate.
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I've a couple of old biddies I do and they do my swede in. They expect me to go in when I've finished and drink their tea and eat their biscuits, while they bore me with tales about their family >:(
The only saving grace is that I charge them more than all their neighbours and the mugs don't seem to mind :D.
To be fair, though, it's the only time I have to see my mum and dad.
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Most of the older customers are lovely, always pay on time and don't mess you around!
We have had one recently though who cancelled us for a new start up and got the neighbours to cancel to and took great pleasure in telling us. Our price was too low, I dread to think what his was but fair play to him. Should have known better though. She admitted she'd had 4 window cleaners in 2 years!
I'd say 50 plus is the best age group for decent customers!