Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JackieW on February 06, 2013, 09:54:56 am
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It's too windy,
One of my semi inherited customers was given to me as a 'don't clean them if they're not in', because the guy locks side gate.
When I was using ladders I thought, that's not reason enough for me, as I would split ladders and climb over gate.
First couple of times they were in anyway so no problem. Then inevitably I had to clean them when they weren't in. When I went to collect he asked politely not to do them if they weren't in as they are away sometimes for extended periods. I explained that I really only do customers on a regular basis but I'll knock anyway.
I said it's not a problem me splitting ladders but he said no please could you just knock first.
So the next two visits I did walk over and knock but no answer. Since then I 've changed to WFP so can't access back unless they unlock gate anyway so I've just carried on cleaning houses around them.
This was last April. Price £8 for every 4 weeks for modern detached. Takes 20 minutes. Since then I've been repricing them to £12 for every 6 weeks and explaining gently that they were underpriced and I now do a far better job. Customers are happy with the frame cleaning, his neighbour actually said I'm so pleased you've changed over to the pole thingy.
So anyway after 6 months of not seeing him he came around the back of the house I was cleaning 2 doors away and asked if I could clean his windows.
I said yes, no problem, but since I saw you last I've changed the price and frequency
to £12 / 6 wkly or £18/ 12 wkly.
He said ''well can we just do it today and see how it goes?''
''Yes, but for one offs I charge £25.''
''Ok, we'll just leave it then''
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Dont blame him.
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nor me
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Dont blame him.
whys that ? ..... out of interest ?
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Nor me.
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nor me
whys that then ? ... out of interest ?
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Lol.
I can't blame him for not wanting my service on my terms.
I don't blame myself for not wanting his custom on his conditions.
No probs.
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Nor me.
strange ............. so you dont agree with your actions ? ............. why bid @ £25 if you dont blame him ?
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You were there ......he wanted his windows cleaned.......you have cleaned them before......why not just do it for the £12.00, and take the money ........... :o
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It's a mind set thing ;) The guy was a bit awkward with cleaning when he was a custy in the past. Why not just work for who you want? That's one of the advantages of doing this stuff surely. We work for who we want, when we want (within reason ;) ) and that's what helps make this game fairly stress free. There are enough customers out there, why back step to pick up work that didn't fit in the first time?
Some will, some won't, so what? Look after the custies who are worth looking after, and things run smoother. Just my opinion.
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Lol.
I can't blame him for not wanting my service on my terms.
I don't blame myself for not wanting his custom on his conditions.
No probs.
That's a good attitude, Jackie.
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he will just get someone else in the area then they will underprice you to get more work, dont give them a chance to creep in, ;) be glad you had that customer, pays 4 your fuel.
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he will just get someone else in the area then they will underprice you to get more work, dont give them a chance to creep in, ;) be glad you had that customer, pays 4 your fuel.
No, no it doesn't pay for his fuel. It pays for his time (20 minutes). That is, unless he values his time at 0.
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You were there ......he wanted his windows cleaned.......you have cleaned them before......why not just do it for the £12.00, and take the money ........... :o
because jackieW has read on here (like myself) sooo many times before that you charge double for a one off clean and that is set in stone with no room for negotiation. "Real world" is another matter though isn't it ? ;)
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Done the right don't need awkward customers
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"One of my semi inherited customers was given to me as a 'don't clean them if they're not in', because the guy locks side gate."
And that is as far as it would have got with me.
I'm paid to clean windows - not to knock on doors on the offchance they are at home.
+1
Anything other than absolutely straightforward window cleaning, on my terms, and they enter the dropzone.
I would certainly never stand around arguing the toss with them, plenty more customers who are easy to do.
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he will just get someone else in the area then they will underprice you to get more work, dont give them a chance to creep in, ;) be glad you had that customer, pays 4 your fuel.
The problem with that attitude is that you end up doing awkward jobs for less money.
I like to have the phone number of a shoddy window cleaner who works for peanuts to hand. 9 times out of 10 the customer is taught a lesson about price and quality.
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Lol.
I can't blame him for not wanting my service on my terms.
I don't blame myself for not wanting his custom on his conditions.
No probs.
A fair enough attitude I have to say :)
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It's nothing to do whether he cleaned the windows or not, it's about Jackie's attitude.
He and the customer couldn't agree terms, so the service was withdrawn. What's wrong with that?
Blame is pointless.
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I AGREE WITH THE WRITER OF THIS POST.Try going to any business and dictating how you want a thing to go. I find there are some people who just think because your are only a window cleaners they can run all over you.The days of the Lord of the manner are long past.I run my business. I call the shots.I do pay heed to the needs of my market, but do not allow the customers to dictate how I clean with what tools and how and when they should pay me. That's is the reason I work for myself in my business. I must admit I don`t seem to get to these problems.I don`t work for ! I work with, its quite a difference. ;D ;D
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I think you did the right thing for your business. It's amazing the amount I customers that think they can have you just when they feel like it. They treat you like a pay and go service, where as most of us would rather be viewed as a contacted service. The only thing you could have possibly done different would to have not taken them on with the terms they arranged to begin with but unfortunately you get that with some work you take over.
Simon.
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It's too windy,
One of my semi inherited customers was given to me as a 'don't clean them if they're not in', because the guy locks side gate.
When I was using ladders I thought, that's not reason enough for me, as I would split ladders and climb over gate.
First couple of times they were in anyway so no problem. Then inevitably I had to clean them when they weren't in. When I went to collect he asked politely not to do them if they weren't in as they are away sometimes for extended periods. I explained that I really only do customers on a regular basis but I'll knock anyway.
I said it's not a problem me splitting ladders but he said no please could you just knock first.
So the next two visits I did walk over and knock but no answer. Since then I 've changed to WFP so can't access back unless they unlock gate anyway so I've just carried on cleaning houses around them.
This was last April. Price £8 for every 4 weeks for modern detached. Takes 20 minutes. Since then I've been repricing them to £12 for every 6 weeks and explaining gently that they were underpriced and I now do a far better job. Customers are happy with the frame cleaning, his neighbour actually said I'm so pleased you've changed over to the pole thingy.
So anyway after 6 months of not seeing him he came around the back of the house I was cleaning 2 doors away and asked if I could clean his windows.
I said yes, no problem, but since I saw you last I've changed the price and frequency
to £12 / 6 wkly or £18/ 12 wkly.
He said ''well can we just do it today and see how it goes?''
''Yes, but for one offs I charge £25.''
''Ok, we'll just leave it then''
i totally agree with your approach to building a business on your terms
a slight twist what if he accepted and the guy you were cleaning(the neighbour) then says"just do mine every 6 months for £25.00"
that a side i would do exactly the same but thats just you and me ;D
CANVASS-CLEAN -CULL
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My way or the highway ....
We are in business to make money .... Time = money , more time = more money
I don't blame the OP's attitude at all .
I've only been going a short while but I've culled %50 of my round as they wouldn't work how I wanted to work and I earn a good wage for my troubles .
I try and work with the customers but at the end of the day I'm the boss not those .
I had a custy who complained his house was getting wet and wanted it done the trad method so I dumped him puck up his neighbour .
Had a custy who said miss them this month it's supposed to be raining Friday dumped her too puck up her neighbour .
There's lots of people out there who think that you owe them the world just because they are paying you to do a job those are the ones we don't need .
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This was last April. Price £8 for every 4 weeks for modern detached. Takes 20 minutes. Since then I've been repricing them to £12 for every 6 weeks and explaining gently that they were underpriced and I now do a far better job. Customers are happy with the frame cleaning, his neighbour actually said I'm so pleased you've changed over to the pole thingy.
Hi JackieW
Why did you change the frequency did some say calling too often, price resistance?
Price is the same for them £2 per week but they get them cleaned less often.
How did they react to that.
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I would of cleaned it either
I've got one customer who is a right pain in the
Arse! He only want the doing every so often
Do I knock about every 3 months and he gets
Hit for 50 snots for and hours work.
He's my one and only pain in the arse customer !
But he's worth keeping 8)
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Once a messer
Always a messer!
Mr B
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Jackie W.
I'm with you mate ;)
Custie wants 6 months dirt washed off at monthly maintenance cost ;D
Plus all that knock to see if i'm in lark :o
Basically he doesn't trust you and wants to see you cleaning the windows.
If custie goes away alot he can afford a window cleaner.
Tell him if you decide to work with spastics you'l get a job with Mencap.
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Tell him if you decide to work with spastics you'l get a job with Mencap.
Best not say that, at all :-\.
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TRUE :o
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Nor me.
strange ............. so you dont agree with your actions ? ............. why bid @ £25 if you dont blame him ?
Because he doesnt want to work for him. However if the customer insists its on his terms and attractive terms to work too as well.
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Tell him if you decide to work with spastics you'l get a job with Mencap.
Best not say that, at all :-\.
lol
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I cant believe some of what im readin here !
Has the world gone soft , i got a real tellin off the other night for doing what we all did before we had wfp , now tonight , a lot of you are taking it in the butt from a custie who clearly needs a CLX wrapped around his head or at the very least dropping .
Sort your heads out you muppets , you takers are just making it harder in the long run .
I dropped a mother and daughter combo of different residences on monday as i did not like their attitude towards me , nothing major but £216 of the books instantly , do i care , no , just frees me to fill the space with far better accounts .
As said msny times before , i am the boss , not they .
Rich
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Tell him if you decide to work with spastics you'l get a job with Mencap.
Best not say that, at all :-\.
;D