Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on August 22, 2013, 09:13:53 pm
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I clean for a widower who owns a 1930's extended detached house in a posh part of Bristol - it has a small conservatory. I charge £25 every 8 weeks.
He came out yesterday and basically covered three points.
1. a) Looking at finances - bit tighter since his wife died last year wants to extend cleaning from 8 weekly to 16 weekly in future.
1. b) Wonders whether he is getting a good deal as "it was [his] wife who agreed the prices with you". ::)roll
2. The upper transoms at the front have "stick on lead" which shows signs of lifting in places so a less frequent clean "might help". ::)roll
3. A couple of panes have misted up and so less wfp might help. ::)roll
I addressed 2 and 3 on the basis that the windows have been in 20+ years and that trad would have make the lead situation worse and that misting was due to age and adhesive breakdown - and said I'd think about it but that as there would be much more dirt the price would be higher at £35. He agreed.
However on thinking about it I don't really want this job - I can see problems ahead and I'm irked by what I infer as his implication that I gave his wife a bad deal.
Dan says I should think about it - what do you think?
Oh and when he's not in access is over a "spikey gate" which irritates me too.
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simple granville...
Dump and replace! Its your business and your (i suspect very reasonable) t & c's. i dont think id give any other frequencys than 4 or 8 weekly nowadays. Although i would offer an as and when for a a one off price, which atm is 50% increase on my 4 weekly price
GB
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He's going to sack you anyway when he realises he's paying £35 for a window clean.
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most folk have life insurance dont they? likely he would have had a payout after she went so should be no reason for him to pull the poverty
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1 b: Dumped.
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Anything over 1/4ly (bar a couple of annual commercials) I say that it doesn't fit in with my schedule.
So we'll part company.
Thanks for your custom over these x years.
I'll fit you in on an ad hoc basis though, here's my card...
Price would be AT LEAST double though. As they'll only call you when you can't see through them for crud, air strikes and spiders webs
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1 b: Dumped.
That's my inclination too; and that's the main reason.
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I would go with Dan.
1b would also be my concern if taken on its own. If linked in with genuine tighter finances (1a) then he may just be saying that he is now free to do things his way, not hers. At last, after all these years he now has the say in how things are to be done. (I wonder if he leaves the toilet seat up now she isn't there.)
However, if 2 and especially 3 are the real reasons, then this is different and will raise its head sooner rather than later.
It will probably be one of those that you do a bit longer until the real reasons become evident and then just let go when you are in control. You have a way with words that will put the problem back into his court before you graciously bow out.
Oh, and next time let Dan do it on his own in your ear shot and see what happens. You may find the real reason next clean because he will feel free to moan to Dan rather than you.
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Sack it off. Its hardly keeping the business running, £35 every 4 months, £8.75 a month
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I'd dump as well. I'm fairly intolerant about this kind of thing since I'm in the nice position of having too much work.
Sometimes I'm really bluntly honest up front though and explain the situation from my point of view and how I'd like the situation to be resolved. Sometimes it works, mostly it doesn't.
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Egg it
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Egg it
;D
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He's going to sack you anyway when he realises he's paying £35 for a window clean.
Yes I don't think he's a going to be a customer for long.
As you know, if we were dealing with only husbands we would lose most of our work. It's the women of the house that keep us oiled, financially.
I enjoy my work. But if that enjoyment no longer exists then is better to part before it starts to eat away.
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you know what to do, you just want the reassurance ;-) the old clean it up motto dump and ......
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you know what to do, you just want the reassurance ;-) the old clean it up motto dump and ......
... Replace ;D
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you know what to do, you just want the reassurance ;-) the old clean it up motto dump and ......
... Replace ;D
with 2 more!
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Dump and replace with 10 more
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Go with your gut reaction and dump. Works for me! ;D
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Do them for free if money is tight.
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Yup; he's gotta go ... he lives within three quarters of a mile, I'll drop a letter round.
>8weekly - No thanks, you can do them instead. ::)roll
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4 monthly on a domestic, he's havin' a laugh!
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4 monthly on a domestic, he's havin' a laugh!
I know, I know ... ... what was I thinking? :'(
;D
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4 monthly on a domestic, he's havin' a laugh!
I know, I know ... ... what was I thinking? :'(
;D
I'm surprised you needed to ask. I'm slightly light on work at the moment so having to be a bit more tolerant. However, even in this situation I think that I would discontinue the service. I do feel sorry for the guy but it's more important than ever not to have any customers who are a drag on business viability.
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It's the women of the house that keep us oiled, financially.
Not just financially...
Anyway, back on the subject.
My dad once said to me that anyone who gives you more than one excuse for something is lying. For example, "I was late because the alarm clock didn't go off and then the car didn't start" is generally a lie. It's advice that has never let me down so far. This guy has given you four excuses.
I suspect the guy just couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't want you to clean his windows any more. You'll be putting his mind at rest as well as yours if you part company pleasantly, by which I mean let him know you won't be calling again.
Vin