Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: bobplum on April 01, 2014, 11:21:30 pm

Title: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 01, 2014, 11:21:30 pm
Text message.......(sent)
.Hi Mrs ....
To clean your property on a monthly basis would be £12.00.
This includes washing of all frames, doors, sills etc.
Many thanks
Bob

Text message.......(reply)

Thats fine can you do it every two months

Now call me stupid , im sure some will, but it distinctly says MONTHLY in my text message.............i give up :'(
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: elite mike on April 01, 2014, 11:25:22 pm
LMAO  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on April 01, 2014, 11:27:21 pm
straight back on the text... no problem every other month is £17 which service would you like?
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Ian101 on April 02, 2014, 06:49:46 am
dump em ................ sounds like a proper messer already ............. just reply as follows

I SAID FECKING MONTHLY ARE YOU STOOOOPID ?? YOU MUST BE AND POSSIBLY TOO THICK TO PAY ME ON TIME SO GO FIND ANOTHER NUMPTY TO CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS ON AN AS AND WHEN BASIS AS IM FAR TOO IMPORTANT (LADS ON CIU SAID SO) TO LOWER MYSELF TO CLEAN ON YOUR TERMS. IM OFF TO ANOTHER BREAKFAST MEETING COS IM A PROPER BUSINESS MAN.

 ;)

Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 02, 2014, 07:02:05 am
dump em ................ sounds like a proper messer already ............. just reply as follows

I SAID FECKING MONTHLY ARE YOU STOOOOPID ?? YOU MUST BE AND POSSIBLY TOO THICK TO PAY ME ON TIME SO GO FIND ANOTHER NUMPTY TO CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS ON AN AS AND WHEN BASIS AS IM FAR TOO IMPORTANT (LADS ON CIU SAID SO) TO LOWER MYSELF TO CLEAN ON YOUR TERMS. IM OFF TO ANOTHER BREAKFAST MEETING COS IM A PROPER BUSINESS MAN.

 ;)




Might try that one ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 02, 2014, 07:04:53 am
straight back on the text... no problem every other month is £17 which service would you like?


i have...................no reply
 :D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: gary999 on April 02, 2014, 07:44:40 am
straight back on the text... no problem every other month is £17 which service would you like?

As above,dont see the issue if they want 8 weekly clean charge more
if they dont want it just move on.Life is to short to get agitated over
minor issues :)
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: jk999 on April 02, 2014, 08:01:29 am
Just because she asked for 2 monthly doesn't mean she is a messer she might turn out to be one off your best customers , these days window cleaners are popping up everywhere take work when you can
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: colin purewater on April 02, 2014, 08:24:26 am
I don't offer bi-monthly any more unless it's over
A £30 job!

They tend to be messers if you get a reply
Like bob just has!

Not worth the hassle 😭
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: roundbuilder on April 02, 2014, 09:08:05 am
Normally a customer wants it 2 monthly if they cant afford to have it done monthly i find, i dont charge more for 2 monthly myself but respect to th guys that do charge more and get away with it.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: lal on April 02, 2014, 09:17:49 am
Just because she asked for 2 monthly doesn't mean she is a messer she might turn out to be one off your best customers , these days window cleaners are popping up everywhere take work when you can

+1
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: James Bulton on April 02, 2014, 12:53:36 pm
Remember you are only a window cleaner and therefore the lowish of the low any thing you write is not worth reading.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: C o z y on April 02, 2014, 01:01:26 pm
Remember, you are only a window cleaner, and therefore the lowest of the low. Anything you write is therefore, not worth reading.

FTFY  Don't want people thinking you're thick do you mate?

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Ian101 on April 02, 2014, 01:11:49 pm
I don't offer bi-monthly any more unless it's over
A £30 job!

They tend to be messers if you get a reply
Like bob just has!

Not worth the hassle 😭

good policy
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: SeanK on April 02, 2014, 03:08:48 pm
Normally a customer wants it 2 monthly if they cant afford to have it done monthly i find, i dont charge more for 2 monthly myself but respect to th guys that do charge more and get away with it.


Same here after the first clean I'm just as quick on 4, 6 and 8 week cleans so don't need to charge extra.
Plus I like the fact if I clean after 8 weeks the customer will notice that the windows have been cleaned
without looking too closely.
Which is good for me as I'm 100% splash and dash. ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Tom White on April 02, 2014, 03:14:51 pm
Normally a customer wants it 2 monthly if they cant afford to have it done monthly i find, i dont charge more for 2 monthly myself but respect to th guys that do charge more and get away with it.


Same here after the first clean I'm just as quick on 4, 6 and 8 week cleans so don't need to charge extra.
Plus I like the fact if I clean after 8 weeks the customer will notice that the windows have been cleaned
without looking too closely.
Which is good for me as I'm 100% splash and dash. ;D

I reckon about a third of our work is every-other-month; and we charge extra.  I agree it doesn't take any longer to clean them, but they're worth less to me, so I charge more for them.

I haven't explained that very well; here this may help.

£10 @ once-per-month = £120 a year.

£10 @ every-other-month = £60 a year.

So we charge about 20% more for the every-other-monthers because we can, and if they refuse, well, we've not lost much.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 02, 2014, 04:07:48 pm
Here is her reply, received this morning

ok, lets start with two monthly and see how it goes
When can you start will have the gate open thanks
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: alfie11 on April 02, 2014, 05:10:16 pm
Here is her reply, received this morning

ok, lets start with two monthly and see how it goes
When can you start will have the gate open thanks

do em 2 weekly ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Positivity on April 02, 2014, 05:10:50 pm
Normally a customer wants it 2 monthly if they cant afford to have it done monthly i find, i dont charge more for 2 monthly myself but respect to th guys that do charge more and get away with it.


Same here after the first clean I'm just as quick on 4, 6 and 8 week cleans so don't need to charge extra.
Plus I like the fact if I clean after 8 weeks the customer will notice that the windows have been cleaned
without looking too closely.
Which is good for me as I'm 100% splash and dash. ;D

I reckon about a third of our work is every-other-month; and we charge extra.  I agree it doesn't take any longer to clean them, but they're worth less to me, so I charge more for them.

I haven't explained that very well; here this may help.

£10 @ once-per-month = £120 a year.

£10 @ every-other-month = £60 a year.

So we charge about 20% more for the every-other-monthers because we can, and if they refuse, well, we've not lost much.
Sounds sensible to me especially the ""it doesn't take any longer to clean them, but they're worth less to me, so I charge more for them"".
It can take a bit longer to clean but not a heart breaking amount - the lower value justifies the increase in price rather than the -  'this is going to take twice as long so I'll have to charge at least 50% to 100% more'.
P
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Tom White on April 02, 2014, 05:11:22 pm
Here is her reply, received this morning

ok, lets start with two monthly and see how it goes
When can you start will have the gate open thanks

I'd text her back and say something like "We charge extra for longer cleaning frequencies; if you want it every-other-month, then it's £X, regards, Bobplum".
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: 8weekly on April 02, 2014, 05:13:39 pm
Here is her reply, received this morning

ok, lets start with two monthly and see how it goes
When can you start will have the gate open thanks
I would dump immediately.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Ian101 on April 02, 2014, 05:18:34 pm
Messer claxon going off  :o :o :o
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: LT carpet cleaning on April 02, 2014, 05:34:17 pm
Remember, you are only a window cleaner, and therefore the lowest of the low. Anything you write is therefore, not worth reading.

FTFY  Don't want people thinking you're thick do you mate?



Too late  ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Crystal-clear on April 02, 2014, 07:39:57 pm
I don't see what the problem is here 95% of my round is bi monthly

simply reply with £20 or £12 customers choice

people I found were much more keen to pay sometimes double the monthly
Just to see you less regular

I also started as a trail an irregular customer list

for example a £20 bi monthly job that cancels cos its too often has used us for £40 4 months since his £20 clean and he will likely use again 4 months In so we are still set to make £120 out of him in the year

Its actually quite funny they end up paying the same price but have less cleans per year Its actually better even for me I have another who is £60 for a £20 job if she has it more then 2x per year I'm up she had it jan now wants it may guess what £120 already she will most likely have it again in the year that's £180

The only annoying thing is the admin side of thing but get your head around that and it actually works out the same, these people do want clean windows and will pay more as they will even sack someone for £10 cos they want to be in control and will pay much more for it just the way they are :)


Less regular work aint all bad they also have payments ready
The best way is to always double the first clean and lower it baised on your defualt
In my case £40 then £20 in 2 months or £40 in 4 months if its 6 months its £60
If its 8-10 months or Anual that's the only way the customer will be ahead as I feel I won't be able to charge more then 3x but still its 3x the price for the rare Anual ones
Nice little earner in connection with the regulars and they ain't getting a special treatment so its fair to your regulars as they Are paying much more

I was so obsessed with regular and in the past would cut ties fast thinking lt was the best way now I've come round I think the best way is to offer them your defualt if they take it great if they cancel its normally
Cos its too regular If you want to make the most money it's best just to offer them what they want but at a different higher price think about the time and arguments you have trying to convince a customer to come round to a strict £12 monthly or 2 monthy
When all they do is cancel
Best just to charge more and see em in 6 months
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 02, 2014, 07:58:07 pm
Hi Crystal
It not the fact it is a bi monthly clean its the fact i priced it as a £12.00 monthly clean and she replied "great....do it every two months"
Which i have now priced at £16.00

The problem is now  psychological 

as you can see from her reply to the £16 price "we will see how it goes" begrudgingly she is accepting it but you just sense after  one or two cleans i will be shown the door because  another window cleaner will do it at £12.00 bi monthly, sligh assumption

so my problem is do i take her on, knowing or assuming this will happen, of course it may not

But i will accept that i probably need a different mind set when approaching customers,

This as shown me that this approach on this particular customer creates a slight barrier between the two of us so maybe i am best offering two prices from the off set, monthly and Bi monthly and having a happy customer
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: gary999 on April 02, 2014, 08:12:50 pm
Next time you text a price might be a good idea to put on
both 8 and 4 weekly price,would avoid all this :)
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: gary999 on April 02, 2014, 08:13:52 pm
Just seen the end of your last post ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 02, 2014, 08:19:48 pm
probably will gary, i think its the mind set im in
Next set of leaflets we do will have prices on as will the websites and they will display both monthly and bi monthly prices

TIME FOR CHANGE ;)
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: dave0123 on April 02, 2014, 09:01:28 pm
Quote
Next time you text a price might be a good idea to put on
both 8 and 4 weekly price,would avoid all this Smiley

no because most will just go with two monthly because its cheaper..

Ask them first what they want monthly or bi monthly then price it accordingly
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Marc Stock on April 02, 2014, 09:14:24 pm
95% of my work is bi-monthly.

And i hasten to add, that if a customer decides to start or stop the service, thats thier perogative and in my opinion doesnt make them a messer. I sometimes get customers who ask me to skip a clean for varous resons, and im cool with that, as long as i know BEFORE i start the job, as only cancelations on arrival to me constitiues a messer.

I had a customer cancel their service 4 years ago only did 4 cleans upto that point, they called me up 3 months ago wanting to restart the service. No worries i said, why did you decide to cancel beforehand? i asked, they said it was nothing to do with the quality of work, or my punctuality; as that was fine. Its down to their windows, they were so bad they couldnt justify spedning £45 on a bi-monthly clean when only a few of the windows were actually still ok, the rest of them were blown and rotten.

So they saved up, replaced all windows with ultra posho powder coated jobbies soon as they  needed cleaning they rang me again to restart the service. Now imagine if i got all arsy with her..like some on this forum, she woukdnt have called me back, and it turns out she has gained me 4 new customers even when she wasent using my service as she went and told anyone who brough up the subject of window cleaners, that i was the best she had.. (erm window cleaning that it  :-\ ::)roll) and as soon as she needs the service again she'l call.

So think about that for a moment chaps  8)
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: gary999 on April 02, 2014, 09:28:28 pm
Quote
Next time you text a price might be a good idea to put on
both 8 and 4 weekly price,would avoid all this Smiley

no because most will just go with two monthly because its cheaper..

Ask them first what they want monthly or bi monthly then price it accordingly

Personally i wouldnt text a price anyway...i only price at property
and always give a 8 and 4 weekly option,8 weekly being more expensive
per clean,i find most go for the four weekly,if hey go for the 8 weekly
im happy anyway.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: robbo333 on April 02, 2014, 09:48:28 pm
I don't think you can judge any custys until you have cleaned them a few times.
Some I think will be great...turn out to be poo
Some I think are messers...turn out to be good.
I don't get stressed by them anymore and I'm always (ALWAYS) polite, whatever the situation.
What's nice is my gut instinct is usually right!
Usually... ;D
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Crystal-clear on April 02, 2014, 09:49:29 pm
Bob just charge her £20-£25 normally all customers have on there minds are having there windows cleaned and twenty quid for something they are never going to do isnt alot

now once the one off is done ask her there and then monthly we can do it £12 bi £16
Or you can have it as and when for £40 the £25 was a discount promotion in the hope you go more regular let her choose
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Johnny B on April 02, 2014, 10:14:55 pm
Just because she asked for 2 monthly doesn't mean she is a messer she might turn out to be one off your best customers , these days window cleaners are popping up everywhere take work when you can

+1

+2

John
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Window Lickers on April 02, 2014, 11:04:57 pm
FFS it's just another person, another response, another mis-interpretation, another mis-read text. Who gives a $hit?

So she either made a mistake or is trying to save a few pennies. And?
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Paul Coleman on April 03, 2014, 07:19:20 am
95% of my work is bi-monthly.

And i hasten to add, that if a customer decides to start or stop the service, thats thier perogative and in my opinion doesnt make them a messer. I sometimes get customers who ask me to skip a clean for varous resons, and im cool with that, as long as i know BEFORE i start the job, as only cancelations on arrival to me constitiues a messer.

I had a customer cancel their service 4 years ago only did 4 cleans upto that point, they called me up 3 months ago wanting to restart the service. No worries i said, why did you decide to cancel beforehand? i asked, they said it was nothing to do with the quality of work, or my punctuality; as that was fine. Its down to their windows, they were so bad they couldnt justify spedning £45 on a bi-monthly clean when only a few of the windows were actually still ok, the rest of them were blown and rotten.

So they saved up, replaced all windows with ultra posho powder coated jobbies soon as they  needed cleaning they rang me again to restart the service. Now imagine if i got all arsy with her..like some on this forum, she woukdnt have called me back, and it turns out she has gained me 4 new customers even when she wasent using my service as she went and told anyone who brough up the subject of window cleaners, that i was the best she had.. (erm window cleaning that it  :-\ ::)roll) and as soon as she needs the service again she'l call.

So think about that for a moment chaps  8)

Totally with you on that Marc.  It's only an issue if cancelled on the day - though I probably couldn't complain as much as you because I will only give an approximate next clean date if asked.  My view is that either party has the right to cancel or to discuss a change in service.  I've had customers return too after a few years.  Indeed, if a customer informs me that they will be cancelling after the clean I'm currently doing, I make a point of thanking them for going about it the right way and giving me some notice.
Same day cancellations can be nearly as bad vas a bad debt because they can cost money too.  OK, most of the time I might be a bit behind so can tack another job on the end but sometimes that is not possible or practical.  If I were to give everyone "next clean" dates like you Marc, "not today" could get quite expensive on a bad day.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: bobplum on April 03, 2014, 08:04:27 am
FFS it's just another person, another response, another mis-interpretation, another mis-read text. Who gives a $hit?

So she either made a mistake or is trying to save a few pennies. And?

whats FFS
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: Ian101 on April 03, 2014, 08:20:37 am
FFS it's just another person, another response, another mis-interpretation, another mis-read text. Who gives a $hit?

So she either made a mistake or is trying to save a few pennies. And?

whats FFS

for ducks sake
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: AuRavelling79 on April 03, 2014, 08:26:49 am
95% of my work is bi-monthly.

And i hasten to add, that if a customer decides to start or stop the service, thats thier perogative and in my opinion doesnt make them a messer. I sometimes get customers who ask me to skip a clean for varous resons, and im cool with that, as long as i know BEFORE i start the job, as only cancelations on arrival to me constitiues a messer.

I had a customer cancel their service 4 years ago only did 4 cleans upto that point, they called me up 3 months ago wanting to restart the service. No worries i said, why did you decide to cancel beforehand? i asked, they said it was nothing to do with the quality of work, or my punctuality; as that was fine. Its down to their windows, they were so bad they couldnt justify spedning £45 on a bi-monthly clean when only a few of the windows were actually still ok, the rest of them were blown and rotten.

So they saved up, replaced all windows with ultra posho powder coated jobbies soon as they  needed cleaning they rang me again to restart the service. Now imagine if i got all arsy with her..like some on this forum, she woukdnt have called me back, and it turns out she has gained me 4 new customers even when she wasent using my service as she went and told anyone who brough up the subject of window cleaners, that i was the best she had.. (erm window cleaning that it  :-\ ::)roll) and as soon as she needs the service again she'l call.

So think about that for a moment chaps  8)

Thought about it; spurious reasoning.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: AuRavelling79 on April 03, 2014, 08:28:14 am
Remember, you are only a window cleaner, and therefore the lowest of the low. Anything you write is therefore, not worth reading.

FTFY  Don't want people thinking you're thick do you mate?

Hope that helps.

Ah, but unlike Smithie you can't be thick in five different languages.
Title: Re: can customers read or understand
Post by: C o z y on April 03, 2014, 10:56:55 am
Good point, Just in English and German. Well spotted there Malc  :o