Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dave Willis on July 05, 2014, 08:46:17 am
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Do you ever bother to ask why?
Had one yesterday. I never ask why, maybe I should - maybe better not to know?
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I don't.
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95% of the time they won't tell you the truth.
Last customer who ditched us said "always streaks and spots"
I then realised after a few cleans both couples were always in.
Whilst I was cleaning the backs I over heard her say. Can you not try another loan company we must be able to get some money from somewhere......
Then she was shouting saying you got us both the sack you €$^%#{
Make of it what you will.
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used to but not for ages ...... quite simply whatever the reason I don't need to know or want to know .. too busy to worry so just move onto the next job.
only time would be if its a quality issue however most of my jobs are a few years old now so the customer would have brought it to my attention without feeling the need to dump me.
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People don't like to admit to money troubles so as long as they don't say
its because of my quality then I don't ask.
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Yes.
Often they lie. "Oh, I'm moving away" then 2 years later (probably after the undercutter has stopped coming) "hi can I get a quote for my windows please"
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used to but not for ages ...... quite simply whatever the reason I don't need to know or want to know .. too busy to worry so just move onto the next job.
No offense but in my opinion that's a very poor attitude to take. In many cases the problem may be something you can easily rectify. Much easier to keep the customers you have than gain new ones.
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LOL, I had a old lady who was in a wheel chair and lived in the bottom half of a top\bottom house I clean. I cleaned both the top and bottom for a easy £25 for 10 minutes.
She cancelled in 2012 by saying she thought I had given it up and she asked her gardener to clean them.
I kept cleaning the top and the bottoms where cleaned by someone now and then for a while but for the last year they where dirty.
I saw her last month for the first time and she said can I clean them regularly again.
So I said yes and because I had forgotten the price actually gave her a quid price drop....
will have to bump up the price at christmas...
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Sometimes they come out of left field.
I do a modern (1980's) semi in a village. £15 every 8 weeks. Inc extension + porch glass but exc conny sides. Always seemed solid. New Volkswagen every three years. Couple in their late 60's - him a bit doddery due to hip op/knee op - what have you.
If not in I do the fronts only due to access needed through extension doors. £8.
Cheque comes through with "Thank you but I am dispensing with your services as my husband will do them from now on ... "
It doesn't add up - I suspect an undercutter - hey ho!
I seem to get about one of these "dump by post"s every year.
Had another like this a few years ago. Hubby retired, gonna do them, then he died 18 months later and she has me back now ... silver lining. ;D
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used to but not for ages ...... quite simply whatever the reason I don't need to know or want to know .. too busy to worry so just move onto the next job.
No offense but in my opinion that's a very poor attitude to take. In many cases the problem may be something you can easily rectify. Much easier to keep the customers you have than gain new ones.
no offence taken .... maybe broad brush stroked but found they nevet told truth so only investigate further if itd quality related
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I personally wouldn't go back, if they dump me for a poor reason then ask me back a year later nah sorry wouldn't go back. Can't be arsed with messers. Had a women text me to say can you leave them tomorrow as they said its gonna rain, I text back explaining that rain would affect the windows blah blah blah and said if all my customers were like you I wouldn't have a business and if I hadn't cleaned your windows for so many years I'd of dumped ya, she text back and said really sorry I didn't realise just carry on with them and promise not to do it again. Wasn't to bothered as majority of my work is commercial and have a few houses as pocket money !!
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I usually enquire. Of course they may not tell the truth. No-one succeeded in this business by second guessing their customers.
If it's our fault at least it helps to keep us on our toes. We're human and faulty cleaning on our behalf wouldn't be unheard of and you can all bet your bottom dollar you've all made mistakes. It's good to be kept aware of where you're slipping up.
I wouldn't want to pay someone working for me who didn't give a hoot about their work.
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used to but not for ages ...... quite simply whatever the reason I don't need to know or want to know .. too busy to worry so just move onto the next job.
No offense but in my opinion that's a very poor attitude to take. In many cases the problem may be something you can easily rectify. Much easier to keep the customers you have than gain new ones.
no offence taken .... maybe broad brush stroked but found they nevet told truth so only investigate further if itd quality related
Imo many people won't come out and tell you that they are unhappy with the quality. Easier (for them anyway), and less confrontational to just try someone else.
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I personally wouldn't go back, if they dump me for a poor reason
Yeah but you'd find out the reason though, right?
Maybes we shouldn't take you back afters you dumped us? What was your reason?
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Depends on the job location.
And the price.
And the customer.
If I really like all 3, I'll make every effort to find out.
If I like 2, depends how busy I am that day, may ask/may not.
If 1, (price) then I'd ask.
If all of 'em are 'middle of the road' then I'd rarely ask.
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I wouldnt be worried but then again ive never been dumped,yes i
lost customers to people moving,dying,personal circumstances
changing.
But never because the quality of my work
Hey ho just move on :)
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used to but not for ages ...... quite simply whatever the reason I don't need to know or want to know .. too busy to worry so just move onto the next job.
No offense but in my opinion that's a very poor attitude to take. In many cases the problem may be something you can easily rectify. Much easier to keep the customers you have than gain new ones.
no offence taken .... maybe broad brush stroked but found they nevet told truth so only investigate further if itd quality related
Imo many people won't come out and tell you that they are unhappy with the quality. Easier (for them anyway), and less confrontational to just try someone else.
having said all that ................. when I employ again then any cancellations will be having a visit from me or a phone call .......... its just me at the moment so obviously its nothing I could have done to warrant a cancellation ......... think its called the napoleon complex ;D ......... but seriously soupy as you have about 8000 customers I do take your advice on board 8)
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
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Hi,
We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
and when you have no money from all your charity work, will the electric company let you off your bill?
Business is business, and charity is charity, the 2 should not mix.
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
Oh dear ... ... ...
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We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
and when you have no money from all your charity work, will the electric company let you off your bill?
Business is business, and charity is charity, the 2 should not mix.
+1
Don't do windows free. You may think it'll help retain customers in the future, what it actually does is cheapen the service in their eyes. If you can afford to do it free why should they pay?
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
different concept
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Works for us.
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Works for us.
To be honest it seems a bit desperate. :-\
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Works for us.
Where are you in east mids?
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
This post is a joke right?
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Works for us.
Where are you in east mids?
Inspire's in notts aren't you mate?
I dunno about losing sleep to keep customers but in regards to taking them back, it depends on the circumstance of them leaving...
People are more than entitled to use other window cleaners, its a free world
If i'm honest, i haven't really had anyone drop off to use another guy (as far as i know) i'm not overly fussed if they have either, it'll be down to price if they have and i'm not dropping my prices for the couple of people that may want 'cheap'
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.p
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Dear god . To think I thought I posted the most useless pointless drivel on here .but I cannot come close to even matching that ;D
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I personally wouldn't go back, if they dump me for a poor reason then ask me back a year later nah sorry wouldn't go back. Can't be arsed with messers. Had a women text me to say can you leave them tomorrow as they said its gonna rain, I text back explaining that rain would affect the windows blah blah blah and said if all my customers were like you I wouldn't have a business and if I hadn't cleaned your windows for so many years I'd of dumped ya, she text back and said really sorry I didn't realise just carry on with them and promise not to do it again. Wasn't to bothered as majority of my work is commercial and have a few houses as pocket money !!
Danny i am surprised you have any customers left.............Re Read your post ;D ;D
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
Oh dear ... ... ...
[/quote
]My sentiments as well
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>Inspire
You have sleepless nights worrying about losing customers?!
One of the main reasons I am a self employed window cleaner is because of all the jobs I have ever had it doesn't ever give me sleepless nights.
Sleepness nights worrying about losing a customer? Changing to trad. to please 'em? Free cleans to keep 'em happy when ever they want?
What an awful way to make a living. If I wanted to jump through hoops to keep people happy I'd have joined the circus!
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I did a free clean once after they complained about my first clean. It was very early on with WFP and I was a bit unsure of myself. A week after I did the free clean they contacted me to cancel. They said the job was fine but they were going to put out some flower pots. I've heard some odd excuses but that was quite bizarre.
Never again.
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
LOL ;D ;D ;D ;D
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English definition of “sarcasm”
sarcasm
noun /ˈsɑː.kæz.əm/ /ˈsɑːr-/
› the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way:
And it took a Frenchman to realise this........
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Always, always ask why.
I've had one customer saying she was cancelling because of poor quality work, that had her BBQ out next to the windows and my colleague hadn't spotted the grease marks on the glass before cleaning. Once wet it's very difficult to spot, Same with lime scale stains due to splashing of swimming pools or over zealous use of the garden hose on plants.
Very easily rectified situations, but if I hadn't asked, I'd have lost 2 good paying customers due to lack of attention before commencing cleaning.
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Hi,
We fight to keep every customer and will bend over backwards to accommodate them. They can skip a clean, change to trad, change to WFP, have a 6 month break etc etc. We offer free re cleans if not 100% satisfied. Thats not just for 49hours, they can call anytime.
The thought of another window cleaner winning a customer over is enough to give us sleepless nights. Shifting sands my arse! We make it very difficult for customers to leave. We will even clean for free if they are struggling to cope with the bills.
The best way to keep customers in my book is to do the best job possible, giving close attention to frames, sills and doors as well as the glass. Be reliable, professional, polite and friendly. Treat their property with the utmost respect. And do the job for a realistic price.
Make yourself indispensible to the customer as far as is possible, but don't give your service away for free, as word will very quickly get round and everyone will expect the same. Whatever you do, you will still lose the odd one or get messers who will need to be dropped. Don't lose any sleep over any of this. Build the business your way, work it your way and remember that you cannot please everyone.
Best wishes,
John
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Oh dear, why did Inspire expire?
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maybe he was being "sarcastic" again...
;D ;D
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Inspire doesn't need us anymore.
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jolly good... ;D
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I did a free clean once after they complained about my first clean. It was very early on with WFP and I was a bit unsure of myself. A week after I did the free clean they contacted me to cancel. They said the job was fine but they were going to put out some flower pots. I've heard some odd excuses but that was quite bizarre.
Never again.
Had a similar one where I did the 2nd clean for free after she complained about she wasn't happy with the finish after the first clean. After I finished I went round to a relatives of hers and here she comes again complaining for all to hear that she still wasn't happy with the finish. So I called around to see what the problem was and they were absolutely immaculate, says to the old bag what exactly is the problem here and she says she didn't like the way the windows were "so sparkly and shiny" and how her last window cleaner didnt leave them like that! Complete bonkers ::)roll
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she says she didn't like the way the windows were "so sparkly and shiny" and how her last window cleaner didnt leave them like that! Complete bonkers ::)roll
Seriously?