Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: H20cleaning on October 31, 2014, 12:12:56 am
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A newish customer about 6 cleans i have done.
Says to me tonight " is there anyway you can leave them for the next 3-4 months as i go away a lot in the winter to visit family etc"
I said "no its fine we are a proffesional business and you can either set up direct debit, leave the money with a neighbour or i trust you to give me it when your back:)"
" ooh well i dont really speak to my neighbours, and i prefer to pay cash "
"Ok not to worry i will have to remove you for good then "
"Why? Are you willing to loose a customer for the sake of a few months"
At this point i was getting angry....
"Its fine we have plenty of loyal customer who want our service 12 x a year, and i will replace yours with another customer who wants their windows cleaning all year round"
"Ooh ok then just keep coming and i will let you know when i go away, nothing is organised yet"
God i hate them! First one in a couple of years
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You got angry? Sounds like you have a problem.
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You got angry? Sounds like you have a problem.
+1
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Harder to find a windy, than it is to find a customer. Knock next door, or further down the street until you find a replacement.
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As soon as the custy says could you leave them over the winter . My response would be " I can't do that , but I can put you on my 8 week list at a price of £££ 20 % . Giving you 6 cleans per year , saving you £££ over the year " custy will always say that's fine , she's happy you will probably have a custy at a good price for life .i love these opportunities to put more on the 8 week round .
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I don't understand this. The customer explained why they don't want you until next year.
What % of customers do this? We have around 5 that do this. Is it really that hard to just say yep see you in March.
The time and energy you wasted would have probably been another a house. Then my time for replying and your time for writing this post ;D
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I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it, I have a few
that do this and it helps because I always have a few who want an extra clean over Christmas and they tip well
for the privilege.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.
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I have found CIU has had a positive influence on my business and also a negative one at times. I pick up pinters from guys on here, sometimes those arent necessarily the best pointers. This could be one of the less desirable ones - to bin a custard who has a request of this nature because Ive read on here that someone has done it and it seems like a good idea at the time. It aint necessarily so.
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I don't understand this. The customer explained why they don't want you until next year.
What % of customers do this? We have around 5 that do this. Is it really that hard to just say yep see you in March.
The time and energy you wasted would have probably been another a house. Then my time for replying and your time for writing this post ;D
^^ spot on Pure.
We are bursting at the seams so a customer that genuinely cancels in winter to restart in Spring is a great help to us with shorter working days. At least we know that in the meantime we haven't opened the door for another windie to get a foothold in. We also know that the customer isn't bad mouthing us to their neighbours for being rude, aggressive and impolite.
Even if they did want to cancel you permanently on the pretext of stopping for the winter (we had a few of these) due to money issues etc. then so be it. Holding onto a customer with threats never has a good ending.
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the OP totally handled this wrong IMO.lets not be too harsh on him though as he s only a young lad who still lives at home with his mum! ;D
im like spruce and a lot of others on here.very well established,experienced and plenty of work.
i have a few customers who dont want them cleaning for a few months over winter.its only 2 or 3 out of 350+ accounts so i just say fine see you in the spring!give them a month when you ll start back again so another windy doesnt end up cleaning them though.
theres a window cleaning company who are always trying to get more work on a estate i virtually exclusively clean.they clean 2 properties at present.me 70+.dont give them any encouragment!! ;) ;D ;D
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Hey whats happened to dump spit in their faces and replace with
the whole street ;D
Glad to see some common sense for a change on this subject
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I have 1 custy who goes to Australia for 3 months and i dont find it an issue , Custys who want me to call back in 4-5 month springtime may or may not get a second chance still debating this as we are in changing times .
Cracking idea to offer to put them on a 8wk schedule and see what they say ;) ;)
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I have 1 custy who goes to Australia for 3 months and i dont find it an issue , Custys who want me to call back in 4-5 month springtime may or may not get a second chance still debating this as we are in changing times .
Cracking idea to offer to put them on a 8wk schedule and see what they say ;) ;)
8 week schedule and if your travelling Mrs Jones I will email you if I spot owt wrong with your house ................. plus you now can pee in grid in peace and quiet ;D
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I have 1 custy who goes to Australia for 3 months and i dont find it an issue , Custys who want me to call back in 4-5 month springtime may or may not get a second chance still debating this as we are in changing times .
Cracking idea to offer to put them on a 8wk schedule and see what they say ;) ;)
We have 1 who are off to New Zealand for the winter to visit her daughter. Last clean next week until Spring. Nice people and I'm happy to accommodate them.
I think that when you are building a customer base you are inclined to take things like this as a negative. That was my experience anyway.
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Dump ;D
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I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it, I have a few
that do this and it helps because I always have a few who want an extra clean over Christmas and they tip well
for the privilege.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.
It's like that for me. My Brit customers are mostly under 30 and everyone knows every other bod on MOD estates. So word spreads fast here.If I allow one or two of these girls to have 4 cleans a year, I'll have about 20% of the rest wanting it too.
Even though my Brit custies are limited to four areas in Germany, I have to provide a service. To do that well, there have to be limits and expectations.
I still find customers easy to replace, as the Brits move every couple of years to new places. I've found that giving an inch and having some take a yard, is just not worth the effort. Would you still allow people to change the service to suit them if you had 50% more work??
I'm not arrogant in any way with customers. They get 6 weekly cleans, that's it. This service costs "x". Want to change? Get the other guys to do it. I know the saying "customer is king", but you can only serve so many of them, when they start moving limits around, I find it easier to get a new custy instead. No need to be nasty etc, what I'm saying is, why try to fit everyone's need?
There are millions of people who want or need your service. All you have to worry about is to get as many as you can manage within your catchment area. Start fitting their wants and quirks into your business, and where do you stop?
I could understand it if customers were hard to get and keep, but not as just part of the service. When I get new custies, I don't say "It's a six weekly service, unless you get fed up of us tipping up every six weeks, and decide to change to eight weekly, or even as and when you need it. Also, just drop the service in winter, as windows stay clean then, and when we come back in spring, we'll happily scrub away for three times longer to get the gunge off the frames etc. PLEASE be a customer, please".
Works for me.
HTH
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Omg, I totally agree with cozy. I offer an 8 weekly service. Like it or get someone else.
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Omg, I totally agree with cozy.
Be careful mate.... That was how Bateman started.... A simple agreement with Cozy... and now look.... they have to get a room everytime they meet on here.. ;)
;D ;D
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I had one this week saying she cannot have her window cleaned regularly as she is skint still asked if I knew what that ment. Later in the day went to Costas coffee and low and behold who was in the queue in front of me. Mr Skint. Taking all her brood for coffee sarnies and cakes. Her bill was 42 pound. All I said was SKINT and smiled.
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i have a few who do this, seems they are trying to keep a bit back for xmas, usually from end of oct. till march time. they then phone up at xmas week asking to do them, i say ok, it seems i dont have the time to do them, oops so sorry. leave them with dirty windows unlike there neighbours.
some ask , what do you do for work in the winter, some seem to think we stop for winter, wouldnt that be great, if only.
if i get new customers near them usually i wont go back.
imagine most of your customers asking you to stop cleaning there windows from October to March.
DISASTEROUS.
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call me a snob .... but if they have to cancel to save a few quid then do u really want them on your books ? ::)roll
as for cancelling over winter ... no worries if u can fit them in next year then fine if u cant then u cant .... stick em up a few quid and put them onto bimonthly perhaps
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I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it, I have a few
that do this and it helps because I always have a few who want an extra clean over Christmas and they tip well
for the privilege.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.
It's like that for me. My Brit customers are mostly under 30 and everyone knows every other bod on MOD estates. So word spreads fast here.If I allow one or two of these girls to have 4 cleans a year, I'll have about 20% of the rest wanting it too.
Even though my Brit custies are limited to four areas in Germany, I have to provide a service. To do that well, there have to be limits and expectations.
I still find customers easy to replace, as the Brits move every couple of years to new places. I've found that giving an inch and having some take a yard, is just not worth the effort. Would you still allow people to change the service to suit them if you had 50% more work??
I'm not arrogant in any way with customers. They get 6 weekly cleans, that's it. This service costs "x". Want to change? Get the other guys to do it. I know the saying "customer is king", but you can only serve so many of them, when they start moving limits around, I find it easier to get a new custy instead. No need to be nasty etc, what I'm saying is, why try to fit everyone's need?
There are millions of people who want or need your service. All you have to worry about is to get as many as you can manage within your catchment area. Start fitting their wants and quirks into your business, and where do you stop?
I could understand it if customers were hard to get and keep, but not as just part of the service. When I get new custies, I don't say "It's a six weekly service, unless you get fed up of us tipping up every six weeks, and decide to change to eight weekly, or even as and when you need it. Also, just drop the service in winter, as windows stay clean then, and when we come back in spring, we'll happily scrub away for three times longer to get the gunge off the frames etc. PLEASE be a customer, please".
Works for me.
HTH
PLEASE read my post please, I have a few customers who drop of in the winter, this helps me because I have customers
who want an extra clean before Christmas and pay extra for it.
I also overload in the summer months so I don't have to work in the minus temps so loosing a few in the winter helps
with this also.
It not about begging to keep customers its about working to suit yourself.
I could dump them in the morning because my round is full to bursting but why should I.
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No Sean, I just usedyour post as to make my point. "I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it".
Not the rest. Hope that makes sense.
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No Sean, I just usedyour post as to make my point. "I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it".
Not the rest. Hope that makes sense.
Yes, I now see were your coming from.
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Used to bother me but I've never taken anyone back on who stops for the winter. Strangely none of them have ever phoned again in the summer.
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Dave, if they want to stop for "winter" here, it's 6 weekly. So if they want to miss December and end of Jan.........................
What are they saving? The point is, why bother explaining? If 15 quid every 6 weeks is an issue, then best they leave window cleaning out of the little luxuries they have.
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Had a few who have asked lately can u leave over winter ,I just leave them for good ,I can't say to my morgate company can I pay u in March next time ,12 month service or nothing with us only have proper customers who want clean windows all year round...get rid not worth having
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Dave, if they want to stop for "winter" here, it's 6 weekly. So if they want to miss December and end of Jan.........................
What are they saving? The point is, why bother explaining? If 15 quid every 6 weeks is an issue, then best they leave window cleaning out of the little luxuries they have.
Generally I am overloaded with work and anyone who doesn't want me through the winter gets dumped. I don't tell them they are dumped or explain anything - just never go back, to be honest come the spring I can't squeeze them back in anyway. My whole round is now supposed to be six weekly but I rarely get round that quick.
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My take on this was: A customer who doesn't have their windows cleaned is worse than no customer at all, at least if you don't have a customer, you can go out and get one but if you are 'keeping a slot' open for someone who doesn't use it you are missing out on earning.
I used to say something like: "That's fine Mrs.... Call me again next year when the weather improves and if I've still got capacity I'll fit you back in".
That way I wasn't making any commitment, it was up to the customer whether she wanted to take the risk or not.
In practice the ones who still didn;t want it done rarely phoned anyway.
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Are you all missing the point?
If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?
Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂
The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "
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I get your point and have the same view as you to a point , But i think every situation has got to be sussed out and its worth a good debate to ensure we can all work out the pee taking custys .
The only custy who text me to say leave till spring was a young couple in their 20's with 2 kids in a new build house clearly trying to save money over winter with heating bills and xmas been factored in so it could be worth proposing an 8wk schedule and see what they say .
But what will always baffle me is they will be saving lets say £8.00 a month x4 = £32.00 hardly a massive saving and they will have minging windows ??? ??? ???
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I get your point and have the same view as you to a point , But i think every situation has got to be sussed out and its worth a good debate to ensure we can all work out the pee taking custys .
The only custy who text me to say leave till spring was a young couple in their 20's with 2 kids in a new build house clearly trying to save money over winter with heating bills and xmas been factored in so it could be worth proposing an 8wk schedule and see what they say .
But what will always baffle me is they will be saving lets say £8.00 a month x4 = £32.00 hardly a massive saving and they will have minging windows ??? ??? ???
What he said^^^
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I usually just say ok , your windows will be still be dirty and we clean all year round, and might not be able to fit you back in, if they still want it , i just wait and see if they ask again, if they do i explain that it has to be year round if i have the time , and the price goes up
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Are you all missing the point?
If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?
Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂
The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "
Use?? ::)roll
Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.
If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.
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Are you all missing the point?
If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?
Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂
The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "
Use?? ::)roll
Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.
If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.
Ok then i wasnt angry i was frustrated is that better ? Its annoy when you offer a service wich they are happy in the summer with but do anything to save a few quid in the winter.
Most of you will say " she might of actually been going away" wich is true but then she could of said ok i will leave it with the neighbour or bank transfer... Simples
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And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick :o
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Now now children. Its only a forum.
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And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick :o
People like you? Someone who gets "angry" because he might lose a few quid?
Yes right. ::)roll
Now get back to your ceebeebies.
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And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick :o
People like you? Someone who gets "angry" because he might lose a few quid?
Yes right. ::)roll
Now get back to your ceebeebies.
I didnt loose a few quid think you need to study the post more accurately... I kept the customer on monthly as she was trying to pull a fast one and it didnt work.
Not stop bashing that keyboard you will break a nail ;D
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Snickers anyone?
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Snickers anyone?
Hehe. ;)
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And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick :o
H20 are you the pink power ranger :D
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Are you all missing the point?
If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?
Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂
The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "
Use?? ::)roll
Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.
If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.
Ok then i wasnt angry i was frustrated is that better ? Its annoy when you offer a service wich they are happy in the summer with but do anything to save a few quid in the winter.
Most of you will say " she might of actually been going away" wich is true but then she could of said ok i will leave it with the neighbour or bank transfer... Simples
Then you have to wonder. If it was the other way round and you were going away for a few months... is there a point in having clean glass, if you aren't there to look through the window? would you still want to pay it?....
If they are genuine and you have enough work, whats the problem? If they're dicking about, bin 'em
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I would drop it unless it was a big payer I mean a job you do a few times a year that would cover your vehicle expenses ie insurance tax a couple of tyres etc,there's so many out there that have that in mind when you take it on in the first place. They think I'll let him do it then I'll say see you in april then lol,I would say you won't be seeing me or the other local WCS when I've told them either,sussing people out on the doorstep is not just a customer priority it's the WC'S too if I get a sniff there wanting a one off i just walk away.
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Are you all missing the point?
If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?
Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂
The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "
Use?? ::)roll
Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.
If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.
Ok then i wasnt angry i was frustrated is that better ? Its annoy when you offer a service wich they are happy in the summer with but do anything to save a few quid in the winter.
Most of you will say " she might of actually been going away" wich is true but then she could of said ok i will leave it with the neighbour or bank transfer... Simples
Then you have to wonder. If it was the other way round and you were going away for a few months... is there a point in having clean glass, if you aren't there to look through the window? would you still want to pay it?....
If they are genuine and you have enough work, whats the problem? If they're dicking about, bin 'em
That's the thing, she was "dicking" him about.
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Ye thats the point, if she was actually going away and didnt want the windows doing because she wasnt there i couldn't understand. Thats why i explained we clean them 12 times a year not just when the customer is at home, otherwise i would have to clean 3months of dirt of the windows when she is back? Wich i would then have to charge her more for, wich would then means it pointless me skipping them.
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She's not dicking you about, she is a paying customer who has decided that she doesn't want them cleaned
over the winter months.
At the end of the day its then up to you if you want to clean her property under them terms.
A lot of posts have been made to suggest that it can be a benefit at times to allow some to do this, read these
and then decide if it would benefit you also.
If you then decide not to keep her on do it for the right reasons and not because she dared to suggest it.
The fact that it made you angry doesn't suggest that its for the right reasons to me.
Did you tell her you would charge more after the 3 months when you where talking to her and at least give her the option
or was it just its my way or the highway.
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My take on this was: A customer who doesn't have their windows cleaned is worse than no customer at all, at least if you don't have a customer, you can go out and get one but if you are 'keeping a slot' open for someone who doesn't use it you are missing out on earning.
I used to say something like: "That's fine Mrs.... Call me again next year when the weather improves and if I've still got capacity I'll fit you back in".
That way I wasn't making any commitment, it was up to the customer whether she wanted to take the risk or not.
In practice the ones who still didn;t want it done rarely phoned anyway.
Great Advice :)
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She's not dicking you about, she is a paying customer who has decided that she doesn't want them cleaned
over the winter months.
At the end of the day its then up to you if you want to clean her property under them terms.
Wrong. You offer the service and it is your terms of business. If the customer doesn't accept them, then that is fine. If your terms are SeanK that you offer an "on demand" service then that is fine. The OP doesn't and many window cleaners that have plenty of work don't. To be honest, unless you need more work I don't see how you can fit them in when they call back again. At times Sean you come across as a bit "cap in hand".
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The only ones I allow to miss over winter are the tax dodgers with large houses who go to Australia for a few months. Normal run of the mill stuff who tell me they want to skip winter I wish them well and hope I've got room for them in the spring providing I haven't replaced them as I have no loyalty to them if they haven't to me, fair's fair :)
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She's not dicking you about, she is a paying customer who has decided that she doesn't want them cleaned
over the winter months.
At the end of the day its then up to you if you want to clean her property under them terms.
Wrong. You offer the service and it is your terms of business. If the customer doesn't accept them, then that is fine. If your terms are SeanK that you offer an "on demand" service then that is fine. The OP doesn't and many window cleaners that have plenty of work don't. To be honest, unless you need more work I don't see how you can fit them in when they call back again. At times Sean you come across as a bit "cap in hand".
What does that line above your post say ? ::)roll
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There seems to be a lot of posts on here of late where people feel the need to whinge about a customer who doesn't fit their working pattern. Its the nature of the job, if you can't be flexible or don't wish to clean on their terms then don't its that simple.
Feeling angry about it is never the answer, neither is trying to teach them a lesson with a smart ar sed comeback.
Personally I just leave it there and don't get back to them, if they call me up in the future then I can choose to clean for them or not, afterall none of us can predict the future or how much work we will have.
One other point, I never expect a new customer to agree to a regular service although I ask them if thats what they want. Even if they say yes initially, I have to earn them.
I am a stranger working on their property and as such have to show them respect and build trust and a business relationship with them if I am to keep them.
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There's a fine line between being the boss and be bossy. If custards cancel I prefer these days to let them go without feeling too annoyed/angry/unsettled. Im not in the game to feel badly about anyone anymore, those who do will probably have to change their attitude at some time, its only themselves that're feeling downbeat about things.
Custards - you win some you lose some. Much like life.
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There's a fine line between being the boss and be bossy. If custards cancel I prefer these days to let them go without feeling too annoyed/angry/unsettled. Im not in the game to feel badly about anyone anymore, those who do will probably have to change their attitude at some time, its only themselves that're feeling downbeat about things.
Custards - you win some you lose some. Much like life.
To the women we've loved, and the women we've lost.
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There seems to be a lot of posts on here of late where people feel the need to whinge about a customer who doesn't fit their working pattern. Its the nature of the job, if you can't be flexible or don't wish to clean on their terms then don't its that simple.
Feeling angry about it is never the answer, neither is trying to teach them a lesson with a smart ar sed comeback.
Personally I just leave it there and don't get back to them, if they call me up in the future then I can choose to clean for them or not, afterall none of us can predict the future or how much work we will have.
One other point, I never expect a new customer to agree to a regular service although I ask them if thats what they want. Even if they say yes initially, I have to earn them.
I am a stranger working on their property and as such have to show them respect and build trust and a business relationship with them if I am to keep them.
Could you please let me know my "smart arsed answer"
Im pretty sure i explained we cleaned 12 times a year or not at all? That isnt smart arsed what so ever.
I could of said" look i get customers like you trying to save a few quid on the run up to christmas" but i didnt because she is actually a pleasant lady but i always get frustrated when they dont like the frequencys... That doesnt mean i shower my frustration towards her.
Dont forget people who work for boss's probly go home feeling exactly the same day in day out, with us its very rare
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There seems to be a lot of posts on here of late where people feel the need to whinge about a customer who doesn't fit their working pattern. Its the nature of the job, if you can't be flexible or don't wish to clean on their terms then don't its that simple.
Feeling angry about it is never the answer, neither is trying to teach them a lesson with a smart ar sed comeback.
Personally I just leave it there and don't get back to them, if they call me up in the future then I can choose to clean for them or not, afterall none of us can predict the future or how much work we will have.
One other point, I never expect a new customer to agree to a regular service although I ask them if thats what they want. Even if they say yes initially, I have to earn them.
I am a stranger working on their property and as such have to show them respect and build trust and a business relationship with them if I am to keep them.
Could you please let me know my "smart arsed answer"
Im pretty sure i explained we cleaned 12 times a year or not at all? That isnt smart arsed what so ever.
I could of said" look i get customers like you trying to save a few quid on the run up to christmas" but i didnt because she is actually a pleasant lady but i always get frustrated when they dont like the frequencys... That doesnt mean i shower my frustration towards her.
Dont forget people who work for boss's probly go home feeling exactly the same day in day out, with us its very rare
Sorry H20 you seem to have taken my comment personally to mean you, which it did'nt. I posted my comment having read all the replies and several other similar topics and replies over the last couple of months. My comment was just my general opinion to these posts. Some people have got on their high horses when dealing with similar issues and have posted smart arse replies that they supposedly said to their once customers thats all I meant. ;)
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She's not dicking you about, she is a paying customer who has decided that she doesn't want them cleaned
over the winter months.
At the end of the day its then up to you if you want to clean her property under them terms.
Wrong. You offer the service and it is your terms of business. If the customer doesn't accept them, then that is fine. If your terms are SeanK that you offer an "on demand" service then that is fine. The OP doesn't and many window cleaners that have plenty of work don't. To be honest, unless you need more work I don't see how you can fit them in when they call back again. At times Sean you come across as a bit "cap in hand".
What does that line above your post say ? ::)roll
The exact opposite of what mine says. You said the customer dictates the terms. I say the service provider dictates the terms. The customer takes it or leaves it.
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She's not dicking you about, she is a paying customer who has decided that she doesn't want them cleaned
over the winter months.
At the end of the day its then up to you if you want to clean her property under them terms.
Wrong. You offer the service and it is your terms of business. If the customer doesn't accept them, then that is fine. If your terms are SeanK that you offer an "on demand" service then that is fine. The OP doesn't and many window cleaners that have plenty of work don't. To be honest, unless you need more work I don't see how you can fit them in when they call back again. At times Sean you come across as a bit "cap in hand".
What does that line above your post say ? ::)roll
The exact opposite of what mine says. You said the customer dictates the terms. I say the service provider dictates the terms. The customer takes it or leaves it.
The customer has asked for a different set of terms, then you decide if it suits you to keep her on under these new terms.
If you don't agree then the customer either moves on or keeps to the original terms as set out by you.
How is that any different to what your saying ?
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There seems to be a lot of posts on here of late where people feel the need to whinge about a customer who doesn't fit their working pattern. Its the nature of the job, if you can't be flexible or don't wish to clean on their terms then don't its that simple.
Feeling angry about it is never the answer, neither is trying to teach them a lesson with a smart ar sed comeback.
Personally I just leave it there and don't get back to them, if they call me up in the future then I can choose to clean for them or not, afterall none of us can predict the future or how much work we will have.
One other point, I never expect a new customer to agree to a regular service although I ask them if thats what they want. Even if they say yes initially, I have to earn them.
I am a stranger working on their property and as such have to show them respect and build trust and a business relationship with them if I am to keep them.
Could you please let me know my "smart arsed answer"
Im pretty sure i explained we cleaned 12 times a year or not at all? That isnt smart arsed what so ever.
I could of said" look i get customers like you trying to save a few quid on the run up to christmas" but i didnt because she is actually a pleasant lady but i always get frustrated when they dont like the frequencys... That doesnt mean i shower my frustration towards her.
Dont forget people who work for boss's probly go home feeling exactly the same day in day out, with us its very rare
Sorry H20 you seem to have taken my comment personally to mean you, which it did'nt. I posted my comment having read all the replies and several other similar topics and replies over the last couple of months. My comment was just my general opinion to these posts. Some people have got on their high horses when dealing with similar issues and have posted smart arse replies that they supposedly said to their once customers thats all I meant. ;)
Ooh i thought you were aiming that at me lol because im only rude to customers when their rude to me:)
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
Im full time on the windows but could easy take on another £1000-1200 a month.
Since day 1 i have never accepted people who leave it for winter because they would then tell their mates and family etc.
Its one rule for everyone with me, and its worked quite well as i have a very well priced round and the majority of customers cant wait for me coming!
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
What's a full round in window cleaning 9 to 5 ?
About 4 or 5 years ago I lost 6 weeks because the weather didn't go above minus 10, last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
The only way to pull this back is by doing extra over the better months, you cant take on extra window cleaning customers
because you wouldn't be able to cope in the shorter days.
That's why it can be beneficial to have the odd customer drop out over the winter months as it allows you to do that bit extra
over the better months.
Its not about letting customers dictate terms nor is it about being desperate for work, its about working to suit your own
needs and maximising earning potential.
Don't worry about others looking the same, the majority of my customers are obsessed with having clean windows over
the Christmas and new year period so there's no way they would drop of in winter.
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
What's a full round in window cleaning 9 to 5 ?
About 4 or 5 years ago I lost 6 weeks because the weather didn't go above minus 10, last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
The only way to pull this back is by doing extra over the better months, you cant take on extra window cleaning customers
because you wouldn't be able to cope in the shorter days.
That's why it can be beneficial to have the odd customer drop out over the winter months as it allows you to do that bit extra
over the better months.
Its not about letting customers dictate terms nor is it about being desperate for work, its about working to suit your own
needs and maximising earning potential.
Don't worry about others looking the same, the majority of my customers are obsessed with having clean windows over
the Christmas and new year period so there's no way they would drop of in winter.
You from the North Pole?
the most i lost was 2 weeks in 2009/2010 cant remember
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Google the big freeze 2010 to get some stats, but it lucky for you that type of weather never
seems to effect La La land.
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Google the big freeze 2010 to get some stats, but it lucky for you that type of weather never
seems to effect La La land.
Im gathering your from Scotland ?
We got the worst snow i have seen for most of my life in 2010 but the temperatures went upto about 0degrees so i went out and working in the snow and tbh i enjoyed it ;D having said that.. Who wouldnt enjoy it after 2 weeks of laying in bed
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
What's a full round in window cleaning 9 to 5 ?
About 4 or 5 years ago I lost 6 weeks because the weather didn't go above minus 10, last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
The only way to pull this back is by doing extra over the better months, you cant take on extra window cleaning customers
because you wouldn't be able to cope in the shorter days.
That's why it can be beneficial to have the odd customer drop out over the winter months as it allows you to do that bit extra
over the better months.
Its not about letting customers dictate terms nor is it about being desperate for work, its about working to suit your own
needs and maximising earning potential.
Don't worry about others looking the same, the majority of my customers are obsessed with having clean windows over
the Christmas and new year period so there's no way they would drop of in winter.
a full round for me will be when I decide it is full ;)
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
All I have to do now is search for the rain threads where Seank says he doesn't work in the rain as his customers don't like it. Sean, there was a lot of rain last year but I doubt if I lost 2 days. And I never worked in anything heavier than drizzle. Are we allowed to say "man up"? ;D
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
All I have to do now is search for the rain threads where Seank says he doesn't work in the rain as his customers don't like it. Sean, there was a lot of rain last year but I doubt if I lost 2 days. And I never worked in anything heavier than drizzle. Are we allowed to say "man up"? ;D
Search all you want as you wont find it, as I have already stated there is never any minus temps or storms in La La Land.
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
All I have to do now is search for the rain threads where Seank says he doesn't work in the rain as his customers don't like it. Sean, there was a lot of rain last year but I doubt if I lost 2 days. And I never worked in anything heavier than drizzle. Are we allowed to say "man up"? ;D
Search all you want as you wont find it, as I have already stated there is never any minus temps or storms in La La Land.
Hmmm. But 6 weeks? Seriously Sean, are you sure window cleaning is for you? Perhaps try carpet cleaning. You only have to do it when a customer phones and always toasty. ;D
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I haven't got a full round yet, well I have for me but I am trying to get my part time help up to full time as that's wants, I will have about 10 customers drop off fof winter this year, if I have space in the spring I will take them back as it is all money, if the round is full I wont.
last year I lost about 6 weeks because
of the storms.
All I have to do now is search for the rain threads where Seank says he doesn't work in the rain as his customers don't like it. Sean, there was a lot of rain last year but I doubt if I lost 2 days. And I never worked in anything heavier than drizzle. Are we allowed to say "man up"? ;D
Search all you want as you wont find it, as I have already stated there is never any minus temps or storms in La La Land.
Hmmm. But 6 weeks? Seriously Sean, are you sure window cleaning is for you? Perhaps try carpet cleaning. You only have to do it when a customer phones and always toasty. ;D
I know mate its terrible and to think I pulled it all back without getting so mush as a spit on my head, It just shows what
you can achieve when you use the old grey matter. ;D