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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on May 29, 2015, 04:53:21 pm

Title: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on May 29, 2015, 04:53:21 pm
I see one or two more around here (North Bristol) but absolutely no impact on my business.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Tom-01 on May 29, 2015, 05:03:38 pm
I see more but we're consistently getting more work.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: paulben on May 29, 2015, 05:06:23 pm
Getting a few news ones around here but it is coming up to summer . Wait and see how many last into winter , I don't care though I have enough work don't want any more
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 31, 2015, 09:38:27 am
They come and go around South Bristol

I tell them the best place to clean is north Bristol
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: wpclean on May 31, 2015, 09:48:15 am
I honestly think if are feeling stressed, and insecure you  see window cleaners everywhere, but if life is good, and you are happy, and busy, you hardly notice them  ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on May 31, 2015, 10:54:11 am
They come and go around South Bristol

I tell them the best place to clean is north Bristol

 ;D

The good thing is only a nutter from South Bristol would want to drive through Bristol to get to North Bristol - and vice versa.

Howya doin Franky?
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Mike #1 on May 31, 2015, 11:06:15 am
Seen about 3 new lads in recent months all wfp and i assume all cheaper than me , Although i am the most expensive in my work area so had a few knock backs on quotes .

But you only get what you pay for and i have picked up some jobs that have clearly never been done properly by the last wfp guy .
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 31, 2015, 11:27:06 am
They come and go around South Bristol

I tell them the best place to clean is north Bristol

 ;D

The good thing is only a nutter from South Bristol would want to drive through Bristol to get to North Bristol - and vice versa.

Howya doin Franky?
ok thanks mr gold,i am able to get up and do a bit of walking but it means i got to sleep after for a 1hour or 2,sleeping with the metal in me back is not my idea of fun ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: rosskesava on May 31, 2015, 11:52:46 am
There's about the same amount around here and I see the same old ugly faces.  ;D

Most summers I see one or two shiny newly wrapped vans appear but by the end of winter they've gone.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Johnny B on May 31, 2015, 12:58:19 pm
I only seem to see them when they are trying to warn me off their 'patch',  but don't see them doing much work.
John
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Perfect Windows on May 31, 2015, 01:04:07 pm
Not really.  I think that they are just more visible as WFP means that anyone kicking off now has a sign written van rather than a car with ladders.

We're gaining work at exactly the same rate as we ever have.

Vin
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: gary999 on June 01, 2015, 07:56:44 am
yep loads more..i never used to see another cleaner from one day to the next but I see 10-15
everyday now ...still pick up plenty of work though
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Ian Lancaster on June 01, 2015, 09:32:42 am
Things are terrible these days!  I don't know how we're going to be able to carry on, everyone and his dog is becoming a window cleaner.

Oh for the days when I was the only window cleaner in town ;D  I had a waiting list almost as long as my 'active' list.  Everyone felt sorry for me - having to scrape a living in such a lowly menial job and I was always careful not to disillusion them.  I had it all to myself and earned at least twice the average wage for year after year.

And it's still good ;D  Certainly there are 'window cleaners' crawling out of the woodwork, especially when the sun shines but as everyone else has said, it doesn't impact on our business.  There has been a very noticeable drop in the flow of enquiries over the last 5 or 6 years but still enough to keep my lads topped up and happy.

And if it got really tough, I can still canvass - I did a bit a few weeks ago, picked up a nice little bit of new work and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: wpclean on June 01, 2015, 10:37:59 am
Things are terrible these days!  I don't know how we're going to be able to carry on, everyone and his dog is becoming a window cleaner.

Oh for the days when I was the only window cleaner in town ;D  I had a waiting list almost as long as my 'active' list.  Everyone felt sorry for me - having to scrape a living in such a lowly menial job and I was always careful not to disillusion them.  I had it all to myself and earned at least twice the average wage for year after year.

And it's still good ;D  Certainly there are 'window cleaners' crawling out of the woodwork, especially when the sun shines but as everyone else has said, it doesn't impact on our business.  There has been a very noticeable drop in the flow of enquiries over the last 5 or 6 years but still enough to keep my lads topped up and happy.

And if it got really tough, I can still canvass - I did a bit a few weeks ago, picked up a nice little bit of new work and thoroughly enjoyed it.
That is because you not under any pressure  ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Dave Willis on June 01, 2015, 06:14:20 pm
Can't move for them round here. Phone keeps ringing though so must be doing something right.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 02, 2015, 07:52:36 am
Things are terrible these days!  I don't know how we're going to be able to carry on, everyone and his dog is becoming a window cleaner.

Oh for the days when I was the only window cleaner in town ;D  I had a waiting list almost as long as my 'active' list.  Everyone felt sorry for me - having to scrape a living in such a lowly menial job and I was always careful not to disillusion them.  I had it all to myself and earned at least twice the average wage for year after year.

I packed in a shift job at ICI  for window cleaning
Best thing I ever did
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Ian101 on June 02, 2015, 08:39:34 am
less around me
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: SeanK on June 02, 2015, 09:21:40 am
Mostly new wfp cleaners who don't last very long, have seen a few new traditional guys who seem to be sticking it out.
Its crappy new wfp cleaners who don't have a clue that annoy me more, I'm the one who has to defend the method after
they have put potential customers off it for life.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 02, 2015, 11:28:25 am
less around me


Apart from me
I'm MORE ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Ian101 on June 02, 2015, 11:31:14 am
less around me


Apart from me
I'm MORE ;D

think you were here before me ?

had 2 old boy tradders die in last 12 months in this here neck of the woods .... one used to give me evil stares as he did a rubbish job and I took some of his customers . ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 02, 2015, 12:16:39 pm
I used to be an old boy tradder
ARE YOU WISHING ME DEAD SO YOU CAN TURN INTO A VULTURE??? !!!!!
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Ian101 on June 02, 2015, 12:50:20 pm
I used to be an old boy tradder
ARE YOU WISHING ME DEAD SO YOU CAN TURN INTO A VULTURE??? !!!!!

can I have your new van ?
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: dave f on June 02, 2015, 01:11:22 pm
the town where  I live is mobed I have not put my prices up for over 5yrs one particular area is canvassed at least 3 times a year that's no lie .ive even seen in the last week. a guy who used to be trad as gone wfp and copied my van logo and lettering and got a new vertion of may van  >:(
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: sunshine windows on June 02, 2015, 01:42:27 pm
A few more maybe, but I do know of a couple that have quit. Picking up lots of work in one particular area as he's 'disappeared'.

I do rank very well on google for my area so constantly getting new enquiries. Probably between 15-25 a week
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 02, 2015, 05:26:30 pm
I used to be an old boy tradder
ARE YOU WISHING ME DEAD SO YOU CAN TURN INTO A VULTURE??? !!!!!

can I have your new van ?

I'll swap it for your house
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 02, 2015, 05:28:15 pm
the town where  I live is mobed I have not put my prices up for over 5yrs one particular area is canvassed at least 3 times a year that's no lie .ive even seen in the last week. a guy who used to be trad as gone wfp and copied my van logo and lettering and got a new vertion of may van  >:(

You need to have a quiet word with him
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: LT carpet cleaning on June 02, 2015, 05:35:54 pm
the town where  I live is mobed I have not put my prices up for over 5yrs one particular area is canvassed at least 3 times a year that's no lie .ive even seen in the last week. a guy who used to be trad as gone wfp and copied my van logo and lettering and got a new vertion of may van  >:(

You need to have a quiet word with him

What about. Proof reading?  :-\
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: dave f on June 04, 2015, 03:38:02 pm
ive been asked by a few custys if ive taken  a new lad on .its starting to get on my titttts.but what can ya do ???. nowt >:(
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Shane sharples on June 04, 2015, 08:47:40 pm
Mostly new wfp cleaners who don't last very long, have seen a few new traditional guys who seem to be sticking it out.
Its crappy new wfp cleaners who don't have a clue that annoy me more, I'm the one who has to defend the method after
they have put potential customers off it for life.

thanks for the mention sean hahahahaha ;D ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: SeanK on June 05, 2015, 08:03:04 am
No problem Shane. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: slap bash on June 05, 2015, 08:18:32 pm
We defo have more trad guys and a few  vans. It always never fails to see the new ionic vans with the build in attitude. These chaps drive around as if they have just bought out the whole industry. The new shiny wrapped van  looks as if they are starting from the top of the market down. Always two chaps with new tees and the uniformed Sun glasses, Oakley s are the preferred brand. Nice tailored navy blue shorts and arm muscles showing. You would think they are on holiday. They never seam to be cleaning glass just cruising the beat. Watching the minions clean glass. You will see them for a month or so then they seam to fadeout as quick as they   arrive. Maybe they find out my town is no gild mine and the Ionics sums that produce millions, don`t work here.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: SeanK on June 05, 2015, 08:23:44 pm
That's guys with a lot of redundancy money burning a hole in their pockets, I was one of them
new van, new fitted system top of the range gutter vac a Dragonfly kit and not a single customer. ;D
Could have done it just as well for a quarter of the money. :(
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: SeanK on June 05, 2015, 08:32:10 pm
For me the horror started when my leaflets didn't work and the realisation that its not just a matter of the phone
ringing non stop with people begging for me to clean their windows.
Canvassing that's the horror from hell that finishes off a lot of the shiny van brigade. :o
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Shane sharples on June 05, 2015, 08:47:04 pm
For me the horror started when my leaflets didn't work and the realisation that its not just a matter of the phone
ringing non stop with people begging for me to clean their windows.
Canvassing that's the horror from hell that finishes off a lot of the shiny van brigade. :o

How long u been a windy Sean? that was the scariest thing for me, looked into getting a canvasser and couldn't find one so the only answer was to do it myself!
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: SeanK on June 05, 2015, 08:52:00 pm
For me the horror started when my leaflets didn't work and the realisation that its not just a matter of the phone
ringing non stop with people begging for me to clean their windows.
Canvassing that's the horror from hell that finishes off a lot of the shiny van brigade. :o

How long u been a windy Sean? that was the scariest thing for me, looked into getting a canvasser and couldn't find one so the only answer was to do it myself!

Just over 8 years Shane, I was lucky enough if it had been me canvassing alone I would be bankrupt now as I done more
stuttering than talking but my wife give me a hand and for every customer I got she got ten.
But what I will say the more you do it the easier it gets.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: dave the rave on June 05, 2015, 08:53:54 pm
i think there is a couple more, do not worry about them.As for moaning about work getting canvased i don't either when people under cut  me , like a few have already said must be doing something right.
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: Shane sharples on June 05, 2015, 08:56:49 pm
Defo sean, then when that first customer says ' no I haven't got a window cleaner, how much are you?' Then agrees, it's like u won the Lottery lol  ;D
Title: Re: Are there more or less window cleaners round your way than three years ago?
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 05, 2015, 11:16:07 pm
i think there is a couple more, do not worry about them.As for moaning about work getting canvased i don't either when people under cut  me , like a few have already said must be doing something right.

A customer said to me the other day,  you charge £13 for my house,  I got a call from someone saying they would do it for  £8.50
I said,  it's like gas or elecy, you can choose  whoever you want to supply you.
She wanted me to reduce the price.
I refused,  she stayed with me.
3 months later I put the price up a quid.
She's  still with me.
Do a good job most will stay loyal,  except for the penny pinchers