Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on December 24, 2015, 08:01:26 am

Title: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: dazmond on December 24, 2015, 08:01:26 am
£462 and loads of cards this year and still 3 hours work to do today plus collecting on monday 4th jan from this weeks work.

i could end up with over £500 in tips which ive not had for years in this game plus loads more customers pay online these days.

maybe the economy is picking up finally? :)
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: andyM on December 24, 2015, 08:42:18 am
Yes it has been a good year for tips and gifts.
I'm seriously considering turning the shed into a wine cellar to cope with it all.  :o
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Dave Willis on December 24, 2015, 09:03:37 am
Don't think I'll bother today - just seen the recycle bin lid fly past the window complete with the brick that's supposed to hold it on.

I'll count my tips instead and work out how much the taxman can have.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 24, 2015, 09:06:39 am
Record year.

Never had so many bottles of drink etc.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Dave Willis on December 24, 2015, 09:16:16 am
It's been a year of Xtremes I think.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: SB Cleaning on December 24, 2015, 09:19:39 am
Well think i will book myself into a 5 star hotel with the amount of tips this year.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 24, 2015, 09:34:00 am
Just taken a photo of everything tips related and gonna post on my fb page.

merry Christmas everyone  :)
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: andyM on December 24, 2015, 10:38:09 am
Just taken a photo of everything tips related and gonna post on my fb page.

merry Christmas everyone  :)

Now come on I know us window cleaners are an ostentatious bunch but in these times of austerity should we be flaunting it?
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 24, 2015, 10:39:20 am
Just taken a photo of everything tips related and gonna post on my fb page.

merry Christmas everyone  :)

Now come on I know us window cleaners are an ostentatious bunch but in these times of austerity should we be flaunting it?

I am proud of the tips and cards i have received. Makes all my hard work worth it.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: andyM on December 24, 2015, 10:43:41 am
Just taken a photo of everything tips related and gonna post on my fb page.

merry Christmas everyone  :)

Now come on I know us window cleaners are an ostentatious bunch but in these times of austerity should we be flaunting it?

I am proud of the tips and cards i have received. Makes all my hard work worth it.

You know you are right!  :)
I'll be wearing my Jimmy Choos (bought with customer tips) with pride at midnight mass.
To hell with what anyone else thinks!  :-*
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Klean07 on December 24, 2015, 11:21:06 am
£462 and loads of cards this year and still 3 hours work to do today plus collecting on monday 4th jan from this weeks work.

i could end up with over £500 in tips which ive not had for years in this game plus loads more customers pay online these days.

maybe the economy is picking up finally? :)
Collecting? Thought that was a 90's thing!
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: johnny bravo on December 24, 2015, 02:37:44 pm
one advantage of collecting  =  tips. ;D,
makes  it worth while
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: paulben on December 26, 2015, 04:13:41 am
+1
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: deeege on December 26, 2015, 08:34:29 am
Worse year yet for tips. Only around £100, 2 bottles of wine and some nice M&S choccies.

I think having a brand new van has had an effect on how my domestic custies view me and my business.

Not to worry though as I'm more than happy with the tips I did get.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Mick Kent on December 26, 2015, 08:57:42 am
I doubt what van you have made an impact at all. A van is a van and customers don't care. doing a good job, being reliable and friendly with a smile on your face is what earns xmas gratitude tips from customers. You must be a right moody git ... :-X
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Rich Wilts on December 26, 2015, 09:19:46 am
I found going from trad to WFP my tips dropped off the scale.  To me there are two other factors which are likely to influence tipping. A new van  and online payment systems. I have both, tips this year have been next to nothing, probably about £65.00.  Which isn't a surprise, it's a fairly normal level for the last 7 Christmases.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: dai on December 26, 2015, 09:24:08 am
I was given a fiver which I past on to the postman. Not worked in three weeks due to weather and engine problems with the motor.
Never known a spell of weather like this. I got the car back from the garage now but it's still not right after having a new injector and injector wiring loom. It sometimes goes into limp mode[no warning lights] leave it for an hour and runs great for the rest of the day, doing me bleeding head in.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: 8weekly on December 26, 2015, 10:07:07 am
Hardly any tips here. I tend to tip those that work for cheap so I think that's an issue. For example a grade 2 at the hairdressers is £6 so I tend to just say keep the change. I reckon customers take the view that I charge enough. We tipped the postie a tenner for all the cheques he's had to carry to us this year.  ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: deeege on December 26, 2015, 10:40:18 am
I doubt what van you have made an impact at all. A van is a van and customers don't care. doing a good job, being reliable and friendly with a smile on your face is what earns xmas gratitude tips from customers. You must be a right moody git ... :-X

I disagree Mick. have always had £300+ In tips and the only thing that's changed is upgrading the van this last year. I also agree that moving most custies to online payments means less tips.

And I'm not (always) a grumpy git so can't really blame that! 😄
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 26, 2015, 01:30:24 pm
I spent a weekend cleaning my 2006 combo 2 years back and several customers said "New van, you must be doing alright"  ::)roll ::)roll
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: DaveG on December 26, 2015, 06:02:48 pm
£392 and few bottles of wine and chocolates. Mind you, my van is a p.o.s!  ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Shane sharples on December 26, 2015, 07:13:49 pm
It does help if your a pauper, I usually have the ends of my shoes cut off so my toes are hanging out- this year I added a hole to my work trousers in the knee , my tips went up from around £300 to this year a massive £450!  ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: DaveG on December 26, 2015, 08:50:34 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: gary999 on December 26, 2015, 11:12:14 pm
Tips not quite as good as previous year cash wise...far more bottles of plonk though...shame I rarely
drink :)
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jonboywalton75 on December 27, 2015, 08:31:41 am
If I went collecting I'd get more tips
I never do , so I didn't get much
Mind you collecting is nearly as boring and time consuming as canvassing so I think I'll stick to doing things I enjoy and not worry that I missed out on a couple of hundred quid over a years worth of effort
Time is money, it's also something you never get back ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: tonyoliver on December 27, 2015, 11:27:43 am
Just under fifty for me some even ask for the 50 p change as I didn't have enough coins last month same service as you  lot
same smile just mean cuties who think you are cheating them out of their last penny
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Walter Mitty on December 27, 2015, 02:19:23 pm
My tips took a nosedive some years ago when I stopped collecting in person.  I'm fine with that as the saving on fuel more than makes up for it.  Also, I have gradually became more businesslike over the years, so I guess that many people respond to that by regarding me as not tippable.   I do price higher than I used to anyway so no problem.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Blackadder on December 27, 2015, 03:21:13 pm
I had about £75 tips from people who paid extra whilst doing their online payment, annoying as that means the tax man will be taking a cut of my tips :-(
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Johnny B on December 27, 2015, 04:30:32 pm
I don't count my tips. I just write in my book what I was paid (including any extra) and add it up with all my takings. I did get a few bottles of wine and boxes of chocs though.

I'm so cheap that some customers take pity on me and tip me all year round. It helps that I drive a van which dates from the last millennium and I look as if I have been dragged through a hedge backwards!

John
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jonboywalton75 on December 29, 2015, 07:16:25 am
Tips not quite as good as previous year cash wise...far more bottles of plonk though...shame I rarely
drink :)

Bet you wish you got biscuits😊
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: H20cleaning on December 29, 2015, 09:44:20 am
I feel like Dazmond from previous years but this is actually how much I got!
£690 cash
£30 in my bank
4 bottles of wine
3 bottles of cider
And 2 boxes of chocolates.
I got about £400 last year and have picked up just short of 100new customers, I am you and attractive which might of helped  ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 29, 2015, 10:19:41 am
Every year I used to get about £100 and maybe a bottle of wine or two.

This year I had two weeks in the warm sunshine early in December (sound like Dazmond!) and so only worked (like billy whizz) for 8 days between 14th and 23rd December and I'm off this week too. So I go into January well behind on work.

Anyway my tips were about £50 this year (and a bottle of wine).
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 29, 2015, 06:06:38 pm
Can never understand  why other window  cleaner s take holidays in the busiest  month of the year  ???
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: 8weekly on December 29, 2015, 06:33:39 pm
Can never understand  why other window  cleaner s take holidays in the busiest  month of the year  ???
Why is it any busier than any other month? If you supply a regular service it should be like any other month. It would only be busier if you do one off cleans wouldn't it?
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Rich Wilts on December 29, 2015, 06:55:53 pm
I feel like Dazmond from previous years but this is actually how much I got!
£690 cash
£30 in my bank
4 bottles of wine
3 bottles of cider
And 2 boxes of chocolates.
I got about £400 last year and have picked up just short of 100new customers, I am you and attractive and take it up the back passage which might of helped  ;D

FTFY.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: Rich Wilts on December 29, 2015, 06:57:55 pm
Every year I used to get about £100 and maybe a bottle of wine or two.

This year I had two weeks in the warm sunshine early in December (sound like Dazmond!) and so only worked (like billy whizz) for 8 days between 14th and 23rd December and I'm off this week too. So I go into January well behind on work.

Anyway my tips were about £50 this year (and a bottle of wine).

£3,122 overdue on work as we speak. And I didn't go on holiday  ???
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: gary999 on December 29, 2015, 11:09:20 pm
Still receiving tips...all goes towards me taking January off :)
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 29, 2015, 11:20:46 pm
Can never understand  why other window  cleaner s take holidays in the busiest  month of the year  ???

If that is addressed at me it's because I have things planned so that it doesn't matter if December and January are poor months. So they are as busy as I want them to be. If I pull in a couple of grand on each of them then that is fine as I will have made up a surplus in the six months prior.

And then I can go on holiday if I want and take off Xmas to New Year if I want or I can work if I want. Usually I work. This year I didn't (much).
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 30, 2015, 12:31:27 am
you must have a lot off understanding customers because biggest part off my customer base wants them doing before Christmas ,been cleaning for over 30 years now and every year my inlaws try to get me to go away in December, I decline every year wouldn't do that to my customers they keep me fed and watered so I like to keep them happy ,
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: KS Cleaning on December 30, 2015, 03:32:23 am
you must have a lot off understanding customers because biggest part off my customer base wants them doing before Christmas ,been cleaning for over 30 years now and every year my inlaws try to get me to go away in December, I decline every year wouldn't do that to my customers they keep me fed and watered so I like to keep them happy ,
Feck me man,  take a holiday when it suits you, do you want to be on your customers beck n call?
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 30, 2015, 10:33:50 am
I do a lot off my holidays in summer not bothered about going away in winter
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: LT carpet cleaning on December 30, 2015, 08:34:05 pm
you must have a lot off understanding customers because biggest part off my customer base wants them doing before Christmas ,been cleaning for over 30 years now and every year my inlaws try to get me to go away in December, I decline every year wouldn't do that to my customers they keep me fed and watered so I like to keep them happy ,

You have some tragic customers.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 31, 2015, 10:14:05 am
There are one or two who would like their windows done in the week before Xmas but with a 4 and especially predominantly an 8 week round only between 12 and 25% will get that. Maybe a bit more with a bit of fudging about.

So really the week before Xmas is a good excuse FOR ME to bring folk's windows forward a few days "to get them in before Xmas" - i.e. earlier than scheduled and so even this year I planned to work all daylight hours without pelting rain in the final week up to and including early afternoon Xmas eve. But round here Xmas eve was pouring rain until about 1 o' clock so I sacked it off.

Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: wfp master on December 31, 2015, 01:55:40 pm
Can never understand  why other window  cleaner s take holidays in the busiest  month of the year  ???
every months a busy month no matter if its december or june . i would rather take a holiday at this time of year when the weathers crap than in the summer when its good.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: wfp master on December 31, 2015, 01:58:00 pm
I do a lot off my holidays in summer not bothered about going away in winter
cant beat a bit winter sun.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 31, 2015, 02:32:28 pm
Don't know what all your customer s a like but I know mine like their windows doing for Christmas so I make a big effort to clean them which makes December  my busiest month off the year.  In summer  I  keep to my usual hours I don't do extra hours because  I get rained off any days what money doesn't come in because  off rain thats tough I just live with what I earn that week,
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 31, 2015, 02:36:07 pm
Plus I would rather have nice things to show for my hard work like a nice house and a nice car.  I used to go abroad every year up to about fifteen years ago but realised I was throwing five grand on a two week hols with nothing to show for my  money, now I have a nice house and car and get plenty off holidays in this country
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 31, 2015, 03:37:17 pm
Plus I would rather have nice things to show for my hard work like a nice house and a nice car.  I used to go abroad every year up to about fifteen years ago but realised I was throwing five grand on a two week hols with nothing to show for my  money, now I have a nice house and car and get plenty off holidays in this country

It doesn't have to be either/or it can be both if planned right.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 31, 2015, 03:48:11 pm
I can have both but I choose not to
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 31, 2015, 05:00:11 pm
I can have both but I choose not to

I'll sleep better knowing that.
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 31, 2015, 05:25:18 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: jk999 on December 31, 2015, 05:26:18 pm
Anyway happy new year to you all 🎉 ☺
Title: Re: good year for xmas tips and cards
Post by: kempy on December 31, 2015, 07:22:56 pm
A new car I need this 2016 , well our lads does . I won't get to drive it much .

Love a family holiday abroad as kids are 5 & 10 yrs old . Great times abroad at this age