Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on November 08, 2016, 08:39:53 am
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first time this has happened for maybe 10 years? ;D
new job a few months ago.she agreed on a 8 weekly frequency.windows were really dirty.I DIDNT CHARGE A FIRST CLEAN PRICE. ::)roll.£12-00. 3 bed semi with a kitchen extension.she seemed really nice and genuine. ::)roll
fast forward to second clean and i go collecting last night.he comes to the door."we only wanted them cleaned once" and i cant pay you as i have no money on me.i told him i would of charged him £20 if i knew it was a one off. >:(
he looked scared by the time i finished talking to him.i basically told him dont ever ask me to clean them again(its estate work and i clean nearly all the houses around his).somehow i think he ll hide when he sees me again! ;D.i hate w***kers like that.
so written off the £12.(thats £36 this year overall)
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If they don't mention the frequency best always ask "do you want a one off clean" then go quite until they say something.
Always worked for me in the past.
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Wouldn't let it annoy you, different if you had cleaned it without getting a penny and we have all had those, I got it from a
second cousin a few months back. never got paid, should have known as his dad is a complete t*****.
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Things like this never bother me!.
Part of the window cleaning game.
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Wouldn't let it annoy you, different if you had cleaned it without getting a penny and we have all had those, I got it from a
second cousin a few months back. never got paid, should have known as his dad is a complete t*****.
He did clean it without getting a penny .
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Wouldn't let it annoy you, different if you had cleaned it without getting a penny and we have all had those, I got it from a
second cousin a few months back. never got paid, should have known as his dad is a complete t*****.
He did clean it without getting a penny .
Doh, I'm getting worse. lol.
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First thing I say on new work before I quote how often do you want it cleaned if they say once I say bye bye if you have regular work why would anyone want to clean one offs
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First thing I say on new work before I quote how often do you want it cleaned if they say once I say bye bye if you have regular work why would anyone want to clean one offs
Me Too first question find out if it's a one off. I don't do them.
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First thing I say on new work before I quote how often do you want it cleaned if they say once I say bye bye if you have regular work why would anyone want to clean one offs
Me Too first question find out if it's a one off. I don't do them.
But that would have made no difference to the above as she agreed to an 8 week frequency, even charging double for the extra
work on the first clean wouldn't have made a difference as you would still get stung for the second, that said you would have had more cash in your pocket over the two cleans so a plus one on the side of charging extra on first cleans debate.
As for not wanting one offs that's a personal choice, for me every job has a price including a one off.
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I had that , £10 end terraced - 4 windows. Agreed to once a month , Did them once , she paid . Did them 2nd time and got a txt , we don't want them doing anymore as we found someone to do them for £4 . ::)roll
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Sounds like the hubbies got his knickers in a twist.
Its happened to me a few times, wifey happy to agree to a reg price as she just wants the job done. Husbands attitude ( king of his castle ) is its money for old rope ( his money ) and not happy with paying regularly for the privilege of having some bloke waving a stick about.
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It's happened to us, but not for ages.
At the quoting stage I stress that I only take on customers who want their windows cleaning regularly and that I'm not interested in doing one-offs.
If that comes across as rude or demanding, I'm not bothered because I'm not arsed whether I get the job or not (if it's just a run of the mill semi).
If it is a one-off, I charge high, but let them off easily by saying "Ask around, you may get it cheaper!" I would never go out of my way to quote; I'll just ask them to describe their property if it's over the phone.
It's rare I ever hear back from them. ;D
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First thing I say on new work before I quote how often do you want it cleaned if they say once I say bye bye if you have regular work why would anyone want to clean one offs
Me Too first question find out if it's a one off. I don't do them.
But that would have made no difference to the above as she agreed to an 8 week frequency, even charging double for the extra
work on the first clean wouldn't have made a difference as you would still get stung for the second, that said you would have had more cash in your pocket over the two cleans so a plus one on the side of charging extra on first cleans debate.
As for not wanting one offs that's a personal choice, for me every job has a price including a one off.
Yeah sorry you are right if you agreed in the first place then yes you did think it was gonna be regular,i would have said is the person there that I spoke to please and said do you remember the conversation we had before I started doing em.
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So he got zero for the second clean?
That's got to be better than nothing.
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So he got zero for the second clean?
That's got to be better than nothing.
;D
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"But I've got no money on me" no probs just bash yer card number in my card reader springs to mind then charge double ;D
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One way round it if you have any doubts (I know Daz didn't) is to ask for the second payment up front. And then the third before the second clean and so on. Any stalling, don't clean.
You soon get an idea of how regularly people want their windows cleaning when paying like this.
You could say it's to help with collecting rather than saying you don't trust them.
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its that time of year leading up to christmas
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Things like this never bother me!.
Part of the window cleaning game.
is it?its only happened to me a few times in 23 years of window cleaning.what annoyed me more than usual is im already having problems with a few other regular customers in regards to payment lately which is unusual for me. ::)roll
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Sadly you get these ones. I had one, she needed a regular cleaner n to get the window above conservatory. Its in an housing estate, (not council) where i spend the day cleaning so no problem taking more work on. Regular price was 12, first clean 18. She had no qualms. 4wks late i get a txt saying she wants to cancel. Fine, but i noted her in my book incase later she asks again. I virtually do all houses in there so she aint gonna get another cleaner easily. Dont mind doing it again, but it will be 20 next time.
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I have had loads this year.
problem with dropping flyers, you get the trash also.
Had one last month. Text me saying they were still dirty. Went back within 5mins. She took me round to cony. Well they looked bad inside..ya right what ever. Then she points to a dangly wet cobweb. I then knew she was taking the P. Asked if she was paying online. As you guess, never got it
Eggs at the ready :)
First thing I say is " is it a 1 off " if they say yes, I tell them prices start at £20. Gets rid of loads.
Had one other day. Her number came up as previous text. So I remembered cleaning them last time for £20. 5 min job. I asked her how much I charged her last time "er £10 I think " I text back! lol don't think so. £20 as always been my min charge. " that's ok" I did it 5 moths ago, so not that bad
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I've found that there are a couple of slightly tricky answers you when you say: "Is it a one off that you want?"
a) "Depends on the price"
b) "One off initially then wait and see"
Sometimes, I just can't tell if they are going to be "one clean wonders" when I'm talking over the phone.
The solution I've found with this type of potential customer is to tell them that we only accept payment by direct debit and that I'll send the a link (to the Go Cardless page on my website) so they can set up payment.
What happens is that only committed customers do this. The ones who aren't that serious disappear.
The other thing that has made life easier is compiling a list of other cleaners who do one off work. These are sent to customers who call me wanting one off's and who then "change their mind" to wanting regular after they discover we don't do one off's.
Before I had this list of local guys who do do one off works there was sometimes a bit of aggro when I turned these customers down.
If you just come straight out with other options for these types of leads then it means you've given them something and they walk away with options for themselves.
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If the window frames are really bad then it's double the price or even treble for the first clean with no exceptions, harsh maybe but only the regular customers go for it and the die hard desperate end of tenancy ones who get charged treble, why not ;D
Days of honest customers are slowly diminishing with the younger generation
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My first question to a new enquirer is: "Would you like a one off or a regular job?" Put like that it sounds as though I'm offering a choice. There is no reason for them to try to cheat by asking for regular when really they only want a one off. If they say "One off please", I have a couple of local cleaners who are happy to take them on, I pass the number to the enquirer, tell them to give the other chap a ring and thank them for calling.
Problem solved ;D
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Some peeps do tell porkies too so thats a good reason why you should charge the same as a one-off for a so say first clean.
It also weeds out the messers too.
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Thankfully i have plentybof regular work so any new enquiries are simply nice for expanding. All first customers get the same speil, i dont offer options. I simply explain all my work is four weekly, the first clean is x amount and then regular cleans are x amount from then on. If i have time to fit it in that day/wk excellent if not its next time im in area. Either way, always charge more for first clean to get windows upto your standards. Forget trying to work out if the custy is a messer or not, its proving that your not!! If they cancel after first clean, your still walking away with x amount extra you didnt a moment before. If you dont need the money give it to charity ;D n stop moaning. Me, that ten min extra clean or whatever has paid for my petrol that day or my cooked breakfast or something, that would have come from my usual days wage.