Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Fast 1 * on June 21, 2006, 02:41:46 am
-
i like window cleaning,but collecting does my head in.
Its as if some customers resent paying you,when it was them that agreed with the job in the first place.i knocked on one house in the evening for money,and he just arrogantly said "i aint got no money",as if me driving right out my way didnt matter.So i wont be doing his windows again.
Over the past couple of weeks,i have dropped a couple of customers,who have got on my nerves.Some of my customers are diamonds,while some are ****.I had a £20 job,which was a bit of a drive from the rest of the work i was doing that day,and when i turned up,she just casually said"dont bother this month".Some people,it seems see window cleaners as unintelligent,scum.It doesnt help when you get idiots pricing jobs up for 5 and 6 quid,wearing scruffy clothes and driving old cars with decaying ladders on top,which gives window cleaners a bad name.
It makes me laugh when i price a job up,and they say that their last window cleaner charged half that amount,to which i reply, where is he now?he obviously couldnt make money out of it and he was probably on the dole.Because of the very low start up costs,and the fact it is an easily aquired skill,we are unindated with two bob window cleaners,who also attempt to under cut others.
-
It doesnt help when you get idiots pricing jobs up for 5 and 6 quid,wearing scruffy clothes and driving old cars with decaying ladders on top,which gives window cleaners a bad name.
I agree with most of what you say, but this is offensive rubbish.
I don't wear expensive clothes for work, I drive a reasonably (by today's standards) old car, and my ladders look a bit ropey.
But I know I've got a very good name around here. :)
Customers would rather trust an "honest john" like me, than some smug git in a flash van who's clearly out to just make as much money as he can. >:(
Rog.
-
Hey!
Whats wrong with a flash van and being out to make as much money as you can :o :o
That describes me to a 'T' 8)
I don't think the rant was offensive Rog, just a guy letting off steam, I think we all understand where he is coming from.
The dole queue cheats annoy us all, as do customers that look at you as if you have just crawled out from under a stone (or those that sneak out the back door when you are halfway through to avoid paying you >:()
If I knew a dole cheat cleaning windows I'd shop him in an instant, I've no time for them at all.
Ian
-
Actually I'm glad Roger got in there first because that very sentance also got my back up, I've only been cleaning about 8 months unfortunatly my round is part time at the moment due to having two kids to look after, I'd love a nice shiny sign writen van but unfortunatly after paying the extra for business insurence for the car a slightly tatty old nissan bluebird, and public liability, Oh and £700 on a Wfp to comply with regs, I cant afford one yet, hopefully I'll get one soon and join the ranks of the pro's ;)
-
I agree with Rog and Chris i'm afraid. just because someone drives an old car doesnt make them a cow-boy....conversly having a shinny van is only an image inharncer (a good one i must add) - it is personal choice, but dont put down genuine cleaners that cant afford a quality van into the same league as dole dodgers.
DC
-
I agree with Rog and Chris i'm afraid. just because someone drives an old car doesnt make them a cow-boy....conversly having a shinny van is only an image inharncer (a good one i must add) - it is personal choice, but dont put down genuine cleaners that cant afford a quality van into the same league as dole dodgers.
DC
Guy's, I really think this has been taken the wrong way, an is not a jibe at any of us on here, regardless of what vehicle we drive. I think all of us on here are at different stages in our business and work within our financial restraints, however, I do believe that ALL of us on here are PROFESSIONAL and always looking to maintain our high standards and are by no means fly-by-nights.
I think the reference made is to those guy's who are just out to make a bit of beer money, have no work ethics and undercut us all, don't insure their car let alone the work and are signing on every week or two weeks whatever it is.
I myself started out in an old car, but my ladders were new and reliable, my appearance was good and I was a professional as I could and financially be. Now I operate a fleet of new vans with all my opeartives in company attire.
I really don't think this was aimed at any of us on here?
Best wishes,
Trev
-
guys guys chill, I took someone else up the wrong way a few days ago over a similar issue - there is a stereotype of wcs, esp ecs who drive bangers or don't even drive at all, stereotyping is something we just gotta accept, in a no-win situation, drive a banger and folks think you're a cowboy claiming benefits - drive a nice shiny new van/car and people think you're making too much money cleaning windows (forgetting about how much work we put in). I drive a 1995 306 D-Turbo apart from a dent on the front wing its in decent shape, not exactly flash but a neat little car, I've still had customers mention I must be making plenty of money! You just can't win.
But as for the benefit/dole cheats - yeah I'd shop em too, they cost us tax and jobs.
-
i didnt mean offence,i just had a bad day.no job is perfect.When it starts ****ing me off i just think of when i was working for someone else,lining their pockets.You cant beat working for yourself.I have nothing against people who are just starting out,and are struggling a bit at first because ive been there,its just the bad apples,every line of work has them.im far from flash,i just think the way you come across as a business is important,mainly because you will get respected more and gain more work.Image can make a difference,as does taking pride in yourself and your work.
-
That seems to have went down like a lead balloon.
-
It's ok Fast clean, I read it as it was inteded to sound ;)
Up until 6 months ago I was no different to the majority on here, old car and a roof rack full of ladders, it's how most of us get along.
It's taken me over 20 years, but I now have the shiny new van, all signwritten and smart 8)
And I am definitely out to make as much as I can too!! ;D
I'm reasuringly expensive ::) ....well it reasures me anyway!
Ian
-
i think what it is ive just come back off holiday,and its taking me time to get back into work.Today was a good day,picked up a couple of new jobs,so no more moaning.its all good
-
i like window cleaning,but collecting does my head in.
why not leave a stamped addressed envelope so they can send payment, i hated collecting too and now only take money if the customer is in at the time of the clean. no more collecting means no more frustrating evenings after working all day!
Any who dont send a cheque you can drop and replace.
-
there are certain things i was considering,like maybe standing orders,although i do sometimes quite like working on a cash basis.Saying that,cash maybe a thing of the past one day.
-
you could offer them online banking. The bill that we put through their door tells them that they can pay by sending chq always leave SAE no stamp / online banking giveing them you sort code and account No or by paypal via our web site.
more peolple are paying online and they always pay quicker than those who send chqs.
B
-
I'd love a brand new shiney van, finances allow me to make do with my 17yr old bright yellow sooty van, the customers love it they know when im around. 8)
Anyway cars with ladders on nothing wrong with them you can see that theyre trad window cleaners, i remember those days a lot simpler than lugging a load of water around. ;)
regards
Brett
-
Customers that treat me like something off the bottom of their shoe i am now getting rid of, i treat them and their property with respect and expect the same back. They need me more than i need them
collecting, i am thinking of changing over to stamped addressed envelopes as collecting is doing my head in especially when they keep you at the door for 5 mins and realise theyve got no money. I think some customers think we clean their windows just for a hobby ::)
regards
Brett
-
I earn about £30.00 an hour.
If I spend 2hrs collecting I get Zilch in terms of money earned.
But 2 hrs is worth £60 to me. That will buy a lot of S/A envelopes. Thats the way I am going I think.
Nel.
-
Guys, i think your missing what FAST ONE is moaning about, i agree with him. Hes moaning about customers who take the p**s out of us thinking we have nothing to do but drive arround to see if they wont there windows done.
Then there is the idiots who think its easy money who dont view it as a buisness, price down jobs then 3 months later give up. It gives the rest of us a bad name.
I had an R reg Escort tdi estate for work 7 months ago, i have a transporter now. Ive as much pride in my work now as I did back then.
macc
-
I have about half on SAE the other half i collect.
Last friday i had 20 to collect and only got 4 in make me wonder why i bother to collect at all.
Think from next week all my customers who i collect from are going to get a letter telling them im no longer collecting and they will be on SAE if out.
Paul
-
Its been said before and i will say it again , WE ALL HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE , this is my 2 years so far , i started with no customers , and now the commercial contracts are starting to roll in
Rich P @ F
-
and heres where i am now 3 vehicles and a bit of hard work later
Rich P @ F
-
Rich. Bit of a come down, BMW to a transpoter. ;D
Macc
-
transpoter. ;D
;D ;D ;D I like that typo! Sounds like a name for someone who goes out spotting trannie!
Well done P @ F - you look like you have done well. Was that an Audi in your drive? Loved my old Audi 80 sport!
-
I like P&Fs first pic - not even a roof rack! :)
JohnL
-
THe guy is minted, i think its 2 bm's ;D
-
It used to be 3 of them :-* , but sadly 1 had to go to pay for the wfp :'(
Hold on heres a pic , but im sure you will all agree a G plate beemer is a small price to pay for the safety and earning capability of wfp systems ;D
-
Nice. ;D. I think the wfp owes you one. ;D
macc
-
Hold on heres a pic , but im sure you will all agree a G plate beemer is a small price to pay for the safety and earning capability of wfp systems ;D
Nearly all Rich... ;D
-
O.K Squeaks , All but Squeaky will agree ! ;D
I have a Q for you though , i heard i think that ladder work will be gone by AUG O7 , dont know how true this is , but if so , what will you do ?
I know you say wfp is not for you but surely you wont fold and call it a day , w/c is in your blood , do you not think that you have worked too hard to just bin it all ?
I think we should start a 'Squeaky crisis fund' , if and when we replace our gear , if the old gear is not totally shot we hold it in the garage until the next WINDEX or similar and then we all converge with our bits and bobs to the site , that way we clear our garages and Squeaks get a budget wfp system !
HE'LL GET BITTEN BY THE BUG , YOU'LL SEE ;D ;D ;D
Rich P @ F
-
I'll start the ball rolling , i have a 175L tank which could soon become redundant , its got Squeakys name all over it , i would gladly give it to him , just to see Mr Die Hard with a pole in his hand !
You may want to re word the last comment , sounded a bit :-* YOO HOO :-* , but i couldnt think of another way to put it ! ;D
Rich P @ F
-
You've hit a snag with the first item... ;D
I've got nowhere to put a tank.
-
You've hit a snag with the first item... ;D
I've got nowhere to put a tank.
Hi Squeaky. Out with an arm chair & in with the tank. Sorted. ;D. Its all you will talk about so if its in the front room you can demonstrate what you mean. ;)
macc
-
That's a great idea. You could fit a nicely upholstered tank in the lounge.
Come to think of it I recently dumped a 7ft by 6ft water bed mattress.
After I imported a brand new one from the states, I found that I had installed the old one upside down, the lumber support was supporting my knees. Dai
-
YOUR NOT WELSH BY ANY CHANCE ARE YOU DAI ?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Rich P @ F
-
...I found that I had installed the old one upside down, the lumber support was supporting my knees. Dai
Ideal for old window cleaners knees. ;D
-
Are your knees hurting because of all that ladder work Squeaky ??? ;D ;D
Sorry, had to ask.
Will go stand in the corner now for being a bad boy ;)
Trev
-
I must agree, yes you have to start somewhere, as long as you start with a window cleaners bucket, and not a builders bucket, I cant express enough how poop window cleaners look using a builders bucket. So if your reading this and are using a builders bucket, either p off out of the trade, because quiet frankly your a disgrace to fellow window cleaners, or go spend a few pounds and look more professional.
-
I must agree, yes you have to start somewhere, as long as you start with a window cleaners bucket, and not a builders bucket, I cant express enough how nuts window cleaners look using a builders bucket. So if your reading this and are using a builders bucket, either p off out of the trade, because quiet frankly your a disgrace to fellow window cleaners, or go spend a few pounds and look more professional.
Clevs
when I see them useing builders buckets, I like it because they look so much more unprofessional, and you often find there not around for to long.
But I do agree with you, if you want to look the part then buy the proper gear.