Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 08:42:10 am

Title: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 08:42:10 am
So this is a customer who I have cleaned for about 18 years, as part of a friend's round and the last three as part of my round from buying some work off the friend who now has moved.   After two years of me doing the house I put the price up from a tenner to fifteen as she n others rarely had a price increase and she hasn't liked it since doing so.
So I got this text today

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1530776275_aviary-image-1530776033049.jpeg)

The window cleaner she spoke to is a very good friend of mine who cleans her neighbours windows as he cleans their business and phoned me about the situation, that's why I was going to see her.  So I thought ild guilt her and told her the real reason as its been an hellish past month (literally saving my brother in laws live and helping him not to hit the bottle).
Wonder if she says anything when I clean her other neighbours windows  ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Chris34 on July 05, 2018, 09:04:12 am
I think you have gone a bit overboard with that, it looks unprofessional.   I think you need to keep it simple.  Everybody has personal issues, it's whether you let them personal issues effect your work. 
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 09:25:10 am
I think you have gone a bit overboard with that, it looks unprofessional.   I think you need to keep it simple.  Everybody has personal issues, it's whether you let them personal issues effect your work.

Yep I agree with both statements. Personal circumstances however do effect work when your self employed, some things are a little more important than cleaning windows.   
If I'm running late I normally let clients know that it's circumstances outside my control and thats all that's required to be said.
However, and it is a lame excuse, for this particular customer who I know personally for many years it felt very fitting for reasons that I know.
But it also peeves me that this is the first time in all those years she has ever been late on a clean and she has my personal contact number that she should have enquired about my whereabouts or considered I may have been ill or on holiday etc etc. Yet nothing and is quick to ask another cleaner who she doesn't know and for what, because in over twenty years (my friend cleaned them since he was 17 n now 40) she's had her second increase in price.  Little did she know the cleaner she asked is a good friend and when I asked how much he was going to charge its the same price I would have picked if she was a new customer. That price is more than what she paid me, as I couldn't put her price up more than a fiver and she didn't like that. So either way it's not a great ending for her and that makes me chuckle
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: robert mitchell on July 05, 2018, 09:32:10 am
Sorry about what happened to your brother in law , I have been in a similar situation and couldn’t save him .

It’s nothing to do with your customer though and you shouldn’t take things personally , it’s not going to bankrupt you , let it go by saying something like -

Thanks for your previous custom , if you need anything in the future let us know .

Window cleaners drop customers when it no longer suits them , it’s just business , no loyalty either way .
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 05, 2018, 01:10:10 pm
So you say the customer has no loyalty even though you are supposed to provide a sevice and didn’t - surely you could have cleaned them a day or so late not 10 weeks

Remember it’s business and as posted you again have gone overboard and complicated things all that was needed was a sorry from you and wish them well in the future - I’m sure had you at the time been more customer focused and let them know there were “issues” you would still have them as a customer if not then you are correct and they are a shower of sh!£

Darran
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: shammy davis jnr on July 05, 2018, 01:22:14 pm
I’ve had this recently mate for if it wasn’t that ,it would have been something else ,,,,it’s as simple as next plz onward and upward ......our text and say I hope your next shi1t is a hedge hog  ;D like we would all love to do but it’s biz mate move on head held high ,,,your next door will be a £20 quid one for sure as I say no friends in the desert
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Shrek on July 05, 2018, 01:32:27 pm
I really don’t know how you can be weeks behind when you only work 3 days a week . 10 weeks late on a 4 weekly schedule is just wrong. Regardless of what’s going on in your life the customer wanted her windows cleaned regularly and you failed - you should have contacted her not the other way round . You missed her twice may & June  , how do you miss the same person twice but clean all her neighbours  ???
If I ever miss any of my customers, I would go back on a Saturday morning to catch up.
When you start letting your personal life interfere with your business , it’s a downward spiral. Hope this is a wake up call for you
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Soupy on July 05, 2018, 01:41:31 pm
It's because you have rounds not a round.

If you had a round you'd have been a couple of days late..
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 02:16:47 pm
So you say the customer has no loyalty even though you are supposed to provide a sevice and didn’t - surely you could have cleaned them a day or so late not 10 weeks

Remember it’s business and as posted you again have gone overboard and complicated things all that was needed was a sorry from you and wish them well in the future - I’m sure had you at the time been more customer focused and let them know there were “issues” you would still have them as a customer if not then you are correct and they are a shower of sh!£

Darran

Time n time again I let my customers know about my Facebook page, where I keep my customers upto date as to if I'm running late etc.
My customer, including this one all have my number on the cards I it wouldn't have been hard to text and enquire or even to check my page out.  On the other hand I do not have contact details of all my customers to possibly text them all to let know.

Yes I needed to skip them in May so it would have been just 8 weeks late if I was on schedule and let's face it, the windows I clean don't start to look dusty until around 7weeks so I didn't honestly feel it would be a problem. However with the recent family situation it just pushed some work on
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Cookie on July 05, 2018, 02:32:59 pm
If I'm running late or I take a couple of weeks holiday I just shift all domestic work forward a week or two. I occasionally get the odd comment but mostly people are fine with this.  For shop fronts/commercials etc... I always make an effort to be on time.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 02:39:51 pm
Totally understand.
If I'm running overly late I'll sooner run late on one street than be late on all my work. So I would drop a street and crack onto the next section of my round. Therefore it's only a small section that is out of sync instead.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Cookie on July 05, 2018, 02:53:14 pm
Totally understand.
If I'm running overly late I,ld sooner run late o. One street than be late on all my work. So I would drop a street and crack onto the next section of my round. Therefore it's only a small section that is out of sync instead.

This is why the customer was unhappy though! If you were just one or two weeks late she'd still be your customer!

If you don't want to be late on your other work you just need to work the odd Saturday am to catch up. I sometimes go out on a Saturday with my teenage son, we make a day of it & hopefully it gets him into the work ethic...
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Richard Groves on July 05, 2018, 03:08:35 pm
As above ^. Also they may have thought a 50% price increase warranted you being a little more customer focused . If the new cleaner is a good friend why didn't you ask him to cover if you were struggling ?  I've a couple of good window cleaning mates and we help each other out.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 05, 2018, 03:20:39 pm
nathan is the only window cleaner i know who gets behind with his round working 3 days a week...... ;D ;D ;D

no wonder shes sacked you....your unreliable and expensive in her eyes! ::)roll
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 05, 2018, 03:32:29 pm
i just have one big round(not little rounds here and there)and i also just move work forward a week or two when on holiday/ill or whatever.....

I NEVER SKIP A CUSTOMERS WINDOWS UNLESS THEIR HAVING BUILDING WORK/PAINTING DONE ETC....

in fact ive recently moved my whole schedule forward a week due to a stomach bug so no customers are anymore than a week overdue.......thats the way it should be IMO....not missing customers windows for months at a time.......
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: KS Cleaning on July 05, 2018, 03:43:56 pm
Nathan will be on here next week telling everyone he always provides a professional service😂
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Stoots on July 05, 2018, 03:55:56 pm
Unfortunately it is your fault mate. You didn't make it last time as you cut the day short and then you let it slide to 10 weeks. We've all done it sometimes we get away with it an other times not.

I've been 3 weeks behind with my round since may, I went on holiday for two weeks all up to date, lost my employee and came back to a load of texts and calls asking where I was.

I lost about 5 customers so far from me not informing them with what was going on. It was my fault though.

The problem is some customers couldn't give a toss when we turn up or even if we do at all lol but others actually want them cleaning on the schedule.

I think soupy made a good point about having lots of rounds vs a round.

I also have lots of rounds, I don't call them that I just call them days but same idea.. i'll have 15-20 customers per day and they will all be a different  area or village per day. The issue is when you don't get round them all if you have no where to go as you could be in a totally different area the next day and if you don't get them all done it slides into the next and before you know it all your days are messed up and out of sync. I've done this over and over again.

I think like soupy suggest you should get your entire round and organise it all into an order from one house to the next. Start at number 1 and end at 400 (or however many) then if you get to number 38 and cut the day short the next day you start at number 39. At most you will be days behind.  I'm going to do this myself as I'm guilty of doing what you did.  ;)
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 05, 2018, 04:07:32 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Richard Groves on July 05, 2018, 04:45:15 pm
If I were the customer I'd have been less than impressed with your reply ( apart from the part about your in law - she didn't need to know that or made to feel guilty ). She isn't a mind reader nor owes you any loyalty after 10 weeks.It sounds like you couldn't be arsed and cut your day short. Then rather than going back following day(s) , just decided to skip it all together ! What is she paying you for exactly ?
My reply would have been " totally understand, thanks for letting me know, my apologies for getting behind. I've had an  unforseen family matter that's interrupted  my work. Regards Nathan."
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: robbo333 on July 05, 2018, 05:04:10 pm
Mate you're proper late.
She's dumped you.
Suck it up, be polite, short and 'to the point'.
Try not to let it happen again.
Learn from it.
Move on...
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 05:09:57 pm
It's interesting to see how many guys big themselves up on here and blow their own trumpets as saints.

Let's just make a couple  of points clear.
Firstly who cares if I have one massive round or if I call it rounds. Get real chaps. I segment my work into the areas I work. So for instance I spend a week in scawsby (an area in Doncaster) and I count that as a round, starting at job one and finishing at job x.  Its my scawsby round on week 3.   So stop being pedantic on this point, as its irrelevant.
Second, if you've never missed a couple of jobs out until your next due then your super organised and hat off to you sir. But I'm sure most on here for whatever reason have missed the odd jobs out before.    In this case it's unfortunate that June's work has rolled over into the first week of July.  If it was done at the end of June we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

But I forgot, the rest of you are window clean gods.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yes I know my response was o, t, t. but what you lot don't understand is the dynamics of the customer/client relationship that we've had over 18yrs but then why would I expect you to understand that side
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 05, 2018, 05:11:28 pm
If I were the customer I'd have been less than impressed with your reply ( apart from the part about your in law - she didn't need to know that or made to feel guilty ). She isn't a mind reader nor owes you any loyalty after 10 weeks.It sounds like you couldn't be arsed and cut your day short. Then rather than going back following day(s) , just decided to skip it all together ! What is she paying you for exactly ?
My reply would have been " totally understand, thanks for letting me know, my apologies for getting behind. I've had an  unforseen family matter that's interrupted  my work. Regards Nathan."

rather than cutting his day short, nathan should try and cut his texts/explanations/messages down a bit but i doubt that will happen! ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: John Mart on July 05, 2018, 05:15:40 pm
I had one drop us last week for being 2 working days late. I said “we’re 4 days late, some people eh?” in the reply. I suspect she’d got a cheaper quote really but she pulled me up for not being customer friendly. Of course she missed the point as she’s an EX customer.

I know I should by now not take things personally but I get irritated by idiots and can’t help myself.

However, I’d never make ridiculous excuses like I had to save my budgie’s life or whatever. It’s not just unprofessional, it’s idiotic.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Soupy on July 05, 2018, 05:18:16 pm
It's interesting to see how many guys big themselves up on here and blow their own trumpets as saints.

Let's just make a couple  of points clear.
Firstly who cares if I have one massive round or if I call it rounds. Get real chaps. I segment my work into the areas I work. So for instance I spend a week in scawsby (an area in Doncaster) and I count that as a round, starting at job one and finishing at job x.  Its my scawsby round on week 3.   So stop being pedantic on this point, as its irrelevant.
Second, if you've never missed a couple of jobs out until your next due then your super organised and hat off to you sir. But I'm sure most on here for whatever reason have missed the odd jobs out before.    In this case it's unfortunate that June's work has rolled over into the first week of July.  If it was done at the end of June we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

But I forgot, the rest of you are window clean gods.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yes I know my response was o, t, t. but what you lot don't understand is the dynamics of the customer/client relationship that we've had over 18yrs but then why would I expect you to understand that side

It's not irrelevant though is it?

It's just lost you a long standing customer.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Soupy on July 05, 2018, 05:25:10 pm
It's interesting to see how many guys big themselves up on here and blow their own trumpets as saints.

Let's just make a couple  of points clear.
Firstly who cares if I have one massive round or if I call it rounds. Get real chaps. I segment my work into the areas I work. So for instance I spend a week in scawsby (an area in Doncaster) and I count that as a round, starting at job one and finishing at job x.  Its my scawsby round on week 3.   So stop being pedantic on this point, as its irrelevant.
Second, if you've never missed a couple of jobs out until your next due then your super organised and hat off to you sir. But I'm sure most on here for whatever reason have missed the odd jobs out before.    In this case it's unfortunate that June's work has rolled over into the first week of July.  If it was done at the end of June we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

But I forgot, the rest of you are window clean gods.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yes I know my response was o, t, t. but what you lot don't understand is the dynamics of the customer/client relationship that we've had over 18yrs but then why would I expect you to understand that side

Dear Nathan,

Nobody is bigging themselves up, blowing their own trumpet or claiming to be a saint. You've moaned about no loyalty from a customer and explained that you've not been round in ten weeks. Almost unilaterally you've been told that you are in the wrong here. The way you have handled it is wrong. Your attitude toward the customer is wrong. Probably the way you schedule your work is wrong (I can't be sure because it makes absolutely no sense to me).

That is my opinion.

Yours sincerely,

Window cleaning God.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Stoots on July 05, 2018, 05:35:11 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D

i agree with you, i think where nathan (and me) is going wrong is if we dont get them all done that day then we skip whats left. reason being is that if i did them the next day then im not going to get all the next days done so that shifts down a day and before you know it all days are mixed up. (as pointed out that only happens if you have seperate days or rounds)

its absoloutely about discipline to finish the days work or catch up no matter what the next day or the weekend.  i dont hav that discipline, once im tired and had enough thats it im off home lol

recently is a great example, its too hot and by 2pm im fed up, sweating my tits off  and in a bad mood,  i`ll just jack it it and go home, i dont have the mental strength to push through and get the job done.

At least if i had them all in one big round order and i went home early i could just start from where i left off.

Mind you im going through a phase of cant be arsed lately, dont know if its the weather or a bit of depression or im just fed up of cleaning windows, hopefully it will pass.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 05, 2018, 05:48:05 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D

i agree with you, i think where nathan (and me) is going wrong is if we dont get them all done that day then we skip whats left. reason being is that if i did them the next day then im not going to get all the next days done so that shifts down a day and before you know it all days are mixed up.

its absoloutely about discipline to finish the days work or catch up no matter what the next day or the weekend.  i dont hav that discipline, once im tired and had enough thats it im off home lol

recently is a great example, its too hot and by 2pm im fed up, sweating my tits off  and in a bad mood,  i`ll just jack it it and go home, i dont have the mental strength to push through and get the job done.

At least if i had them all in one big round order and i went home early i could just start from where i left off.

Mind you im going through a phase of cant be arsed lately, dont know if its the weather or a bit of depression or im just fed up of cleaning windows, hopefully it will pass.

dont try and cram too much work into one day then adam....pace yourself..............im lucky as most of my work is within the same 5 mile area so its no problem to go back the next day if ive got a couple of jobs left to finish off....work further away ALWAYS gets done the same day so no going 10 miles out of my way for a couple of jobs.....

i like routine though...in fact i thrive on it so i usually get my work done no matter what.....

today i worked 830am-2pm(30 mins lunch)and earned £200+......thats enough hours in this weather for me..... 8)

Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Missing Link on July 05, 2018, 05:50:59 pm
Yes I know my response was o, t, t. but what you lot don't understand is the dynamics of the customer/client relationship that we've had over 18yrs but then why would I expect you to understand that side

I reckon the customer hasn't dumped you because you were late, she's dumped you for some other reason and used the lateness as an excuse.

A big clue is that she managed to text you to tell you you're dumped, rather than ask when you'll be around to do the clean.

The response should've been, "Apologies, but thank you for your custom."

Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 05:53:43 pm
I don't have set days for set work ma's in above threads. I work a round until its finished and then go start the next round, be it on a Tuesday or a Friday. We'll, generally speaking that is.  However, if say I'm three jobs short of finishing that round for whatever reason and my next round is ten mile in different direction.  I may choose to leave them three until next time and the vast majority of my customers don't mind and the reason they don't mind is because every four weeks they pay me to clean, clean windows.  This is why I now give new clients the choice of 4 or 8 wkly schedules.

Now, after leaving statements on my social media page which all my customers have been asked to sign upto for the purpose of being kept upto date about any delays etc or holidays etc etc am I expected to text every customer to explain a delay in service.

Now this particular casing point has happened to go past eight weeks, an explanation is on my website. The customer has my contact details and can easily enquire if concerned and this is the first time in many many years this has happened. I'm just surprised at no contact and no benefit of doubt. Its a simple case of your late and so ur fired.    I know however after speaking with the neighbour today, it's nothing to do with this but she's still sore about the price increase and she ain't happy with the quote from my friend either. So it looks like she's gonna have to clean them herself
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: robbo333 on July 05, 2018, 05:54:59 pm
It's interesting to see how many guys big themselves up on here and blow their own trumpets as saints.

Let's just make a couple  of points clear.
Firstly who cares if I have one massive round or if I call it rounds. Get real chaps. I segment my work into the areas I work. So for instance I spend a week in scawsby (an area in Doncaster) and I count that as a round, starting at job one and finishing at job x.  Its my scawsby round on week 3.   So stop being pedantic on this point, as its irrelevant.
Second, if you've never missed a couple of jobs out until your next due then your super organised and hat off to you sir. But I'm sure most on here for whatever reason have missed the odd jobs out before.    In this case it's unfortunate that June's work has rolled over into the first week of July.  If it was done at the end of June we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

But I forgot, the rest of you are window clean gods.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yes I know my response was o, t, t. but what you lot don't understand is the dynamics of the customer/client relationship that we've had over 18yrs but then why would I expect you to understand that side


Nathan

No disrespect mate, but there have been some positive points made here and unfortunately, you are very quick to be argumentative and dismissive!

I'm 53 years old and 'big enough' to think...could some of these points be valid, 'could I be wrong', what could I do better?

I KNOW, I need a holiday: working 6 days a week, hot, tired and generally fed up.

Perhaps you do to. Sometimes we don't realise it.

Robbo


Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Missing Link on July 05, 2018, 05:57:13 pm
she's still sore about the price increase

I had one recently that blamed her husband for her cancellation.  She said he 'wasn't happy with the price'.

I just thanked her for her custom.

You can't get upset about every account you lose; or any of them really.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on July 05, 2018, 06:19:01 pm
she's still sore about the price increase

I had one recently that blamed her husband for her cancellation.  She said he 'wasn't happy with the price'.

I just thanked her for her custom.

You can't get upset about every account you lose; or any of them really.


I put an increase in one. She said no thank and wanted to cancel. I Said no issue and thanked her for her business and that the service has been cancelled.

Five mins later she text back to change her mind and accepted the increase.

Must have been trying it on with me.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Stoots on July 05, 2018, 06:19:18 pm
I don't have set days for set work ma's in above threads. I work a round until its finished and then go start the next round, be it on a Tuesday or a Friday. We'll, generally speaking that is.  However, if say I'm three jobs short of finishing that round for whatever reason and my next round is ten mile in different direction.  I may choose to leave them three until next time and the vast majority of my customers don't mind and the reason they don't mind is because every four weeks they pay me to clean, clean windows.  This is why I now give new clients the choice of 4 or 8 wkly schedules.

Now, after leaving statements on my social media page which all my customers have been asked to sign upto for the purpose of being kept upto date about any delays etc or holidays etc etc am I expected to text every customer to explain a delay in service.

Now this particular casing point has happened to go past eight weeks, an explanation is on my website. The customer has my contact details and can easily enquire if concerned and this is the first time in many many years this has happened. I'm just surprised at no contact and no benefit of doubt. Its a simple case of your late and so ur fired.    I know however after speaking with the neighbour today, it's nothing to do with this but she's still sore about the price increase and she ain't happy with the quote from my friend either. So it looks like she's gonna have to clean them herself


You are right, its probably the price increase and you being late was just a good excuse. But if thats the case then what can you do? she probably didnt want to ask if you could lower the price and didnt want tell you its down to price for the sake of her pride.

But if she wont pay the price then shes no use to you anyway, just concentrate on replacing her asap.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: G Griffin on July 05, 2018, 06:24:54 pm
Maybe Nathan's behind (ooh err) because he works in the rain and it hasn't rained for a while.
 
And Nate, don't get stroppy when the window cleaning God's disagree with you. It's how a forum works. 
Now I think your pride was dented a little and you wanted some reassurance. You don't get it and you don't like it.
Just accept that you slipped up and get on with it.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Slacky on July 05, 2018, 06:30:27 pm
I think we need a video.

For clarification purposes.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 06:43:22 pm
Maybe Nathan's behind (ooh err) because he works in the rain and it hasn't rained for a while.
 
And Nate, don't get stroppy when the window cleaning God's disagree with you. It's how a forum works. 
Now I think your pride was dented a little and you wanted some reassurance. You don't get it and you don't like it.
Just accept that you slipped up and get on with it.

Your probably right. Its been a hellish month n I'm ready for a break. Good job I'm away this wknd n the wife's banned me from taking the phone so I get no work related calls which mostly happen when I'm on a break.

Thanks for the feedback chaps, apologies for the dummy throwing.
See it's good to have a paddy on here at times. 
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 05, 2018, 06:45:46 pm
On the positive side,
I picked up a £25 4 weekly and and a £35 8 weekly customer.
Haha just got to learn not to skip their clean  ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 05, 2018, 06:49:29 pm
Calling it a round or many rounds is irrelevant the big fact I see here is you won’t catch up on anything you miss towards the end of the day and leave them until next time AND no I’ve never skipped a customer in 9 years that does not make me a cleaning god just customer focused you really talk like customers owe you something and are lucky to have you, perhaps this comes across and coupled with your massive price rise the customer has had enough I would lose loads if I didn’t turn up as agreed

By what you say in just missing them out you have no problems with door step cancellations when the customer doesn’t feel like having windows cleaned ?

Don’t sweat the small stuff, you f@@ked up take it on the chin

Darran
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Slacky on July 05, 2018, 08:42:47 pm
The most talked about topic on here and all of the FB groups is so called professional cleaners unable to deal with customers rejecting them; over a £10 account.

I mean, seriously?


Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: C & S on July 05, 2018, 09:36:09 pm
Dont worry about one house out of many hundreds I presume.

You had bigger stuff going on.

I know you were rather late etc but thats just how it ended up. I dont care if I miss a clean of somebody and has my reasons.

No customer is loyal. They will drop you like a hat. I loose them or dump them all the time but pick up loads. it doesn't matter in grand scheme of things. as long as your busy making money crack on.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: G Griffin on July 05, 2018, 10:16:48 pm
Maybe Nathan's behind (ooh err) because he works in the rain and it hasn't rained for a while.
 
And Nate, don't get stroppy when the window cleaning God's disagree with you. It's how a forum works. 
Now I think your pride was dented a little and you wanted some reassurance. You don't get it and you don't like it.
Just accept that you slipped up and get on with it.

Your probably right. Its been a hellish month n I'm ready for a break. Good job I'm away this wknd n the wife's banned me from taking the phone so I get no work related calls which mostly happen when I'm on a break.

Thanks for the feedback chaps, apologies for the dummy throwing.
See it's good to have a paddy on here at times.
Enjoy your weekend and leave the phone at home  :).
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: windowswashed on July 05, 2018, 11:09:57 pm
Just prioritise your best work, run of mill and dross and do them in that order, when you can't keep up, lose some. No point working towards an early grave. You lose some (ideally the dross) and gain some (ideally better priced, easier access). Learn as we go and customers rarely give the real excuses so read between the lines
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Go on July 05, 2018, 11:49:11 pm
It’s just numbers, smile and moob on.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Phil J on July 06, 2018, 06:36:24 am
Nathan,
Just think, if you stopped making videos and just cracked on with your work, you'd never be behind and she'd still be your customer!
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Missing Link on July 06, 2018, 06:56:46 am
The most talked about topic on here and all of the FB groups is so called professional cleaners unable to deal with customers rejecting them; over a £10 account.

I mean, seriously?

I've had a local window cleaner phone me and ask "Have you picked up any new accounts?" because he'd lost one to somebody and was annoyed.  He always gets annoyed when he loses accounts.

And he's like an auld guy, who smokes heavily, who couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag, so I'm not sure what he was after.

I gave him some sound advice, like "Hahahaha", and "chillax". ;D

(It wasn't me either.  ;D)
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: andyM on July 06, 2018, 07:05:19 am
It’s just numbers, smile and moob on.


(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1530857098_grin.gif)
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: colin bird on July 06, 2018, 07:42:36 am
When I get a text  sacking me ,I  don't bother replying,I just delete them from my round and carry on what I was doing,it used to bother me but after ten years cleaning windows I'm now bullet proof
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 06, 2018, 08:44:02 am
i try and stay reliable and doing a good job for a fair price but i still get dumped occasionally....sometimes it could be the price/cutting back on costs or found someone cheaper....who knows....im just second guessing most of the time......best thing to do is what colin says.......suspend them from your round and move on to your next job and dont give it a second thought......
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Richard Groves on July 06, 2018, 08:53:58 am
Just prioritise your best work, run of mill and dross and do them in that order, when you can't keep up, lose some. No point working towards an early grave. You lose some (ideally the dross) and gain some (ideally better priced, easier access). Learn as we go and customers rarely give the real excuses so read between the lines
Sounds to me like that's what he did - prioritise . It was one of his dross jobs he couldn't be bothered with else he'd have done it. Not sure why he's moaning tbh , he's just picked up £60 worth of work to replace a £15 account.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 06, 2018, 08:57:21 am
Just prioritise your best work, run of mill and dross and do them in that order, when you can't keep up, lose some. No point working towards an early grave. You lose some (ideally the dross) and gain some (ideally better priced, easier access). Learn as we go and customers rarely give the real excuses so read between the lines
Sounds to me like that's what he did - prioritise . It was one of his dross jobs he couldn't be bothered with else he'd have done it. Not sure why he's moaning tbh , he's just picked up £60 worth of work to replace a £15 account.

Im sure he did 👍
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: NWH on July 06, 2018, 01:34:16 pm
I can’t think of anything more boring than cleaning windows on a round basis,I pick what work I want to do within reason no wonder some of you boys get fed up with the old job. Round and round and round the same old jobs on a monthly cycle no thanks very much I’ll stick my 6 weekly 2-3 monthly work ok it’s the same but at least it’s varied,shotgun noose tree come to mind.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 06, 2018, 02:38:32 pm
I can’t think of anything more boring than cleaning windows on a round basis,I pick what work I want to do within reason no wonder some of you boys get fed up with the old job. Round and round and round the same old jobs on a monthly cycle no thanks very much I’ll stick my 6 weekly 2-3 monthly work ok it’s the same but at least it’s varied,shotgun noose tree come to mind.

Bizzare!

A round is a round

Darran
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: NWH on July 06, 2018, 02:53:09 pm
A round will be done by 1 of your monkeys which is the same week in week out coz it’s earning  you money and you couldn’t give a toss because you ain’t gotta clean it more like lol,I vary my work I have no set days for work unless it’s an inside and out job that will take at least half a day. To me a monthly clean would seem like a couple of weeks I have about 4/5 but they are very good payers I couldn’t imagine having a load of monthly stuff these days it would take the pleasure out of being my own boss and cherry picking work,the way I work if I get behind I can do 2 days money in 1 day by picking out jobs I need to do to make up for lost time. You’ll earn more with more work with longer breaks between cleans,50 every 8 weeks is easier to swallow than 50 a month for the homeowner.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 06, 2018, 04:14:54 pm
How little you really know,

My 6 guys ( and it’s very disrespectful to refer to them as monkeys ) do a variety of works 4 and 8 wky windows but 30% is now s/f/g cleaning or various wfp cleans then we have pressure washing so the guys rarely do the same thing weekly never mind 4 weekly

As always you big yourself up about how you are the best with the best prices and everyone else are inferior because they do different types of houses - at the end of the day you kid yourself as just like the rest of us you go to work because you need it to survive
Darran
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on July 06, 2018, 04:37:16 pm
Nathan mate, it's business, nothing personal. Do you know what i text back when i get a cancelation... "Ok" nothing more, nothing less.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: NWH on July 06, 2018, 05:07:44 pm
I don’t kid myself Darren I as you say go to work but I don’t take crap on for the sake of it either,you would be more tempted by those terd of a jobs more than me pal you’ve got far far bigger bills if you’ve got 6 blokes to pay for. Nice to know you remember me though 😂 better to be remembered than not at all.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Smudger on July 06, 2018, 05:15:37 pm
Of course it’s good to be remembered 😂
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: John Mart on July 06, 2018, 07:20:46 pm
A round will be done by 1 of your monkeys which is the same week in week out coz it’s earning  you money and you couldn’t give a toss because you ain’t gotta clean it more like lol,I vary my work I have no set days for work unless it’s an inside and out job that will take at least half a day. To me a monthly clean would seem like a couple of weeks I have about 4/5 but they are very good payers I couldn’t imagine having a load of monthly stuff these days it would take the pleasure out of being my own boss and cherry picking work,the way I work if I get behind I can do 2 days money in 1 day by picking out jobs I need to do to make up for lost time. You’ll earn more with more work with longer breaks between cleans,50 every 8 weeks is easier to swallow than 50 a month for the homeowner.
I often turn down those one off jobs as we struggle to keep up with round work. There’s normally a window after taking someone on when we catch up when we do them, but I prefer not to take people on if I’m relying on one offs to keep busy. So round work is all I care about.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: paul alan on July 06, 2018, 07:20:54 pm
A round will be done by 1 of your monkeys which is the same week in week out coz it’s earning  you money and you couldn’t give a toss because you ain’t gotta clean it more like lol,I vary my work I have no set days for work unless it’s an inside and out job that will take at least half a day. To me a monthly clean would seem like a couple of weeks I have about 4/5 but they are very good payers I couldn’t imagine having a load of monthly stuff these days it would take the pleasure out of being my own boss and cherry picking work,the way I work if I get behind I can do 2 days money in 1 day by picking out jobs I need to do to make up for lost time. You’ll earn more with more work with longer breaks between cleans,50 every 8 weeks is easier to swallow than 50 a month for the homeowner.

If I was to pick through the work I wanted to do and put off the jobs I didn't, I wouldn't end up with much work. A place for everything and everything in its place works for me, regardless it gets done.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: paul alan on July 06, 2018, 07:22:13 pm
A round will be done by 1 of your monkeys which is the same week in week out coz it’s earning  you money and you couldn’t give a toss because you ain’t gotta clean it more like lol,I vary my work I have no set days for work unless it’s an inside and out job that will take at least half a day. To me a monthly clean would seem like a couple of weeks I have about 4/5 but they are very good payers I couldn’t imagine having a load of monthly stuff these days it would take the pleasure out of being my own boss and cherry picking work,the way I work if I get behind I can do 2 days money in 1 day by picking out jobs I need to do to make up for lost time. You’ll earn more with more work with longer breaks between cleans,50 every 8 weeks is easier to swallow than 50 a month for the homeowner.
I often turn down those one off jobs as we struggle to keep up with round work. There’s normally a window after taking someone on when we catch up when we do them, but I prefer not to take people on if I’m relying on one offs to keep busy. So round work is all I care about.

I bet there's a few "windows" after taking someone on, no pun intended!
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: NWH on July 06, 2018, 09:37:27 pm
All the work I have now I have filtered out so I don’t mind doing any of it,what I’m saying is if I look in my book and fancy a certain area the next day I’ll just do it. If I felt like I had a whole weeks work set out in stone it would do my head in,I like to do what takes my fancy to a certain extent
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: KS Cleaning on July 06, 2018, 10:32:56 pm
Tell the truth Nathan, you didn’t knock off early through choice,...you got rained off😂
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: deeege on July 07, 2018, 08:02:44 am
Maybe if you didn’t spend so much time making useless threads on here Nathan you wouldn’t be 10 weeks behind with work, seriously.

And just to echo what basically everyone else on here has said, telling the customer about the lame excuse of saving your friends life reeks of un professionalism. Should just reply with a sincere apology and move on.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 07, 2018, 09:03:26 am
Maybe if you didn’t spend so much time making useless threads on here Nathan you wouldn’t be 10 weeks behind with work, seriously.

And just to echo what basically everyone else on here has said, telling the customer about the lame excuse of saving your friends life reeks of un professionalism. Should just reply with a sincere apology and move on.


Just to clarify, it was three houses that got missed out on a previous clean.   So that means I can still do more useless threads 😂😂😂
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Richard Groves on July 07, 2018, 09:56:33 am
Tell the truth Nathan, you didn’t knock off early through choice,...you got rained off😂
If you read back through his posts I think he knocked off early to go to the Dickies store to buy some shorts  ;)
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 07, 2018, 12:23:36 pm
Tell the truth Nathan, you didn’t knock off early through choice,...you got rained off😂
If you read back through his posts I think he knocked off early to go to the Dickies store to buy some shorts  ;)

he knocked off early another day to go to toby carvery and never went back to work that day(too stuffed!).he also had to nip home to plug his immersion in for 16 hours so he has warm water for his next days work...... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 07, 2018, 01:49:04 pm
As can probably tell by my poor judgement response to the customer that I don't mind loosing the customer. Nor did I mind skipping her and two others to ensure I wasn't running late on the remainder of the large round.    In essence making it an 8wkly clean instead of the usual 4.  Unfortunately this time circumstances meant I was a little later than 8weeks.    On the grand scale of things,  this is a one off situation as all my work practically gets done every 4wks and that's why I can take long wknd etc etc or break of for the day.
I'm.
Me n wife have gone for a long wknd at the birth place of Shakespeare. Sat in a bar waiting for the game, by the stream, not worried about work and chilling.

Have a good one lads n whats ur predictions on the game
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: G Griffin on July 07, 2018, 11:50:30 pm
Me n wife have gone for a long wknd at the birth place of Shakespeare. Sat in a bar waiting for the game, by the stream, not worried about work and chilling.

Have a good one lads n whats ur predictions on the game
2-3 or not 2-3? That is the question.
To England, of course. This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
Btw, what time do the Scottish play

And stream? Isn't it the Avon? (Not your wife's make up order).
Bloody stream! But what's in a name.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Go on July 08, 2018, 10:49:54 am
Alas, poor Jannik!
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 08, 2018, 01:41:40 pm
Me n wife have gone for a long wknd at the birth place of Shakespeare. Sat in a bar waiting for the game, by the stream, not worried about work and chilling.

Have a good one lads n whats ur predictions on the game
2-3 or not 2-3? That is the question.
To England, of course. This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
Btw, what time do the Scottish play

And stream? Isn't it the Avon? (Not your wife's make up order).
Bloody stream! But what's in a name.

He Hathaway with words does Griffster! But a stream by any other name would cool your smelly feet.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on July 08, 2018, 03:44:45 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D

sometimes you just cant finish  the round that day,  we had this on Friday with a round , so first job  on monday morning is to start where they fished on friday , even tho its miles away from there next work (mondays) sometimes you just have to lose a bit of time sweaping up the  old work the odd day to keep everybody happy
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: John Mart on July 08, 2018, 04:25:11 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D

sometimes you just cant finish  the round that day,  we had this on Friday with a round , so first job  on monday morning is to start where they fished on friday , even tho its miles away from there next work (mondays) sometimes you just have to lose a bit of time sweaping up the  old work the odd day to keep everybody happy
I wouldn’t do that. I’d just let it slip until next time we’re there. Our furthest town might have 2 1/2 days work. That would mean that some jobs always slipped by 2/3 weeks. I doubt anyone notices. I wouldn’t wait a whole cycle mind you - 16 weeks.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 08, 2018, 09:46:38 pm
if im in a different area the next day then I MAKE SURE I FINISH THAT DAYS WORK THAT DAY!! failing that i make them the first jobs of the day the next day before moving on to my next section of work NOT MISS THE LEFTOVER WORK UNTIL ITS NEXT DUE.......your asking for trouble then...... ::)roll

to me it sounds like basic common sense that seems to be missing here.......

i work my round from A-Z in roughly the same order(give or take a few jobs here and there).....

customers can virtually set their watch by me normally.......... ;D

sometimes you just cant finish  the round that day,  we had this on Friday with a round , so first job  on monday morning is to start where they fished on friday , even tho its miles away from there next work (mondays) sometimes you just have to lose a bit of time sweaping up the  old work the odd day to keep everybody happy

Errr.....that's what I've just said in my post if you bothered to read all of it! ::)roll ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Slacky on July 08, 2018, 11:25:20 pm
Is this thread still breathing?
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: G Griffin on July 08, 2018, 11:53:52 pm
Is this thread still breathing?
Of course.
When you go to the birthplace of Shakespeare and sit outside of a pub overlooking the stream waiting for the football, why not? 
And I'd go to Stratford-upon-Stream to watch the football but I'm Bard from all the pubs.
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: nathankaye on July 09, 2018, 12:47:45 am
Is this thread still breathing?
Of course.
When you go to the birthplace of Shakespeare and sit outside of a pub overlooking the stream waiting for the football, why not? 
And I'd go to Stratford-upon-Stream to watch the football but I'm Bard from all the pubs.

😂😂. Yep when you've had some beers you may say stream instead of river and you might get one or two other things mixed up too.  Like trying your keycard in somebody else's door for example.
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: dazmond on July 09, 2018, 09:56:50 pm
All the work I have now I have filtered out so I don’t mind doing any of it,what I’m saying is if I look in my book and fancy a certain area the next day I’ll just do it. If I felt like I had a whole weeks work set out in stone it would do my head in,I like to do what takes my fancy to a certain extent

we re all different nigel......i like routine and have lots of 4 weekly work.compact estate work too.....but i also have  6/8/12 weekly work,commercial,once or twice a year work.....a good mixture.....i mainly stick to a rigid schedule which suits me fine and dandy but i do mix it up/reschedule sometimes.....

at the end of the day its all window cleaning and money....so who cares? 8)
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: G Griffin on July 09, 2018, 10:02:43 pm
Is this thread still breathing?
Of course.
When you go to the birthplace of Shakespeare and sit outside of a pub overlooking the stream waiting for the football, why not? 
And I'd go to Stratford-upon-Stream to watch the football but I'm Bard from all the pubs.

😂😂. Yep when you've had some beers you may say stream instead of river and you might get one or two other things mixed up too.  Like trying your keycard in somebody else's door for example.
 ;D ;D
Oh aye.
What was she like?  ;D
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: lee_dewing on July 12, 2018, 02:39:07 pm
Hi Nathan.

Sorry to hear about your brother inlaw😔

Haven’t read all posts but..
50% pay increase, then what?

6 weeks late?

Agree with the one round not many!

Don’t think I’ve ever left a customer out.
(Tell a lie I am this month, if you read recent post, turning sour😬)

Wether, holidays, bad weather etc

Just pick up where I left off

Good luck Nathan👍

Lee
Title: Re: Wow, no loyalty!
Post by: Bernie Green on July 13, 2018, 01:39:48 pm
I just let them go, sometimes I feel a bit peeved and wonder what I have done wrong but it doesn't last long. Customers are creatures from a galaxy far, far, away. You can't credit them with logical thought.