Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: RPCCS on April 07, 2019, 09:41:59 pm
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Would any of you go to a customer's funeral if you knew them well? I have been to a few,but mostly people who I knew before becoming their window cleaner.
I would be really picky as to who I would lose work time for now though.
I lost my dad in Dec 16 and none of his former neighbours turned out for his funeral , despite the fact he had lived in the village fof 47 years. He also operated a business in the village for 25 years. Othdr than immediately family, the only other attendees were 3 of my close mates,and his landlord of 17 years.
I do believe that if you have gone to some customers for alot of years, you do become friends with them.
However you sharp find out who your TRUE friends are,and those who are only convenience friends.
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Ive been to two of my customers funerals and nearly 3 but at the time I was quite behind on some work that in the end I could not justify breaking off.
The first was an old dear and she wasnt directly my customer but my mates, however I had cleaned her house for quite a number of years with my mate and another friend. She was a sweet old dear who would pay for neighbours windows whilst they were out and without fail she would make us all a sandwhich each, a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
The 2nd was a customers mother who died in her late 90's who was just as caring. I cleaned her windows periodically over many yrs but her aged daughter n son in laws house for the last 18yrs. Again always had me in for a cuppa and a bite to eat. Lol didnt need to ask or be asked, it was their thing of hospitality and a very well paid job as well.
When youve cleaned the persons windows for over 12 times in a year for many many years you do build a rapport with some. Infact if a couple of others were to pass away, I would also seriously consider going to theirs as well.
Rapport building is a big part of our work I believe. Its not just doing a good job for a fair price that keeps loyalty but also having good relationships/communications with each other as well.
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I would never go to customers funerals , I don’t want to be their friends and hang around with them. It just makes it harder to give them a price increase, and the bottom line is - I do this for money , not to make friends.
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Ive been to two of my customers funerals and nearly 3 but at the time I was quite behind on some work that in the end I could not justify breaking off.
You nearly went to a funeral?
I bet the family was very appreciative.
I've been to a few of mine. Work's always there but they're not.
Shalom.
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Maybe ask yourself if you died how many of your customers would be at your funuaral? Probably zero.
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Ive been to two of my customers funerals and nearly 3 but at the time I was quite behind on some work that in the end I could not justify breaking off.
You nearly went to a funeral?
I bet the family was very appreciative.
I've been to a few of mine. Work's always there but they're not.
Shalom.
Their familie members were not aware that i may have gone or not, so thats irrelevent.
I certainly dont knock about with my customers as shrek may suggest, however some on here have copped off with some customers and one or two are now dating their customers arent they?? ;D
However to me, its important to have a good repport with them as its easier for them to get somebody else if your just a chap who cleans their winfows for x price! Regardless how good you clean them.
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no i wouldnt go to a customers funeral......its bad enough going to family and friends funerals......
its amazing how many people dont live until their 50.....half the people i used to drink with are dead already.....in their late 30s/early 40s..... :(
i would probably be dead by now too if i hadnt got sober......
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Im with Nathan on this, but I do agree with Jester, how many would turn up at ours zilch. But personally I wouldn't go to hope that someone would do the same for me, I go to pay respects to the petson who has passed, because I have built a good working relationship with them, or known them personally for a long time.
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Im with Nathan on this, but I do agree with Jester, how many would turn up at ours zilch. But personally I wouldn't go to hope that someone would do the same for me, I ho to psy respects to the petson who has passed, because I have nuilt a gpod working relationship with them, or knoen them personally for a long time.
Are you from Yorkshire? ::)roll :D
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If any customers didn't turn up at my funeral then I wouldn't go to theirs.
That'll show 'um.
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I would only go to a customers funeral if they owed me any money. I could then pass the bill over to the family ;D ;D
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No.
I try to have as little contact with them as possible, its a business for me not a social event as otherwise you would spend all day chatting.
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Im with Nathan on this, but I do agree with Jester, how many would turn up at ours zilch. But personally I wouldn't go to hope that someone would do the same for me, I ho to psy respects to the petson who has passed, because I have nuilt a gpod working relationship with them, or knoen them personally for a long time.
Are you from Yorkshire? ::)roll :D
Nay lad, just keep forgetting to wear me specs when typing.
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I would only go to a customers funeral if they owed me any money. I could then pass the bill over to the family ;D ;D
If any customers didn't turn up at my funeral then I wouldn't go to theirs.
That'll show 'um.
pmsl 😂😂😀
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No.
I try to have as little contact with them as possible, its a business for me not a social event as otherwise you would spend all day chatting.
Bet you don't get many offers of a cuppa or Xmas tips then.
There's a window cleaner round here doesn't even speak to his customers when he knocks for the money, just puts his hand out then buggers off. Needless to say he's not popular and hasn't got much work.
Yeah it's a business, but you need to interact with your customers a bit, its how the trust is built. At least thats how it works here in the north east, may be different in your part of the country
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No.
I try to have as little contact with them as possible, its a business for me not a social event as otherwise you would spend all day chatting.
Bet you don't get many offers of a cuppa or Xmas tips then.
There's a window cleaner round here doesn't even speak to his customers when he knocks for the money, just puts his hand out then buggers off. Needless to say he's not popular and hasn't got much work.
Yeah it's a business, but you need to interact with your customers a bit, its how the trust is built. At least thats how it works here in the north east, may be different in your part of the country
No not often I get hassled with offers of cups of tea although rarely. Always turn them down. Only time I would accept a drink is of doing a longer job such as Fsg etc.
No time for it, I pull up hope I don't have to speak to them, clean and put a bill through.
Christmas tips, a few, nothing special but then I don't see that many people and most pay online, not arsed about tips at all to be honest.
Depends what you want from your business, I'm not good at small talk so I avoid it, also im just in it to earn money not to make friends.
To be honest I think some customers appreciate not being bothered, they probably don't want to have to make small talk any more than I do. I text the night before so o don't need to knock and all pay online so I can just rock up and go.
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I think exchanging a few pleasantries are part of the job; it's not all about clean windows.
And the customers that are only bothered about the windows tend to be harder to work for.
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There’s a big difference between a few pleasantries and turning up at a funeral
It’s a business when all said and done, a service which is paid for I wouldn’t expect or want the shop assistant at the local co op appearing at my funeral even tho we speak most days.
Darran
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Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.
Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke. That would help my family just a little.
Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.
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Over the years I have sent flowers, mainly ones who I've cleaned for many years and who have looked after me.
We all know the ones we have who are like this.
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I would only go to a customers funeral if they owed me any money. I could then pass the bill over to the family ;D ;D
That’s what I do, only I don’t have the nerve to pass the bill on to the family at such a time, instead I find it a little more respectable to take out what I’m due from the collection box at the end of the service.
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Over the years I have sent flowers, mainly ones who I've cleaned for many years and who have looked after me.
That’s what’s needed - that’s not invasive
Also given donation to their favourite charity
Darran
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Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.
Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke. That would help my family just a little.
Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.
Dear me , you and these drinks from customers- I really don’t understand why you need so many drinks in a day ???
I always turn drinks down as I’m not there long enough for the kettle to boil. I thought you were the fast window cleaner in Yorkshire? Surely you’ve gone before they’ve even got to the sink
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Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.
Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke. That would help my family just a little.
Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.
Dear me , you and these drinks from customers- I really don’t understand why you need so many drinks in a day ???
I always turn drinks down as I’m not there long enough for the kettle to boil. I thought you were the fast window cleaner in Yorkshire? Surely you’ve gone before they’ve even got to the sink
I have a handful of customers who are kind to me, scattered throughout my rounds. I can go days b4 i see a customer and so when they offer a drink and its nice, then thats a thumbs up from me. So come winter they already have the kettle on by time ive done the upstairs front windows! Come cold winters or cleaning in the rain (haha its safer to write cleaning than work ;D ) then these hot drinks are very much appreciated.
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ill stop and have a 5 min chat and a brew once or twice a day.....why not?if your rushing every job just to get home 5-10 mins earlier then you really are a sad individual IMO....
up here in the north west,the majority of people are friendly and down to earth,even the heroin addicts and alcoholics are mostly ok(as long as your not involved in their lifestyles).....
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Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.
Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke. That would help my family just a little.
Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.
Well said Nathan, couldn't put it better myself. Im not one for accepting cups of coffee,as I take a flask wirh me, stop for a coffee about 10/10.30, then dinner 12/12.30, but its still nice to get offered. If I didn't have interaction with customers, I couldn't do the job. To go through the day wirhout seeing or speaking to anyone would drive me mad., the job is boring enough to start with.
Each to their own I suppose.
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nothing wrong with interaction - but does that seriously mean you would go to their funeral ?
Darran
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Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...
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There’s a big difference between a few pleasantries and turning up at a funeral
It’s a business when all said and done, a service which is paid for I wouldn’t expect or want the shop assistant at the local co op appearing at my funeral even tho we speak most days.
Darran
I was talking about Gomo who said he didn't do small talk; maybe I should have quoted him.
I wouldn't go to every funeral but I don't think it's invasive turning up at one either. You don't get invited to a funeral, do you?
I've never been to a customer's wake but I've been to a few services but I had been very friendly with them. A couple of times I've gone to the church, waited outside as the coffin's gone in and then gone about my daily business.
I suppose a lot depends on the relationship with the customer. The last one I went to was a lad I also ran into in the pub.
And I must be more popular than you lot ;).
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One of my customers died the other week aged 58. I would text her the night before and she'd leave the money in the porch. As I pulled up her car was on the drive which was odd as she worked in a school and drove to work. I cracked on and looked for my money. No money so left a note. I got a phone call from her brother a couple of days later telling me she had died. He asked me how much she owed. Well she hasn't paid for the last 6 cleans at £20 a clean I said. I didn't really 😃. He BACS payment over. Fair play to him.
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Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...
what are you on about? ::)roll
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Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...
what are you on about? ::)roll
If you followed the threads you see what I was on about. The OP does coach driving ::)roll
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Of course i do the usual guys, wave and a nod/smile if i spot them through a window, hello and how are you if i see them. Please and thankyou, have a nice day etc. The basics...
But thats enough.... if they engage in conversation with me then i would talk back however im not good at small talk and making conversation, i can never think of anything to say apart from how are you, nice weather.. then an awkward silence lol. I have social anxiety to some extent and i dont do well with strangers, i can talk for ages if its a subject i have interest in but other than that im stumped. Anyone that meets me would say im quiet but around friends and family im the opposite.
Its not an ideal job for me, but its good money so i get on with it in a way that suits me and my personality. If someone else wants to chat for 10 mins and sup tea thats good for them but they will earn less money or be home later. Personally i like to get work out of the way asap so i can get home.
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I try to build a good rapport with all of my customers when I can. I have lost a few due to them dying, but have never gone to a customer's funeral . It's not out of disrespect, as I talk to their bereaved family members if they are known to me, and I offer my condolences and any help I can give. Over here in Ireland you die one day and the funeral is often the next, so they're usually cremated or buried before I even get to know about it.
If the deceased customer owes me I always write it off.
Would any of my customers attend my funeral? I will never know.
John
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I have only ever got involved with one customer's funeral. I turned up and pressed the doorbell and as there was no reply I cracked on and started the windows. I'd finished the top three at the front when a hearse and limousine drew up outside and a lady undertaker in full dress and top hat knocked the door.
This time my customer's husband answered and he and three other family members filed out and got in the limo. As I mumbled something about "Sorry I didn't realise" followed by "err sorry for your loss" he had the grace to smile and say "stick your bill through and I'll send you a cheque".
Bit flabbergasted to be honest (I knew my custy was very unwell but didn't realise she was terminally ill) but I wrote on my slip my apologies and said please have this "clean" on me - in the circumstances I thought it was a decent thing to do.
He remained my customer until I passed him on to Dan the Man when I split my round.
:-[ :D
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Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...
what are you on about? ::)roll
If you followed the threads you see what I was on about. The OP does coach driving ::)roll
Just for the record, I don't do the driving to earn extra money.I do it because I enjoy it, breaks the boredom of window cleaning. I make 3 times the hourly rate of driving when I work for myself, I don't HAVE to do it