Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: James Styles on August 05, 2019, 10:15:51 am
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Looks like I got another 2. These two customers have only had 1 clean and the next clean has come round texts sent yesterday evening and when i head out this morning one text “no thanks....leave it til next week” and the other says “James can you leave ours til next time please”
I will give them a chance but if this issue comes up again (which I expect it will) I’m just gonna say “would you like to be moved to every 8 weeks or be removed from the round?”
Bloody messers 😡
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Welcome to window cleaning mate.
This happens a lot, it happens less as time passes and you weed them out.
But this is why it takes years to build a good , reliable round not months
Sure you canvass a few hundred customers in a few months but half or more will be no good long term.
I'm 5 years in and I still get this on occasion, it never ends just gets a bit easier.
To make you feel a bit better I have about 500 current customers and 800 ex customer's!
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I wouldn't give them the benefit of the doubt James. I think your right to give them the chance to go 8wkly or be removed. Your giving them the chance and keeping things professional. Then if they opt for 8wkly and it happens again, you are justified to cancel their service if it's on unreasonable terms (not on holiday for instance)
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We never get this , it’s down to you when quoting , explain that you are offering a 4-8 weekly service no cancellation on the day unless it’s a justifiable one like decorating , just an observation do you work out of a car ?? Some people view that as a take it or leave it service rather than a professional job they think you are working for beer money , we don’t get this happening and none of my friends do either, you need to be more forthright with potential customers, we don’t txt either we just turn up I will not tolerate people like this we run a very tight ship and dump any that are like this straight away but it must be several years since this has happened.
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Flipping heck it’s the summer holidays man , obviously people go on holiday in August every year so it’s got to be expected :)
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We never get this , it’s down to you when quoting , explain that you are offering a 4-8 weekly service no cancellation on the day unless it’s a justifiable one like decorating , just an observation do you work out of a car ?? Some people view that as a take it or leave it service rather than a professional job they think you are working for beer money , we don’t get this happening and none of my friends do either, you need to be more forthright with potential customers, we don’t txt either we just turn up I will not tolerate people like this we run a very tight ship and dump any that are like this straight away but it must be several years since this has happened.
Yes I do work out of a car at the moment. I always send a text the evening before to leave gates unlocked or to let the ones who don’t have side access know I’m coming as they will need to be in.
If I get this hassle again next month with them they will be given the ultimatum lol can’t wait til I’m busy enough to not let it bother me but I see it as £30 down today now because of them messing about, if they were away on holiday or had a good reason like decorating etc I’d be fine with it but no reasons were given at all ::)roll
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Just tell them to keep the prices the same all properties in your area needs doing then at the same time. So would you like them doing tomorrow or next week at a higher price to cover costs coming out to your area just to do your property?
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We never get this , it’s down to you when quoting , explain that you are offering a 4-8 weekly service no cancellation on the day unless it’s a justifiable one like decorating , just an observation do you work out of a car ?? Some people view that as a take it or leave it service rather than a professional job they think you are working for beer money , we don’t get this happening and none of my friends do either, you need to be more forthright with potential customers, we don’t txt either we just turn up I will not tolerate people like this we run a very tight ship and dump any that are like this straight away but it must be several years since this has happened.
Yes I do work out of a car at the moment. I always send a text the evening before to leave gates unlocked or to let the ones who don’t have side access know I’m coming as they will need to be in.
If I get this hassle again next month with them they will be given the ultimatum lol can’t wait til I’m busy enough to not let it bother me but I see it as £30 down today now because of them messing about, if they were away on holiday or had a good reason like decorating etc I’d be fine with it but no reasons were given at all ::)roll
I feel sorry for you we are very well established, and have weeded our the messers over the years , some view ones who work out of cars as part time workers and they think it’s some kind of add hock service that they can have them done it they feel like it and not done if they don’t want them done , not criticising you but think you might need to be firmer when quoting explain they are agreeing to a monthly service , that’s what I do if they hesitate I suggest they look for someone else , we don’t take on work where there is access issues unless we are given a key or a code number to get in , ime lucky I don’t need any more work and can afford to be fussy , but you need to start your business the way you want to go one this problem will just get bigger and more problematic if you don’t nip it in the bud . We don’t txt any customers ones who want that won’t be taken on by us as I cannot be bothers to do it , there is plenty of easy work out there without this type of work and customer.
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Splash and dash says "we never get this"
Then goes on to say he doesn't text just turns up.
So I think that tells you something, I text most of my round and get this on a fairly regular basis.
But I've only ever been turned away when just turning up maybe once or twice
So yes if you text you are going to get the odd one skipping.
I don't really have much choice on my round, 50% probably my have locked gates and I'm not climbing over them.
But then again it doesnt bother me much as I have more than I need so just get on with the next job on the list, I'm always behind so never worry about skippers
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Are you doubling the first clean now?
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When pricing tell them, to delay or cancel a clean you need 24hrs notice, as you plan your round to be as cost effective as posible.
Tell them you clean even if there out this gives them a regular service.
I would if they try it on, text back and say, someone else wanted there windows cleaned on this round, but gave you first chance. So if you clean them instead today,they would loose there spot on the round.
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I’m on holiday.
I cancelled my milk before coming away.
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I text most of mine and rarely get a knock back. I always ask/text why and if the don’t reply I drop them .
James now cleans them 😁
Until your full mate messers are just part of the growing pains. Drop them now or drop them when you have more messers, sorry, customers. One things for sure, they will always be messing someone around.
Tony
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I’m on holiday.
I cancelled my milk before coming away.
The 1970's wants its example back.
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James. I promise you this - it's nothing to do with you having a car.
What it is to do with is that you are starting off and you need work. We all started off and needed work but some of us have forgotten what it was like back in the mists of time when we set up in business.
Don't worry about it but resolve to "set out your stall" with every new customer. Write a little list of "must comply withs" (that you want your business to have) and keep it in your glove box as an aide-memoire. Read it before you walk up the path to discuss things with your next prospective customer.
If you want to take away the very best of advice from this forum read Roy Harding's posts - he posts rarely but he was on this forum and very helpful to me when I joined and was changing from trad. to wfp.
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Can't agree more - as a noobie you will get caught time and again people sence your new to the game and therefore take liberties, as you go forward your patter will improve and so will your confidence in your ability and service - it's amazing how customers then realise your a business and generally behave - for what it's worth charge double first clean (if poss) offer 1/2 price clean after 6 cleans it's amazing how people stay to get the discount - don't text !! Unless absolutely necessary - at this stage you can quite easily give a next clean date instead of at least I'll be cleaning here again week commencing xx/xx/2019
We give a date - never text and I can't remember when the last door step cancellation was - however we get notice (usually) weeks or days in advance if the clean requires moving
Darran
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James you've had this problem before and you will have it again, so, unfortunately, get used to it.
Quite simply, these people do not want a regular window cleaner and they are not good customers! Full Stop!
Technically, you should bin them, but keep for them for a while until you've built up a good round. You may find some of them might want it done next time...so at least you have...some money.
I text all my customers the night before (even ones I have access to).
Anyone who texts back 'not this time' (without good reason) gets binned.
If they don't want their windows cleaned...they don't need me.
I'll devote my time to finding another customer who does want a regular, reliable service.
There's good customers out there, you just have to find them.
I haven't had a cancellation in ages. Having said that, I have picked up some new customers...so we'll see. ;D
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Looks like I got another 2. These two customers have only had 1 clean and the next clean has come round texts sent yesterday evening and when i head out this morning one text “no thanks....leave it til next week” and the other says “James can you leave ours til next time please”
I will give them a chance but if this issue comes up again (which I expect it will) I’m just gonna say “would you like to be moved to every 8 weeks or be removed from the round?”
Bloody messers 😡
The one who said can you leave it till next week, i would reply: Sorry, only round then. See you next month.
The one who said can you leave it till next month , then i would do.
Just see what transpires with them then and take it from there.....................
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I never understand anyone offering two cleaning schedules like four or eight weeks🤔
I’m stacked with work so can’t possibly mess about with bimonthly cleans. I do six week cycles and still can’t do them on time. Messrs just get dumped or pushed to the back of my priority list until they fade away.
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I’m on holiday.
I cancelled my milk before coming away.
The 1970's wants its example back.
But it is the truth.
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Not many will agree with this, but I have found this to work a treat.
All my new customers will be given a welcome pack, in an envelope with my business logo stamped on. The welcome pack, comprises of a welcome letter which goes over most of what I tell them at the door. Ie, every 4weeks, I work in the rain and payment is by direct debit etc etc. This is in addition to some other bits n bobs as well, but it I prints in their minds that I have a legit business and it's here to stay!
I also ask them, if they are happy with their first clean to leave a review on my Facebook page and as a thank you, their next clean is half price.
This again gets them to think of the positives and confirms a legit business and not just for beer money etc. It also ensures that at least for the next clean they will stay with me
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I never understand anyone offering two cleaning schedules like four or eight weeks🤔
I’m stacked with work so can’t possibly mess about with bimonthly cleans. I do six week cycles and still can’t do them on time. Messrs just get dumped or pushed to the back of my priority list until they fade away.
Because you can charge more for the longer frequencies
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Maybe, but then aren’t you overbooked when the bimonthly work is due and short of work when on the monthly cleans?
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Dump them both.
No ifs no buts just dump them, when you go to quote you agree a cleaning schedule they havent stuck to it so get rid.
Quality customers will come mate.
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Maybe, but then aren’t you overbooked when the bimonthly work is due and short of work when on the monthly cleans?
Nah , they all fit nicely together. Today , I had mostly monthly + one 3 monthly. Tomorrow Iv got mostly monthly + a handful of bi monthly. Wednesday just monthly . If no 3 monthly or bi monthly due , then just fill your day with monthly . Iv worked like this for years and it works really well
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
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Maybe, but then aren’t you overbooked when the bimonthly work is due and short of work when on the monthly cleans?
Even though I use squeegee app, I also like old school and have a notebook with all my work in. However, like this month, I have needed to rewrite my book out and so I have organised it slightly different. This is because from month one (4 wkly) to month two (which I include all my 8 wkly work on top) there is a difference of £800 of work.
This isn't a problem as I can can easily include all my 8wkly work in the time allotted to it, but financially its a big difference. So a little reshuffle of splitting the 8wkly work up, balances the finances better.
So provided its organised more efficiently, it shouldn't be an hassle to take on 8wkly work nor over worked.
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I don’t have all bi monthly and three monthly cleans in separate months , everything’s mixed so iv got a good mix 12 months a year
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Maybe, but then aren’t you overbooked when the bimonthly work is due and short of work when on the monthly cleans?
Not if half of the bi-monthly’s are (for example) in January and the other half in February. (Might not get it exactly 50/50 but there abouts)
You’d have the same amount of work each month that way.
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
And that mate, is exactly how its done ;D
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wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
Count it when you've been paid. You had £30 on it this morning that you never got !! ;D
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Maybe, but then aren’t you overbooked when the bimonthly work is due and short of work when on the monthly cleans?
i have 4 weekly,6 weekly,8 weekly,12 weekly,26 weekly(twice a year)jobs.......most of the time my work balances out over the course of the month but this week ive got a slack week so only working wed/thurs/fri this week so a 4 day weekend.... :D
this doesnt happen very often as i usually have a few add on jobs booked in but not had many lately so just take the time off.... :)
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8 weekly for me.
A few 4 weekly and one 12 weekly.
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
I don't wish to be negative, but let's see how many of those are messers!
I reckon 1 in 5 calls are good for me at the moment. My friend Dan is starting up and he gets the other 4.
I get:
first floor flats,
second floor flats,
one off cleans,
I'm moving cleans,
can I have them done by Sunday (bbq) cleans,
I think I might want them done again cleans,
student house cleans,
my window cleaner stopped coming cleans (some of these aren't bad),
old people cleans, actually very old, (where you have to repeat yourself 3 times for every sentence),
terraced, you have to come through the house cleans,
we look after a managed property and would like a quote for 3 times a year cleans,
out of my area cleans,
I was recommended cleans (by a customer I dumped 2years ago),
Perhaps I should just turn my phone off! ;D
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
I don't wish to be negative, but let's see how many of those are messers!
I reckon 1 in 5 calls are good for me at the moment. My friend Dan is starting up and he gets the other 4.
I get:
first floor flats,
second floor flats,
one off cleans,
I'm moving cleans,
can I have them done by Sunday (bbq) cleans,
I think I might want them done again cleans,
student house cleans,
my window cleaner stopped coming cleans (some of these aren't bad),
old people cleans, actually very old, (where you have to repeat yourself 3 times for every sentence),
terraced, you have to come through the house cleans,
we look after a managed property and would like a quote for 3 times a year cleans,
out of my area cleans,
I was recommended cleans (by a customer I dumped 2years ago),
Perhaps I should just turn my phone off! ;D
Made me laugh :).
By the way well done on the canvassing that's what it's about going out putting the hours in.
Just try not to get too sucked in don't assume £80 are added to the round. Somewhere in that £80 there is definitely someone who only wants a one-off.And they'll get out of it by any means necessary husband going to do it now sons going to do it now my best friend going to do it now, we are away a lot so can we call you in the future.
If you are canvassing you should have the mentality that one offs are common try to charge more on the first clean consider everyone with a first clean charge regardless.
The truth will only come out in the wash
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Are you doubling the first clean now?
I charge extra but not double more like 50% on top
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
I don't wish to be negative, but let's see how many of those are messers!
I reckon 1 in 5 calls are good for me at the moment. My friend Dan is starting up and he gets the other 4.
I get:
first floor flats,
second floor flats,
one off cleans,
I'm moving cleans,
can I have them done by Sunday (bbq) cleans,
I think I might want them done again cleans,
student house cleans,
my window cleaner stopped coming cleans (some of these aren't bad),
old people cleans, actually very old, (where you have to repeat yourself 3 times for every sentence),
terraced, you have to come through the house cleans,
we look after a managed property and would like a quote for 3 times a year cleans,
out of my area cleans,
I was recommended cleans (by a customer I dumped 2years ago),
Perhaps I should just turn my phone off! ;D
Made me laugh :).
By the way well done on the canvassing that's what it's about going out putting the hours in.
Just try not to get too sucked in don't assume £80 are added to the round. Somewhere in that £80 there is definitely someone who only wants a one-off.And they'll get out of it by any means necessary husband going to do it now sons going to do it now my best friend going to do it now, we are away a lot so can we call you in the future.
If you are canvassing you should have the mentality that one offs are common try to charge more on the first clean consider everyone with a first clean charge regardless.
The truth will only come out in the wash
Cheers mate. Yeah I expect I will get a messer or two in there I’m just pleased I got an extra £80 Friday after losing out on £30 earlier.
I am certainly learning that with canvassing you get about 30% messers/bad customers, it’s gonna be a long battle for me to get a good solid round but I am determined to get there, it should in theory get easier each year.
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
I don't wish to be negative, but let's see how many of those are messers!
I reckon 1 in 5 calls are good for me at the moment. My friend Dan is starting up and he gets the other 4.
I get:
first floor flats,
second floor flats,
one off cleans,
I'm moving cleans,
can I have them done by Sunday (bbq) cleans,
I think I might want them done again cleans,
student house cleans,
my window cleaner stopped coming cleans (some of these aren't bad),
old people cleans, actually very old, (where you have to repeat yourself 3 times for every sentence),
terraced, you have to come through the house cleans,
we look after a managed property and would like a quote for 3 times a year cleans,
out of my area cleans,
I was recommended cleans (by a customer I dumped 2years ago),
Perhaps I should just turn my phone off! ;D
Made me laugh :).
By the way well done on the canvassing that's what it's about going out putting the hours in.
Just try not to get too sucked in don't assume £80 are added to the round. Somewhere in that £80 there is definitely someone who only wants a one-off.And they'll get out of it by any means necessary husband going to do it now sons going to do it now my best friend going to do it now, we are away a lot so can we call you in the future.
If you are canvassing you should have the mentality that one offs are common try to charge more on the first clean consider everyone with a first clean charge regardless.
The truth will only come out in the wash
Cheers mate. Yeah I expect I will get a messer or two in there I’m just pleased I got an extra £80 Friday after losing out on £30 earlier.
I am certainly learning that with canvassing you get about 30% messers/bad customers, it’s gonna be a long battle for me to get a good solid round but I am determined to get there, it should in theory get easier each year.
Again I don’t want to be negative but we just don’t get this messers due to goid communication when quoting I don’t take on all the jobs that we are asked to do , and we don’t get all the jobs we quoted but we don’t get more than two or three messers per year tops , that’s not by accident it’s beacause of carful quoting , you need to stress your terms and conditions if they hesitate walk away they will be a pain customer
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Well because I finished a bit earlier due to the two cancellations I did a hour canvassing when I finished today and picked up 6 new customers that I will be doing on Friday, so losing out on those two cleans wasn’t so bad in the end as I picked up £80 worth of work that is added to my round ;D
I don't wish to be negative, but let's see how many of those are messers!
I reckon 1 in 5 calls are good for me at the moment. My friend Dan is starting up and he gets the other 4.
I get:
first floor flats,
second floor flats,
one off cleans,
I'm moving cleans,
can I have them done by Sunday (bbq) cleans,
I think I might want them done again cleans,
student house cleans,
my window cleaner stopped coming cleans (some of these aren't bad),
old people cleans, actually very old, (where you have to repeat yourself 3 times for every sentence),
terraced, you have to come through the house cleans,
we look after a managed property and would like a quote for 3 times a year cleans,
out of my area cleans,
I was recommended cleans (by a customer I dumped 2years ago),
Perhaps I should just turn my phone off! ;D
Made me laugh :).
By the way well done on the canvassing that's what it's about going out putting the hours in.
Just try not to get too sucked in don't assume £80 are added to the round. Somewhere in that £80 there is definitely someone who only wants a one-off.And they'll get out of it by any means necessary husband going to do it now sons going to do it now my best friend going to do it now, we are away a lot so can we call you in the future.
If you are canvassing you should have the mentality that one offs are common try to charge more on the first clean consider everyone with a first clean charge regardless.
The truth will only come out in the wash
Cheers mate. Yeah I expect I will get a messer or two in there I’m just pleased I got an extra £80 Friday after losing out on £30 earlier.
I am certainly learning that with canvassing you get about 30% messers/bad customers, it’s gonna be a long battle for me to get a good solid round but I am determined to get there, it should in theory get easier each year.
Again I don’t want to be negative but we just don’t get this messers due to goid communication when quoting I don’t take on all the jobs that we are asked to do , and we don’t get all the jobs we quoted but we don’t get more than two or three messers per year tops , that’s not by accident it’s beacause of carful quoting , you need to stress your terms and conditions if they hesitate walk away they will be a pain customer
It has nothing to do with quoting or if he drives a car.
What a load of rubbish.
He's getting messed about because he texts ahead
You said you don't text anyone and don't get Messer's
Do you not see the correlation?
James don't listen to that rubbish, Messers are part and parcel of growing a round. People will mess you about no matter what you tell them.
The thing to take is that hardly anyone will turn you away to your face if you just turn up, people just don't have the nerve. Text is an easy way for them to mess you about, but if they have locked gates you have no option.
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i agree adam....it doesnt matter whether your using a car or van for work(what a stupid comment! ::)roll).....its to do with canvassing new customers.....you always seem to get more messers when your building your round....
even after 26 years i get the odd one or two a year but normally most are great customers....also the work i pick up these days are usually walk ups and other existing customers passing my number on,these tend to be better customers once ive agreed a frequency/price and payment method.......BUT NOT ALWAYS!some get dumped within a couple of cleans....
also james only text customers who have access issues or large stand alone jobs(courtesy text)....its far easier to chop and change and reschedule during your working day then(when you get busier)...... "turn up and clean" is 75% of my work.....
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i agree adam....it doesnt matter whether your using a car or van for work(what a stupid comment! ::)roll).....its to do with canvassing new customers.....you always seem to get more messers when your building your round....
even after 26 years i get the odd one or two a year but normally most are great customers....also the work i pick up these days are usually walk ups and other existing customers passing my number on,these tend to be better customers once ive agreed a frequency/price and payment method.......BUT NOT ALWAYS!some get dumped within a couple of cleans....
also james only text customers who have access issues or large stand alone jobs(courtesy text)....its far easier to chop and change and reschedule during your working day then(when you get busier)...... "turn up and clean" is 75% of my work.....
It’s not a stupid comment I know several people that started working from there cars people don’t take you seriously, and think they can say not today , turn up with staff uniform and sign written van and they view you as more professional, I proved that I started out with a Renault Clio. , so I know what ime talking about , again it’s a case of being straight when quoting then if they say not today remind them of the verbal agryyou made at the time , it’s not rocket science , I have built up a very sucksesfull buisness with several vans this way and we don’t get this situation so it is avoidable
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Well S&D I used to clean out of a Volvo Estate and then a Honda Accord Estate IME you are attributing a lack of respect to the wrong thing. What James is experiencing again IME is that a large proportion of those he canvasses are other window cleaners cast offs or "the as and when" brigade. The good news is he can train them and if they refuse to be trained he can dump them.
I had a no cancellation on the day policy, a no cancellation for holidays policy and a pretty stringent dump'em policy which I still adhere to.
They didn't care if I turned up on a unicycle as long as they got reliable service and clean windows.
Edited to add: In fact when I got a brand new van (both times) I would occasionally get the odd sly comment about making too much money even though I didn't change my prices at the same time. However I do agree that a uniform or embroidered pole shirt works wonders.
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If like me, I did trad for 14 yrs and used a car through out all that time, apart from a couple of years using my bicycle to carry the ladders on (5 mile work back then for some rounds) whilst I walked at the side. When I got to my round it was chained up for the day as I walked the round.
So either walking with trad gear or walking with a wfp trolley, people are not really going to know what you drive when you turn up at their door!
So yes, a silly assumption to be made and the fact that I actually got more admiration when I used my push bike which I wasn't expecting.
The fact of the matter is, that there will Always be the messers trying it on, either with newbies or experienced people. The difference is, that with experience, you can pick up on the signs more easily and have learnt to deal with this in a way that suits your needs. Whereas James, sadly your on this learning curve and it won't stop any time soon mate
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Another sign of a messer is the walkup and ask for a card. I never give one out because you know it’s going to be a one off clean.
Heavily pregnant women with filthy windows too ...... always swerve!
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i agree adam....it doesnt matter whether your using a car or van for work(what a stupid comment! ::)roll).....its to do with canvassing new customers.....you always seem to get more messers when your building your round....
even after 26 years i get the odd one or two a year but normally most are great customers....also the work i pick up these days are usually walk ups and other existing customers passing my number on,these tend to be better customers once ive agreed a frequency/price and payment method.......BUT NOT ALWAYS!some get dumped within a couple of cleans....
also james only text customers who have access issues or large stand alone jobs(courtesy text)....its far easier to chop and change and reschedule during your working day then(when you get busier)...... "turn up and clean" is 75% of my work.....
It’s not a stupid comment I know several people that started working from there cars people don’t take you seriously, and think they can say not today , turn up with staff uniform and sign written van and they view you as more professional, I proved that I started out with a Renault Clio. , so I know what ime talking about , again it’s a case of being straight when quoting then if they say not today remind them of the verbal agryyou made at the time , it’s not rocket science , I have built up a very sucksesfull buisness with several vans this way and we don’t get this situation so it is avoidable
i worked from a car for 15 years when trad....your talking nonsense...... ;D
i hope you get someone in to spellcheck for you as your spelling is atrocious..... ;D
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Another sign of a messer is the walkup and ask for a card. I never give one out because you know it’s going to be a one off clean.
Heavily pregnant women with filthy windows too ...... always swerve!
thats a really sweeping generalisation mate....i always hand out a business card when i get a walk up and tell them to text me their name and address and ill pop round sometime and give them a quote....some do,some dont....obviously the ones that dont are not really serious about having a window cleaning service,the ones that do often turn into good solid customers IME.....
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Another sign of a messer is the walkup and ask for a card. I never give one out because you know it’s going to be a one off clean.
Heavily pregnant women with filthy windows too ...... always swerve!
thats a really sweeping generalisation mate....i always hand out a business card when i get a walk up and tell them to text me their name and address and ill pop round sometime and give them a quote....some do,some dont....obviously the ones that dont are not really serious about having a window cleaning service,the ones that do often turn into good solid customers IME.....
9 out of 10 people who walk up to me and ask for a card never get in contact, some people have just got nothing better to do ;D
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Another sign of a messer is the walkup and ask for a card. I never give one out because you know it’s going to be a one off clean.
Heavily pregnant women with filthy windows too ...... always swerve!
thats a really sweeping generalisation mate....i always hand out a business card when i get a walk up and tell them to text me their name and address and ill pop round sometime and give them a quote....some do,some dont....obviously the ones that dont are not really serious about having a window cleaning service,the ones that do often turn into good solid customers IME.....
9 out of 10 people who walk up to me and ask for a card never get in contact, some people have just got nothing better to do ;D
id say around 5 or 6 contact me out of 10 when i hand my card out to a walk up.....
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Once James gets to the stage where people ask him to clean rather than the other way round, that’s when the rate of messers drop off.
After that he needs to keep weeding and tending to his garden of flowers.
I get very few messers, don’t do a welcome pack, never worn a uniform and despite turning everything away still get enquiries most weeks. No landline and the website should be gone. Do the best you can at realistic prices and your hard core of regulars generally stick with you for years.
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James
I agree with Nathan, you're always going to get messers and when you're starting out it can be very demoralising.
Personally, I don't think it matters what you drive, or whether you text or not; you simply don't want messers.
I had one today, she called me last week, very local, said she wanted it regular but perhaps not every 8 weeks.
I could sense she was a messer!
However
I turned up today, the windows haven't been cleaned for a year (maybe 18 months), but the place was fairly tidy.
She was very polite and her young daughter was also polite. Chatting away, she is a single mum.
Turns out she is a teacher at our local school for extremely disabled children (most are wheelchair bound).
So she went from messer to 'good deed for the day'.
She made me a cuppa, I gave her a fairly cheap price, did a top job and she said would I do them every 16 weeks. I said, give me a ring when you want them done again. She took some leaflets and said she would put them up in the staff room for me.
As you get busier, it gets easier to deal with messers.
Also your attitude will change and they won't bother you so much.
And sometimes...you may even do a good deed!
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James
I agree with Nathan, you're always going to get messers and when you're starting out it can be very demoralising.
Personally, I don't think it matters what you drive, or whether you text or not; you simply don't want messers.
I had one today, she called me last week, very local, said she wanted it regular but perhaps not every 8 weeks.
I could sense she was a messer!
However
I turned up today, the windows haven't been cleaned for a year (maybe 18 months), but the place was fairly tidy.
She was very polite and her young daughter was also polite. Chatting away, she is a single mum.
Turns out she is a teacher at our local school for extremely disabled children (most are wheelchair bound).
So she went from messer to 'good deed for the day'.
She made me a cuppa, I gave her a fairly cheap price, did a top job and she said would I do them every 16 weeks. I said, give me a ring when you want them done again. She took some leaflets and said she would put them up in the staff room for me.
As you get busier, it gets easier to deal with messers.
your too soft......every 16 weeks for a domestic customer?not a chance...i also wouldnt do it for a cheap price if the windows were filthy either....."give me a ring when you want them doing again" is also a no no in my book......
i used to be too soft years ago but you dont make any money doing people favours.........whoever they are.....
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Daz
Doing a favour every now and again, makes me feel good, it's my business, I'll do what I like.
Also, I earn enough that I can do it.
I think she was genuine and I don't care if she never contacts me again.
Sometimes people need a leg up! ;D
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Daz
Doing a favour every now and again, makes me feel good, it's my business, I'll do what I like.
Also, I earn enough that I can do it.
I think she was genuine and I don't care if she never contacts me again.
Sometimes people need a leg up! ;D
i do agree with you to a point......however i save my good deeds for my family or elderly customers who ve been with me for years.... ;D
also if she does hand out your leaflets to other teachers theyll all want the same cheap price as hers! ::)roll....rod for your own back mate.... ;D
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Thanks for all the advice guys much appreciated. My round is growing each day, I’m getting more and more phone calls, got a very hectic day Monday, think I must be near 85-90 customers, once I hit the 100 mark I think I’ll treat myself to something nice as it will be an accomplishment for me ;D
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Thanks for all the advice guys much appreciated. My round is growing each day, I’m getting more and more phone calls, got a very hectic day Monday, think I must be near 85-90 customers, once I hit the 100 mark I think I’ll treat myself to something nice as it will be an accomplishment for me ;D
You've done well James and in a few years time you'll look back at the advice given on this forum and chuckle. Not because it's good or rubbish but because the people on here were willing to give up their time to assist you (someone they've probably never met or ever will).
Hopefully in the near future you'll be advising the next batch of newbies - I for one will look forward to that.