Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Phil J on April 29, 2020, 09:09:13 pm
-
Well finally going back to work this coming Monday, Thank God. Texted all customers I have phone numbers for, the vast majority seem happy for us to resume. Had a couple who told us to hold off for now, which I understand. Picked up several new jobs during the lockdown, which always helps. The only issue was with a customer who I had told we were stepping down for a few weeks. Text him to let him know we were resuming, he phoned me back and said " I'm gonna have to let you go as you never came and I've found somebody else"! Livid was an understatement, I had to hang up before I said something I regretted. Not sure if I'm more annoyed with him or the scumbag who took the job on. Can't believe some people TBH.
-
You snooze , you lose ;D
I do feel your pain though !
-
Well finally going back to work this coming Monday, Thank God. Texted all customers I have phone numbers for, the vast majority seem happy for us to resume. Had a couple who told us to hold off for now, which I understand. Picked up several new jobs during the lockdown, which always helps. The only issue was with a customer who I had told we were stepping down for a few weeks. Text him to let him know we were resuming, he phoned me back and said " I'm gonna have to let you go as you never came and I've found somebody else"! Livid was an understatement, I had to hang up before I said something I regretted. Not sure if I'm more annoyed with him or the scumbag who took the job on. Can't believe some people TBH.
you cant expect to have 5 or 6 weeks off and to keep all your customers.........pandemic or no pandemic......count your lucky stars its only one job........ ;D
-
It is a bit pathetic that the customer went elsewhere.
But if anyone comes to me asking for a quote or clean I’ll do it. The price is the price. I don’t undercut as I’m not in a race to the bottom. I don’t stop to ask if or why they got rid of their last windy. I have no loyalty to other cleaners & make no apologies for it. I’d expect the same in return from other windys. I see it that it’s up to each & every one of us to keep our customers happy. How far we each want to go to that is different from cleaner to cleaner.
-
Well finally going back to work this coming Monday, Thank God. Texted all customers I have phone numbers for, the vast majority seem happy for us to resume. Had a couple who told us to hold off for now, which I understand. Picked up several new jobs during the lockdown, which always helps. The only issue was with a customer who I had told we were stepping down for a few weeks. Text him to let him know we were resuming, he phoned me back and said " I'm gonna have to let you go as you never came and I've found somebody else"! Livid was an understatement, I had to hang up before I said something I regretted. Not sure if I'm more annoyed with him or the scumbag who took the job on. Can't believe some people TBH.
Don’t let it get to you, try and put a positive spin on it, you’re getting rid of the dross.
-
That's true, the dross (rather than the cream) rises to the top at times like this.
Out of probably the dozen that have asked to skip a clean most been the dross, the slow payers or the ones who have a habit of skipping.
Ive removed quite a few from my round these last few weeks, I'm behind as it is plus I've picked up a fair few new ones so I'm culling as I go.
If it keeps up like this my round will be better coming out than it was going into this.
-
It is a bit pathetic that the customer went elsewhere.
But if anyone comes to me asking for a quote or clean I’ll do it. The price is the price. I don’t undercut as I’m not in a race to the bottom. I don’t stop to ask if or why they got rid of their last windy. I have no loyalty to other cleaners & make no apologies for it. I’d expect the same in return from other windys. I see it that it’s up to each & every one of us to keep our customers happy. How far we each want to go to that is different from cleaner to cleaner.
I agree...perfectly worded Simon.......👍
-
That's true, the dross (rather than the cream) rises to the top at times like this.
Out of probably the dozen that have asked to skip a clean most been the dross, the slow payers or the ones who have a habit of skipping.
Ive removed quite a few from my round these last few weeks, I'm behind as it is plus I've picked up a fair few new ones so I'm culling as I go.
If it keeps up like this my round will be better coming out than it was going into this.
Soon you'll be able to get round on time and they'll be less dirt to clean off the windows....win...win......
-
I said to you the general consensus was if he doesn’t come we will get someone else I heard this 2 weeks in from other cleaners,sometimes you can’t trust yourself 🤣 how can you expect to trust other people when you are just cleaning there windows.
You can tell if they are genuine good people they would ring you first or text.
-
I wouldn’t worry as the OP himself said he had lost the one but picked up several , so where is the hardship anyway.
-
These people picking up work at a later date will probably find out it’s from another cleaner.
-
Almost every customer has had a previous window cleaner though. What you supposed to do? You’d end up turning loads of jobs down.
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
-
The customers who jump ship because they fail to understand why you may have stopped working during a pandemic will probably be the first in the queue when Wetherspoons opens it’s doors in June.
Dazmond is probably booked as the entertainment already.
Happy Days!
-
I have had 1 person say can we leave it until this is over that was 6 weeks ago when this really started,since then loads of texts phone calls saying I hope you are still coming.
I dread to think what some people will go back to with there work when this is over.
-
I’m going back tomorrow actually feel a bit nervous as I’ve been off for 5 weeks lol
-
On a Friday ???
-
My local chip shop refused to serve me out of loyalty to their competitor Mcdonalds being closed. :D
-
The customers who jump ship because they fail to understand why you may have stopped working during a pandemic will probably be the first in the queue when Wetherspoons opens it’s doors in June.
Dazmond is probably booked as the entertainment already.
Happy Days!
yep got a gig there on their opening day dave! :D :D
-
On a Friday ???
Lol, utter madness indeed.
-
I’m going back tomorrow actually feel a bit nervous as I’ve been off for 5 weeks lol
Takes a bit of getting used to, I'm starting to feel comfortable now though. Being stared at like a animal in a zoo becomes normal after a while. It's better this week since the weather has been cooler and overcast, easier to work and no one in the way.
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
Just had a phone call from an elderly lady, she said that I clean her next door neighbours windows, and went on to say her window cleaner doesn’t keep well so is off work for the foreseeable future. She asked if I would clean her windows while I’m at her neighbours? Yep no problem I told her, but I made it clear it would only be on a temporary basis until her regular window cleaner returns to work. I also told her there will be a surcharge for the first clean as I know her regular window cleaner is trad, so frames will more than likely be dirty.
It really doesn’t have to be dog eat dog!
-
Back today , iv scheduled in less work per day than I normally do as I expected all work will be a little dirtier this month and expected customers to slow me down a bit. That’s exactly how it went down today. Wasn’t too bad , roads were quiet, most customers had a chat with me through their windows which was nice . Not a bad 1st day back really :)
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
Just had a phone call from an elderly lady, she said that I clean her next door neighbours windows, and went on to say her window cleaner doesn’t keep well so is off work for the foreseeable future. She asked if I would clean her windows while I’m at her neighbours? Yep no problem I told her, but I made it clear it would only be on a temporary basis until her regular window cleaner returns to work. I also told her there will be a surcharge for the first clean as I know her regular window cleaner is trad, so frames will more than likely be dirty.
It really doesn’t have to be dog eat dog!
If the regular window cleaner is trad then wouldn't it be more likely the frames and sills would be in good shape seeing that he/she would be able to get up close and personal with them using the ladder? In my experience it's the WFP that can't do quite as thorough a job on the sills etc.
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
Just had a phone call from an elderly lady, she said that I clean her next door neighbours windows, and went on to say her window cleaner doesn’t keep well so is off work for the foreseeable future. She asked if I would clean her windows while I’m at her neighbours? Yep no problem I told her, but I made it clear it would only be on a temporary basis until her regular window cleaner returns to work. I also told her there will be a surcharge for the first clean as I know her regular window cleaner is trad, so frames will more than likely be dirty.
It really doesn’t have to be dog eat dog!
If the regular window cleaner is trad then wouldn't it be more likely the frames and sills would be in good shape seeing that he/she would be able to get up close and personal with them using the ladder? In my experience it's the WFP that can't do quite as thorough a job on the sills etc.
In my experience it’s dirty top frames that can be problematic when wfp’ling and trad cleaners tend not to clean the top frame. It’s a bungalow, otherwise I might have declined the job.
-
Tradders don’t touch the frames and sills, we all know that. 😳
-
They barely touch the glass round my way ;)
-
They barely touch the glass round my way ;)
they dont even touch the glass round here.....just a slip through the door..... ;D
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
Just had a phone call from an elderly lady, she said that I clean her next door neighbours windows, and went on to say her window cleaner doesn’t keep well so is off work for the foreseeable future. She asked if I would clean her windows while I’m at her neighbours? Yep no problem I told her, but I made it clear it would only be on a temporary basis until her regular window cleaner returns to work. I also told her there will be a surcharge for the first clean as I know her regular window cleaner is trad, so frames will more than likely be dirty.
It really doesn’t have to be dog eat dog!
If the regular window cleaner is trad then wouldn't it be more likely the frames and sills would be in good shape seeing that he/she would be able to get up close and personal with them using the ladder? In my experience it's the WFP that can't do quite as thorough a job on the sills etc.
Lol
Surely a joke account.
-
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1588407825_Screenshot_20200502-084435__01__01.jpg)
Lol. Me too Janey. Me too.
-
All is fair in love and war if I wanted the job and the other cleaners had decided to take 3 months off I’d take it and unless people are talking 💩 so would the vast majority
Just had a phone call from an elderly lady, she said that I clean her next door neighbours windows, and went on to say her window cleaner doesn’t keep well so is off work for the foreseeable future. She asked if I would clean her windows while I’m at her neighbours? Yep no problem I told her, but I made it clear it would only be on a temporary basis until her regular window cleaner returns to work. I also told her there will be a surcharge for the first clean as I know her regular window cleaner is trad, so frames will more than likely be dirty.
It really doesn’t have to be dog eat dog!
If the regular window cleaner is trad then wouldn't it be more likely the frames and sills would be in good shape seeing that he/she would be able to get up close and personal with them using the ladder? In my experience it's the WFP that can't do quite as thorough a job on the sills etc.
Lol
Surely a joke account.
Are you referring to me? If so I can assure you this is most certainly not a joke account. I do a lot of traditional window cleaning and do so to a high standard. I pay attention to frames and sills. No doubt there are those who do the traditional technique that aren't so diligent. I suppose it's just down to the individual personality/work ethic of the individual so there's of course going to be good and bad cleaners using either method. Just going by what I've observed of other window cleaners in my area though I'd say the ones who exclusively use a WFP tend to do more of a sloppy job. Not saying that's the case with any of you guys though and of course I've seen WFP guys that seem to take a lot of pride in their work as well.
-
I never offered the chance to skip in my return to work text. Just feel your planting the seed. Back at it tomorrow, gonna feel strange!
-
I never offered the chance to skip in my return to work text. Just feel your planting the seed. Back at it tomorrow, gonna feel strange!
We've had to furlough some staff so we have no issues with anyone putting us off for now, it means we'll get round the ones who do want us quicker (we're already 5 weeks late).
Our goal is to still have as many of our customers left as possible when all this is over.
We have lost around 250 residential customers so far. It's a pretty small percentage of our customer base. The shops and hotels are all gone though and that's a bugger.
-
Wow Soupy,
Sorry to hear that mate. That seems like a fairly large chunk to lose. I can see more going once this furlough business subsides and people get laid off.
-
People won’t see the ramifications of this until around September-October,businesses by then will realise they can’t go on.
Companies are getting workers furloughed that’s fine they may have even got a 25k grant,that won’t equate for work lost and back dated bills,bills are still backing up from March through till June-July they’ll have to be paid with no money earned during those past months.
We haven’t even seen the start of this yet financially if people are saying they’ve still kept there commercial work I think this is wishful thinking at the moment,you won’t know if you’ve still got it until the Autumn when businesses will be able to see if they can continue.
Don’t forget big Tax bills to pay in January for a lot of businesses for last years earnings up until last April so that money has to be found also,for a lot of company’s it may be easier to fold.
-
Dazmond is probably booked as the entertainment already.
Happy Days!
Hey, Daz is OUR entertainment, not Wetherspoons!!!!
-
Tradders don’t touch the frames and sills, we all know that. 😳
I NEVER used to ;D