Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Llaaww on October 31, 2022, 06:10:07 pm

Title: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Llaaww on October 31, 2022, 06:10:07 pm
I just went to a local chemist and the front of the shop was the mankiest snot ridden phole on the planet. Every spithead has gobbled and ped on the windows since time began. And nobody has cleaned it at all for a very long time.

If it is dirty it is fair game.

The same town has an old window cleaner who has been there forever and the whole highstreet use him and his jobs are all spotless.

The thing that passes me off is that somebody somewhere is putting in a bill every month and leaving the High Street looking like a sithole, because theyre too bone idle to do the work. While all the time there are good hard working people who could get the job done properly and probably for less.

I am going to nail this f***ing shop to the floor and take any others with it.

For any olds out there, I just bagged a cathedral, all I need now is a Palace and I have got a full set.🤠
Llaaww

Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: G Griffin on October 31, 2022, 06:44:31 pm
🤨
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 31, 2022, 07:04:29 pm
🤨

Big Farmer's getting ripped off by window cleaners?  ;D

Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: G Griffin on October 31, 2022, 07:08:17 pm
🤨

Big Farmer's getting ripped off by window cleaners?  ;D
Clearly ;D.
It was an interesting rant anyway 👏.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on October 31, 2022, 07:51:07 pm
I just went to a local chemist and the front of the shop was the mankiest snot ridden phole on the planet. Every spithead has gobbled and ped on the windows since time began. And nobody has cleaned it at all for a very long time.

If it is dirty it is fair game.

The same town has an old window cleaner who has been there forever and the whole highstreet use him and his jobs are all spotless.

The thing that passes me off is that somebody somewhere is putting in a bill every month and leaving the High Street looking like a sithole, because theyre too bone idle to do the work. While all the time there are good hard working people who could get the job done properly and probably for less.

I am going to nail this f***ing shop to the floor and take any others with it.

For any olds out there, I just bagged a cathedral, all I need now is a Palace and I have got a full set.🤠
Llaaww

Your whinging about another window cleaner who gets paid to clean the whole town and the windows are full off p!$$ and gobble? and that you want to do it cheaper than him?? …
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Bungle on October 31, 2022, 08:41:27 pm
Sounds like Boots don't have a window cleaner or am I missing something??
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Bungle on October 31, 2022, 08:44:27 pm
On a side note my and Mrs Bungle went to McDonald's for breakfast at 8:30 this morning. The windows had been WFP outside and trad inside. I could tell cause I'm a pro. Looked a half decent job tbf. Probably only got paid £10 for it though.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on October 31, 2022, 09:29:43 pm
Like the Wild West cleaning McDonald’s-Boots etc I don’t know why people even go after that kind of chaff these days,knew someone that did em 25 years ago at 3-4 o’clock in the morning when it was worth getting up for. 
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: H2GoKent on November 01, 2022, 06:30:20 am
I used to do a lot of retail, I do a lot less now. Used to make about 150 before breakfast 3 days a week, easy start to the day for me as I always wake up early always have.

The larger nationals charge a standard price, then sub it out, and sometimes it's subbed out by the subbie. :)

Retail is really struggling nowadays so they cut all the cleaning to the bone.
Used to my nearby Debenhams, the spec was 3 times a week, then 2, then 1.  Then they got it done by a guy they employed on a day rate who always looks very stressed
My local Boots is filthy as well so it's probably done once a month, if that. A lot of these long long established chains are broke and only stay in business because they are supported by fund managers and the shares are being passed around like a game of pass the parcel, in the end the music stops and they go into Liquidation, think of Woolworths, Debenhams
Next time you're in a High Street have a look around and you can almost tell the stores that are struggling, WH Smith always looks filthy as well.

Retail can still be ok, can be done regardless of the weather, you can sub it out when you want a break or if you get a lot of it, but it's definitely not the cash cow it used to be
Funnily enough I'm just going to do some now, it's raining and windy and I'll still do them be done by 9,  good result
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: zesty on November 01, 2022, 07:18:39 am
Used to do a five guys through some big cleaning company. Only did it as I do the apartments above.

Sacked it off within a few cleans. They wanted photos of inside and out, some stupid app filled in and signed off. All for £15.

Would have done it if it wasn’t through this middl man company.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: deeege on November 01, 2022, 07:25:06 am
Also used to do plenty of retail. Suited me perfectly as all done before breakfast when I was up anyway. Primark 5x per week, Next 2 x per week and about 20 other national shops. Used to turn over £2k + per month and all nice and easy work. The arse fell out of it all though and I only have a couple hundred quid a month now. Shame as I still like doing it.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: SB Cleaning on November 01, 2022, 07:32:51 am
On a side note my and Mrs Bungle went to McDonald's for breakfast at 8:30 this morning. The windows had been WFP outside and trad inside. I could tell cause I'm a pro. Looked a half decent job tbf. Probably only got paid £10 for it though.
Your getting as bad as me fat boy ;D
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Bungle on November 01, 2022, 10:24:20 am
On a side note my and Mrs Bungle went to McDonald's for breakfast at 8:30 this morning. The windows had been WFP outside and trad inside. I could tell cause I'm a pro. Looked a half decent job tbf. Probably only got paid £10 for it though.
Your getting as bad as me fat boy ;D

I'll give you that one 😂
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 01, 2022, 11:42:23 am
The National companies ruined it all windows and high street office cleaning you could make a fantastic living cleaning shop windows and a dozen offices every week,not even worth trying to park up now and shops that have money now won’t have within the next year.
Commercial companies taking longer and longer to pay their bills I’m hearing from a few windys I know.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 01, 2022, 11:43:03 am
Round our way the the staff are doing the windows (Mc D's) - they do them in/out with a spray bottle of something and a large roll of blue towel.....


yes they look  as sh!t after as they did before stating them... ;D

Darran
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 01, 2022, 11:59:08 am
It’ll get back to the way it was eventually with shops using window cleaners,in about 15 years time 😂
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: colin bird on November 01, 2022, 03:25:56 pm
i know nwh gets a lot of flack for his post but i have to say he does talk a lot of sense in my opinion
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 01, 2022, 03:47:53 pm
You wait all of a sudden you’re too expensive or to regular or actually you don’t do that great a job lol,the absolute nonsense people come out with when their skint why not just say can we go to 4 monthly instead of 6 weekly or 2 monthly c’mon they’ll need cleaning.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: cgh window cleaning on November 01, 2022, 04:11:01 pm
Chemist are like banks and are all covered by NWC Group.
And most banks and chemists couldn't care less about window cleaning people will still use them regardless.

I do retail work have done for years it's like all window cleaning you get some good and some bad.

it's the same with residential it's not always profitable to pull up to one  stand alone job but get a few in a row and it can be a good earner.

Some retail pay very well to have their shops look clean.To state there's no money in it by people that don't do this type of work makes no sense.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 01, 2022, 05:59:48 pm
Of course some will still pay well I’m looking at it as a whole and what’s happened over the last 10-15 years,it’s coming in the next 6 months to a year and it ain’t the window cleaner lol.
One minute a company will pay over the odds for window cleaning and you can think blimey good little earner  this one,I’ve had it next minute they don’t want them cleaning anymore and you continue to drive by for the next few years and see they’ve still not bothered.
If you’re not in with the Burser etc on commercial stuff you’ve lost before you’ve started,the big stuff you need a few brown envelopes in the van 😂.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Martin Lane on November 01, 2022, 06:41:42 pm
We got asked to do 150 shops  twice a week, I was the 4th company in the line   that  would be taken a piece of the pie,  we refused the work, the top company  who had the contract was getting  £18 per clean   I  doubt  the window cleaner at the end of the line doing the work got £7 per clean
Yes there is loads of money in National contact work  but sadly not for the guys doing the work.

Martin
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: G Griffin on November 01, 2022, 06:45:10 pm
Chemist are like banks and are all covered by NWC Group.
And most banks and chemists couldn't care less about window cleaning people will still use them regardless.

I do retail work have done for years it's like all window cleaning you get some good and some bad.

it's the same with residential it's not always profitable to pull up to one  stand alone job but get a few in a row and it can be a good earner.

Some retail pay very well to have their shops look clean.To state there's no money in it by people that don't do this type of work makes no sense.
That sounds about right to me.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 01, 2022, 06:50:23 pm
Yeah spoke to a guy that used to do a bookies took him most of the morning to do 4 and cover the mileage,the National company we’re doing them at a loss at around 6 quid a shop.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: robbo333 on November 02, 2022, 06:18:25 pm
Mrs Window Cleaner works at Boots.
They had a great window cleaner for years and years, but then Boots got taken over by 'a large American company'
It all went down hill from there...cut backs!
Now a guy turns up, does a p awful job and life goes on...
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 02, 2022, 06:43:05 pm
I just think it’s such a shame I know they got paid for it but they used to take pride in what they did the local guys,the high streets used to glisten at night.
You want to see how bad someone is with a squeegee look at the shop windows at night with the display lighting,it’s an eye opener what they pay for.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: james peters on November 02, 2022, 07:19:39 pm
I do a couple of garages and independant stores such as nica local.    All in the vicinity of my domestics . they get the signs done also a few times a year .
One of the stores had their  pvc cladding done last week . £240 for a mornings work, a nice change of scenery .

I dont target this work, but seem to be picking it up.
I have been doing a chapel of rest for a few years , and had to clean their small shop  selling the gravestones in the high street. although at first it was a bit of a pain, I eventualy picked up 2 restaurant fronts next door and another independant shop front.
all pay cash on completion.
On the other hand I have turned this type of work down if I feel its out of the way and of no benefit to me
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 02, 2022, 09:17:18 pm
Local co-ops use one of those multi service companies - ie.. empty the bins, clean windows - hoover the office etc..

a year or so back one of there guys turned up - emptied the bins - went into his cab and pulled out a squeegee and mop - on the way to the windows dunked the mop in the puddle and proceeded to clean the glass

now thats what I call great service ;D
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: tonyoliver on November 03, 2022, 11:04:45 am
The boots in our part of the world like most big shops were cleaned by the local cleaners then in the 80s big nationals evolved and hoovered up the cleaning floor cleaning and so on then subbed it out to someone who subbed it out then onto someone who subbed it out then the local guy got offered his old clean back not at 25£ but £7 then made to wait. 110 days for the money as the guy who subbed it wouldn’t pay until the guy he subbed it from paid him and so on  same with builders cleans cinemas and large department stores then the hedge fund assets strippers moved in and killed the game completely I remember shops were spotless and the smallest mark in or out was noted by the manager now cleaned ad hoc by new comers to the uk who in all honesty know they are being shafted I got out when the cleaner was paid £2.50 an hour   Everyone loses the shops are filthy and the prices skills and will to do a good job gone forever
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Splash & dash on November 03, 2022, 11:32:01 am
Doing chain stores is a compleate waist of time I did quite a few when I started over 23 years ago as I needed the work , looking back now was the worst decision I ever made should have spent that time canvassing much better work , we do shops now but only privately owned ones
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 03, 2022, 11:37:42 am
Not the 80s so Tony more like the late 90s.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on November 03, 2022, 07:03:42 pm
We got asked to do 150 shops  twice a week, I was the 4th company in the line   that  would be taken a piece of the pie,  we refused the work, the top company  who had the contract was getting  £18 per clean   I  doubt  the window cleaner at the end of the line doing the work got £7 per clean
Yes there is loads of money in National contact work  but sadly not for the guys doing the work.

Martin

How much do employees get from the multivan operators on here per clean/per house if they’re on £10 an hour?… maybe £3 per house if doing 3 semis an hour??
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 03, 2022, 07:08:27 pm
Not that much - more like 3 shillings and sixpence  ;)
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 03, 2022, 07:15:10 pm
It won’t be long before they are glad  of a flat £10 an hour I’ve just watched the news 😂.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on November 03, 2022, 07:22:27 pm
Not that much - more like 3 shillings and sixpence  ;)

Thought so 😐
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 03, 2022, 11:29:15 pm
Gotta tow the TORY line - no pay rises - minimal perks  (after all they do get paid for having a month off each year - ya know) - stops them going on strike as they cant afford the time off   - keep them workers where they belong - with your boot on their necks ;D


Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: james peters on November 04, 2022, 08:11:10 am
I had a call from a company that is in charge of the cleaning for an  m4   services near me .
he said the budget is for twice a month , in and out  at £40 per visit.    I declined, he did ask how much I would want.   I said £120 and payment on completion.....
I didnt get the job ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on November 04, 2022, 08:17:25 am
Gotta tow the TORY line - no pay rises - minimal perks  (after all they do get paid for having a month off each year - ya know) - stops them going on strike as they cant afford the time off   - keep them workers where they belong - with your boot on their necks ;D

Hmm 🤨…. not much difference between you and the national company’s then eh?
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 04, 2022, 09:56:17 am
👍 yes mate - all us employers are out to screw the worker not a good un among us eh ! 🤔🙄🙄🙄
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on November 04, 2022, 10:49:04 am
👍 yes mate - all us employers are out to screw the worker not a good un among us eh ! 🤔🙄🙄🙄

I wasn’t saying your out to screw your workers , you said that in your own sarcastic reply 😁. I was clearly saying that a subby getting a subby getting a subby who is paid £7 a clean is no different to the smaller multivan operators paying £3 per semi to their employees 👌
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 04, 2022, 01:06:28 pm
A d that’s where you total lack of understanding comes to the fore…

With comments like that sarcasm is all your statement is worth

A subby and paid worker are totally different  - have a think to see if you can work it out

Darran
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Shrek on November 04, 2022, 02:13:09 pm
A d that’s where you total lack of understanding comes to the fore…

With comments like that sarcasm is all your statement is worth

A subby and paid worker are totally different  - have a think to see if you can work it out

Darran

You know I’m right , that’s why you answer with a sarcastic remark when I didn’t even mention your name. Tell us all then , if your worker is paid £10 an hour , how much is he getting per 3 bed semi if he’s doing 3 an hour. If I’m wrong, il hold my hands up , I have no problem with that at all
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: KS Cleaning on November 04, 2022, 02:36:23 pm
We got asked to do 150 shops  twice a week, I was the 4th company in the line   that  would be taken a piece of the pie,  we refused the work, the top company  who had the contract was getting  £18 per clean   I  doubt  the window cleaner at the end of the line doing the work got £7 per clean
Yes there is loads of money in National contact work  but sadly not for the guys doing the work.

Martin

How much do employees get from the multivan operators on here per clean/per house if they’re on £10 an hour?… maybe £3 per house if doing 3 semis an hour??
The simple answer is they get £10 per hour. I don’t really understand why anyone would want to try and second guess what someone else’s employees gets paid per house, too many variables involved.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Smudger on November 04, 2022, 05:05:32 pm
So what's the difference between a subby and an employee......

Your subby takes on a job for a national chain of shops - this job has been passed down the line from a "national" where supposedly its price is - lets say £50 - the subby at the end of the line get  £7 (as already posted) - thats all he/she gets  end of

Now your PAYE worker is working away for a wage p/h and in the example it was £3 from a £10 semi - well that isn't the case at all - for a start they are getting 28 days holiday p/a (8 hr day = 224 hrs)  so on top of their £3 they get £2,240 per year without lifting a finger - they also don't deal with any costs - van, fuel, admin, taxes, advertising etc... - all this passes then by

The poor old self employed subby - has all this to take out of that £7 - and if he misses the clean gats nothing, and nothing travelling from job to job where the employee is being paid to drive from stop to stop - and of course the subby might have to wait 60 or 90 days for his money....

Now for the record -

I don't pay £10 - in fact in this area I pay better than 50% of businesses around here by 25% or more - this includes factory workers, shop workers, health carers, security people and all the season stuff that goes with the seaside - and the hours are pretty standard not late/night shifts OR Saturday/sunday working.

The guys also on top of an hourly rate a % bonus - this usually = to £1.25 p/h for regular window work and for our specialised stuff getting upwards of £100 notes

Not bad going for what is a relatively unskilled job

Darran
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 04, 2022, 06:16:19 pm
And just to add there’s so many people that say they employ but when you see what they are paying and hours they are guaranteeing it’s a joke.
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Bungle on November 04, 2022, 06:49:36 pm
And just to add there’s so many people that say they employ but when you see what they are paying and hours they are guaranteeing it’s a joke.

Do you employ Nigel?
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: NWH on November 04, 2022, 07:15:06 pm
Yes
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Don Kee on November 05, 2022, 02:51:13 pm
 
Yes


 ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Boots the chemist (rant)
Post by: Bungle on November 05, 2022, 06:44:28 pm
Yes

*makes mental note