Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Clear Vision on September 26, 2006, 05:22:38 pm
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Hi all,
I have just picked up some very good houses over the last few weeks. (more than double the price of some of my original houses and they take the same time to do)
I wish to drop some of my customers now which have been very loyal to me but I just dread going to them every month. The are akward houses to clean and they just don't pay the same as my new ones.
The problem the ones I want to ditch have relatives that I clean In different areas. I don't like to be put In a position where I have to answer a thousand questions on why I ditched there friend/relatives!
What Is the best way to go?
How have you guys done It?
Matthew
Clear Vision
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simple way is to pass them onto another w/c
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You say pass!
Do you mean give or sell?
Bearing In mind there are about 10 @ roughly £4-5.50 each
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You would be mad not to try and sell them even if it's a token £50
Good luck
Robbie
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Hi Matthew.
If you want shot of them but dont want to feel awkward, pass them on, problem solved. ;)
Macc
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Or you can write to them saying you have to double the price as they are to low, and if you dont here from them you understand, but if they want you to continue give a ring.
Best of both worlds.
Roy
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I would sell the work on to anther w/c.
If you get to attached because of relatives/friends houses your work will become stale to the point where you dont enjoy w/c.
Just say that your business has to move on.
I've just sold half my round to make way for the better paying work that is coming in all the time.
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If you cant get them up to the price that you want i would sell them on to another window cleaner as least that way you havent just left them, as you say theyve been loyal
Brett
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You say pass!
Do you mean give or sell?
Bearing In mind there are about 10 @ roughly £4-5.50 each
if you wanna get rid of them, then they can't be that good?
so give them away
you did ask for advice on how to drop them so there's your answer
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why dont you just up the price?? even if its to a silly price? if they say yes no problem then your a winner, if not then who cares ???
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i would pass them onto another local cleaner , i would not sell them as this would bring another window cleaner into your area.
Like you said they are cheap so are probably not worth a lot anyway.
Another option already been mentioned is to try and negotiate a new price , you may be surprised
Dave
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i would hick the price up, stick 2 or 3 quid on the price, just explain you made a mistake when you priced them up when you started and your trying to sort your round out
then if your still not happy bung another quid on them next year
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Thanks for your advice!
I have taken It all In and I think I will just give them away to a local window cleaner.
Cheers guys.
P.S. I like the Idea of hicking up the price but I don't have the balls to do that.
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I've found that the best way is the honest approach ::). I'd just simply say that overheads are rising, w/c's insurance has gone up, van insurance has rocketed, supplies cost more, the cost of living is going up all the time so 'I'm sorry but I'm going to have put the cost of your windows up'.
If they look unhappy then offer to find another window cleaner.
Most people understand rising costs.
Also, we've never sold a single job. We've always given the work away. Now, because of that we have a whole network of contacts from window cleaning, carpet cleaning, gardening, tree surgery, etc.
Sometimes we get work from other w/c's when the job is too large for them and if we get asked to do windows that are not worth it for the way we are set up, I pass the work on.
Cheers
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i would pass them onto another local cleaner , i would not sell them as this would bring another window cleaner into your area.
Dave
Dave!
Surely giving them to another local window cleaner brings in another window cleaner into his area?
You need that holiday, mate!
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I always mean to pass work I drop on, but sometimes don't get round to it and after about four months of not doing certain customers, they 'catch' me shopping in Tescos and stuff.
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Tosh
I mean someone who is already working the area instead of bringing in another new face at leat the work you give to the opposition will keep them busy enough so they dont poach your better work .
If you sell them to a new window cleaner to the area he will look for more work and will end up being more opposition.
Dave
P.s I may come and haunt you on my holidays as i here its nice where you live
Dave
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Surely giving them to another local window cleaner brings in another window cleaner into his area?
Maybe Dave is celebrating his new contracts with a few bottles of wine?
Other window cleaners are in the area already? Surely?
Every road has houses that have clean windows and not every home owner does them themselves.
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Tosh
Dave
P.s I may come and haunt you on my holidays as i here its nice where you live
Dave
I could be biased because I live here, but I wouldn't want to come here on holiday. Try the Gower, it's only another hour-and-a-half further away.
If you do come here, I'll tell you I told you so, but I'd meet up for a pint 'or two' if you like! ;D
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I used to take every job on that a was asked but i am very strict with myself now, when im asked by someone and it doesnt fit in with my work i tell them ill find them another window cleaner.
I have got all the numbers of the local window cleaners so i just pass it on this creates a good raport with other window cleaners, i have given 3 jobs away this week
regards
Brett
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Ross / Tosh
Please re-read my last post .
i have still not decided where to go , so much to the extent that my wife is giving me loads of agro
Dave
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I wouldn't bother trying to increase your old customers prices by nearly double as in a little while they will probably find some other window cleaner who will do them for peanuts again. The best thing you can do is either sell them on at a cheap price or better still pass the work on to a window cleaner who uses ladders (trad) and in return ask him to pass any high work he's offered (assuming you use WFP) on to you in return.
I always drop customers who are grumpy, whingeing, fussy and moaning all the time as it's very negative which gets a bit soul destroying as I try to stay up beat, enthusiastic, positive and happy.
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Sorry to sound picky but the first part of your posting is at odds with the end.
If a customer is a pain, or the job is under priced, then just give it go at raising the price.
See what happens first before pre empting the outcome. If nothing else, the experience and discomfort of asking for more and then walking away if it is a 'no' will help in terms of posture for the future.
Posture will get better priced jobs in the long run than any amount of know how.
If they agree to an increase in price, then it's a bonus, if they won't pay for whatever reason, forget anybody else, search for new jobs and do what ever it takes to get them be it spending days leafleting or time door knocking.
Cheers
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Sorry to sound picky but the first part of your posting is at odds with the end.
If a customer is a pain, or the job is under priced, then just give it go at raising the price.
See what happens first before pre empting the outcome. If nothing else, the experience and discomfort of asking for more and then walking away if it is a 'no' will help in terms of posture for the future.
Posture will get better priced jobs in the long run than any amount of know how.
If they agree to an increase in price, then it's a bonus, if they won't pay for whatever reason, forget anybody else, search for new jobs and do what ever it takes to get them be it spending days leafleting or time door knocking.
Cheers
What I meant to say is that if the customers prices are crap and you have enough work it's better to pass the work on to a trad w/cleaning in return for more lucrative high level WFP work which the trad w/cleaner can't accept but is offered.
If the customers prices are far too low it's not worth the bother of trying to put them up slowly over a long period of time. It's better to be honest and upfront with them and tell them that they're too low for you to continue on a regular basis and tell them how much is a sensible price and wait and see the outcome.
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Hi Easy Clean again
Thanks for clearing that up. I misunderstood your previous posting.
I agree 100%.
Cheers
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Double the price.