Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Clear Vision on October 04, 2006, 09:09:23 pm
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I have switched to water fed pole work but I still do a lot the trad way.
There are a few things that I hate about wfp!
1. The hose catching on obstacles In gardens.
2. Trying to find a parking place near the house your working on.
3. when the water In the tank Is running low and the van Is off the level you then find your self manouvering the van and positioning It so that the water runs towards the tap.
4. Filling up at night/morning.
What do you all find?
Although Im complaining about this I don't regret switching over ;)
Matthew
Clear Vision
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1. The hose catching on obstacles In gardens.
I was thinking this today when i was out, by the time i had done a full day it was really winding me up.
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Squeeks is gonna have a field day ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Filling up at night, yes definately, 'cause I usually remember that the hose is still conected just as I'm off to bed and I have to creep out in my boxers to dis-connect it. I've not frightened the neighbours yet ;D
And that's it really.
Yes the running costs are higher than traditional, but today I was cleaning windows five stories from the ground, and I wouldn't fancy doing that from a ladder!!
And I can now get much more work done, thus earning more and keeping the good lady wife very happy, which is all good.
And I have definately noticed a big upturn in interest from perspective customers. They see me using the pole, especially when I'm cleaning windows higher than bedroom window height, and always say the same, " Bloody Hell, that's a good idea, how much do you charge? I've asked loads of window cleaners to do mine but nobody will go that high. How much? Yeah that's great, I'll be able to look out of my flippin windows again now"
All in all, definately the best thing I ever did for my business, along with taking on daily contract cleaning in pubs, clubs, etc; a slightly lower hourly rate, but not weather dependent and guaranteed money. ;D
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Hi Mat,
I was thinking of posting something simular. We all, with the exception of Squeeky!!, seem to boast about how fantastic our magic sticks are but we all have a few disadvantages.
Mine are different to yours, as I don't have hose problems, I use a Backpack ALL the time.
The one thing about WFP I can't get used to is leaving the windows wet!
Yes I know they dry off fine and it's no REAL problem and I don't show it to the sceptical customers. Just a confidence thing with me.
The other is the different readings I get from my TDS meters. I have an inline TDS and a Handheld. The inline shows different readings and never shows below 001 comeing out of the DI but the sample test in the Tank with the handheld is 000. Again no REAL problem just niggles me!
David
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Well, it had to come!
W/c trad for 19 years, and I honestly can't remember the last time a customer complained. It is many years ago, honestly!
W/c wfp for just over a year now, and I have never had so many complaints!
They are only in a small minority, but noticeable. In fact it's been getting me down just this past week. I can't go back to the old way and cope with the volume of work I now have, or the type of work I now have.
Another thing is all the boasting about money and speed and how clean it is!
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I hate the higher tax bill because I earn more! ;D
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I hate getting given all this extra work from unsatisfied customers.... ;D
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I hate getting given all this extra work from unsatisfied customers.... ;D
Wahay! Hiya Squeaks! Nice to hear from you and thanks for telling us all about your latest dream! ;D
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I hate getting given all this extra work from unsatisfied customers.... ;D
In your own words Squeaky, "STUIPID REMARK", ;)
Macc
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Aw eck!
Don't start bloody argueing!!!!!!!!!!
Squeeky,
You will get customers from WFP chaps. Not evryone likes it. The're a bit like me!!
"I don't want em left all wet - you 'ave to polish em mate!!!" Down to choice.
I've lost about 5 or 6 due to that. Mind you most of them were a bit awkward types!!
David
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The hose catching on obstacles In gardens.
Matthew
Clear Vision
Hi Matthew.
Microbore is your answer mate, the hose was my biggest wind up. It hardly ever snags & takes seconds to pull out & wind in. I often have a 100m of it out, round corners & over a couple of fences,most of the time i wind the lot in in less than a minute. Also i use airline connections, dont leak or pop apart like Hozelock.
Its worth every penny mate & i reckon it saves me an hour a day at least not to mention the wind ups with hose pipe.
I got mine off Tony (Sair) hes a good bloke, i've also got some of my mates to switch & they love it.
Macc
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the chances of receiving hospital food has been reduced byabout 95%
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With regards work from unsatisfied wfp customers - that is true. It is so true. I don't know if the various users were a coyboys or not but we have picked up some seriously decent work this year as a result.
Anyway - the other side of the coin is that we now have not only jobs that could never ever be done trad style but quite a few where wfp knocks spots and time off trad methods.
It's horses for courses.
The thing I hate about wfp more than anything else, all the hoses.
Second is all the water running everywhere.
Third which will become '1st' during the winter - getting soaked. Not so bad during the summer but come winter no matter what I wear, one way or another I will get wet and cold.
All in all, I think the original list by Clear Vision sums it up.
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I hate the higher tax bill because I earn more! ;D
I hate having much more time off due to getting through my work much more quickly.
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The thing that drives me mad is when im trying to pull my trolley down an alley way and theres 2 wheely bins and other stuff in the way >:(
There aint nothing so easy as a bucket of water and a ladder :-X
I dont regret changing over to wfp because thats whats best for my type of work 8)
regards
Brett.
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I hate getting wet feet everyday.
I also hate the hose keep getting caught on everything
Hate flaky frames
Hate using all that water
Hate the extra expense
Hate leaving windows wet
Hate locked gates
Hate flat roofs
But would i change back
NO
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I hate getting given all this extra work from unsatisfied customers.... ;D
In your own words Squeaky, "STUIPID REMARK", ;)
Macc
Call it what you want, I just speak the truth as usual. ;)
Except that I don't hate it really. ;D
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I hate explaining to customers how pure water works this is after theyve had an explanation letter, then you get others look at you as if you are telling them lies or they will say theres plenty of water in the outside tap ::)
Brett
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What I've realised it that some customers just do not get it. You can explain it to your hearts desire but they will not understand.
Some can grasp the idea of pure water but not understand it but are prepared to accept what you say, and some will get the idea straight away.
It's different people. That's all. A letter explaining it will be great for some customers but for others, it may as well be hyroglyphics.
I try, and sometimes fail, to explain it all differently to different customers. Some I use just a few words, some I just say 'this is how it is done now', and for some I go into detail. For some I do not say anything.
It's case of reading the customer and how they see things. There is not one explaination that is suitable for every customer.
When we were trad only, no explaination needed. No complaints either. Now with WFP, I am fed up of not only complaints ranging from water on the inside of the property to slippery paths and the whole world of all that goes with loads of water everywhere.
So for me, in terms of the customer instead of my own usage of WFP, what I hate about WFP is both the complex way of cleaning windows and the complaints which aren't always about the end result but are usually.
Cheers
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squeeky, got to hand it to you - not only do you defend your corner well but you also come out on the offensive every so often, you are right though, some folks don't like wfp - flip side of the coin is some prefer wfp.
some day you will too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I hate getting wet when I'm in confined spaces cleaning high level windows and having to put my waterproofs on.
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squeeky, got to hand it to you - not only do you defend your corner well but you also come out on the offensive every so often, you are right though, some folks don't like wfp - flip side of the coin is some prefer wfp.
some day you will too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn't going to poke my nose in, but someone mentioned what I might be thinking, so I said. ;D
"Some day I'll prefer wfp?"
What makes you think that?
If you've got a reliable Lexus, why change it for a dodgy Renault?
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Squeaks, Your analogy of the Lexus and dodgy renault is wrong.
It should read " If you've got a reliable lexus, why change it for a Ferrari?
Both great cars but the Ferrari will get you there faster despite higher running costs but it will turn heads. The elderly wont care much for the Ferrari but they preffer to stick with the lexus.
Nel.
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Things I hate :-
Tank overflowing
Grit on your poles that stop your pole sliding ( I carry polish for this now )
Grit in connectors, you struggle to connect them
Reeling in your hose to find dog dirt on it.
Terraced houses, too much hassle , prefer large detached houses.
When you have no water coming out of your brush, trying to find the air lock.
Apart from all that I love it.
Doug
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Hi Matthew.
Microbore is your answer mate, the hose was my biggest wind up. It hardly ever snags & takes seconds to pull out & wind in. I often have a 100m of it out, round corners & over a couple of fences,most of the time i wind the lot in in less than a minute. Also i use airline connections, dont leak or pop apart like Hozelock.
Its worth every penny mate & i reckon it saves me an hour a day at least not to mention the wind ups with hose pipe.
I got mine off Tony (Sair) hes a good bloke, i've also got some of my mates to switch & they love it.
Macc
What makes you think I don't use microbore??? ::)
I switched to It a few months ago and It's great!
It never kinks on me but sometimes when your winding In It gets caught on a corner of a step or under a big plant pot >:(
I use the schrarder type fittings from cleantech.
Matthew
Clrear Vision
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Squeek,
I must admit you give us all a good laugh "sometimes" and you can get the banter flowing but this Is turning Into another trad vs wfp >:(
There's another topic called "Things we hate about trad" Thats where you should be ;) not In this one.
Another thing I hate Is cob webs on the top corner of the window. You have no choice but to put the brush up there and knock em off but sometimes the water catches the top frame and when your done will start to run down and laeve a mark.
And washing the brushes when full of cob webs! >:(
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Well, this could go on either thread of "things we hate".
I am soaked through to the skin. Worked in the pouring rain for the last 3 hours, drenched.
Oh well, I wouldn't have even attempted it trad! So I've paid for dinner tonight ;)
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I hate it when I mix and match WFP and trad and the pole keeps dropping into my scrim pouch. I know I should change the pole height but sometimes it's not worth it if the next window is hgher. Do any of you get this problem?