Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Majestic on June 11, 2007, 04:57:20 pm

Title: Longest
Post by: Majestic on June 11, 2007, 04:57:20 pm
Had a bit of a fall out with a customer today, she has been with me for about 8 years. Anyway she is history now. Has anyone got cutomers on there books  who they have had for more than 8 years.( before any smart replies no its not a very big house that takes me that long to clean )
I have 3 that have been with me since I first started, nearly 10 years ago. But I must of had hundreds that I have let go .
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on June 11, 2007, 05:16:59 pm
Probably about 50 or so I've had since I started 10 years ago, but let a lot go as well.  Funny when you see the kids grow up and leave home.

Simon.
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: Paul Coleman on June 11, 2007, 05:41:48 pm
Had a bit of a fall out with a customer today, she has been with me for about 8 years. Anyway she is history now. Has anyone got cutomers on there books  who they have had for more than 8 years.( before any smart replies no its not a very big house that takes me that long to clean )
I have 3 that have been with me since I first started, nearly 10 years ago. But I must of had hundreds that I have let go .

I've been window cleaning since 1991 and have a few customers still that I got in the first year.  Most of the originals went when I gave away a biggish chunk of work in a Sussex village around 2001/2002 (all underpriced).
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: xxmattyxx on June 11, 2007, 09:03:35 pm
Had a bit of a fall out with a customer today, she has been with me for about 8 years. Anyway she is history now. Has anyone got cutomers on there books  who they have had for more than 8 years.( before any smart replies no its not a very big house that takes me that long to clean )
I have 3 that have been with me since I first started, nearly 10 years ago. But I must of had hundreds that I have let go .

Ive been going 8 1/2 years now and started up by buying about £1,000 worth of work.

I still do a few of those original customers, a quick guesstimate Ive probably got about £100.00 worth, so not much in fact.

The others have either moved/died/Ive binned them/ but dont think any have gone because we fell out.

Although I have fallen out with a few, not many, one springs to mind. He accused me of not doing his bathroom window (I did do it). I denied his accusations so he proceeded to call me a liar........

I saw red mist at that stage  ;D ;D

and called him something very naughty, which began with C ended in T and had U and N in it  ;D ;D

I never did go back, I doubt he'd have wanted me to anyway. I always fantasised afterwards of lobbing handfuls of grass seed in his hanging baskets as I did his neighbours windows, that would have pi55ed on his fireworks, the old numpty  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: AuRavelling79 on June 11, 2007, 09:09:16 pm

Although I have fallen out with a few, not many, one springs to mind. He accused me of not doing his bathroom window (I did do it). I denied his accusations so he proceeded to call me a liar........

I saw red mist at that stage  ;D ;D

and called him something very naughty, which began with C ended in T and had U and N in it  ;D ;D

I never did go back, I doubt he'd have wanted me to anyway. I always fantasised afterwards of lobbing handfuls of grass seed in his hanging baskets as I did his neighbours windows, that would have pi55ed on his fireworks, the old numpty  ;D ;D ;D


You called him 'King Canute??? How rude!  ;D

Title: Re: Longest
Post by: NWH on June 11, 2007, 11:00:46 pm
I have a few customers that my dad used to clean since 1967,i`m still doing them and believe it or not 2 of them are still in the same houses LOL.
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: Trevor Knight on June 12, 2007, 07:16:59 am
Like most on here we have a few that pass the 10 year mark. Up until last year, having moved to Spain, my longest lasting customer who I had cleaned for 15 years treated me like her son.

When she moved she left us a present. Inside this box was 4 bottles of wine, some chocolates and a card saying thank you for our services over the years.

Then on the reverse, I had a customer who I had cleaned for almost 10 years just up and go and sting me for £25 for their last clean.

Its a funny old game!
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: Londoner on June 12, 2007, 10:24:57 am
What would be more interesting to know would be why you let the ones go that you didn't fall out with. I have dumped customers for all sorts of reasons. So have we all, but mostly because they were time wasters. some becuse they were poor prices and I didn't want the aggro. Others I just didn't like.

However, I have been dropped for no good reason that I could see. I would much prefer it if they told you the truth rather than what you know is an excuse.   
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: Helen on June 12, 2007, 10:32:47 am
Quite agree Vince. funny some of the excuses we get from custies. Had one not long ago, Mr Custy... "oh we are moving next month so this will be our last clean, thanks for your services blah blah blah". Make a note and after 5 weeks go round to catch the new owners..... hello that looks like Mrs Custy that has been there for 4 years.... me..., oh bad luck has your move fallen through? Her.... we're not moving we love it here....uuuuhhhhh, guess not every couple tell each other everything then! ;D
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: Paul Coleman on June 12, 2007, 10:44:19 am
What would be more interesting to know would be why you let the ones go that you didn't fall out with. I have dumped customers for all sorts of reasons. So have we all, but mostly because they were time wasters. some becuse they were poor prices and I didn't want the aggro. Others I just didn't like.

However, I have been dropped for no good reason that I could see. I would much prefer it if they told you the truth rather than what you know is an excuse.   

All sorts of reasons for letting old work go really.
Usually poor prices that I didn't put up.  Sometimes it will be customers who mess around with payments or the "could you just................." brigade.  Sometimes there is too much of the "not today thank you".  That cost me over £100 last month so I will be having a sort out of the regular offenders.  "Not today thanks" is a pain.  It means I have to suffer a drop in income with no notice whatsoever - sometimes after unloading my equipment.  I bet they would soon complain if their boss approached them at lunchtime and told them to go home and that they would suffer a drop in pay that month.  Sometimes a customer will want to alter the terms of engagement too much on a job that is already only just worth doing.
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: simon knight on June 12, 2007, 11:42:38 am

Customers where I do in and out (so they have to be there) and I leave a message on their ansa-phone and they don't return the call. They get 2 calls and if still no response they get the tin-tack.

Been canned once myself. Apparently I'd  "done a s##t job and we're gonna find someone else".

At least they were honest.
Title: Re: Longest
Post by: jakeandmia on June 12, 2007, 03:03:33 pm
Hi

Ive been doing it now for 8yrs and all but a few are still with me but I put that down to the guy I bought the round off who done it for 41 yrs.


Wayne