Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Sir Squeaky on October 03, 2007, 04:29:54 pm
-
I thought I'd see how unlucky I had been with WFP, or whether other people have had as much trouble.
Maybe some people were telling porkies about how customers love it...
I've lost another 2 today, to go with the 2 on monday.
That's 4 this month already, and I'm 6 months in. :o
I reckon that makes about 35-40 altogether.
It's cost at least £300-£400 of work so far.
They use every excuse in the book, but I've rarely seen much in the way of bad work.
I'm sure there will be many more.
That's a quarter of my round... so far... :(
-
You don't have an option on the poll for gaining customers!! I've been very fortunate,.. not lost a single one, and actually picked up a good bit of work along the way too! Maybe its just my charm and good looks?? ;D ;D ;D
-
With that amount of loss you could be doing something wrong. Did you go out with someone to show you how its done before you started.
If not you could try it just to see how someone else does it
-
That does seem alot. If the works ok thats just really bad luck. I told all my custys Id pop back if they werent happy and so far lost 4 and re-cleaned 3. WFP now for 6 months and gaining new jobs every week.
-
I think you must need to develop better people skills or wfp skills. I think your rate of loss is quite high. I did come close to losing a few but managed to blag my way out of it and be really really nice. After a while they don't even think about it.
Mind you I only do ups and a few downs.
-
Not a singe 1,if anything i have piked up more work since using WFP than when using ladders ;)
-
I think you must need to develop better people skills or wfp skills.
I've worked successfully in jobs dealing with the public for many years.
I could sell ice to eskimos.
With that amount of loss you could be doing something wrong. Did you go out with someone to show you how its done before you started.
If not you could try it just to see how someone else does it
I know what I'm doing.
I've already explained...
They use every excuse in the book, but I've rarely seen much in the way of bad work.
I've done good work, but my round is full of moaners.
I'd invite any local window cleaner to inspect my work.
It's fine.
-
Squeaky,
How did you acquite your work in the first place?
Have you thought of canvassing (a bit further afield) to gain some new customers so that you can dump all the moaners?
Andy
-
Did you explain your 'new' way of cleaning prior to starting WFP?
-
Bit like their window cleaner then ain't it? ;) ;D
Seriously though, if the work was fine as your saying on any inspection, then there is definatly another reason for losing so many? just go out and replace them with people that won't cancel theres enough out there!
-
I spent months before the change over explaining to all of my customers about wfp, cleaned all the tops of frames extra while I was still up the ladder, then when I did change over, I gave each and every one of them, an explanation letter, I never lost a single one, but I have gained many many more and its still growing.
I couldn't cast a vote?
-
squeaky,before you changed from the ladder to wfp did you ever call wfp to your customers,saying how rubbish it was? i can remember some of your comments on here slagging wfp saying you would never buy one,maybe they are picking this up,or has another window cleaner started up and under cutting
-
Rog
Reading your post over the last couple of years , it looks like you have picked up a lot of Ian and Toshs castoffs not counting all the other wfp guys castoffs around Chepstow, also you bought some work off Ian , no disrepect to Ian but he wouldnt of sold you his best customers would he.
You mentioned before you went wfp about the amount of customers you picked up off other window cleaners because they didnt like wfp, and perhaps many more who phoned you because your existing customers reccommended that you were trad.
Maybe its that type of customer which you are losing.
I also seem to remember you saying that you slated wfp to your customers often refering to it as a squirty stick..
I would just take stock , act as though it is the normal thing to do without explaining anything to your customers, be confident in what you do,
When you lose a customer do you ask them if you can check the windows to see what the problem is ?
The ones i lost were the cheaper private houses, where usually the occupants were moaners already, also the jobs tended to be underpriced ones for some reason.
I dont lose any these days.
Dave
-
i lost too many to count and getting fed up with it!
-
Rog
Reading your post over the last couple of years , it looks like you have picked up a lot of Ian and Toshs castoffs not counting all the other wfp guys castoffs around Chepstow, also you bought some work off Ian , no disrepect to Ian but he wouldnt of sold you his best customers would he.
You mentioned before you went wfp about the amount of customers you picked up off other window cleaners because they didnt like wfp, and perhaps many more who phoned you because your existing customers reccommended that you were trad.
Maybe its that type of customer which you are losing.
Hi Dave.
To be honest I've only had a dozen off Tosh or Ian.
They're fine.
The problem is with the existing ones I've done for 10 years, and Ian did for 10 years before that.
Most of them are the older generation. ::)
New stuff I've picked up has generally been fine, but that's only 1 or 2 a month if I'm lucky.
-
you have no selection for 0, we have lost NO customers, Luke
-
Squeaky just sounds like you need to 're-group' and think of other ways to gain custom...
With very little effort this year I have picked up 80 customers....ok I lost a few but it's swings and round-abouts...
It really does sound like alot of accounts to lose but perhaps their 'age-group' has some point in these large loss's..why not just use the remaining 12 weeks or so of this year to see how many customers you can get and if your half the salesman you say you are, I bet you'll be amazed at how many you'll get....but then again you could just do what you normally do on this forum...
Moan, pregnant dog, gripe and complain about not having enough money to pay your tax liability.
-
I'm not too sure Rog. To be honest i dumped more than i lost & replaced them
with better paying work.
Did you slag Wfp off to your custys like you did on here, if you did mate that
maybe part of the problem.
Macc
-
I think most of my customers like the results but cringe if they see the process. I feel quite embarassed when I see the mess it makes down the front of a rendered three story house :-[
I also have a flat right above the entrance of a seven day shop - embarassing or what?
-
None
-
i lost quie a few .but cant remember how many .
doesnt seem to worry new custys though .
-
i lost 1
he was the 1 who said it got his grass wet ::) ::)
though to be honest, i still do downstairs trad, which i think helps matters
rog, if i were you, i would be thinking of just doing upstairs WFP and down trad still, otherwise your going to lose your work , i know you have spent all this money on WFP kit, but its not going to be any good without work
i had this discussion today with some1, people accept a " not %100 " finish on the upstairs, they accept it as its a safety thing, they dont downstairs as you dont have the excuse of safety
-
I think most of my customers like the results but cringe if they see the process. I feel quite embarassed when I see the mess it makes down the front of a rendered three story house :-[
I also have a flat right above the entrance of a seven day shop - embarassing or what?
What mess, it's water. ???
When it rains i dont hear people complain about the mess coming out of the clouds. ;D
-
Matt, you should know better than most that wfp gives flawless results upstairs , Luke
-
i lost 1
he was the 1 who said it got his grass wet ::) ::)
though to be honest, i still do downstairs trad, which i think helps matters
rog, if i were you, i would be thinking of just doing upstairs WFP and down trad still, otherwise your going to lose your work , i know you have spent all this money on WFP kit, but its not going to be any good without work
i had this discussion today with some1, people accept a " not %100 " finish on the upstairs, they accept it as its a safety thing, they dont downstairs as you dont have the excuse of safety
Quite right on that last bit Matt.
That's why I squeegee off a lot of downstairs windows.
It's just annoying when I see people wfp'ing the whole lot and rushing off leaving a pond, yet no problems. >:(
-
about 3 for me, but have gained many more since
-
lost 2 so far since december .no 1 said it left the windows spotty i went up the ladders and couldnt find a single spot told her so too she blamed her husband and said she will find someone else to do them in future and they not been touched in 7 months and no 2 said she didnt like the idea so dont bother to do them in future but changed her mind when she saw the results her neighbours were getting
-
I voted 10 - 15. Some cancelled, some i dumped - about a 50/50 split I think. This doesn't tell the full story though as I have gained work due to WFP as well and the work I've gained is far better than the work I lost. There were a few I lost which may have been due to WFP - the mystery cancellers. I can never be sure if WFP was the reason.
There's a job I do with all Georgian windows. Some of them are above a sloping slate roof. The customer told me that he had got rid of the previous window cleaner because he walked up and broke his tiles. The tiles were slates. I'm amazed anyone tried walking up them. The windows could not be cleaned by Unger pole (squeegee on a stick) :) due to being Georgian.
He was amazed at what I showed him. I gave him a quick demo. He told me I'd got the job. We hadn't even discussed price at this point.
It is one of my more expensive jobs but that is as much to do with location as anything else because it is a few miles out of the way.
What I found is that it's not just the squeegee and ladder I needed to let go of. It was a way of thinking that had to be discarded too.
-
I've lost none, got rid of one and gained 3 today ;D
-
Matt, you should know better than most that wfp gives flawless results upstairs , Luke
Luke, ive been cleaning with WFP for a few years now, i still get the odd window that has a run of "dirty water spots "
it happens, i accept it, and it seems the customers accept it upstairs aswell, downstairs im not sure they would
-
but downstairs you could just carry a cloth for that odd window to dry it off, Luke
-
but downstairs you could just carry a cloth for that odd window to dry it off, Luke
thats what im doing
ive been doing "hard to reach" widnows downstairs with WFP, the 1's that have a massive bush / flower bed etc etc etc in front of it , i wipe the top edge with my dry scrim
i still do a fair few trad, the customers are happy and im very happy with my round as it it, nice and compact and earning me what i need to earn, so im happy not to rock the boat so to speak, im only after a earning for the family, thats it really, no risks needed
-
You can't buff it with a cloth. :o
That would take longer than ever, and would leave streaks.
Squeegee it you mean surely?
-
You can't buff it with a cloth. :o
That would take longer than ever, and would leave streaks.
Squeegee it you mean surely?
no i just wipe the top edge of the window, it gets rid of any build up of water, that imho are the cause of spots
-
each to his own, if your happy I'm happy! Luke
-
I thought I'd see how unlucky I had been with WFP, or whether other people have had as much trouble.
Maybe some people were telling porkies about how customers love it...
I've lost another 2 today, to go with the 2 on monday.
That's 4 this month already, and I'm 6 months in. :o
I reckon that makes about 35-40 altogether.
It's cost at least £300-£400 of work so far.
They use every excuse in the book, but I've rarely seen much in the way of bad work.
I'm sure there will be many more.
That's a quarter of my round... so far... :(
What excuses are they giving you and could you give your reply to them, I am not trying to tell you to suck eggs just would like to know as there could be a problem with what you are saying, please dont feel offended as we maybe able to help a little, cant lose you any more can it ;) but could save you a few.
also while i am writting, what are your customers moaning about? I have a couple of moaners out of 100's and thats never about quality of work. you must be the must be the unluckyest window cleaner in the world or you are doing something wrong.
-
I lost about 6 customers when I went wfp, these were the ones where wfp was a NO NO.
I have lost a lot more since, but I know that its mostly natural fallout.
W/cleaning is like the ebb and flow of the tide. You lose customers and you gain new customers.
You have to be sure you get more then you lose. I lost a customer on tuesday night, Nothing to do with wfp, Its a customer I have had for 15 years, I still do it trad as wfp is no good on his wooden frames. The reason He cancelled is Another w/c will clean them for £10 and I charge £20.
Says he probably will regret it as hes only doing it to save money. He had no complaints, He praised and thanked me for cleaning them and he hopes the new guy can clean them as well.
Ebb and Flow, Ebb and flow.
Nel
-
I have lost about 25 over 8 months.
But have made about the same in new customers.
But when i started with getting them to send me a cheque, It seem to be easier for them to stick a little note in saying thanks for your services but no more ect
Dave
-
If they sent you a cheque in the post that must mean they wern`t in,therefore didn`t see how you cleaned.So was there a problem with the results.
-
Is there much competition in your area Squeaky? It could be just some cowboy undercutting you, and custies just using WFP as an excuse.
-
I lost about 6 customers when I went wfp, these were the ones where wfp was a NO NO.
I have lost a lot more since, but I know that its mostly natural fallout.
W/cleaning is like the ebb and flow of the tide. You lose customers and you gain new customers.
You have to be sure you get more then you lose. I lost a customer on tuesday night, Nothing to do with wfp, Its a customer I have had for 15 years, I still do it trad as wfp is no good on his wooden frames. The reason He cancelled is Another w/c will clean them for £10 and I charge £20.
Says he probably will regret it as hes only doing it to save money. He had no complaints, He praised and thanked me for cleaning them and he hopes the new guy can clean them as well.
Ebb and Flow, Ebb and flow.
Nel
that guy was honest, thats a great feeling when they say that to you and you dont mind them going (or i dont) you will still get recomendation from him aswell, thats what i class as a half desent customer even though he went for cheaper
-
If they sent you a cheque in the post that must mean they wern`t in,therefore didn`t see how you cleaned.So was there a problem with the results.
Most are customers who have had 6 cleans and some said how great it was.
I do ask why, few said just didnt like what the water fed system was, They want dry and gleaming windows straight away. But most just say other excuses eg husband lost job.
But new customers seem to take this system
Dave
-
Is there much competition in your area Squeaky? It could be just some cowboy undercutting you, and custies just using WFP as an excuse.
Yep, massive competition.
Possibly as much as anywhere.
The town has around 12,000 population and within 10 miles probably only another 2,000 people.
Something like 15-20 window cleaners around. ::)
-
Is there much competition in your area Squeaky? It could be just some cowboy undercutting you, and custies just using WFP as an excuse.
Yep, massive competition.
Possibly as much as anywhere.
The town has around 12,000 population and within 10 miles probably only another 2,000 people.
Something like 15-20 window cleaners around. ::)
same as most places, can you answer the questions I asked last post?
-
Why not try further away squeeks, i sometimes travel 20+ miles away for a good days wage, my brother-in-law even further. he travels 30 to 45 mins up the A1 into a wealthier area, he's a trad cleaner & earns a cracking wage, he's steady away too.
IMO, for the majority of w/c'ers, you're better off using both methods, trad & wfp. this way you can please anybody & do any job, can't lose.
I'm glad of your honesty though, i think there are a few who over-hype wfp & just can't accept that it has downsides ( you know, the ones that told you you'd be a millionaire by now when you first went into this ) at the end of the day the custy is boss, if they want a trad cleaner they'll get one.
tony
-
Quiet right Mac,WFP and trad when needed.I travel 20 miles each day minimum,use your loaf on certain jobs,if it`s a top earner and not dangerous trad it Squeaks you don`t have to pole everything at the moment wait until you`ve got more work.
-
Quiet right Mac,WFP and trad when needed.I travel 20 miles each day minimum,use your loaf on certain jobs,if it`s a top earner and not dangerous trad it Squeaks you don`t have to pole everything at the moment wait until you`ve got more work.
;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
I know there are some who won't trad anything, some of my best paying jobs are trad as they're not suited to wfp. i still charge what i want to earn wether it be trad or wfp.
As you say NWH, i wouldn't do anything dangerous but i'm constantly earning good money with both methods, at the end of the day that's why we do it, to earn money, not to lose it.
tony
-
Squeeks
take Matts advice , just wfp the upstairs for now until you have won the customers trust.
-
Rog,
Your saying you have lost 25% of your customers since your changeover. Being honest, I have to think this is due to your cleaning results and perhaps the way you discussed WFP to your customers before you changed over?
We have not lost more than 15/20 houses from a client base of over 2000. This is not because we are anything special but i would like to think its down to the amount of work we put in prior to the changeover.
We sent a letter along with a brochure of the WAH directive to each customer explaining the change that would be happening in the near future regarding how we clean their windows.
We then gave each customer a letter on the first WFP clean explaining what method we used. It also explained what results are possible, spotting etc..., we also stipulated the customer MUST check their window cleaning within 24 hours and let us know if spotting has occurred so we can return straight away to re-clean.
We also telephoned EVERY customer after their clean to ensure they were happy and to make sure we had little or no problems
When we changed all our customers over we had about 5% that we needed to reclean, we had about 1 % make comments on their next clean regarding the previous clean.
All in all the transition went smoothly, the ones we lost we tried to manage as best we could but sometimes you just can't please people.
All in all we invested about £600 in literature and spent about 1-2 days re-cleaning jobs, however, the up-side was we lost a minimal amount of customers and kept our client bank.
I am no guru why your losing customers, I wish you wasn't, but maybe there are several factors influencing peoples reason to stop your services?
-
Rog,
Your saying you have lost 25% of your customers since your changeover. Being honest, I have to think this is due to your cleaning results and perhaps the way you discussed WFP to your customers before you changed over?
We have not lost more than 15/20 houses from a client base of over 2000. This is not because we are anything special but i would like to think its down to the amount of work we put in prior to the changeover.
You did well there Trevor. I probably lost about 8 - 10 which, weren't by my choice, from a customer base in the low two hundreds. Like you I did invest some time and money in keeping the customers informed but, as you say, you can't please everyone. Because I invested that time, I believe that I kept customers that I would have lost had I said nothing. There were customers who had negative comments to make about the first clean who were asking me to stick with WFP a few months later. However, I did pre-warn them it can take 2 - 3 cleans to become a quality job. There werre customers who were delighted with the first clean results too.
-
I lost 4 customers from a base of at the time 500 customers i have got rid of alot of my round now due to going back to being a sole trader and have picked up some large jobs as a result of wfp as i would not be able to do them from ladders and am now turning over as much with less work
I did explain to some customers about the changeover but to be honest they didnt seem to care as long as it was me and not them cleaning the windows so i stopped telling them
After nearly 2 years of wfp some of my customers have only just noticed that i use wfp and when they do as i now have much more confidence in the system i can explain to them the benifits and that keeps them happy
Dean
-
Possibly another 4 gone today.
All old biddies as usual.
Didn't like it as much as the old way. ::)
I did the bottoms by hand to keep her happy, but she "doesn't think it's as good"
I looked at them from all angles and they were spotless.
More than I could say for the ones I hurriedly squeegeed in the sun...
Trouble is, she's one of four friends which have always been done together and pay for each other.
The others aren't as chatty as they used to be before wfp.
I can see what's going to happen here next time... ::)
-
I'd pack this in, but I've got a van to pay for.
-
Rog
hang on in there , you will look back one day and laugh about it.
It will get better believe me
Dave
-
know the feeling mate, its not down to doing them properly or even informing the customer, THEY DONT LIKE CHANGE FULL STOP!!!
-
I cant see how you lose so much work on results or explainations
Most of my old dears are happy to get the windows done one told me after about 6 months that when i was explaining wfp that she didnt believe me but after looking closely when the windows were dry that i was telling the truth and wfp is better than her last w/cer(trad) and now is a good customer
Me thinks it has a lot to do with your attitude towards wfp you will probably be offended by this but sometimes the truth hurts you need to take a look at yourself and stop blaming your tools
Dean
-
Is there much competition in your area Squeaky? It could be just some cowboy undercutting you, and custies just using WFP as an excuse.
Yep, massive competition.
Possibly as much as anywhere.
The town has around 12,000 population and within 10 miles probably only another 2,000 people.
Something like 15-20 window cleaners around. ::)
Rog, do you advertise, send out mail shots etc..? Couldn't you try sales letters to all the commercial sites in your area or send letters to all the contract cleaning firms that cover your area offering to sub contract.
I know that had nothing to do with the thread, but things sound grim mate and the only way your going to turn it around is getting new customers.
I'm sure it'll all work out in the end
Arthur
-
Come on lads,.. it sounds like Rog is having it hard enough without you lot telling him he must be doing something wrong!!
No point kicking the man when he's down,.. how about a few practical ideas for getting over this problem?
I'd second Art's idea,.. try and pull in some new work,.. commercial if at all possible and leave those grumpy old women behind you.
-
Cheers mate. :)
New work has been fine, as they are done wfp from the start.
Need to get some leaflets printed...
-
Get some leaflets printed .....
I have the normal style...'do you want a w/c' and also have 'we cleaned your neigbours today' and I just try to get out 100 per week....which takes the 'drudge' factor out of delivering leaflets...
Why not try a 'referal scheme'....with your existing customers...you never know what could come of it.
What about using the back of the leaflets to promote other activities....guttering, dorma's, conservatories, get ready for crimbo cleans...etc
How's about a package scheme....windows and the guttering 1xpa for a 'existing customer price'.
Look at every single street you already have customers and create a target of getting just 1 single new customer in each...no point travelling if you can just get more where you are already known.
Treat it all a bit like...'The Apprentice' and invest say 200 quid in leaflets/business cards and get out there and see what you can do with lets say 10 working days....you say you have space in your round.
We all know WFP can be a bit like alchemy but you have said you have a good sales style...why not put on a suit and get yourself into the facilities managers of shopping centers, hospitals...large business units and see what you can do.
I know it is all too easy to fall into 'dark days' but a little thinking in a positive direction will only help..
We all get kicked in the teeth every now and then....coming on here is great but with all the best will in the world...unless you choose to do something about it and try to be a little bit creative....you'll be a beer and smokes man and not a succesfull business owner....
You and you alone will the deciding factor in your own success...lets face it window cleaning is great...no office politics, clocking in and out....and lets face it..after the first couple of cleans it is money for old rope.
There are so many things that make this type of business great but as we continue...these aspects get forgotten and it is all to easy to focus on the negative aspects when in reality...we have one of the best jobs around.
Would love to hear other forum members suggestions of their methods to 'spice' up their business promotions.
-
Dont feel too bad Squeaky, I have had a real run this last week and a half of losing clumps of neighbours, where they are all close knit, even to the point where I had 3 phone calls on my ans machine in one day, with multiple sackings from 1 customer informing me that the other members of their cult don't require my services either. I don't know If its WFP, the price increase or my ugly mug ;D
Anyone else experienced this phenomenon ???
Lee
-
Cheers mate. :)
New work has been fine, as they are done wfp from the start.
Need to get some leaflets printed...
Yeah gotta stay positive, when I lose a customer(s) I immediately delete them from George, forget about them, and look forward to the extra time I have to get myself NEW, DECENT business.
Alan would BOUNCE BACK Squeaky ;D
Lee
-
Dont feel too bad Squeaky, I have had a real run this last week and a half of losing clumps of neighbours, where they are all close knit, even to the point where I had 3 phone calls on my ans machine in one day, with multiple sackings from 1 customer informing me that the other members of their cult don't require my services either. I don't know If its WFP, the price increase or my ugly mug ;D
Anyone else experienced this phenomenon ???
Lee
Yes.
And I was glad to get rid ;D. All they wanted to do was criticise - one tiny fault on one single pane of just one customer's house, and you'd think I'd robbed them of their life savings.
People like this haven't got anything better to do - they ought to clean their own windows. They're useless as customers.
Give me the stressed out, overworked commuter who just wants to forget about home maintenance and let someone else do it ;D
Cheers,
Ian
-
Cheers mate. :)
New work has been fine, as they are done wfp from the start.
Need to get some leaflets printed...
Seems that you've found your solution. New customers are OK with WFP. Therefore get more new customers. I know it's not nice going out there lkike you did in the beginning. I've disliked it too at times. But new customers (and new prices) seem to be what you need.
-
I got sacked today before I'd even gone to quote. Ten minute phone call sorting out what she wanted, then a text about two hours later- don't come old window cleaner turned up-
She never mentioned that on the phone.
As Ian say's you can tell, another one that I did after about three phone calls, I didn't know it would leave all this mess(there was some water on the drive), have you done the bathroom window upstairs? yes. Only I noticed a stain from the inside. I look yes there is a stain, masonry paint. She insists it's bird muck and i have to get the pole back out to scrubb it to show it doesn't come off. No apology.
Then she says you'll leave an envelope when your finished. I'm finished now I say. Well I'm going out and I havent got time to write you a cheque (£10) - she had got time to go round watching me do every window though.
-
I lost 3 in a row after that news night programme. One mouthy customer can do a lot of damage. The cheeky sod then asked me to do his windows again 3 months later, I told him to go and whistle Dixie.
To be perfectly honest, I used to get more complaints when I was trad. Squeegie kicks are more noticable than a few spots I guess.
I WFP the lot now, just use a bit of common with doors. people hate wet puddles outside their doors when the kids are running in and out.
Had one complaint last week, this was a total mystery to me, never seen anything like it. Two of the three back tops had really bad spotting, one of these was over a roof. The guy had noticed these spots before I cleaned them. The WFP had not shifted them. I inspected the job off the ladder and really had to scrub the glass, did each window 3 times trad. They were like grease spots. the middle window of the 3 was fine, as were all the bottom ones. What the hell could cause this?
I have worked flast out for a month, and I'm still 3 days behind. That's great insurance against moaners, I can afford to dump them.
Good luck with it mate. Dai
-
After all my shouting about how good the transition from trad to WFP was for me,.. I finally got one today. A terraced house where we normally only do the front, and the lady of the house asked us to do the back today. 2nd clean with WFP,.. so she knew what she was getting.
There was one very awkward window above a flat roof that I managed to do just about without getting the ladders.
About 15 minutes later, I've finished the next couple of houses, and the father in law who's working with me has disappeared, and his bucket (He was trading the downstairs as his wfp hasn't arrived yet!) is outside that house.
He came out a couple of minutes later and told me she was complaining about that window above the flat roof. He'd actually gone up to the van, got the ladders, and climbed up on the roof to re-clean,... only to find the window had dried perfect and the dirt was ON THE INSIDE!!!
No apology from the custie though,... just a request that we do them trad the next time (WHY??? ),.. which the FIL stupidly agreed to.
-
Is there much competition in your area Squeaky? It could be just some cowboy undercutting you, and custies just using WFP as an excuse.
Yep, massive competition.
I find it strange that I live and work in the same geographical area as Squeaky, yet I've just had to sell a weeks worth of work to two lads (one a member here (Leeksons)) and still can't get round my work within the correct timescale; and I've only been a window cleaner for half the time Squeaky has.
There's loads of work in Chepstow area.
Squeaky may be referring to the town centre; shops 'n' stuff; but all that's pretty much sewn up by our Ian_Giles and another window cleaner, but it's taken 20+ years for them to build that work up; so good on them.
I do admit that getting the high paying 'good stuff' isn't easy, but pray tell me which part of the country that is?
And to Nathanial:
I've picked up four of Squeaky's customers some months back; he dropped them because he couldn't service them with his van-mount, but I can with my back pack.
Squeaks charged £6.50 and I now charge them £12.00, so I've doubled their window cleaning bill, they've whinged so I hear, but they still have me. I'm on their fifth clean this month.
So no-one I know is under-cutting him. No-one is mad or daft enough to undercut £6.50 for the stuff he does. ;D
-
I think your a bit hard on him Tosh. You have a lifetime of judgement and calls behind you, it's easy to make him look a daft beggar, but I think he's honest and straightforward.
Plus he takes it in good part.
-
I do not think Squeaky needs anyone to kick him into the gutter ..this is manages very well on his own with alarm regularity. With all the best will in the world I wish him well and hope he bounces back but you have to admit our Mr.S does seem to be down in the dump and needs to get back up and fight back.
Come on Squeaky.....
-
I do not think Squeaky needs anyone to kick him into the gutter ..this is manages very well on his own with alarm regularity. With all the best will in the world I wish him well and hope he bounces back but you have to admit our Mr.S does seem to be down in the dump and needs to get back up and fight back.
Come on Squeaky.....
Squeaky will bounce back, hes getting his van done, not sure how long hes been cleaning for but think a price rise is totally over due on new customers.
-
I do not think Squeaky needs anyone to kick him into the gutter ..this is manages very well on his own with alarm regularity. With all the best will in the world I wish him well and hope he bounces back but you have to admit our Mr.S does seem to be down in the dump and needs to get back up and fight back.
Come on Squeaky.....
Squeaky will bounce back, hes getting his van done, not sure how long hes been cleaning for but think a price rise is totally over due on new customers.
I'll be alright in the end, it's only time. ;)
How can I put the price "up" on new customers? ;D
I can't put existing ones up yet, they only went up last year for the first time in 4 years and they still kicked up a stink.
If I did it again a year later I'd lose them.
-
I do not think Squeaky needs anyone to kick him into the gutter ..this is manages very well on his own with alarm regularity. With all the best will in the world I wish him well and hope he bounces back but you have to admit our Mr.S does seem to be down in the dump and needs to get back up and fight back.
Come on Squeaky.....
Squeaky will bounce back, hes getting his van done, not sure how long hes been cleaning for but think a price rise is totally over due on new customers.
I'll be alright in the end, it's only time. ;)
How can I put the price "up" on new customers? ;D
I can't put existing ones up yet, they only went up last year for the first time in 4 years and they still kicked up a stink.
If I did it again a year later I'd lose them.
dont put up your customers prices you already have, when you get new ones think of your normal price then add £1 or £1.50 on it, I was bad at pricing for ages when I started, even now I still cock up but word the price I charge new for the first clean only so if I do messing it up I can change it as they are expecting it would say that happenes once every few months I am not perfect only wish I was
-
Squeeky,
I presume where you live there are many small hamlets "out in the sticks" you know stuff that doesnt show as a village, clumps of 15/20 houses that only show as a couple of props on a map..
These places are lucky to have electricity never mind a window cleaner. And who in their right mind would go and canvas them,?
Must be good business clumps of houses close together cleaned at your prices.
Even if it took you 30/40 mins to get there.
Just a thought for you, hope you get sorted.
Mark
-
Squeeky,
I presume where you live there are many small hamlets "out in the sticks" you know stuff that doesnt show as a village, clumps of 15/20 houses that only show as a couple of props on a map..
These places are lucky to have electricity never mind a window cleaner. And who in their right mind would go and canvas them,?
Must be good business clumps of houses close together cleaned at your prices.
Even if it took you 30/40 mins to get there.
Just a thought for you, hope you get sorted.
Mark
Those are the places I already work.
I don't do much at all in Chepstow itself.
My work is out in the sticks.
Window Washers... I do charge more for new stuff already.
-
Squeeky,
I presume where you live there are many small hamlets "out in the sticks" you know stuff that doesnt show as a village, clumps of 15/20 houses that only show as a couple of props on a map..
These places are lucky to have electricity never mind a window cleaner. And who in their right mind would go and canvas them,?
Must be good business clumps of houses close together cleaned at your prices.
Even if it took you 30/40 mins to get there.
Just a thought for you, hope you get sorted.
Mark
Those are the places I already work.
I don't do much at all in Chepstow itself.My work is out in the sticks.
Window Washers... I do charge more for new stuff already.
Rog, maybe that's where you are going wrong mate. I know you've already mentioned about areas around your way that you don't like working, but if there's money there then maybe you should rethink your working practices?
Tosh seems to be doing ok, so maybe it's time for a rethink?
Arthur
-
Squeeky,
I presume where you live there are many small hamlets "out in the sticks" you know stuff that doesnt show as a village, clumps of 15/20 houses that only show as a couple of props on a map..
These places are lucky to have electricity never mind a window cleaner. And who in their right mind would go and canvas them,?
Must be good business clumps of houses close together cleaned at your prices.
Even if it took you 30/40 mins to get there.
Just a thought for you, hope you get sorted.
Mark
Those are the places I already work.
I don't do much at all in Chepstow itself.My work is out in the sticks.
Window Washers... I do charge more for new stuff already.
Rog, maybe that's where you are going wrong mate. I know you've already mentioned about areas around your way that you don't like working, but if there's money there then maybe you should rethink your working practices?
Tosh seems to be doing ok, so maybe it's time for a rethink?
Arthur
That's the point mate.
I don't work in the £5 council house areas who'll pay you next week when their dole money arrives.
I work in the richer villages. ;)
-
I have lost about 6 now due to wfp, but i find that when i take on new jobs nowadays they seem more than happy when they see the end result. Though i always go back later for payment after they are dry and have been checked and wiped any marks away with a damp cloth in a few cases.
It was the existing customers who i cleaned trad before that were the ones who didn't like it.
Your loss does seem high but i reckon it could be a blessing in disguise if you replace them with better paid work and use wfp from the start.
New van and sign writing shows your are at least tackling your losses in a positive manner.
I think it's a bonus that you're gonna be canvassing this time of year instead of the summer as i have picked up my best work and gained the most grateful customers during the winter months.
I reckon you'll be rocking come spring squeaky. Good luck!!
-
I have lost about 6 now due to wfp, but i find that when i take on new jobs nowadays they seem more than happy when they see the end result. Though i always go back later for payment after they are dry and have been checked and wiped any marks away with a damp cloth in a few cases.
It was the existing customers who i cleaned trad before that were the ones who didn't like it.
Your loss does seem high but i reckon it could be a blessing in disguise if you replace them with better paid work and use wfp from the start.
New van and sign writing shows your are at least tackling your losses in a positive manner.
I think it's a bonus that you're gonna be canvassing this time of year instead of the summer as i have picked up my best work and gained the most grateful customers during the winter months.
I reckon you'll be rocking come spring squeaky. Good luck!!
Although I lost a few due to WFP, I wasn't so bothered because work was coming in to replace it anyway.
However, I did take a big hit several years ago when I was unable to work for a few months. It seemed that they were deserting me in droves. Although it was unpleasant at the time, in hindsight it was one of the best things that has happened to me with window cleaning. Most of the custies that ditched me were the underpriced jobs, awkward access, with some serial moaners/slow payers thrown in. It freed up loads of space for me to start filling with better paying jobs and (usually) better customers and eventually my workload was quite full again. Once more I have gaps in my work but that's only because of the higher working speed of WFP. I am now filling those gaps with even better jobs.
-
i havent read this thread so sorry if its already been said before
but one of the main problems squeek is YOU dont beleive in it
how on earth are your customers gonna want it, if YOU dont like it
i used to work with a bloke a year ago and he did downs trad and i poled up. he hated the pole because he didnt give it a chance.
a lady came out and said "ooo that looks good, does it work?"
and to my surprise he replied "i dont know"
what a idiot! i got rid of him big time. he was older than me and tried to take over, although we split the money as id forked out for all the equipment.
squeek, you need to get in the right frame of mind, beleive in it and so will they. "build it...and they will come"
(http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/G/posters/dfmp_0038_field_of_dreams_1989.jpg)
-
but one of the main problems squeek is YOU dont beleive in it
squeek, you need to get in the right frame of mind, beleive in it and so will they.
???
Errr, yes I do.
I've already said and I quote "My work is fine, anyone is welcome to inspect it" ::)
It's the customers who don't like it.
I'll talk to the wall...
-
but one of the main problems squeek is YOU dont beleive in it
squeek, you need to get in the right frame of mind, beleive in it and so will they.
???
Errr, yes I do.
I've already said and I quote "My work is fine, anyone is welcome to inspect it" ::)
It's the customers who don't like it.
I'll talk to the wall...
Squeaky, you are just going through a rough patch mate plian and simple, we all get it sometimes, doing your van is a step in the right direction, just keep thinking of ways to change for the better and all will come good.
speaking to a wall is all well and good, it's when it talks back you then have a problem ;)
-
Have you seen the weather outside? What are we doing on here? Saddos
-
not having a dig at you buddy, but from your posts on here, i can see you dont think its all that good. when in fact it is!
ive had some compliment letters in mine just lately. had a right snobby woman the other day who pretty much laughed at the concept of it all. and went back the other day and she was out, did them posted envelope.
letter with cheque "FANTASTIC JOB MATT, VERY PLEASED"
im so enthusiastic on how good wfp is. my customers see this
come on mate use the force ;)
-
Have you seen the weather outside? What are we doing on here? Saddos
Yep, the missuss is scanning the whats-on for something to do.
Oh bugger. It's clouded over now. >:(
-
Hi Squeak....You have started by getting your van done but I hope you do not think that "that's it" sign writing a van is all well and good but I think you will need to put a little more thought into your future advertising promotions.
What else do you have in mind to get back those customers?
As the autumn is kicking in I am now starting to really push for new customers and am aiming at each and every street I have customers....I would love to get a new customer on each street.
I have targets set (in pencil ;D) until 2010....
I would look at those customers that were lost as a godsend (after I had got over the initial shock) and a wake-up call to get out and replace them with some better paid work....
You sound like a smart guy and now you have your shiney new van and soon to be sign-written van....put aside x amount of hours per week to pull in new money...or I know you love your photography...why not decide on buying that next special camera, lense, graphics tablet,, lighting rig and get enough accounts to pay for it (put the tax money aside ;)).
There are 40 normal work hours in the week....why not use them to make more money....
But anyone who thinks getting a van sign written will get them floods of work by itself is sadly deluded in my eyes (not saying you).
Unless you have tangible targets how can you expect to make progress...all targets should be reviewed on a regular basis to see if they are working and if not why not.
Good luck and I wish you well.
-
Just reached the 12 months using wfp.
I have not lost any customers due to using wfp but one lady said that she prefers the traditional methods of window cleaning. So have gone back to tradding her windows. ( its in the sticks and on its own and only takes about 30mins)
Due to the use of the pole I have picked up so much more work and much bigger contracts that I have given away a whole load of work to another w/c in the local area.
Like it has been said on this thread before, drop the moaners and canvass a bit more to replace them.
If you are confident in your methods and know that the results are good and the moaners still moan you are never going to win with them.
Ant
TVCS
It could be worse, just got my new van ply lined and about to kit it out and the head gasket has gone. ARSE
-
Have you seen the weather outside? What are we doing on here? Saddos
I'm even worse. I worked today. :)
-
Just reached the 12 months using wfp.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ;D
It could be worse, just got my new van ply lined and about to kit it out and the head gasket has gone. ARSE
AND THE HEAD GASKET, LIKE A ERRMM ::) SOMETIMES
-
I've just seen a bingo advert where they used ducks, that gave me the idea.
What you need Squeaks is an ice cream van like chime that makes a quacking noise.
"Quack Quack!" "Quack Quack"
Is it that time of the month already. It's Squeaky time!
All your old bats would love it.
-
that would get you noticed...but you'd look like a pratt! :-\