Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on January 14, 2008, 08:58:31 am
-
One of the things I have been amazed at over the past few years is the way some people ( and I don't mean the uber rich ) don't lift a finger for themselves.
Its quite normal to be cleaning the windows on a house while the gardener is cutting the grass and the cleaning lady is working inside.
I was at a house last week that has a full time live in nanny although the mother is at home all day doing very little from what I can see.
Then the van turns up from Tesco or Ocardo to deliver the shopping they ordered on line. I have also seen someone turn up to collect a car ( a Saab convertable ) to take it away for a service.
Nobody washes their own car anymore, they all go to the hand car wash and pay someone £10 to do it for them. Even that is becoming unnecessary because there are mobile car washes that come to you.
Other houses have painters and decorators, builders, kitchen fitters working non stop or so it seems. Usually Polish or Lithuanian. What ever happened to DIY?
On the radio some months back they were talking about Primark and saying some of their clothes were so cheap it wasn't worth washing them. Just wear it then bin it. Steve Allen on LBC said thats what he does with socks.
Does anybody do anything for themselves anymore?
-
Know what you mean Vince. Things have changed a lot. Who gets a dvd or video repaired today? Cheaper to buy a new one. Washing machines are going the same way.
Interestingly a quantity surveyor I know said that many new buildings have to be designed with demolition in mind for when they've finished their life!! Scarey!
Peter
-
Vince dont complain thats why they pay you to clean their windows :) rather than doing them themselves.
-
the world is in a spiral decadence just wait until people have do everything robots to do things for them including cleaning the windows!
-
That's what some w/c'ers on here do, pay others to do their work! :D
tony
-
Your posts keep getting brainier and brainier. First the perfect peter versus sloppy sid parable with the surprise twist that sid had the best approach, now the dual income/cash rich time poor syndrome elaboration.
Yes it's very and increasingly true. So it baffles me that you can't appreciate a USP's benefits.(leaflet post)
-
Thanks for those kind words Mr S
I forgot to mention about the Ironing Services that collect your washing, iron it, then deliver it back. There are several round here.
I am seriously thinking about starting an Ar5e wiping service. You text me when you are off to the loo and by the time you've finished I've come round and am ready to do the wiping.
I'm sure it will catch on, people it seems will pay to have anything done for them that remotely looks like work or requires effort.
-
I agree, except that we are all as guilty. Your service could catch on and make someone some money.
The other thing is immediacy. I want it now. This is the only prob I see with the A wipe service.
The easier and more immediate, you can make your window cleaning service appear the better it will fit in with this. So while leaflet usp -I clean windows - is fine, i have found - I clean windows with hot purified water- is like dropping a bomb.
-
Hey and if you have not dropped all your leaflets then that's what you can use for the A wipe offer
I know for a fact that you can get toilet paper printed now so could be a marketing genius for that line of bum rush job ;D
J
-
I agree, except that we are all as guilty. Your service could catch on and make someone some money.
The other thing is immediacy. I want it now. This is the only prob I see with the A wipe service.
The easier and more immediate, you can make your window cleaning service appear the better it will fit in with this. So while leaflet usp -I clean windows - is fine, i have found - I clean windows with hot purified water- is like dropping a bomb.
My leaflet style is that I am a simple hard working but honest and reliable tradesman. The sort of window cleaner your mum used to have. Not some dodgy fly by night and not some fast buck whizz kid.
It does work.
-
So who cleans the houses of these people the molly maids that put pro fliers out? who does the gardens, the pro landscapers who package what they offer? The food delivery from tv radio blitzing Tescos?
Now who are these same people more likely to have clean their windows. The pro with a photo of him, his van, his work, and a unique selling proposition on his leaflet that differentiates him from the competition;or some bloke who's qualifications are he's really nice and honest.
-
Funny thing is i think most people just want mister honest. Do you have your car serviced at the main dealers because they wear nice overalls and have a shiney spangly showroom with ten spangly suited salesmen pushing credit? Or do you take it down the road to mister honest who can change the plugs and oil and fit new brakes for a third of the price?
-
In my case mr honest is the sign written van and uniformed driver they have regularly seen working where they live, suddenly on a leaflet with his name local home phone no and description of what he does.
Reassurance.
And we are not talking about most people either. We are talking about molly maid, jims mowing, dominoes tescos home delivery,home car valeting, using, type people. In other words the affluent.
-
I must be the minority then because i won't waste my money on anything that looks flash because i believe i am being ripped off. You obviously have an ionics system, carbon poles, brand new van. Buy your food at Marks & Spencer drive a Merc etc etc. Sure there are some about like this but they are not the Majority i'm afraid.
-
That's what some w/c'ers on here do, pay others to do their work! :D
tony
nothing wrong with that ;)
-
I think if you live in the right area full of WAGS and other airheads then yes it will work. There is a millionaire plumber in London who's employees are on 100k due to the perception from those dullards with money who think they are getting something special.
-
So you're not part of the system then. Don't suppose you go on nice packaged holidays like the rest of us mugs and dullards. Where'd you go margate?
-
Does anybody do anything for themselves anymore?
I know what you mean I pay someone to right replies on forums for me ;D
-
Does anybody do anything for themselves anymore?
I know what you mean I pay someone to right replies on forums for me ;D
lol ;)
-
our country / society has ALOT more disposable income right now, it makes people lazy
i have a pro golf sales man, he sells gear to all the pro shops and he sacked the last window cleaner as he let a mark on the kitchen window, he said he would do it himself, he did start, filled a bucket up and thought ( sod it, i will get some1 in, its not worth my time )
leisure time is valuable and people are starting to realise that
-
Mr Solubility. As a window cleaner you often intrude into people's personal space. Those people are usually elderly or women on their own. You go round the back of the house, you see through their windows, you know when they are not at home and where they keep the key to the gate hidden. They feel vunerable
Don't under estimate the value of honest and trustworthy.
Glossy leaflets, give an entirely different message which may work for some but don't write off as dull leaflets which are pitched deliberately at a different target.
-
Honesty is the most important factor i believe, people trust you to walk all over their property, they leave their gates unlocked for you. I'm sure half the difficulty in getting customers is because of this. Many will stick with the local or family cleaner because they know him, they trust him - even if he is crap! A big flashy van with ringing bells and steam puffing out won't sway these people i'm afraid.
-
Mr Solubility. you often intrude into people's personal space. Those people are usually elderly or women on their own. You go round the back of the house, you see through their windows
so you have heard the rumours aswell ;D ;D ;D
-
Now you are putting words in my mouth
-
Now you are putting words in my mouth
i was going to add he likes to wear womans undies, but i thought that was going a little too far
-
Yeah, but only very nice frilly ones...... oops, now I will have to tell you how I know.
-
Yeah, but only very nice frilly ones...... oops, now I will have to tell you how I know.
i guess only in black though, to match the black balaclava