Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 09:41:28 pm

Title: un fair customer
Post by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 09:41:28 pm
new customer last week, did windows, nice n easy, £10 er. were filthy so did nice time, i rarely mention about first cleans now.

anyways, sits down tonight, "is that the window cleaner?"
"yes thats me"
"is so and so from bla bla, we wont be requiring your services anymore"
"ok, was there a problem?"
"well...there was some drips on the windows"
"oh yes that can sometimes happen on the first clean because all the frames have been cleaned"
"right well we dont want you anymore"
"oh"
"and she cant afford it at the momment"
"no problem, thanks anyway"

so i sat down and i never like to upset people so rang them back,
"hi its the window cleaner"
"yes"
"ill come back and clean your windows again for nothing to get them perfect for you"
"no we dont want you"
"i just want to put the windows right for you"
"NO we dont want you"

i try not to let things bother me, but he did tick me off, i couldnt of been fairer, offered a free clean! and to sort them out, but noooo.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: frames to panes on January 14, 2008, 09:54:47 pm
users, they will leave them for another year to get filthy then wait for another mug.
(not that your a mug)
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Village Gleam on January 14, 2008, 09:57:14 pm
Thats the sort of thing thay bothers me too. I've had some strange calls.

The answer really lies in vinces post about peter and sid. You just have to do the job 95% and forget about it.

It's a business after all.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 14, 2008, 10:05:31 pm
That's all I do. Also charge double on initial clean if they're black and do a 'top' job as initial wash reflects the standard of your work and you don't get a second chance to impress ;D
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: johnny_h on January 14, 2008, 10:06:01 pm
tell every window cleaner you meet in a 10 mile radius of their house they are messers ! anyone worth their salt wont touch them in the future
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 10:09:45 pm
That's all I do. Also charge double on initial clean if they're black and do a 'top' job as initial wash reflects the standard of your work and you don't get a second chance to impress ;D

cant help but notice a racist comment there wayne  ;D
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 14, 2008, 10:11:17 pm
That's why I charge double on initial cleans so I don't get caught out with timewasters like that. I turned up to one quote, very big house, stinking rich, wanted windows, fascias, gutters, cladding, you name it all cleaned. It was all black and i knew another window cleaning in the area cleaned around there so I asked how often they would like a frequent wash-they replied once a year. I laughed and walked away. Time wasters ;D
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 14, 2008, 10:14:49 pm
That's all I do. Also charge double on initial clean if they're black and do a 'top' job as initial wash reflects the standard of your work and you don't get a second chance to impress ;D

cant help but notice a racist comment there wayne  ;D

LWC, Very funny ;D

Black was referring to the windows, etc not the customers. I have several customers who are coloured. I don't discriminate people because of the colour of their skin. True some of them whinge about the price, I think it's in their blood, but they're very prompt payers. ;D
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 10:16:08 pm
was just joking bud
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 14, 2008, 10:22:09 pm
LWC I know you was m8  ;D ;D BTW I'll take you up on that offer. I emailed you yesterday. Give me a call whenever you're free after 6pm to sort things out :)
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Neil Williams on January 14, 2008, 10:23:57 pm
With experience you learn to notice these people.
Walk up the drive way and see that these windows haven't been cleaned for years, so it's 1 or 2 things.
1: have they lived there for years? If yes the alarm bells should ring. Double or triple the charge for the first clean just in case.
2: New people have moved in. 80/20 chance they will stay on but worth a first time charge. But with some you do get the feeling they will be with you for some time so maybe no need for extra charge.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 14, 2008, 10:27:54 pm
i always charge 25% more for first cleans to allow for the (dont require you call) only ever had 2 in 4 years
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 10:31:47 pm
this is very rare

i always ask them before i give them a price, is this a regular or a one off?

they said regular, typical

no worries wayne, when i get chance ill give you a bell  ;)
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: matt on January 14, 2008, 11:28:57 pm
dont worry about it, move on and forget it

it happens  :(
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: LWC on January 14, 2008, 11:45:44 pm
dont worry about it, move on and forget it

it happens  :(

yeh i know, dont need em, but just annoys me as iv offered to sort them out
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Londoner on January 15, 2008, 08:03:28 am
It is annoying. I've had two "new" customers in the past few weeks that have put their houses up for sale since I did them. Funny that.
Both said they wanted them done regularly. Like I have said before new customers don't come with a history.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Blackbushe Windows on January 15, 2008, 08:26:13 am
Some people just don't like WFP - maybe that was it.

Anyway you did your best.


Peter
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: matt on January 15, 2008, 08:35:09 am
dont worry about it, move on and forget it

it happens  :(

yeh i know, dont need em, but just annoys me as iv offered to sort them out

even though i wrote that, i cannot talk, if i lose any for whatever reason, it really puts me on a downer for the week, its part of the job i hate, the not knowing why they cancelled

as time goes on though im am begining to not really care about it
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Blackbushe Windows on January 15, 2008, 08:59:56 am
Agree Matt, never like losing customers - tend to take it personally.


Peter
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Paul Coleman on January 15, 2008, 09:19:52 am
That's all I do. Also charge double on initial clean if they're black and do a 'top' job as initial wash reflects the standard of your work and you don't get a second chance to impress ;D

cant help but notice a racist comment there wayne  ;D

That's what I thought at first until I re-read it   ;D
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Sanity on January 15, 2008, 01:00:51 pm
If I lose a customer, I make it my mission to get another customer to replace them the same day.  Works great, as it builds up ya confidence again after the loss.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: D.Salkeld_Ltd on January 15, 2008, 01:58:02 pm

Yeah, I had one over Christmas:

Sat 30th, Next door to a regular sees me and asks for a price.  I explain I don't do one off's.  "OK he says....every other month will do".  He decides to pay me on-line.  I do the job. Week later I get an E-Mail:
Mr so n so here, paid you today.  Won't need you any more. Thanks.
Lying ........... >:( >:( >:(
If he asks me again it'll be double.
Mind you he DID pay me ::)

David
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: pootwo on January 15, 2008, 06:10:12 pm
EVERY NOW & AGANE WE ALL STUFED WITH MUTHLY ?  WHEN THAY ONLEY WONT ONE OFF & OFF IS SUM WARE IN MY NEXT  SENTANCE  ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Tim82 on January 15, 2008, 09:37:30 pm
I had a frustrating one today - One of my long time nice customers who i've done once with wfp suddenly turned very unfriendly - stopped as i got there, moaning that they were a bit streaky last time and didnt want me to come anymore, even though i'd explained it all at the last clean! flatly refused an explanation about wfp and reckoned they knew more about it than i did seeing as they had "two brother in laws who are window cleaners"! So annoying when they cancel without giving any chance to explain how it works

You'd think i'd have built up a good reputation after 7 years and they'd give it a go!
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: Londoner on January 16, 2008, 07:28:47 am
There is no doubt there is a degree of resistance with some customers towards WFP but its just a few that actually cancel because of it. Some of them take a while to get used to the idea but then they are OK with it

On the other hand, I have had new customers ring me up because they have heard I do the windows  "the new way" and they want theirs done the same way.
Some you win, some you lose.
Title: Re: un fair customer
Post by: AuRavelling79 on January 16, 2008, 05:16:11 pm
EVERY NOW & AGANE WE ALL STUFED WITH MUTHLY ?  WHEN THAY ONLEY WONT ONE OFF & OFF IS SUM WARE IN MY NEXT  SENTANCE  ??? ??? ???

Sorry? I don't understand. Is English your first language?