Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jonah on February 13, 2008, 10:16:46 pm
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I explain to all my older customers that if they need any help , when i am there to ask me and i will try to help them . I dont charge them . It is nice not to be rushing making a profit , but just to have a few minuites talking to them . would love to hear your experiances of helping a customer in need .
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I run a business, not a bloody charity!!! ;)
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ive helped them out only the old ones when i no that they geuinely struggle ,what makes it worse is when they have family nearby who dont give a toss about them and would sooner see them in a home .
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I know you have nothing but good intensions but it will come back and bite you on the bum trust me,i let a customer off a £100 bill for doing her shop as she said business was really bad,i said we`ll wipe the slate clean and start again from next week,a month later she said can i stop doing her windows i can`t afford it.What i`m saying is you might think your doing people a favour but they don`t always see it like that,i now do nothing for nothing even if it`s slipping a tile back in for someone they get charged even if it takes 30 seconds.
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I run a business, not a bloody charity!!! ;)
I realise there are a few aggressive posters on this forum who just love to start arguments or possibly like to have the last word on the subject.
I must admit, I am 100% with you on the debate over van mount WFP being MUCH better than using a trolley or backpack anyday. I prefer to stay out of the slanging match between other B/P users and am just letting you know I'm on your side, lol
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Cheers bud! :-*
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Groundhog,
I TOTALY disagree with you on the BP vs Van mount. But in this thred I'm WITH YOU.
I like to help anyone out.........at the weekend or an evening. But No one gets a free window clean ;D
David
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I don't need to offer to help, they ask anyway. I don't mind usually. The last one was putting up a new washing line because the old one had broken.
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ive helped them out only the old ones when i no that they geuinely struggle ,what makes it worse is when they have family nearby who dont give a toss about them and would sooner see them in a home .
same as for me, I look at it this way, if that was my nan I would want someone to help her if she needed it, so I help the old or disabled, I one day will be the same and hope people would do the same.
Ian
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define the meaning help and just how far you will go with it?
1 of my customers got dropped off by a taxi with about 8 bags of shopping, the taxi driver did not even drive up his driveway and dumped him on the road outside his house.
he's and old fellow and was stuggling with the shopping so i told him to leave it to me, i picked it up and carried it into his kitchen for him.
took bout 3 mins, now if he were to ask me to fix his garden shed roof or decorate his bedroom then no-way
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Grafters - sounds reasonable. Many kindnesses only take a few moments. Long jobs - most reasoable custy's wouldn't ask, would they??
Peter
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Windowwashers sums it up. If it were my mum that needed a helping hand, then I would be glad to know someone had helped her. Most of our older clientele have been with us for while now and quite often ask our advise about things and ask for the odd favour. There has only been one I can remember that took the pee and we didn't go back to her. The others always offer us something for "our "troubles" and when we decline we get showered with sweets and chocolates the next time we visit and get a telling off as "you are running a business, you should charge when people ask for these favours"!!!!!
Remember "favours" can be dangerous for your waistline ;D ;D ;D[/b]
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I don't do favours for the majority of my customers because they will start taking advantage of my good nature. However, I will help the old and vulnerable if they need assistance with a small favour, because I realise how difficult some simple tasks are for them.
My parents looked after me when I was struggling with my illness and I realise just how much they went out of their way for me so I try to repay the favour of human kindness to my parents and those in need whenever I get the chance.
We all need help from others some time in our lives.
What disgusts me is sons & daughters who couldn't give a monkeys about their parents health when they desperately need some help or just a visit from time to time to show their love and respect.
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People used to take a lot of liberties with me in the beginning but I didn't mind as I had loads of gaps in my work so had the time. No-one really asks me these days. I posted a disabled customers Christmas cards a while back as she hadn't been able to get out and didn't want to miss the deadline.
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I always think that the best way of telling if your good deeds are appreciated is when they offer to pay you when they cant really afford it ! Then in my case its free .
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i have a customer on a £10 job who asked me 6 months ago if i "could just clean the downstairs window on the annexe" which was a normal window but was actually next door but in her garden if you know what i mean.
Sure no problem.
Last month she came out and said, "you are cleaning that window aren't you?" pointing to the annexe window.
"No, i did that 1 time but haven't done since." i said.
"well could you please?"
"Yes if you would like me too but the price will go upto £11 pounds."
"oh. leave it then."
I've always been a bit of a softy if i can help someone. It does give me some pleasure, but i mark the card of any who tries to pass off a favour as though it's part of the job. In fact i think it's downright sneaky and underhand. I feel like they're trying to steal from me. Stealing my time. It won't stop me from helping out though. But i do put a stop to the ones that try it on.
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we all know who try it on ! But it gives you pleasure when somone is grateful and tries to pay you but you dont accept !
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My soft spot is definitely for the elderly ::) I have one old boy who always asks if I have cleaned the inside of his porch even though I have never charged for it, and another that I clean fronts only for £6 with nothing nearby. the reason being? somehow they make me smile and brighten up my day.
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we all know who try it on ! But it gives you pleasure when somone is grateful and tries to pay you but you dont accept !
I've been incredibly lucky in my life when its came to getting help from strangers. Peoples kindness towards me as a stranger in the past has left a huge mark on me. I would help anyone in need if i was capable of it and it gives me a feeling of satisfaction that doing things for profit can never do.
However, i take great pleasure out of being a little bit ruthless towards people who view kindness as a sense of weakness.
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Agree Mark - time well spent. Win, win!
Peter
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I have done some favours for free and felt let down afterwards for various reason...the way I see it now is if I do a freebie it is on the basis that I feel good doing it...and do it with no thought as to any payment. This way I cannot feel dissapointed about doing it...
Sometimes it is nice to help out....
Dave
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I don't do favours for the majority of my customers because they will start taking advantage of my good nature.
Isnt that a contradiction ???
Just a way of justifying something?
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I don't mind helping people out from time to time as I think it's good for your reputation and in turn good for business. But only if they are good custies, the pain in the neck one can take a run and jump! I clean this old lady's windows every 2 weeks (bit excessive I know, but she asked for for that frequency) and last year her home help stole £300 from her and disappeared, I asked if she needed any help, she asked me to put some cloths in the washing machine, thought that seemed reasonable, I did it, but wish I hadn't and won't do it again, so.. a word to the wise... old ladies undies....STINK!!!
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I don't mind helping people out from time to time as I think it's good for your reputation and in turn good for business. But only if they are good custies, the pain in the neck one can take a run and jump! I clean this old lady's windows every 2 weeks (bit excessive I know, but she asked for for that frequency) and last year her home help stole £300 from her and disappeared, I asked if she needed any help, she asked me to put some cloths in the washing machine, thought that seemed reasonable, I did it, but wish I hadn't and won't do it again, so.. a word to the wise... old ladies undies....STINK!!!
you weren't supposed to smell them before you put them in the washing machine... ;D
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I don't mind helping people out from time to time as I think it's good for your reputation and in turn good for business. But only if they are good custies, the pain in the neck one can take a run and jump! I clean this old lady's windows every 2 weeks (bit excessive I know, but she asked for for that frequency) and last year her home help stole £300 from her and disappeared, I asked if she needed any help, she asked me to put some cloths in the washing machine, thought that seemed reasonable, I did it, but wish I hadn't and won't do it again, so.. a word to the wise... old ladies undies....STINK!!!
you weren't supposed to smell them before you put them in the washing machine... ;D
;D See where ya comin from and OH NO NO NO!!!! I could smell it before they came out the bag, only then did I know they were undies, could a been a fish mongers stained apron for all I knew!!!! Anyway...we should stop talking bout it now cos I'm startin to re-live the experience and it's puttin me of my lunch!!! (Fish sandwiches by the way!!!!) ;D ;D ;D