Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 06:22:04 pm

Title: Rain workers
Post by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 06:22:04 pm
Picked up a customer today who said she had a cleaner but he had stopped coming. I asked what he charged and she said £18  :o so i kindly offered to match his price (way above my normal).
 Anyway, it looks as if she got dumped because she mentioned the last time she saw him it was pouring with rain, so she told them not to bother that time. I don't work in pouring rain so she could be ok for me. Seems not everyone is happy with cleaning in rain.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: groundhog on April 07, 2008, 06:51:31 pm
You missed an opportunity there pal, as soon as she said £18 you should have added a few quid, she would almost certainly have paid it in my experiance!!  ;D  If she said no you could always have said 'ok I will match your last cleaners price' You would have lost nothing and you may have got the job at a higher price!!!

I would have wanted a good price as well if she was going to be one of the 'not today' brigade, raining or not I clean my customers windows as per schedule, if they are not happy about the results they can call me and I will sort it out, but I don't like being messed about!! >:(
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: windowwashers on April 07, 2008, 07:07:45 pm
Picked up a customer today who said she had a cleaner but he had stopped coming. I asked what he charged and she said £18  :o so i kindly offered to match his price (way above my normal).
 Anyway, it looks as if she got dumped because she mentioned the last time she saw him it was pouring with rain, so she told them not to bother that time. I don't work in pouring rain so she could be ok for me. Seems not everyone is happy with cleaning in rain.
Cleaning in the rain in mind set with people, I clean in the rain, and it is hard work doing it (in mind) you have to explain to people about it as it does not make much difference from cleaning when it is not raining.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 07:14:11 pm
Not a problem for me as i have no desire to work in pouring rain, light rain is enough for me thanks. :)
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 07:16:22 pm
As for the price, i wouldn't want more than £18, it might sound odd but it's already high enough in my opinion, for an eighty five year old lady on her own.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: windowwashers on April 07, 2008, 07:19:27 pm
As for the price, i wouldn't want more than £18, it might sound odd but it's already high enough in my opinion, for an eighty five year old lady on her own.
an 85 year old on her own can mean many things, She may well be a multi millionaire, every job we do is priced on the job not who lives there, I run a business.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 07:23:32 pm
So do i but it would be a pretty short career if i was to overcharge in my local area, i'm happy with the price, it's higher than my normal rate - why push it higher still and risk my reputation?
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: windowwashers on April 07, 2008, 07:26:22 pm
So do i but it would be a pretty short career if i was to overcharge in my local area, i'm happy with the price, it's higher than my normal rate - why push it higher still and risk my reputation?
True, no one likes a rip off artist, I charge the same to everyone, and I make a point of saying that to the larger properties I do and they seem happy as do the smaller houses, I clean windows I dont charge because they have a Ferrari or a claped out motor
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Dean Aspects on April 07, 2008, 07:46:23 pm
I dont like working in the rain as its cold wet and miserable and in my opinion unproffesional i will work in light rain or if i need to finish off a job but doing a whole day in the rain for me and my business it does not work

Dean
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: stig on April 07, 2008, 08:32:50 pm
very nice cumment
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: stig on April 07, 2008, 08:33:28 pm
comment
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: frames to panes on April 07, 2008, 08:43:17 pm
Yep £28 then i wouldn't get another customer within a ten mile radius ;D

If she had a large grandson i would probably get beaten to a pulp, ,cos that's what i would be tempted to do to someone ripping my gran off. :-\
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: NWH on April 07, 2008, 08:47:05 pm
No but when you do get them they will know your gonna turn up cos it`s worth your while,you`d be surprised the way they think they would rather pay more knowing that your going to turn up.Charge more and up the time between cleans,at least then when they see you they can see that they need cleaning.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: groundhog on April 07, 2008, 09:31:11 pm
Whats desperate about putting on some waterproof gear and working in the rain, the rain dosn't bother me at all!!
As for charging more, I already charge top dollar for my work!! ;D Your the one who likes to work for peanuts! Thats when your not on your hour lunch break!!! ;D
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Wayne Thomas on April 07, 2008, 09:36:47 pm
Working in the rain, not storms, is a good opportunity for meeting new customers who are looking for a window cleaner because more w/c's stay at home at the first sight of rain or if the weatherman has predicted rain forecasts.
I pick up as many new customers on rainy days as I do on lovely blue sky days when the sun is low for the time of year.
It's about sticking to a work routine and not beating yourself up 'cause it's raining and "oh dear my customers won't like it", or rather, you haven't trained your customers that you work in inclement weather or are just too scared to risk losing the odd customer in order to fulfil a days earnings.
With the earnings I've gained from working in the rain, I set that aside to buy myself an Ionics gutter vac now. Now when it's raining I'll have the choice of either window cleaning or emptying out gutters (up to 30ft) without having to ensure the customer is home to plug into their electrics or run a separate generator to use a vacuum. Beats staying home losing a wage and getting bored watching childrens TV.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: windowwashers on April 07, 2008, 09:42:45 pm
Working in the rain, not storms, is a good opportunity for meeting new customers who are looking for a window cleaner because more w/c's stay at home at the first sight of rain or if the weatherman has predicted rain forecasts.
I pick up as many new customers on rainy days as I do on lovely blue sky days when the sun is low for the time of year.
It's about sticking to a work routine and not beating yourself up 'cause it's raining and "oh dear my customers won't like it", or rather, you haven't trained your customers that you work in inclement weather or are just too scared to risk losing the odd customer in order to fulfil a days earnings.
With the earnings I've gained from working in the rain, I set that aside to buy myself an Ionics gutter vac now. Now when it's raining I'll have the choice of either window cleaning or emptying out gutters (up to 30ft) without having to ensure the customer is home to plug into their electrics or run a separate generator to use a vacuum. Beats staying home losing a wage and getting bored watching childrens TV.
Good post that was Wayne  ;)

and Squeaky, I am not desperate at all if I want or need to take time off I do it when it suits me.  ;)
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Sir Squeaky on April 07, 2008, 10:11:11 pm
As for charging more, I already charge top dollar for my work!! ;D Your the one who likes to work for peanuts! Thats when your not on your hour lunch break!!! ;D
I don't work for peanuts mate.
I turn over more per hour than most w/c's I know. :P

That's why I can afford lunchbreaks.
Clearly you can't!
Why not be yourself on the forum eh? ;)
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: groundhog on April 07, 2008, 10:16:56 pm
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Sir Squeaky on April 07, 2008, 10:29:54 pm
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(
I do know you're a window cleaner not Bill gates.
You're too important for lunch now then? ;D

Very unhealthy not to have breaks or eat properly.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Wayne Thomas on April 07, 2008, 10:33:36 pm
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(
I do know you're a window cleaner not Bill gates.
You're too important for lunch now then? ;D

Very unhealthy not to have breaks or eat properly.

Breaks (rests) are very important. Look after your health and it will pay dividends in the long run. Abuse your body and it will catch you up and pay you back.
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: pjulk on April 08, 2008, 12:56:02 am
I tried working in the rain and all i had was customers moaning at me and i hated it anyway so knocked that on the head.

And still when it rains it nice to take the time off and do other things.

I do save a few inside cleans for rainy days.

Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: simon knight on April 08, 2008, 06:28:50 am
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(

"Lunch is for wimps" Gordon Gekko in Wallstreet (1987)

Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: Ian_Giles on April 08, 2008, 06:38:14 am
Yep, totally agree, having breaks is important...although I have to say I don't take them very often :-\ I do have them though, but they are not regular.

Working in the rain?
Where possible yes, but I think it is a grey area, there are times when I know full well that by the time I've finished a house some of the windows are going to be mucked up as I'm collecting the money off the customer!
I'll work in  a downpour on commercial stuff, shops and so on, but I am more careful on residential stuff.

I may be running a business, but we are all at the mercy of the elements, I wouldn't paint a window in the rain, or build a wall, and I wouldn't put down weedkiller!
And if I think the conditions are going to make cleaning windows a waste of time then I won't do them.
Rain alone won't much them up, but if the rain is lashing against the windows then you are asking for trouble and I think customers would be justifiably hacked off if I'm cleaning their windows in such conditions!

Ian
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: windowwashers on April 08, 2008, 09:48:10 am
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(
I have a lunch break, you have to fuel the body to work at peak performance  ;)
Title: Re: Rain workers
Post by: simon knight on April 08, 2008, 05:21:56 pm
Lunchbreaks are for employees in my opinion, not serious business owners!! You don't know me, so don't tell me to be my self!!!  >:(
I have a lunch break, you have to fuel the body to work at peak performance  ;)

If I have lunch at all it's a small sarni...anything more than that and I feel as though I wanna go akip.