Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: pingu on April 14, 2008, 06:31:38 pm

Title: Customer losses
Post by: pingu on April 14, 2008, 06:31:38 pm
Just thought I would throw this out ....How many customers do you on average lose per year?, percentages would be nice...just trying to get a snapshot of other business's year events..to see if I am out ..

Mine last year:

A) I dropped = 11
B) Dropped me = 7
C) Move = 3


A) You drop.
B) Drop you.
C) Move.

Cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Tosh on April 14, 2008, 06:37:13 pm
Any reply would need to be qualified with how long you've been window cleaning.

For example, if you've just been going for 1 year, you'll have a far bigger customer loss rate than if you've been going for 10 years and have a settled customer base.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Paul Coleman on April 14, 2008, 06:40:29 pm
Just thought I would throw this out ....How many customers do you on average lose per year?, percentages would be nice...just trying to get a snapshot of other business's year events..

A) You dump.
B) Dump you.
C) Move.

Cheers
Dave.

Very few really.  I may lose a dozen a year.  That might split down to 2 or 3 dumping me, me dumping 4 or 5, and perhaps 3 or 4 moving.  I suppose maybe 1 or 2 die occasionally too.  Depending on your beliefs, that might count as moving.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: pingu on April 14, 2008, 06:40:47 pm
OK thanks....I have been going 85 weeks now.... ;D...so last year was my 1st complete year...

Cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Paul Coleman on April 14, 2008, 06:44:51 pm
Any reply would need to be qualified with how long you've been window cleaning.

For example, if you've just been going for 1 year, you'll have a far bigger customer loss rate than if you've been going for 10 years and have a settled customer base.

Too true Tosh.  My turnover rate of customers was far greater in the early years.  The only time since then that I've experienced big upheavals was when I was too ill to work for a few months and the first few months of starting with WFP.  It's been very settled in the last 18 months really.  Unless one moves, it's pretty unusual for me to lose a longstanding customer.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Jon-scwindows on April 14, 2008, 07:05:01 pm
been going 6 months (already?)
1 cancelled after 3 cleans no apparent reason
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: frames to panes on April 14, 2008, 07:10:27 pm
I reckon i've dumped about twenty last year, lost four, one mover.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: williamx on April 14, 2008, 07:18:07 pm
I've lost about 10 this year already, all of them died.

I'm beginning toi feel like the "Grim Reaper"
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: windowwashers on April 14, 2008, 07:20:39 pm
I reckon i've dumped about twenty last year, lost four, one mover.
any shakers ?
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: frames to panes on April 14, 2008, 07:25:24 pm
Plenty of shakers (old peoples home).
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: jeff1 on April 14, 2008, 09:38:14 pm
The three I have lost so far this year.

1 moved & 2 died :'( and 2 of them never paid  :o
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: groundhog on April 14, 2008, 09:44:17 pm
In the last year I can only think of 3 that have cancelled, 5 have moved, and I have dumped about 6.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: pjulk on April 14, 2008, 09:50:23 pm
I think for me about 6 moved, 1 died, 1 did a bunk owing me a tenner, and i think i dropped 3 or 4.

I had one cancel as she wanted me there at certain times and certain days which i could not and would not do.


Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: ronnie paton on April 14, 2008, 09:54:06 pm
iv had alot more than that cancell mainly with excuses but money talks, alot and some not all will change to a cheaper cleaner if they can.

you must all be the dogs to have so few cancellations.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: brett walker on April 14, 2008, 11:55:09 pm
I've lost about 10 this year already, all of them died.

I'm beginning toi feel like the "Grim Reaper"

william

was it through shock when you told them you paid 4 quid for a cappuchino at windex :o :o :o

i picked £100 worth of work up last week and lost 1 £8 job, customer said she has got someone to do it for £4 quid i told her im sorry i couldnt clean her windows frames sills front and back door for £4 ::) hes welcome to it

over the years ive picked much more up than i have lost or dropped

Brett
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Erich on April 15, 2008, 07:34:01 pm
I've been going for around 6 months myself and in that time iv'e had 1-moved,
1-died and i've dumped 2 for bad payers.Had none that have dumped me and well made up the loss of the others. ;D
Mind you have had 10 gone to monthly instead of fortnightly.Must be giving to good of a service   ;)
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: mark311069 on April 15, 2008, 07:47:36 pm
more of a worry for me is that i have lost 5 in the last 2 months because they cant pay the mortgage and they have lost there homes.

Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Wayne Thomas on April 15, 2008, 09:33:29 pm
Since January 08

3 died
5 moved to OAP homes
16 sold up to downsize or move out of the county
33 cancelled (lost some to a cheaper window cleaner and some are feeling the credit crunch
2 cancelled (glad they did because I wanted to drop them, too dodgy)

42 new customers
17 more new customers to replace the lost ones then things are back to normal again for me.

I have been going for 10 years now and am really noticing different attitudes in customers now more than  ever.
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: davids3511 on April 18, 2008, 10:47:05 pm
Started July 07 0 customers
Dumped by 23
Dumped 14
Moved 4 (one kept my number and I now clean her new house)
Total live customers as at today - 209
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: jonah on April 18, 2008, 10:54:00 pm
I explain to my custys that if they are going to die , then I need two weeks notice !
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: Wayne Thomas on April 18, 2008, 10:58:59 pm
I explain to my custys that if they are going to die , then I need two weeks notice !

What's your nickname....God ???? (lol)
Title: Re: Customer losses
Post by: windowwashers on April 19, 2008, 01:38:28 am
I explain to my custys that if they are going to die , then I need two weeks notice !
lol, I dont worry about it, I make the next-of-kin pay  ;D