Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Niall McAllister on June 21, 2008, 08:36:47 am
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well, I learned a leason yesterday.
last saturday I went to do a quote for an old lady. " my window cleaned has not bn about for four months, can you clean them."
No prob, I can fit you in Friday.
" that would be great"
Friday morning, get a call " oh he came today and asked if i still need him, so jst said yes, but I wanted to let you know so you don't waste your time coming round. thanks anyway"
>:( >:( >:(
so now I am thinking, as soon as they agree to the quote offer to do them there and then.
not all bad though, lost her, learned a lesson, and picked up 4 other jobs
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at least she let you know, some just don't bother, you didn't really lose her or get dumped so no harm done. :)
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at least she let you know, some just don't bother, you didn't really lose her or get dumped so no harm done. :)
i agree with Helen, at least you didn't get round there, start cleaning then she stuck her head out and said thanks but no thanks. you get variations of customers and cancellations, its part of the job spec. just move on ;)
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Some years ago another window cleaner round my was reaching retirement age and kept 'retiring' and returning about six months later. Each time he 'retired' he told some of his customers and left. They would then look for another WCner one of whom was me. Six or seven months later he would turn up unanounced, clean the windows and expect to be payed. The amazing thing was most of his old customers just paid him without question and told me "Our old WCners back, we dont need your services any more." Only one customer told him that they thought it was wrong and refused to pay him. I went with it 2 or 3 times as work is work but after that I told them that if he came back again and they just dumped me like that that I would not clean their windows again. Shortly thereafter he moved away form the area. But it was frustrating.
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I have had virtually the same situation twice this year. Window cleaner disappears then reappears months later and expects to carry on as if nothing has changed. In both cases there was a big price difference between them and me but I hung on to some customers and lost some.
I wouldn't have minded if I had gone in and canvassed but I was approached by them or got the "Could you go and see my friend at no 53" routine so I felt they messed me about.
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We have just picked up about 20 houses in an estate where the window cleaner has not turned up for over 4 months, they are getting their first cleans tomorrow, so we'll see how these go.
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I quote double price on the first clean , as this normally sorts out the riff raff ! ;D
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Don't you find yourself wondering why so many window cleaners just disappear without telling the customers.
I'm not talking about the fly by night cowboys, I mean well established WCs who have been doing the patch for decades in some cases.
I picked up a new customer through the Parish magazine a few months ago and they were really concerned about their old cleaner who had done just that after twenty or more years and was like a family friend.
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I picked up a new customer through the Parish magazine a few months ago and they were really concerned about their old cleaner who had done just that after twenty or more years and was like a family friend.
They may just die. :(
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I picked up a new customer through the Parish magazine a few months ago and they were really concerned about their old cleaner who had done just that after twenty or more years and was like a family friend.
They may just die. :(
Yes, quite possibly, but if I died I would hope my family would at least tell my customers as a mark of respect as much as anything.