Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian Lancaster on August 24, 2008, 07:48:16 pm
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I'm old enough to remember when squeegees were the "new fangled" way to clean windows.
Up to then people had only seen the "leather and scrim" method.
Sqeegees were suddenly the in thing, and everybody and his brother were using them, and most of them had NO TRAINING in how to use them. In fact, most of us had to learn by trial and error, because Scott Young couldn't get round to teaching every one of us all on his own ;D
There was a huge amount of resistance to the change in method, and customers were complaining everywhere and demanding a return to the "proper" way to clean windows ::)
Then as time went on people learned how to use the new tool, the customers got used to it, and squeegees became the "right" way to clean windows. How many customers now remember the leather and scrim method, do you think?
The same will happen with WFP - resistance will diminish as more skilled operators become the norm, and people will forget that we used to run up and down ladders and wave squeegees about.
All it takes is time: the duff operators will be weeded out because they won't have any customers left, and skilled people will raise the profile of WFP to the point where no-one will want it done by the "old" method.
Have faith, and do a superb job.
In years to come you'll wonder how anyone could make a living with a squeegee 8)
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As a young boy in the 60's I remember my mums window cleaner using a funny shaped ladder (pointer) a scrim and a shammy.
Your right about it becoming the norm to see wfp but don't forget Ian, its not just the customer getting used to it but the die hard ladder user he still has to be converted before the customer gets used to it.
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I still find 8-9 out of 10 people haven't seen or heard of it.
It's usually more difficult then.
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there will always be trad because there are some windows that just do not take to WFP ( customers need to have their window replaced ;D ) but I think your right I am seeing more and more WFP out there ;)
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WFP will be the norm, and trad will be in the bin of life!
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totally disagree! there is a place for wfp but the squeegee is an integral part of window cleaning and always will be, how do you do inside windows with a pole!before you ask ive seen the ionics inside pole and its useless, i gain more customers using my ladder (domestically) than i have advertising wfp
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WFP will be the norm, and trad will be in the bin of life!
So how do you think inside windows will be done, or origional leaded windows?
Best not ditch all those squeegies, scrims, leathers yet
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spot on ian , some on here need to move into the new millenium regards alan
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spot on ian , some on here need to move into the new millenium regards alan
We are wfp orientated but maintain the skills of trad for the reasons given.
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there will always be trad because there are some windows that just do not take to WFP ( customers need to have their window replaced ;D ) but I think your right I am seeing more and more WFP out there ;)
I disagree in the future more and more wc`s will be WFP over time the blade will only be used on shops and what is easier for the wc,if customers don`t like it in the future they will have a job get there windows cleaned if you ask me.Obviously for insides but as far as outsides go it will be wfp or nothing,that`s the approach more and more of the wc`s i know.Anyone coming into this game would be mad to be soley trad,even over the last couple of years how many do you know that have gone wfp,i know loads and i can only see it carrying on in this fashion.To be honest in this day and age you`d be silly to want to climb ladders all week-month anyway.
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agree.
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We're probably going to have to get used to wfp cause by the time the health and safety police finish looking after us we wont be able to step more than two feet from the ground without scaffold, helmets and high vis jackets.
I personally only ever get the mop and squeegie out when working inside or when absolutely necessary, and my ladders are, by and large, for ornamental use only!!!
Someone, somewhere, will come up with a good, reliable way to clean the insides with a wfp, and the squeegie will be no more. Everything is bettered by something new, even if it appears to be the only way something could possibly be done.
You read it here, some day your mops and squeegies will be on show in a museum for your grandkids to look at.
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The mop and blade will never completley die,never ever.
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there will always be trad because there are some windows that just do not take to WFP ( customers need to have their window replaced ;D ) but I think your right I am seeing more and more WFP out there ;)
I disagree in the future more and more wc`s will be WFP over time the blade will only be used on shops and what is easier for the wc,if customers don`t like it in the future they will have a job get there windows cleaned if you ask me.Obviously for insides but as far as outsides go it will be wfp or nothing,that`s the approach more and more of the wc`s i know.Anyone coming into this game would be mad to be soley trad,even over the last couple of years how many do you know that have gone wfp,i know loads and i can only see it carrying on in this fashion.To be honest in this day and age you`d be silly to want to climb ladders all week-month anyway.
Oh dear you disagree with me >:( ;D ;D
You are right I am turning work down if its not WFP at the moment I have about 97% Wfp
But as for this trad will die I hope not trad is a great tool why go against it I love them both surely there is a need for the two ::)
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Thjere is plenty of room for both trad and wfp as also the is plenty of room for carpet cleaning portables and truck mounts. I still remember my first window clean in the early 1960's was with two dusters and a bottle of windowlene
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WFP will be the norm, and trad will be in the bin of life!
So how do you think inside windows will be done, or origional leaded windows?
Best not ditch all those squeegies, scrims, leathers yet
Trad! meaning ladders
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I was in a bar in France last year and the landlady cleaned the inside of her windows with a karcher window cleaning vacuum cleaner. Did a brilliant job. Dead quick, no mess. She had 2 windows about 10' by 5' and a door.
Never thought to ask her how the outsides were done.
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Thjere is plenty of room for both trad and wfp as also the is plenty of room for carpet cleaning portables and truck mounts. I still remember my first window clean in the early 1960's was with two dusters and a bottle of windowlene
There is plenty of room at the moment yes there is but a moment isn`t very long and before long if you can`t get them windows above 3 story roofs etc you`ll be no longer needed because the WC down the road will be able to clean them with ease,actually i prefer doing the higher awkard windows because it shows off WFP for what it is an essential tool,there`s no getting away from change only people trying to stop it.
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Trad! meaning ladders
No it doesn't. In this day and age it means using applicator and squeegie. Ladders don't enter the equation on this occassion.
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wfp men trying to justify spending thousands on a system that is only suitable for third floor and higher,
it will never do as good a job as trad,
any wfp man i have spoken to has said it is rubbish,and i have seen the results for myself,
take 20 or 30 houses in one street , are you saying it is easier with wfp than trad?
i have seen plenty of wfp men doing offices but never seen any doing houses,
trad will never disappear.
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Trad! meaning ladders
No it doesn't. In this day and age it means using applicator and squeegie. Ladders don't enter the equation on this occassion.
Neil in my book it does mean ladders, in anyone eles book thats up to them!
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wfp men trying to justify spending thousands on a system that is only suitable for third floor and higher,
it will never do as good a job as trad,
any wfp man i have spoken to has said it is rubbish,and i have seen the results for myself,
take 20 or 30 houses in one street , are you saying it is easier with wfp than trad?
i have seen plenty of wfp men doing offices but never seen any doing houses,
trad will never disappear.
Think about it carefully now,have you ever wondered why they keep telling you it` rubbish i`m being serious.I had this for about 3 years before i saw the WFP light and it was to try and stop others from switching,i`m not telling porkys here i later found out that was the reason.
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look at how many post on this site about the probs with wfp and how many with probs with trad,
also i do work for a flat management company and they got a wfp guy to clean their windows ,5 times they done them and still rubbish,
give me 1 go and it will be perfect.
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Why is a management company allowing a firm to do 5 cleans rubbish, why hasnt it been brought to the attention early.
Chris
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sorry mate maybe i worded this wrong,
the flat management firm i am talking about moved into new premises, the windows where bad , so one day when i called in to get paid for a job on there books i said would you like me to clean your windows for a tenner?
they said no another guy who works for us said he will clean them for free,
he is wfp, 5 times,still not clean.
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Obviously doesnt no how to use then, I think both are good, ive picked up work from people who have had trad guys that are useless, and i no trad guys who are really good who have picked up work from wfp guys, if a custy gets either clean that is bad they tend to blame the tools,
Chris
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It does happen.
I used to do a big council retirement home, and three times a year the council did them themselves.
Every resident complained about the poor results and spots.
They loved it when I came around and tidied up with the squeegee.
I had no chance of converting that place to wfp. :-\
As it was I couldn't anyway, as it was far too long for my 100M hose to reach, and they all paid at the window as I did them, so collecting them all after would have taken another half hour.
As far as I know another trad cleaner does them now, so at least they're happy.
Felt a bit guilty dumping them after 10 years. :(
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I think wfp is to expensive at the moment so i will have to wait untill it comes down in price.
its like plasma and lcd ,it will all become cheaper.
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I think wfp is to expensive at the moment so i will have to wait untill it comes down in price.
its like plasma and lcd ,it will all become cheaper.
If you DIY it you can get a backpack setup for £300 odd,.. Van mount for £800
If you fall and loose just one weeks wages with a sprained ankle (or worse) WFP will have paid for itself already.
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van mount for £800 what does that include?
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wfp men trying to justify spending thousands on a system that is only suitable for third floor and higher,
it will never do as good a job as trad,
any wfp man i have spoken to has said it is rubbish,and i have seen the results for myself,
take 20 or 30 houses in one street , are you saying it is easier with wfp than trad?
i have seen plenty of wfp men doing offices but never seen any doing houses,
trad will never disappear.
Operator error, people can't use a wfp properly, that's the sole reason that can't get it up to standard. I do a perfect job, everytime I do houses on the inside, I'm just blown away how good the system works. I could never get that finish with a blade, even if you use zero smears with a blade, and zero spots with wfp, I still prefer the finish of wfp, even with pro liquids like squeegee off, you'll leave a little tiny bit of soap on the windows (GG4 perhaps not) but anyway, wfp get's the glass the cleanest. If anyone does a rubbish job, it's the persons fault, not the system.
Get your head out of the blade and mop thing, and be open minded, use it yourself, apply the proper technique, and show people you can do a good job with wfp. ::)
Too expensive? It's an investment, something that you'll earn back quite easily I must say, and it really does not have to be expensive, but a van mount is a must.
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It does happen.
I used to do a big council retirement home, and three times a year the council did them themselves.
Every resident complained about the poor results and spots.
They loved it when I came around and tidied up with the squeegee.
I had no chance of converting that place to wfp. :-\
As it was I couldn't anyway, as it was far too long for my 100M hose to reach, and they all paid at the window as I did them, so collecting them all after would have taken another half hour.
As far as I know another trad cleaner does them now, so at least they're happy.
Felt a bit guilty dumping them after 10 years. :(
Squeeky, there you go wrong!
YES YOU CAN!!! DO a good job, and they'll love it! I've had the worst customer ever, calling me brainwashed and everything, went totally mad, all because of the previous wfper, she gave me one chance she said, and she apologised after the clean, and said how wrong she was, she couldn't believe how clean the windows were.
JOB DONE!
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IV noticed that all wfp operators love being wfp.... this is because ..we make more and are a lot safer....
then you have the trad people who say wfp is no good! but it comes across asif they want it to e no good because then they dont have to spend money investing in new tools... i used to be like that before i made the switch ::) 3 years ago...
but lets ask a question... do the most succesfull buisnesses in wc use wfp and trad for lower work... or just trad and ladders....???? your answer will be wfp and trad....
me personally will never go back to ladders ::)
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What happens if it totaly goes the other way?
companys start producing small setup's for the home owner a cheap pole like the harris pole small di resin and they change the resin down in the supermarket buy new for less than 10.00?? there is a car wash thing like it filteres the water.
if millions were going to buy it they could do it very cheaply customers dont have to climb a ladder or use the rubbish poles that are out there now that dont work.
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weve all got lawn mowers and most people have laddres , but people PAY TO HAVE THEIR GRASS CUT AND THEIR WINDOWS CLEANED ;)
WHY ARE TRAD GUYS SO NEGATIVE???????????? ::)BUT I DO SEE YOUR POINT!! :-\(SORRY FOR shouting) :o
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What I am noticing is that there are more and more WFP window cleaners appearing around here. It is definitely catching on, and I have more people stop me in the street and ask me to do their windows because I do them WFP. Its wrong to say customers don't like it, they do.
But what you also notice is the difference between the WFP cleaners and the trad cleaners. The WFP outfits have smart new vans, uniforms etc while the trad blokes are much more likely to be driving a beat up old estate car and wearing trackkies.
I am old enough to have started out using leather and scrims, I taught myself to use a squeegie over twenty years ago and went over to WFP two and a half years ago.
WFP is here to stay, it is better in every way, although you do need a bit of know how, and it is more profitable. Those are facts not opinions.
What doesn't get discussed is the way it is changing the industry. People are coming into window cleaning who would never have considered doing trad.
With the credit crunch a lot of experienced business people are looking at ways of diversifying because their own businesses are failing.
They see window cleaning as a low risk low overhead cash business which is safe from the difficulties affecting their own trades.
An aquaintance of mine (friend of a friend really) was in on the start of weelie bin cleaning. He did very well but now says he is bombed out by new start competition that can only get the work by undercutting.
These outfits are not owner operated but are almost exclusively run by someone who doesn't want to get his hands dirty and employs a couple of Polish guys to work the truck.
I can see window cleaning going the same way, I really can.
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i have heard some rubbish. if wfp is so good, then why do so many of you post so many problems. i have wfp and i use where i HAVE too, but for you lot to say ladders are dead is utter crap. i use all the correct safety accessories on my ladders, i write risk assessments, method statements, all in line with h&s policies of my customers (where required). if you guys seriously think ladders are going to be banned, you're either naive or in denial. what about builders, roofers, aerial men, gutter n soffit men. how long before the punters realise that you guys who change from trad to wfp on there properties realise you are ripping them off, i.e., it took 20 mins with ladders but 4 mins wfp, but price is either same or increased (because you wash there frames...lol). what about the shorter working life of your joints that so many wfpers have, even lumps of gristle appearing where it shouldn't, how long before an employee sues for rss? come on guys keep it real, both will be around as long as each other. but i bet i've had less cancellations(0) due to doing a bad job than any wfper here, i also bet i've picked up more(£150 this month alone) because of a wfper doing a bad job, than a wfper has picked up of a tradman doing a bad job. sure you can wash frames, so can we, but we don't have to scam which so many on here do, just look at the live thread asking ' how many wash frames'
n.b
i'm not anti wfp as i have one, i'm just anti bull5hitters telling punters that ladders are banned coz of h&s directives, that's right i've seen you sites and flyers. i've had you wfpers on my work offering free cleans and trying to get them to sign up to 12 month dd before they realise they been stitched up (which i understand as you have paid a lot of money for your kit and are desperate for a return, any return) never works tho, not on my patch
no offense meant so i hope none taken, therefore i hope replies are not mean or nasty
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i used ladders for 13 yrs and iv been wfp for 3.....ladders are not " banned " , but i do tell the customers that this is the preffered method from h & s point of view.... the local councils where i live require you to use wfp....
i target work suitable for wfp.....and i try to elliminate the use of ladders 2 wc died last week from trajic falls....im sure the loved ones they left behind would welcome the enforcement of wfp .....
i have just moved to a new property , and the developers are still working on other houses...i have only seen them use ladders when it has been necessary... they certainly didnt use them for putting up gutters etc.....
after all we are just cleaning windows, life is precious and it doesnt matter what precausions you take with a ladder, there is always an element of risk involved....
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Ive had custys tell me its good to see the pole system now ladders are banned, ive corrected them on this and told them there not banned and im 100% wfp except for shop fronts and inside jobs, i clean the whole window inc tops and even if theres a air vent as been shown by another window cleaner in my area on how to do it with no runs, ive picked up loads of work from trad cleaners but like ive said before i believe both methods do the same job its all down to the person doing the job, i make sure i price my jobs properly as i dont want to drop them once im full which is something i tell the custy when i price the job, ive picked up loads of houses where previous cleaner was £10 and ive charged £18 but they are well pleased with my work as i get them to look after 1st clean and also get letters with with payment thanking me.
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where does the hse actually say they prefer wfp to ladders, nonsense
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thats not what i said .... i said it is the preffered method from a h & s aspect..... if you havnt read the h & s directive i suggest you do so ....anyway.... good for you , i wish you all the best in your buisness.......
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Without getting into the usual wfp v trad, i am worried that the future of wc might be killed by wfp, i wonder if it will significantly drive the prices down beause in the last couple of years i have seen loads of new wfp vans!!!
Every man and his dog seams to have wfp nowadays, i have priced a few jobs recently and the prices were ridiculously on the cheap side!!
Obviously the safety aspect of wfp far outweighs ladders and i am the user of both.
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err, i think you need to. i'm iosh registered / qualified, wrote and update my own h&s policy, method statements, risk assessments, so please don't try to pull the wool. they even have on line booklets which explains there stance. they also have one where they dismiss the myth that ladders are banned and explain that trainers are the correct type of footwear to be worn. please don't turn this into a trad v wfp thing, my replies were not meant as such. i just wish people would read and learn before trying to convince other people that there ill informed points are valid. just go and read the threads on ciu with regards to scams like telling punters they wash the frames always. lets be honest, for a row of houses that took 4hrs trad, then takes 1 hr wfp, should be reduced as takes less time, but wfpers don't do this and when punters ask they say 'well we wash your frames so you get a better job' if this was true then wfp would takes as long as a trad, i.e., a wfp doing frames and glass takes same amount of time as a tradman doing glass and sills (inc u/s where you guys don't). i do understand why you guys do this because my trad investment was a lot less than my wfp investment and commercial work where wfp is the better choice is becoming harder to get for free and more expensive to buy.
wfp, trad, backflips, wagtails, leather mops, pressure washers, guttervacs, all tools to be used for different situations. but one cannot do all, this is the point i am trying to make. you wfpers are trying to genocide tradmen
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Tradman thats the most sense Ive read on here yet. And for the record I'm trad and have been for 16 years but I will be looking to add wfp in the future.
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i have heard some rubbish. if wfp is so good, then why do so many of you post so many problems. i have wfp and i use where i HAVE too, but for you lot to say ladders are dead is utter crap. i use all the correct safety accessories on my ladders, i write risk assessments, method statements, all in line with h&s policies of my customers (where required). if you guys seriously think ladders are going to be banned, you're either naive or in denial. what about builders, roofers, aerial men, gutter n soffit men. how long before the punters realise that you guys who change from trad to wfp on there properties realise you are ripping them off, i.e., it took 20 mins with ladders but 4 mins wfp, but price is either same or increased (because you wash there frames...lol). what about the shorter working life of your joints that so many wfpers have, even lumps of gristle appearing where it shouldn't, how long before an employee sues for rss? come on guys keep it real, both will be around as long as each other. but i bet i've had less cancellations(0) due to doing a bad job than any wfper here, i also bet i've picked up more(£150 this month alone) because of a wfper doing a bad job, than a wfper has picked up of a tradman doing a bad job. sure you can wash frames, so can we, but we don't have to scam which so many on here do, just look at the live thread asking ' how many wash frames'
n.b
i'm not anti wfp as i have one, i'm just anti bull5hitters telling punters that ladders are banned coz of h&s directives, that's right i've seen you sites and flyers. i've had you wfpers on my work offering free cleans and trying to get them to sign up to 12 month dd before they realise they been stitched up (which i understand as you have paid a lot of money for your kit and are desperate for a return, any return) never works tho, not on my patch
no offense meant so i hope none taken, therefore i hope replies are not mean or nasty
Best post I've seen in years.
Spot on.
I'm 80-90% wfp, but everything you write is correct.
Exactly what I said 2 years ago before I got wfp, and I was shouted down by clueless people.
I still stand by it now too.
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What I am noticing is that there are more and more WFP window cleaners appearing around here. It is definitely catching on, and I have more people stop me in the street and ask me to do their windows because I do them WFP. Its wrong to say customers don't like it, they do.
But what you also notice is the difference between the WFP cleaners and the trad cleaners. The WFP outfits have smart new vans, uniforms etc while the trad blokes are much more likely to be driving a beat up old estate car and wearing trackkies.
I am old enough to have started out using leather and scrims, I taught myself to use a squeegie over twenty years ago and went over to WFP two and a half years ago.
WFP is here to stay, it is better in every way, although you do need a bit of know how, and it is more profitable. Those are facts not opinions.
What doesn't get discussed is the way it is changing the industry. People are coming into window cleaning who would never have considered doing trad.
With the credit crunch a lot of experienced business people are looking at ways of diversifying because their own businesses are failing.
They see window cleaning as a low risk low overhead cash business which is safe from the difficulties affecting their own trades.
An aquaintance of mine (friend of a friend really) was in on the start of weelie bin cleaning. He did very well but now says he is bombed out by new start competition that can only get the work by undercutting.
These outfits are not owner operated but are almost exclusively run by someone who doesn't want to get his hands dirty and employs a couple of Polish guys to work the truck.
I can see window cleaning going the same way, I really can.
that one gets my vote for best post in a while
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Yep good posts all round. I'm one of those who came in from another trade - sign written van etc purely for the fact that wfp is relatively easy to break into. No training required, and no ladders. The downside is you need a fair bit of money to get started compared to trad methods. I have nothing against trad cleaners apart from the tiny outlay they need. If i had to scale ladders for a living i would have looked into something else for career. I think the whole image of windowcleaning is changing for ever and mostly that's a good thing. Cutomers are getting their properties cleaned by a recognisable sign written outfit by a trustworthy easily traceable unit at much the same cost as some of the less desireable characters.
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where does the hse actually say they prefer wfp to ladders, nonsense
HERE
And no its not nonsense, this is the view of the health & saftey executive www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/worksmart/videos/wah9.wmv
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I'm sure theres lots of things the hse would prefer but so what?
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err, i think you need to. i'm iosh registered / qualified, wrote and update my own h&s policy, method statements, risk assessments, so please don't try to pull the wool. they even have on line booklets which explains there stance. they also have one where they dismiss the myth that ladders are banned and explain that trainers are the correct type of footwear to be worn. please don't turn this into a trad v wfp thing, my replies were not meant as such. i just wish people would read and learn before trying to convince other people that there ill informed points are valid. just go and read the threads on ciu with regards to scams like telling punters they wash the frames always. lets be honest, for a row of houses that took 4hrs trad, then takes 1 hr wfp, should be reduced as takes less time, but wfpers don't do this and when punters ask they say 'well we wash your frames so you get a better job' if this was true then wfp would takes as long as a trad, i.e., a wfp doing frames and glass takes same amount of time as a tradman doing glass and sills (inc u/s where you guys don't). i do understand why you guys do this because my trad investment was a lot less than my wfp investment and commercial work where wfp is the better choice is becoming harder to get for free and more expensive to buy.
wfp, trad, backflips, wagtails, leather mops, pressure washers, guttervacs, all tools to be used for different situations. but one cannot do all, this is the point i am trying to make. you wfpers are trying to genocide tradmen
i am not anti ladders.....i used them for many years and still do , but....ONLY when i have to.....and THAT is is what the h&s are saying....
i notice you choose to ignore my comments on the 2 wc that died the other week......
id also like to point out that i never use h&s as a selling point to put a trad wc down .... i dont need to....my reliability is what gets me my work......
if a wc wants to be trad that is his choice...
i however enjoy the fruits of being wfp, and i am glad that my ladder use is kept to a minimum....
FACT wfp is safer....and most of the local authorities recognise this and welcome it
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I'm sure theres lots of things the hse would prefer but so what?
try telling that to the wifes and children of the 2 wc that recently died....(experienced cleaners)
your "so what" mentality just about somes it up >:(
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where does the hse actually say they prefer wfp to ladders, nonsense
HERE
And no its not nonsense, this is the view of the health & saftey executive www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/worksmart/videos/wah9.wmv
thats right....common sense, not rocket sciense :D
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Fine but used with common sense there is still a place for ladders. If you dont like them then dont use them. We know the risks. Theres a lot of people who have just jumped in to window cleaning with wpf from nowhere and are telling people who have been cleaning a long time how to do their job. Not all trad cleaners are second rate cowboys.
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why take risks??? when the alternative is safer and more profitable....wfp makes sense ;)
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There's lots of reasons. Personally I can't afford the investment at the moment and I'm still not convinced of wfp. I'm doing great at the moment with my ladders. I no longer see it as wfp v's trad though. I think I'll need both. I don't clean above first floor on ladders but then I wouldn't clean my shop windows or pub insides with a pole. They're both gonna have their place. A wfp guy I know won't take on inside work. If I convert to wfp I will lose some pubs etc that need the inside cleaning. What sort of a service would I be providing then? Equally I dont wanna be cleaning second floor windows or above off a ladder or leaning over somebodys basement.
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thats the point though, i do inside of pubs trad b but then im not taking any risks...the start up costs on wfp arent that expensive...you can start with a backpack, and work your way up to a van mount, its a move you will never regret....and your trad experience will be there for your shops and insides etc.
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i have heard some rubbish. if wfp is so good, then why do so many of you post so many problems.
that's a good question......... The reason is because there is a learning curve to WFP. You might be able to do a window and the next one give you problems so you ask ?
As for this trad will be in the bin I agree that it will never die
Trad is great and I still need ladders to get on to flat roofs..
But for trad cleaner to say that WFP is rubbish, Its not. It really is a good tool,. but its just that, a tool and not the answer to all the work and situations that we all come across :D
LONG LIVE WFP and TRAD
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I say to anyone give WFP a year with your business and then make you decision,99% will thank god they did it just makes life so so much easier,you`ll have more energy at the end of the week to do other things.
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I say to anyone give WFP a year with your business and then make you decision,99% will thank god they did it just makes life so so much easier,you`ll have more energy at the end of the week to do other things.
IMO you don't need a year for that. I was delighted the second week, first week there were little things that annoyed me, second week was already such a delight.
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I say to anyone give WFP a year with your business and then make you decision,99% will thank god they did it just makes life so so much easier,you`ll have more energy at the end of the week to do other things.
110 % agree
In fact it was people like you NWH and others that told me to stick with it and now 2 years later I wished I had done it sooner
Thanks ;)
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The last thing I want to see is loads of trad cleaners converting to WFP. Even worse, lots of new start WFP cleaners.
Trad is best, keep saying it and maybe they will all believe you.
I am WFP but I still believe it will eventually ruin this industry because it appears to be too easy and too many outsiders will jump on the bandwagon.
I keep saying it but nobody is listening.
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i dont think it will...there has always been people starting up and then realising that in our job to succeed you need MOTIVATION , and some people just can't work for themselves...for me, its all i know iv always worked for myself, but iv seen sooooo many wc come and go, and i ends up picking up their work after they finish...
i do agree that many many people will give it a go and undercut etc...but the customer will always stick with you if you are REGULAR...
iv had someone canvassing my areas and qouting 50% less , but iv lost none ... iv been told by several of my custies that they prefer to pay me as im regular as clockwork, they trust me and thats what they need..
remember! most people have been let down in the past and when they find someone reliable they stick to them...
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do you wfp when it is raining?
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i dont think it will...there has always been people starting up and then realising that in our job to succeed you need MOTIVATION , and some people just can't work for themselves...for me, its all i know iv always worked for myself, but iv seen sooooo many wc come and go, and i ends up picking up their work after they finish...
i do agree that many many people will give it a go and undercut etc...but the customer will always stick with you if you are REGULAR...
iv had someone canvassing my areas and qouting 50% less , but iv lost none ... iv been told by several of my custies that they prefer to pay me as im regular as clockwork, they trust me and thats what they need..
remember! most people have been let down in the past and when they find someone reliable they stick to them...
Its started already. The setup is entirely different because the owner of the van is someone like an Asian shopkeeper who has absolutely no intention of doing the work himself.
The attraction for him is that its an untracable cash in hand business. There is no premises, no stock to buy, no invoices, no receipts etc and the work is done by eastern europeans for cash so the whole thing is invisible to the tax man.
The whole intention is just to generate easy money and from that point of view, infortunately, it works very well and that is why I fear it will catch on.
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we havnt got the eastern european problem around here yet, a lot of my work is in rural territories, people like to know who they are dealing with.....but i can see what your saying, it will be a problem in the cities.
i think the best thing we can do is get to know the customer, even if it means collecting in the evening.....
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do you wfp when it is raining?
yes i have to... its always raining >:( im off out now and guess what? its raining >:(
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i dont think it will...there has always been people starting up and then realising that in our job to succeed you need MOTIVATION , and some people just can't work for themselves...for me, its all i know iv always worked for myself, but iv seen sooooo many wc come and go, and i ends up picking up their work after they finish...
The difference with people starting up fresh with wfp as apposed to trad though is because of the bigger outlay they will have to make it work.
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there will always be trad because there are some windows that just do not take to WFP ( customers need to have their window replaced ;D ) but I think your right I am seeing more and more WFP out there ;)
Actually as more windows are replaced they are becoming better and better quality and wfp friendly!
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Precisely, the windows that wfp doesn't work brilliantly on should have been replaced (or repainted) a long long time ago anyway.