Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Captain Scarlet on November 04, 2008, 05:07:14 pm
-
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ff2jr/Prescott_The_Class_System_And_Me_Episode_2/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ff2jr/Prescott_The_Class_System_And_Me_Episode_2/)
Anybody watch it? well if you go 15 mins into the program Prescott suggests Window Cleaning to a long standing unemployed man. Is this really how we are viewed, a job for unemployed people to get out of poverty? Obviously its great that people have an opportunity to get some work and help their families. But is it still viewed as an unskilled job, where you only need a ladder to get started? I think it might be a while before the "general" impression changes.
I have a sign written van, brilliant equipment, leaflets, uniforms...I mean I look the business. Infact I look far more professional than any other self employed man around these parts. But it suprised me when I turned up a few days late for a Hotel and the owner said "oh, I thought you might have packed it in". How do they get that impression from someone who has been cleaning their windows for years, and turns up consistently rain or shine in a nice van to do the windows! As if I would just pack it all in!
Another case. One of my old teachers saw me cleaning she said "oh your Window Cleaning....when are you going to stop that?" as if it was temporary job while I found something better!
It seems quite a few people really view it as a "rubbish" job.... well maybe it isn't such a bad thing my teacher finds out I earn more than her!!! otherwise everybody would be doing it!
-
If window cleaning was viewed as a glamorous business, there'd be a lot - a lot - more people doing it; believe me.
-
yeah!!! that might be the only positive thing!!
-
;D Unfortunately it is seen as a rubbish job and will be for years to come. My customers think i'm still a printer the rest of the day ::)
If you come into this from outside, window cleaning is the butt of all the jokes. All the guys in my last job when faced with redundancy would say i'll have to become a window cleaner if this place goes under!
If only they knew how much i earnt before lunch time today!
My mother asked me how i was getting on "flat out all last week" i told her. "Why don't you become a driving instructor?" was her next comment. ::)
-
I'm an ex-soldier, and I know how people perceive squaddies, but a friend of mine is getting some management degree; letters after his name and stuff; purely because of the job he does as a soldier in the army.
The equivallent qualification would take three years full-time-study and cost about £6K. My mate is basically given his because he can prove his management skills; he's an extremely bright, fit, articulate bloke.
Oh, he earns £50K a year too (he's a Major, commisioned from the ranks) and his pension is unbelievable!
But there's many people who think soldiers are as thick as the proverbial planks, the same as they view window cleaners.
It's all just a question of perception.
-
just a question. What class do you view yourselves? I would probably have to say working....
-
peole still think window cleaners to be unskilled. There are alot of window cleaners who do a bad job and give the rest of us a bad name. A lot of people see it as a way to top up the giro.
But at the end of the day it aint brain surgery is it?
-
I saw the programme too bloody annoyed me too!
-
There are a couple of wc'ers round here, and they are so scruffy and do such a bad job!! both of them are doing it illegally too, these people give us such a bad name! And these days theres the cheap wfp'ers too, who dont do it properly!
-
There are a couple of wc'ers round here, and they are so scruffy and do such a bad job!! both of them are doing it illegally too, these people give us such a bad name! And these days theres the cheap wfp'ers too, who dont do it properly!
i drive through an industrial estate about half a mile from my home every night coming off motorway and theres always some scally with a ladder cleaning the premises, im sick of it, why bother paying for wfp, im going round em all next week when im off a couple of days with some letters about health and safety, and insurance!!!
-
i couldn't give a damn about what anyone says about me. The more people think that i'm living on the breadline so much the better. if they all knew how much we can earn they'd all be at it.
just keep doing the job keep your head down and mouth shut. ;)
-
i couldn't give a damn about what anyone says about me. The more people think that i'm living on the breadline so much the better. if they all knew how much we can earn they'd all be at it.
just keep doing the job keep your head down and mouth shut. ;)
This is the correct attitude.
-
This is the correct attitude.
this is kind of what I do. I never speak of my earnings, and when people get the scent that Im earning more than them I find myself telling them it isnt as good as it might seem!!!
-
i couldn't give a damn about what anyone says about me. The more people think that i'm living on the breadline so much the better. if they all knew how much we can earn they'd all be at it.
just keep doing the job keep your head down and mouth shut. ;)
This is the correct attitude.
have to 100% agree aswell with that ;)
-
i couldn't give a damn about what anyone says about me. The more people think that i'm living on the breadline so much the better. if they all knew how much we can earn they'd all be at it.
just keep doing the job keep your head down and mouth shut. ;)
This is the correct attitude.
i know it is Tosh
in fact when anyone asks me hows buisness i always say " I think this credit crunch is starting to bite and i know i'll never ever get rich by doing it. so i just have to plod on and grin and bare it"
then i jump into the motor to earn another ££££'s an hour ;D
-
There are a couple of wc'ers round here, and they are so scruffy and do such a bad job!! both of them are doing it illegally too, these people give us such a bad name! And these days theres the cheap wfp'ers too, who dont do it properly!
i drive through an industrial estate about half a mile from my home every night coming off motorway and theres always some scally with a ladder cleaning the premises, im sick of it, why bother paying for wfp, im going round em all next week when im off a couple of days with some letters about health and safety, and insurance!!!
So, because you use a WFP you're a better person than someone who uses ladders. ::)
Well I use ladders, and I have insurance ................ does that make me a scally?
-
So, because you use a WFP you're a better person than someone who uses ladders.
Well I use ladders, and I have insurance ................ does that make me a scally?
Didnt mean that at all. I used to use ladders before going WFP! What I meant was that bad wc'ers are everywhere, on ladders and poles!
-
You can be professional on either poles or ladders. It doesnt matter ( my personal opinion that wfp is better than trad doesnt matter in this case ) what you use, pole or ladder, as long as your professional!
-
That was aimed at seandyer2003. ;)
-
And these days theres the cheap wfp'ers too, who dont do it properly!
What, like theres never been cheap-skate window cleaners before WFP?
There's always been cheapskate window cleaners. They've usually disappeared for Winter or, at best, only last a year or so. The trouble is that, with WFP, they can probably still be cheapskate but earn something reasonable - thereby sticking with it.
-
So, because you use a WFP you're a better person than someone who uses ladders. ::)
Well I use ladders, and I have insurance ................ does that make me a scally?
Don't bite! There's a lot of window cleaning snobbery on this forum; I bit recently which is why I put the DIY pole post up.
Then I've read about guys who've been giving a 'slagging' because they've done their own DIY van-mounted systems from guys who've got more credit than sense who had theirs installed from a supplier at a far greater expense.
I was always taught that your worst kind of snob is your working class snob.
But I would suggest that for a small outlay you could get yourself a WFP capability and you'd earn more from it... but that would be another post.
-
The trouble is that, with WFP, they can probably still be cheapskate but earn something reasonable - thereby sticking with it.
this might be true!!! that just makes me more depressed!!! ha ha
-
That was aimed at seandyer2003. ;)
No i never said YOU were a scally unless you were cleaning windows in manchester tonight?? I meant that these guys obviously dont know about wahd, and probably couldnt if i read it to them, and i thought it was a shame that people who spend money on correct kit etc lose jobs to those monkeys, so stop being a big sensitive sissy, i wasnt attacking your precious ladders
-
So, because you use a WFP you're a better person than someone who uses ladders. ::)
Well I use ladders, and I have insurance ................ does that make me a scally?
Don't bite! There's a lot of window cleaning snobbery on this forum; I bit recently which is why I put the DIY pole post up.
Then I've read about guys who've been giving a 'slagging' because they've done their own DIY van-mounted systems from guys who've got more credit than sense who had theirs installed from a supplier at a far greater expense.
I was always taught that your worst kind of snob is your working class snob.
But I would suggest that for a small outlay you could get yourself a WFP capability and you'd earn more from it... but that would be another post.
I use ladders but not on 3 storey commercial work which is what i was talking about, go and hug your ladders, and get a wfp system......and tosh my system is diy, i wasnt talking about that though!!
-
Sean,
I try to avoid using ladders like the plague. They're slow and hard work, but I still use them when I have to.
What's bugging you anyway?
-
My mum used to ring me and ask how work was going.....i said its steady away ... she said... " do you enjoy window cleaning Gary"?......
She really emphasised... WINDOW CLEANING.... :).... Why dont you become an estate agent or something.... she used to say.....
well, im glad i didnt now lol...
God bless her .
-
If you are happy in your job and it pays a decent living that's all that matters. I've got 2 trades to fall back on and I'm half way to a lot of letters after my name if I go back to university but why bother, I'm happy as I am as a window cleaner. There's a lot of snobbery about by professionals They can keep their fancy job titles...I'd rather have my wage, my lifestyle then their glorified titles.
-
Interesting topic luke, prezza is full of nonesence. He has used- as mentioned in the programme- his working classness as a badge to advance his career.He made the decision to allow housing on ex factory sites- a decision that led directly to the loss of many thousand jobs as bosses shut down and sold the land for housing making millions but putting many out of work.
He made this decision because he is a numpty and as thick as two short planks.
Having said that the programme showed him to be more likeable than I had supposed. However, in true numbskull fashion he didn't pick up on the fact that when he suggested "why don't you try winda cleaning?" to the guy who was supposed to be the token underclass benefit person, the guys very proud reply was "I've worked doing that before". Only moments before he had said that he had never had a legitimate job since leaving school and had always relied on benefits. In other words he both claimed and worked. Rather brilliantly prezza then suggested he should raid the kids designer clothes budget for a week and buy some ladders.
Prezza mentioned several times that he waited tables as a steward at sea for a decade.This was his working class qualification, and the servility of it still rankled with him.Strange then that he should project exactly the same attitudes to us, as the ones he himself imagined so demeaning all those years ago.
-
I think lots of people like to be able to have "working class" roots so as to be able or appear to be more level headed and in touch!
-
We are all judged and judge ourselves. Our peers have the most impact. When I was a kid in my area it was all about how 'hard' you were. He's a brilliant footballer, played for coventry boys I would say, yeah but he's soft. It didn't matter if you could play the violin or were a maths prodigy all that mattered was how hard you were.
My Dad was one of the managers at a local factory (Dunlop) and had what was called a 'good job' with 300 people under him. One of our neighbours (we lived in newish three bed semi's) had 'only one lung' and so no factory would take him on.This guy was forced to become a window cleaner. My dad felt sorry for him.But In a few years he had a van and people working for him and moved away to a larger house. We also used to feel sorry/look down on, the chip shop guy, but he too it turned out lived in a near mansion.
-
Who cares what the fat waste of skin thinks? He's the biggest lay about ever known!!!
-
Who cares what the fat waste of skin thinks? He's the biggest lay about ever known!!!
That made me lol,good old 2 jags. ;D ;D ;D
-
Im not too bothered about Prescott ( I hate Politics anyway!!! )
-
He sounds working class when he opens his mouth,that`s as working class as he gets and has ever got he wouldn`t know work if his ugly Mrs served it to him for his tea.
-
a customer today asked who the guy was with me
hes a new guy that helps me out, already a window cleaner
she said "o different to the last time"
"yeh, tell you what its hard to find someone"
"really, i thought in these times people would be doing anything for a job"
i was like "yeh right, no one wants to work"
then she blew me away with this comment
"well i suppose with a low end job like yours they earn more money on the dole"
mouth open i said "yes love your probably right"
LOW END JOB!!!
forgot to notice i just charged her £10 for less than 5 mins work
how do some think like that! i mean it is good in a way, but we aint no low enders!
i like luke have uniforms nice equipment and have a really smart sign written van
-
ha ha...these people dont have a clue
-
ha ha...these people dont have a clue
luke we must meet up mate
-
ha ha...these people dont have a clue
luke we must meet up mate
Are you after a date with Rupert! ;D
yes but dont tell anyone ok
we only live over the hill
it is a fairly big hill like
-
a customer today asked who the guy was with me
hes a new guy that helps me out, already a window cleaner
she said "o different to the last time"
"yeh, tell you what its hard to find someone"
"really, i thought in these times people would be doing anything for a job"
i was like "yeh right, no one wants to work"
then she blew me away with this comment
"well i suppose with a low end job like yours they earn more money on the dole"
mouth open i said "yes love your probably right"
LOW END JOB!!!
forgot to notice i just charged her £10 for less than 5 mins work
how do some think like that! i mean it is good in a way, but we aint no low enders!
i like luke have uniforms nice equipment and have a really smart sign written van
it is frustrating, but you have to learn to rise above it, have a chuccle at past remarks whenever you have increased ypur earnings....
the one that annoys me is when your a few weeks late coz of a holiday etc, and they say, "oh im glad to see you , we thought you may have got a proper job"
i just think to myself, I WISH THE TAX MAN WAS THAT STUPID! ::)
-
Sean,
I try to avoid using ladders like the plague. They're slow and hard work, but I still use them when I have to.
What's bugging you anyway?
Just that bbbbdddbbllll guy or whatever he calls himself making a fight out of nothing because he uses ladders and i said i was gonna take commercial work off of scallies on ladders round my way.....he lives bout 100 mile from me so dont know why he cares lol
-
Looks like it goes all the way to the top, only one more to go after the (ex) deputy prime minister.
Also reaches the depths of the under-class (not working class) and they look down on window cleaning.
That must mean us window cleaners have our very own class.
With the abbreviation "W/C", maybe we could be the new "toilet class" :)
-
Most people regard window cleaning as a rubbish job. We just have to accept it. One of my customers a while back asked me about my taxi. I said I had let it go at the end of its lease and hadn't taken out another.
"So you are just doing the windows?" (slightly suprised tone)
"Yes" says I
"Can you make a living?" says she (very suprised tone)
as she hands me £14 for doing her windows which had taken me 20 mins.
She obviously regarded being a taxi driver as being a proper job.
-
let them think it, there would be bigger problems if they all knew how much you earned, its funny that i find people who dont have a job or are more working class seem to know window cleaners earn alot. but the less they know the better...
-
the more stupid comments from customers and halfwits like prescott
the better, will keep like other posters have said a large influx coming into
this job.
i dont understand why the more sensitive souls amongst you get so wound
up personally im not doing this to get my ego massaged. im doing this job
primarily for money and to take care of my family and also for the freedoms
this job gives me.
if you cant handle stupid comments from ill informed people who are
willing to hand their cash over well you can always get a proper job ;D
im sure i could handle a few more customers :D
-
the more stupid comments from customers and halfwits like prescott
the better, will keep like other posters have said a large influx coming into
this job.
i dont understand why the more sensitive souls amongst you get so wound
up personally im not doing this to get my ego massaged. im doing this job
primarily for money and to take care of my family and also for the freedoms
this job gives me.
if you cant handle stupid comments from ill informed people who are
willing to hand their cash over well you can always get a proper job ;D
im sure i could handle a few more customers :D
A proper job?
Have you got any vacancies? :)
-
errmmmm i dont know youll have to send me your cv ;)
-
I am quite happy to be on the "Bottom Rung" of the ladder, talking social Ladder of course!
Personally I would not want to go up either! 8)
-
There seems to be a lot of replies to this with "if only they knew how much money we make, blah blah etc.."
I'd just like to add that for me, anyhow, I hold the freedom of being self employed, the hours I choose to work and only answerable to myself far more valuable than anything else. I could'nt give a s%*t how anyone else regards what I do for a living and I'm the happiest and healthiest I've been in years.
Simon
-
I don't care myself what others think of my job.
I enjoy my job and if i was to give it in i would end up unemployed and probably unemployable due to the length of time i have been cleaning windows.