Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Suffolkcleaners on November 19, 2008, 11:54:05 pm
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Been cleaning this particular house for 3 months as i picked it up when doing the neighbours, and he said my window cleaner hasnt turned up so can u do them once a month. So been doing them no problems. Turned up today and just as i started he came out and said what are you doing? I said well cleaning the windows and he says only just had them cleaned yesterday. It appears as though his old cleaner has returned after god knows how many months and just dropped me like a hot potato. As the day went on it bothered me more so i typed a letter and put it through his door basically saying it makes a mockery of people who are trying to run a professional business and if you choose to continue with this cowboy(turn up when he feels like it) then good riddance to him. So annoying custys drop you like that. Anyone with any stories like that?? ;D ;D
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happed 3 times to me
once the lady said her w/c was ill but will be back when his better i did them for 2 months then he returned so i wasn't botherd as she worned me.
2nd time woman said her man had not been in 2months and wasn't answering the phone, did them ones (were rottern) then next time'oh my mans back on the scene he'd been away on holiday. i was a little peed off but she didnt do it merlisously.
3rd time. did them, great job, chap was very happy but between cleans he stopped my while i was doing a nabour ''we wont be needing you anymore our old w/c came back'' red mist, i told him to GO AWAY < MODERATED BY MODERATOR'' sorry but i was very angry because i had a feeling that was gonna happen.
morral of the story. 'It happens' at least we dont work on the coustoms service desk at skoda.
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Welcome to the world of window cleaning. There's nowt as queer as folk as someone on here previously mentions, very true ;D
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sounds annoying, i have to say.
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funny how some people just expect window cleaners to come and go and not really give a regular service
i was canvassing once and when i asked a potential customer if they need a regular w/c service they said "regular? we'll see about that"!! :o
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lmao sounds intimidating to me, mabie she is the window cleaner killer and had other plans for you
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This happens to me all the time sometimes after months and months of cleaning a customer. I just say OK but don't think I'm going to take you back the next time he goes into prison.
Quite often they say "He hasn't been in prison he's been sick" and I say "Is that what he told you? You obviously haven't been reading the papers"
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This has happened to me a couple of times, last time she really slated the last window cleaner "he never comes, never turns up and think he does it or beer money, i think the last time he did it was 6 months ago"
Im like i'll look after you, did them once, returned exactly when i said i would..."oh im sorry my old window cleaner has turned up"
I was really :o cause the amount of slating she gave him. And the funny thing was she got me another 4 customers because she was so glad to find "a reliable window cleaner" then i return to that! Oh well i still do the other customers.
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Could you not get them to sign a yearly contract. Explain its to cover you to know you have the job for a year, and covers the customer to know they are getting a regular window cleaner. A mate does this on his lawn mowing round people seem to like the idea.
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Its only ever happened before I have cleaned the windows. I've agreed to do them at another time. When I turn up they inform me that the w/c has returned and done them.
It annoyed me that I had taken the time out to do them and couldnt. At least I hadnt wasted to much time
Steve
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MR D
Please moderate your language
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what i do now is ask why they need a cleaner, if they say mine is late , not seen him in ages, ill ect , i simply tell them, i wont take them on till they are sure he has left the scene , picked up loads a few mths ago from a cleaner who packed in because he was ill ( had a stroke) he told them he may be back , i did not want to take his work , so i told them will only start doing them , if they are sure he does not want to return.he did not return so i started to clean them.
daz
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Ive taken over from some window cleaners that went missing - but i guess i kept hold of them (if they tried to come back) as i was cheaper.
If anyone was to take me on the premise of monthly cleans and drop me for their "old" window cleaner - i would charge them 2 times for a one off should they ever ask me again.
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Its only ever happened before I have cleaned the windows. I've agreed to do them at another time. When I turn up they inform me that the w/c has returned and done them.
It annoyed me that I had taken the time out to do them and couldnt. At least I hadnt wasted to much time
Steve
I got asked by a nice old lady to do hers as cleaner hadnt been for months so i said i would run round when i had finished my days work and do them , only a small bungalow, anyway when i got there they were spotless, hed been that afternoon :) She offered to pay me though still ! But i said it was okay no problem, shame he turned up as i would of picked up a nice little round there, went and leafletted the neighbors just incase he didnt turn up again :)
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;D "That's life" as Esther Ranson would have said! ;D
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It's never happened to me; I suspect that's because I'm a good-looking funny bloke that my customers like (apart from the wierd ones).
I could be wrong, though I rarely am.
;)
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Outrage is probably too strong an emotion. Try being a little angry instead. You'll find that it feels much better. Once you've got used to that, try turning it to slightly annoyed.
Resigned to the odd ways of other people is an even better emotion - and is easily within your reach should you choose.
Instead of an angry letter, why not something like:
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Dear Customer,
I'd like to thank you for your custom over the last few months. I quite understand that you wish to return to your previous window cleaner. He is very lucky to have such a faithful customer as you.
With my very best wishes
A W Cleaner
***********************************
Just think what a wonderful testament that letter is if she shows it to her friends and neighbours.
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Outrage is probably too strong an emotion. Try being a little angry instead. You'll find that it feels much better. Once you've got used to that, try turning it to slightly annoyed.
Resigned to the odd ways of other people is an even better emotion - and is easily within your reach should you choose.
Instead of an angry letter, why not something like:
**********************************
Dear Customer,
I'd like to thank you for your custom over the last few months. I quite understand that you wish to return to your previous window cleaner. He is very lucky to have such a faithful customer as you.
With my very best wishes
A W Cleaner
***********************************
Just think what a wonderful testament that letter is if she shows it to her friends and neighbours.
Love your site Wally! I think your letter is good (fiery coals and all that) but how about this:-
Dear Mrs Customer,
I was saddened to hear I was losing you as a valued customer; when we started I did make it clear that I was only able to take on customers on a permanent basis and your returning to your previous cleaner after his long absence has meant other potential customers have been turned away.
However I do understand you feeling awkward about your previous cleaner turning up unannounced and please be assured I have no hard feelings about it. If he should disappear once more I would be happy to take you back onto my books but have to stress this could only be on an ongoing basis. If he should turn up again I would hope that your loyalty would remain with me this time.
Much love and best wishes ;D
Laydown and Dye Window cleaning ...
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That is EXCELLENT, Malc.
But I don't think I could put the very last sentence in (Love and Best Wishes). Perhaps just 'Regards'.
Mike
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That is EXCELLENT, Malc.
But I don't think I could put the very last sentence in (Love and Best Wishes). Perhaps just 'Regards'.
Mike
Sorry Mike - that last line was supposed to be a joke!
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Malc,
Yeh, I realised that about half way through the afternoon.
Dohh! Slow, or what!
Saving the text, though, in case it ever happens to me.
Mike
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Outrage is probably too strong an emotion. Try being a little angry instead. You'll find that it feels much better. Once you've got used to that, try turning it to slightly annoyed.
Resigned to the odd ways of other people is an even better emotion - and is easily within your reach should you choose.
Instead of an angry letter, why not something like:
**********************************
Dear Customer,
I'd like to thank you for your custom over the last few months. I quite understand that you wish to return to your previous window cleaner. He is very lucky to have such a faithful customer as you.
With my very best wishes
A W Cleaner
***********************************
Just think what a wonderful testament that letter is if she shows it to her friends and neighbours.
Love your site Wally! I think your letter is good (fiery coals and all that) but how about this:-
Dear Mrs Customer,
I was saddened to hear I was losing you as a valued customer; when we started I did make it clear that I was only able to take on customers on a permanent basis and your returning to your previous cleaner after his long absence has meant other potential customers have been turned away.
However I do understand you feeling awkward about your previous cleaner turning up unannounced and please be assured I have no hard feelings about it. If he should disappear once more I would be happy to take you back onto my books but have to stress this could only be on an ongoing basis. If he should turn up again I would hope that your loyalty would remain with me this time.
Much love and best wishes ;D
Laydown and Dye Window cleaning ...
;D ;D ;D
These letters would be a waste of time...
You're assuming she can grasp the concept of sarcasm, when she obviously doesn't understand the concept of loyalty!
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That is EXCELLENT, Malc.
But I don't think I could put the very last sentence in (Love and Best Wishes). Perhaps just 'Regards'.
Mike
I agree, i think alot of the wc's on here should read "how to win friends and influence people" you would soon start treating custys a little different...we treat them sometimes as though we dont need them ?? where does our income come from !!
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MR D
Please moderate your language
sorry its awfull i know. i'm always being told off for it.
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I agree, i think alot of the wc's on here should read "how to win friends and influence people" you would soon start treating custys a little different...we treat them sometimes as though we dont need them ?? where does our income come from !!
i agree to many forget these 'morans' 'weirdos' and 'muppets' pay our morgages.
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Outrage is probably too strong an emotion. Try being a little angry instead. You'll find that it feels much better. Once you've got used to that, try turning it to slightly annoyed.
Resigned to the odd ways of other people is an even better emotion - and is easily within your reach should you choose.
Instead of an angry letter, why not something like:
**********************************
Dear Customer,
I'd like to thank you for your custom over the last few months. I quite understand that you wish to return to your previous window cleaner. He is very lucky to have such a faithful customer as you.
With my very best wishes
A W Cleaner
***********************************
Just think what a wonderful testament that letter is if she shows it to her friends and neighbours.
Love your site Wally! I think your letter is good (fiery coals and all that) but how about this:-
Dear Mrs Customer,
I was saddened to hear I was losing you as a valued customer; when we started I did make it clear that I was only able to take on customers on a permanent basis and your returning to your previous cleaner after his long absence has meant other potential customers have been turned away.
However I do understand you feeling awkward about your previous cleaner turning up unannounced and please be assured I have no hard feelings about it. If he should disappear once more I would be happy to take you back onto my books but have to stress this could only be on an ongoing basis. If he should turn up again I would hope that your loyalty would remain with me this time.
Much love and best wishes ;D
Laydown and Dye Window cleaning ...
;D ;D ;D
These letters would be a waste of time...
You're assuming she can grasp the concept of sarcasm, when she obviously doesn't understand the concept of loyalty!
There was no sarcasm intended.
Why be sarcastic? It just makes me look small and gives other people something to either detest or laugh at.
Being tolerant and understanding of other people's funny little ways will take you much further and you'll enjoy the journey more.
And as Mr D pointed out. These customers pay our wages. They all have friends and neighbours and frequently talk about us. What do you want them to say about you?
Oh, yes. He wrote me a snotty letter. Here have a look at this
or
And he wrote me a very pleasant little note. Here have a look at this.
Which one says about you the things that you want people to say?
Which one is likely to get you more and better-quality customers in the future?
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Why bother being outraged its the sign of the times, at present. I dont loose sleep over these type of customers, they're not worth having.
The only thing that saddens me is sharing this profession with ex-cons , dole boys, and beer & fAg merchants. They really devalue and demean window cleaning.
So I go where they cant'!!
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We're just lucky that repeat business is the usual result of having a quote accepted.
Not many other trades can offer that.
I don't have any expectations of my customers beyond they pay me without fuss and they let me know in advance if they want to miss a clean or stop altogether.
Some customers do wind me up at times though. But that's me being picky most of the time.
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I agree, i think alot of the wc's on here should read "how to win friends and influence people" you would soon start treating custys a little different...we treat them sometimes as though we dont need them ?? where does our income come from !!
i agree to many forget these 'morans' 'weirdos' and 'muppets' pay our morgages.
I agree, the golden rule is........ "whoever has the gold makes the rules"