Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on November 21, 2008, 08:11:53 am

Title: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Londoner on November 21, 2008, 08:11:53 am
This morning 7.45 just finishing my coffee and getting ready to leave when the phone rings. Its the customer I intended to make my first job today. My wife phoned her last night to say leave the gate open.

She phoned to say she didn't want me to come because its BEEN raining in the night. She has looked out of her windows this morning and seen the ground is wet and there are a few spots on the glass.

I got sacked in the summer by a real moaner who objected to paying for me to clean her windows in the lightest of drizzles. "If you are going to clean them you have to do them properly"

These WCs who say their customers are fine about them cleaning in the rain must have different customers to me.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: karygate on November 21, 2008, 08:15:06 am
i do not clean in the rain unless i have already started. my customers are exactly the same ,but they are all reliable and i know they will see me through this current climate.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Pole 2 Pole on November 21, 2008, 08:22:00 am
I had one of these.....i mentioned her recently. I took her mobile number to text night before to leave gate open. She happily agreed. The next month..........oh looks like rain tomorrow.....can ya do them next month????? Exactly the same thing happened the following month. She never recieved another text from me. I think the penny might have dropped cos she aint got back to me. What do some of them take us for???? Nice answers only please  ;)
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: LWC on November 21, 2008, 08:53:31 am
I have said this all along about cleaning in the rain. People just do not like it one bit.

I dot care how many people say they dont mind.

I can just imagine them talking to the neighbours or friends "mine cleans mine in the rain" and the other person shaking their heads.

Commercial fine, but not domestic, i tried it for a while, and after the 20th "not today" i thought never again.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: trike on November 21, 2008, 09:23:22 am
i never clean in the rain never
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 21, 2008, 09:27:17 am
Unfortunately we don't have the climate to be able to say "its definitely not going to rain for the next 8 months - would you like your windows cleaned?"

People have to realise it RAINS alot here.

If they require a reliable and regular window cleaner that is what you need to allow for - the rain, of course not everyone works in the rain, i only work in light rain/drizzle nothing heavier.

Most customers i have i say don't mind maybe they probably do mind, but they know its going to rain some time or another so will accept it.

I must admit, i had one of these calls a few saturdays ago - I got, your work is great, but what with all this rain weve HAD... (yes the main reason to get your windows cleaned i thought)... and the poor weather expected... (right so i'll contact you when the summer comes?? i thought)... id like to postpone for a better day (it wasn't raining, it had rained through the night though)..   ::)

Ive not phoned them since, and when its next due - if i get the same reply, come mid december - then i will say that im unable to provide them with a regular and reliable window cleaning service so, should they require the services then they can call me, and pay the "one off" rates, rather than the regular rates.

As using WFP im confident of a good drying result should it rain after ive been and dries within 24hours of the clean, so i offer my rain guarantee - never had to go back yet - the only time i clean my own windows is when its raining!!
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: lovewindows on November 21, 2008, 09:32:08 am
I tell my customers WFP is rainproof !
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 21, 2008, 11:37:05 am
I educate my customers to the fact that it is the wind and not the rain that makes a mess of the windows.

When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.

Also offer them a rain guarantee, that if the windows are dirty because of the rain in the next 24 hours after you have cleaned them, then you will come back and re-do the effected windows for free.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: simon knight on November 21, 2008, 01:06:09 pm


When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.



Why is that?
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 21, 2008, 01:10:22 pm


When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.



Why is that?

the rain is about 14tds generally. its the window and dust thats the fault of dirty windows, the rain normally doesn;t get to hit the top of the windows and frames so its that top 30% of the windows that is all dirty after it rains, cos the bottom has been washed by the rain.

From that top 30% of dirty window and the dust in the air/rain thats why you get spotting from the rain water.

This is why you spend the majority of the time wfp concentrating on the top frames/glass.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: ftp on November 21, 2008, 03:13:01 pm
So if the wind makes them dirty and you tell them that, then surely they will cancel on windy days  ???
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: peter holley on November 21, 2008, 03:49:45 pm
i work in the rain .... unless its hammering down... i have had 4 days off due to bad weather all year.....
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 21, 2008, 03:53:07 pm
So if the wind makes them dirty and you tell them that, then surely they will cancel on windy days  ???

yeah! lol... so it remains, why bother having them cleaned if its going to get dirty? Just fill the windows in, or have them cleaned regularly!  ::)
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: chrismroberts on November 21, 2008, 04:53:31 pm
Cleaned a house today, it was hammering down, sideways, finished up and the customer came out with the money, plus a five quid tip and a bottle of wine.... I think he was happy  :)
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: paul washer on November 21, 2008, 05:09:57 pm
the world is a funy place.sum people are not fust about the rain.but yes ther is sum how look at the sky and say no not to day thanks.i donot get it.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: ccmids on November 21, 2008, 05:48:14 pm
i never clean in the rain and yes i do have cusys who would moan if i tried so if it rains just put your feet up
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: geefree on November 21, 2008, 06:46:16 pm
we had a lot of rain this summer.... in the end , it was either get out there in the rain...and earn money...

or not pay the bills. or eat.

The answer was simple for me.  ;)
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Wayne Thomas on November 21, 2008, 07:28:03 pm
the world is a funy place.sum people are not fust about the rain.but yes ther is sum how look at the sky and say no not to day thanks.i donot get it.

The seasonal customers you need to train that you work in moderate rain if needs must or replace them with a more understanding customer.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 21, 2008, 07:35:15 pm
Cleaned a house today, it was hammering down, sideways, finished up and the customer came out with the money, plus a five quid tip and a bottle of wine.... I think he was happy  :)

I got a £5 tip today, no wine though, and im glad i got the tip as i was doing an interior window clean,m and even though i doubled the price of outside and stuck 50 % again, still took ages...but the £5 made it ok :) i think she realised i worked hard and there was alot more than i realised :)
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: windowwashers on November 21, 2008, 07:38:10 pm
i never clean in the rain and yes i do have cusys who would moan if i tried so if it rains just put your feet up
i have customers that moan, but they are cleaned maybe twice a year in the rain, I can just see the guys that work for me, it's raining no money today put your feet up.....
Rain makes no difference, train your customers out of the old ways of thinking. If you trad then your a little snookered
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Mr Cleannclear on November 21, 2008, 08:36:24 pm
I dont clean in the rain , but if I have started and itstarts to rain I finish the job.
If they say anythingI tell them that I dont charge for the free extra rinse
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: dai on November 21, 2008, 08:57:53 pm
I educate my customers to the fact that it is the wind and not the rain that makes a mess of the windows.

When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.

Also offer them a rain guarantee, that if the windows are dirty because of the rain in the next 24 hours after you have cleaned them, then you will come back and re-do the effected windows for free.

I don't know if the above is true in all areas, but it is with those of us that work coastal rounds.
Spindrift [atomised sea water] blows in on the wind and covers the glass, rain will wash it off again, but it doesn't fall on the top of the window as it's usually sheltered by the overhang.

I did a pub on Conwy Marina this morning, and the wind was blowing off the sea, I could see that the salt was starting to build up again by the time  I did the insides.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: simon knight on November 22, 2008, 07:15:14 am


When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.



Why is that?

the rain is about 14tds generally. its the window and dust thats the fault of dirty windows, the rain normally doesn;t get to hit the top of the windows and frames so its that top 30% of the windows that is all dirty after it rains, cos the bottom has been washed by the rain.

From that top 30% of dirty window and the dust in the air/rain thats why you get spotting from the rain water.

This is why you spend the majority of the time wfp concentrating on the top frames/glass.

Cheers
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: peter holley on November 22, 2008, 08:19:38 am
I educate my customers to the fact that it is the wind and not the rain that makes a mess of the windows.

When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.

Also offer them a rain guarantee, that if the windows are dirty because of the rain in the next 24 hours after you have cleaned them, then you will come back and re-do the effected windows for free.

I don't know if the above is true in all areas, but it is with those of us that work coastal rounds.
Spindrift [atomised sea water] blows in on the wind and covers the glass, rain will wash it off again, but it doesn't fall on the top of the window as it's usually sheltered by the overhang.

I did a pub on Conwy Marina this morning, and the wind was blowing off the sea, I could see that the salt was starting to build up again by the time  I did the insides.

no point in doing them at all...they jist get dirty again...... ::) doesnt that sound silly..... regular cleans come rain or shine is FAR better than no cleaning at all. :o
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: Mark Sadler on November 22, 2008, 05:49:03 pm
Lets be honest how many out your lets say 100 custys actually stop you from cleaning in the rain.

I dont get any and if i did it would only be 1 or 2. So why even worry about it, just wait to pick up another custy and dumped the awkward ones.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on November 22, 2008, 07:21:08 pm
So if the wind makes them dirty and you tell them that, then surely they will cancel on windy days  ???
exactly ;D
it was blowing a gale here on friday
no one batted an eyelid
if i had turned up in the rain,different story
looking back on this year i have only had 3 days that were total write off thru rain
so for me not working in the rain is not a problem
if that makes sense ???
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: steve a on November 22, 2008, 08:26:11 pm
I educate my customers to the fact that it is the wind and not the rain that makes a mess of the windows.

When it has been raining you will see the bottom 70% will be clean, the top bit which collects all the dirt will still be dirty.

Also offer them a rain guarantee, that if the windows are dirty because of the rain in the next 24 hours after you have cleaned them, then you will come back and re-do the effected windows for free.


I don't know if the above is true in all areas, but it is with those of us that work coastal rounds.
Spindrift [atomised sea water] blows in on the wind and covers the glass, rain will wash it off again, but it doesn't fall on the top of the window as it's usually sheltered by the overhang.

I did a pub on Conwy Marina this morning, and the wind was blowing off the sea, I could see that the salt was starting to build up again by the time  I did the insides.

That wouldn't be the liverpool arms would it. Had a drink or two in there when we've been out fishing from Conwy.
Used to go regular, once a month during summer.
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: peter holley on November 22, 2008, 09:21:40 pm
So if the wind makes them dirty and you tell them that, then surely they will cancel on windy days  ???
exactly ;D
it was blowing a gale here on friday
no one batted an eyelid
if i had turned up in the rain,different story
looking back on this year i have only had 3 days that were total write off thru rain
so for me not working in the rain is not a problem
if that makes sense ???
 ???
absolute crap!!!!!!!!!       its rained here for weeks onn end
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on November 22, 2008, 10:40:44 pm
So if the wind makes them dirty and you tell them that, then surely they will cancel on windy days  ???
exactly ;D
it was blowing a gale here on friday
no one batted an eyelid
if i had turned up in the rain,different story
looking back on this year i have only had 3 days that were total write off thru rain
so for me not working in the rain is not a problem
if that makes sense ???
 ???
absolute crap!!!!!!!!!       its rained here for weeks onn end
not where i live dickhead ;D
weather is localised your experience is your problem
i lost 3 day so far  where i earned nowt this year
that is my experience of the weather where i live
unless you live next to me and have a record that differs from mine you cant call my statement "crap" can you ???
Title: Re: Now I really have heard it all..... !
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on November 22, 2008, 10:51:36 pm
p holley
you live in wales
the west side of the country has more rainfall than the east
i live in south lincs about 5 miles from coast
we get less rain than you
just cos its raining on YOU does not mean it is raining on EVERYONE ELSE
 ;D ;D ;D