Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on November 24, 2008, 06:15:19 pm
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I had 3 of these today.... i would not mind but its the last clean before xmas....
so you would think they would want them clean for xmas,
anyway, i was not too happy, but i understand its the customers choice, but its so annoying sometimes.
do you get a lot of this.
how do you deal with it?
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I'll quite happily say ok and leave it until next time, as long as they don't make habit of it.
Once or twice a year, no problem, it's not like many do it.
Twice in a few months and I still say ok, but they don't see me again.
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i remember a couple of years back, a woman said not today the house was £6 it when the "not today" people used to bother me. now i just go "ok" and im off
anyway, she said not today but this is for you...£10 in a envelope and i hadnt even cleaned the windows ;D
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Same as squeaky with the current climate i am trying to accomodate customers more dont cut your nose off.. and all that
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option 3 for me, if they do it again they are offered option 2 and are chraged a different rate, it takes longer to clean so they are charged more really is that simple
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Its common to for this to happen in the winter. I know i have a business to run but they may not really want them done so i will let it slide. If however its in the summer when the spiders and birds and insects are against me, then i'll have to see how im feeling towards them with the route i take.
So thats why im looking at other avenues aside from window cleaning to help out during the winter months.
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Ive only had 1 thats said this at the moment and I just said OK see you after Christmas. I reckon theres a chance a few more are going to want to do this so I think we're going to have to be understanding in the current climate.
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I had one today, £10 it is, its in the middle of 10 surrounding houses that I clean so I said, no problem. If it was one on its own and wasn't a good price I'd probably tell em to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
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I had 3 of these today.... i would not mind but its the last clean before xmas....
so you would think they would want them clean for xmas,
anyway, i was not too happy, but i understand its the customers choice, but its so annoying sometimes.
do you get a lot of this.
how do you deal with it?
if today was your last clean they would be dirty for xmas anyway
but not AS dirty for xmas.... its the 24th today so i cant get back again... and they were dirty today....
you would think they would say that , maybe in January.
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I had 3 of these today.... i would not mind but its the last clean before xmas....
so you would think they would want them clean for xmas,
anyway, i was not too happy, but i understand its the customers choice, but its so annoying sometimes.
do you get a lot of this.
how do you deal with it?
if today was your last clean they would be dirty for xmas anyway
but not AS dirty for xmas.... its the 24th today so i cant get back again... and they were dirty today....
you would think they would say that , maybe in January.
anything we can in the next week will be cleaned again up till the 24th dec ;)
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I'll quite happily say ok and leave it until next time, as long as they don't make habit of it.
Once or twice a year, no problem, it's not like many do it.
Twice in a few months and I still say ok, but they don't see me again.
I wouldn't!
Are you telling me that you'd drive upto a house, unreel your hose, and just before you're about to start work, your customer sticks their head out of the front door and says, 'Not this month, mate'? So then you've got to pack up and move on.
And then you'd return to clean them again?
No way... no ruddy way.
I've had ONE 'Not this month, mate' this year, and I dropped them. It rarely happens to me, because I've always binned the customers who've tried this.
I've even binned a £100 domestic account (which Ian_Giles does now) because she did the same to me (but Ian and I did a bit of 'price discussion' on that one, so she's paying even more now. That'll teach 'er ;D
If you agree terms and conditions, stick to them; don't let your customers treat you like 'rubbish', or you'll end up with a naff load of work.
In previous years, some customers have approached 'Wor Lass', thinking she'd be a 'softer touch' than me, and when they've said, 'Can you leave us this month?', unless they've had a good reason, Wor Lass says, 'So you don't want your windows cleaned by us anymore?'
They've always relented; this is one of my pet hates.
Be firm with your customers when they're being unfair to you.
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well i cant get around to them 2-3 days before xmas.... as i will be flat out with the customers who fall on that week prior to xmas.......in other words...... last weeks calls......... and it falls on a thursday xmas day..
;)
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well i cant get around to them 2-3 days before xmas.... as i will be flat out with the customers who fall on that week prior to xmas.......in other words...... last weeks calls......... and it falls on a thursday xmas day..
;)
Fair play, we clean 4 weekly as min, but due to xmas shut down some will be cleaned a day or 2 early will work long the week leading to xmas, then have time off without me losing money :D
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i will only be doing oaps on the mon/tues to save collecting,just running down off to Cyprus xmas eve for a week in the sun
You've just got back from Cuba you git!
I bet you're mortgage free!?
Git! ;) >:(
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well i cant get around to them 2-3 days before xmas.... as i will be flat out with the customers who fall on that week prior to xmas.......in other words...... last weeks calls......... and it falls on a thursday xmas day..
;)
Fair play, we clean 4 weekly as min, but due to xmas shut down some will be cleaned a day or 2 early will work long the week leading to xmas, then have time off without me losing money :D
Same here, im putting mine a couple of days early the next 2 cleans (6 weekly) so as to squeeze them in as close to crimbo as poss, more money for me, clean windows for them :) Any that arent happy i will let them wait till next time as i understand its sooner than usual, but normally im a few days late anyway so they dont mind to much.. But staying on topic....
I hate the not this month brigade and if it happens i let them off once but i discuss why i do not tolerate it - cant run a business like that etc, then i dont let it happen again, if they are struggling money wise and tell me i gladly change the frequency just so long as i know when to call, i hate planning a day and then a job drops and you end up with less work!! Dropped one tonight for it , picked one up smaller and better price round the corner :) Not felt credit crunch yet, fingers crossed, but phone ringing at least once a day at the minute :)
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I had 3 of these today.... i would not mind but its the last clean before xmas....
so you would think they would want them clean for xmas,
anyway, i was not too happy, but i understand its the customers choice, but its so annoying sometimes.
do you get a lot of this.
how do you deal with it?
If the job is an OK one I usually let it go if it's just the once. Do it a second time and I introduce T & C's that require the customer to pay 50% of the clean for a "not today" without reasonable notice being given (up to a maximum of £10). Obviously T & Cs can only refer to subsequent cleans. If they feel insulted by the introduction of T & Cs and decide to cancel, that suits me fine because they were starting to become a liability anyway.
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tell them ok but if someone asks me to start them i will give them their place so be warned i doubt i will be back and thank them for their past custom
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I had a £45.00 account that required a phone-call the night before to be sure the front gates were open. Anyway, their payment record was abysmal and the back lawn was always covered in dog-doo. The last time I rang to arrange the front gate I got 'Can you leave them this time, as Ill be in' ??? ???
It was the last straw to be honest what with the payment record and dogs habits. Not going there again. Im half expecting a phone call.
I had a £28.00 account as well where I turned up and she said 'can you leave it this time as the woman who clips the dog is coming soon and you were here the last she did him !!' ??? ??? She seemed rather taken aback when I suggested we cancel the agreement ;)
I know we're entering a recession and my attitude isnt normally so clinical and harsh as with these last 2 but when someones having a laugh at my expense I tend to turn the tables.
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I'll quite happily say ok and leave it until next time, as long as they don't make habit of it.
Once or twice a year, no problem, it's not like many do it.
Twice in a few months and I still say ok, but they don't see me again.
I wouldn't!
Are you telling me that you'd drive upto a house, unreel your hose, and just before you're about to start work, your customer sticks their head out of the front door and says, 'Not this month, mate'? So then you've got to pack up and move on.
And then you'd return to clean them again?
No way... no ruddy way.
I've had ONE 'Not this month, mate' this year, and I dropped them. It rarely happens to me, because I've always binned the customers who've tried this.
I've even binned a £100 domestic account (which Ian_Giles does now) because she did the same to me (but Ian and I did a bit of 'price discussion' on that one, so she's paying even more now. That'll teach 'er ;D
If you agree terms and conditions, stick to them; don't let your customers treat you like 'rubbish', or you'll end up with a naff load of work.
In previous years, some customers have approached 'Wor Lass', thinking she'd be a 'softer touch' than me, and when they've said, 'Can you leave us this month?', unless they've had a good reason, Wor Lass says, 'So you don't want your windows cleaned by us anymore?'
They've always relented; this is one of my pet hates.
Be firm with your customers when they're being unfair to you.
You let it bother you way too much mate.
They pay your wages.
Terms and conditions? You're not a Sky salesman. ::)
If they just stuck their head out and said "Not this month" I wouldn't go back, but if they apologise and have a reason there's no problem.
If you were my window cleaner I'd sack you purely for your self-importance. ;D
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Fair enough, but as I say, I've only had a 'not this month, mate', ONCE this year, and they were dropped.
Oh, and I'm still cleaning those four houses you used to charge £6 for, yet I'm charging them £12; nice customers too.
;D
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all of the first three. sounds helpful and leaves options open.
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I'll quite happily say ok and leave it until next time, as long as they don't make habit of it.
Once or twice a year, no problem, it's not like many do it.
Twice in a few months and I still say ok, but they don't see me again.
I wouldn't!
Are you telling me that you'd drive upto a house, unreel your hose, and just before you're about to start work, your customer sticks their head out of the front door and says, 'Not this month, mate'? So then you've got to pack up and move on.
And then you'd return to clean them again?
No way... no ruddy way.
I've had ONE 'Not this month, mate' this year, and I dropped them. It rarely happens to me, because I've always binned the customers who've tried this.
I've even binned a £100 domestic account (which Ian_Giles does now) because she did the same to me (but Ian and I did a bit of 'price discussion' on that one, so she's paying even more now. That'll teach 'er ;D
If you agree terms and conditions, stick to them; don't let your customers treat you like 'rubbish', or you'll end up with a naff load of work.
In previous years, some customers have approached 'Wor Lass', thinking she'd be a 'softer touch' than me, and when they've said, 'Can you leave us this month?', unless they've had a good reason, Wor Lass says, 'So you don't want your windows cleaned by us anymore?'
They've always relented; this is one of my pet hates.
Be firm with your customers when they're being unfair to you.
I'm with Tosh on this one, if the have a good reason like work been done i can live that. Other wise they are dumped & i will let some other mug pick up the grief.
I'm still picking up work so i'm sticking to my guns. Had 2 today asked & they are on my round even after saying i wont start them to January which they were fine about. ;D
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In my T&C I explain I have a cancellation notice, if they can't abide by it I charge a cancellation fee. I do make an alternative suggestion as they are struggling financially to clean this time and leave next time instead as then I have notice.
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I'm very firm but polite about this. I do not allow customers to "not this time" me.
I'm not a complete idiot tho' (there are parts of me missing! ;D)
If they have a good reason - like scaffolding and work being done then fine, but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.
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I'm with squeaky, be pleasant about it and I will let it pass, had one last month come out with " I'm going out, leave it till next time!" abrupt attitude .... Guess what's happening to that one ;)
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but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.
I'm sure Squeaks bends over forwards for some of them! He may as well.
Squeaks, do you want to tell them about that lady in Mynth Bach, my ex-customer who I dumped, who you now do; according to her terms and conditions and cheaper too?
Or do you want me to tell them about it? It's a funny story, and just shows how a customer can manipulate a soft window cleaner.
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but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.
I'm sure Squeaks bends over forwards for some of them! He may as well.
Squeaks, do you want to tell them about that lady in Mynth Bach, my ex-customer who I dumped, who you now do; according to her terms and conditions and cheaper too?
Or do you want me to tell them about it? It's a funny story, and just shows how a customer can manipulate a soft window cleaner.
I'd rather you didn't, because you'd LIE to try to make me look less successful than you.
I've got no problem with her and the price is fine.
It also led to a £20, 20 minute job, and that led to another one, and now I'm in a new area. :P
Your loss, my gain.
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come on girls, put the handbags away ;D ;D ;D
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come on girls, put the handbags away ;D ;D ;D
I love a good bite, but the lady (Squeaks) doth protest too much.
;)
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So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. ::) ;D
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So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. ::) ;D
Tosh is only successfull cause of his fit mrs, if they were near me i would have them
to clean my windows. ;D
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well, thanks for all that guys...
i was really curious, after having 3 people say that....
and i thought i would ask you all,
judging by the poll...so far, the courteous thing to do, is to just say ok , see you next month....
i think i would only put up with this ONCE, from any customer, under normal circumstances,
but we are not living in normal circumstances, so for the time being i will be holding on to all my customers... good and bad...,
You never know whats around the corner.
As much as it griefs me when they say it..... ::),
but for us with only , or mainly domestics, with nothing else. to fall back on.....or still building a round,
i think the sensible thing is to keep them all for now. ;)
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So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. ::) ;D
Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?
You not really gullible surely. ???
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So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. ::) ;D
Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?
You not really gullible surely. ???
you've just changed that lol :)
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So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. ::) ;D
Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?
You not really gullible surely. ???
It's only a story Rog...
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i would sooner miss them out this time than go onto a regular longer arrangement.its a bummer when it happens but at least they are still a customer during this current climate.
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now im WFP its not as bad as trad so i will do 2 muthly walst trad it wos a no no
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Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Nope, I dump customers who try and mess me about. Firstly she tried to say, 'Not this month', so I was firm with her and told her it was EVERY month, as we'd originally agreed, and the following month she wanted me to do 'outside only' one month, then 'inside only' the following month.
I said, 'No! If you want the insides cleaned, that's fine, but I do the outside every month as we originally agreed', and because of her attitude I dropped her. I could've put the price up and did what she wanted, but I knew she'd say no.
And when she found Squeaky, she phoned me out of sheer glee to tell me; I just thanked the crazy woman and hung up.
So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
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So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?
I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.
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So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?
I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.
Can I come to Chepstow to watch the punch up? :)
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So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?
I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.
Can I come to Chepstow to watch the punch up? :)
I'll bring popcorn, Paul! ;D
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"Simon can we leave it this month...we're absolutely skint".
Legitimate excuse in my book.
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So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?
I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.
Can I come to Chepstow to watch the punch up? :)
I'll bring popcorn, Paul! ;D
;D
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I've got to walk the dog! But I'll reply to Squeaky's slanderous remarks...
Keep that popcorn handy.
;)
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(http://www.bighugelabs.com/flickr/output/motivator6922087.jpg)
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"Simon can we leave it this month...we're absolutely skint".
Legitimate excuse in my book.
Actually I could cope with that one! On a rare occasion. Honest see!
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So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. ;D
Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?
I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.
Can I come to Chepstow to watch the punch up? :)
Punch up, LOL, hand bags with bricks in you mean. ;D
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I've got to walk the dog! But I'll reply to Squeaky's slanderous remarks...
Isn't he odd? ::)
Wait for more tall stories later...! ;D
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Wait for more tall stories later...! ;D
Squeaky, remember that conversation we had in Caird Street about Mrs Powell and this particular job? You initiated that discussion. So what part of lying am I doing? Tread carefully, mate, I can take a lot of stick but I strongly dislike being called a liar; to my face or on a forum.
Wor Lass was there and remembers you saying something along the lines of, 'I've been conned'.
So please tell me in what way I am 'incorrect'?
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Wait for more tall stories later...! ;D
Squeaky, remember that conversation we had in Caird Street about Mrs Powell and this particular job? You initiated that discussion. So what part of lying am I doing? Tread carefully, mate, I can take a lot of stick but I strongly dislike being called a liar; to my face or on a forum.
And I strongly dislike someone trying to belittle me on a forum.
If it was face to face with the others it could be seen as a wind-up or tall stories..
On a forum people will just take it as read.
They don't know me, so when you spout your rubbish about me there's nothing I can do to make them believe otherwise.
Anyway...
What are you lying about?
1: That you charged more.
2: That it's a poor job.
3: That she "conned" me.
4: That she's changed anything.
That job has led to more work in new areas at good prices.
Within the first 2-3 cleans too.
How long did you do it for?
I reckon that's what bothers you.
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: :o :o :o :o :oget room u 2 ::)
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This is the kind of thing Dave (mod) was saying should be avoided on the forum name calling etc. see forum rules
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HAND BAGS AT DAWN ;D ;D
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Tosh and Squeaky - you should both go on Harry Hills tv burps and do the bit when Harry say's - fight fight ;D ;D ;D . Come on shake hands make love to each other and both be friends again.
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Yer gonna get banned ;D
Hols for you 2 8)
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I don't get anyone say not this month.
I have my customers pretty well trained.
When i have had not this month in the past i just binned them unless it was for a good reason.
I don't mind if someone lets me know in advance and i have had a few do that if they are going away or having work done or whatever but if i turn up and they say not today there gone.
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Just had a voice message from a lovely lady requesting to go to every 3 months.. gonna have to stick the price up for it thou. Come the summer i wont want to be doing it for the price im doing it now, as it was a nightmare with spiders.
They still owe me for last time, so im gonna agree, get my money then advise that it will be more, come the next clean in Feb. ;)
They can assess their requirements.. then i can assess mine :P
Been getting alot more call for quotes which ive been getting so not all bad.
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Just had a £15 custie phone up to cancel. I asked his reason which he politly said " The credit crunch"