Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dave.e on February 23, 2009, 08:12:35 pm
-
went to my first house today at 920 am knocked on the door the woman opened it and said your early and we are in the middle breakfast so i suppose you better carry on and slammed the door in my face i was stood about 2 foot away all that for £8 so me and the lad jumped back in the van and drove off. felt like wiping dog shxx on here door handle. just go,s to show people think we are scum of the earth are well me and the lad had a right old laugh about it. dave
-
1st house at 9.20?
What time do you work till Dave?
Dean
-
most of the time i start at 830 ish but i know from the other months i went there she was going on about the time then so thought i would have the bag on here but did not work.
-
i have had the same in the past, people do think we are scum, why they think like that i don't know.
good on you dave for driving away.
-
had one custie hiding behind a corner watching my lad work... then he starts moaning at my lad that it rained after the last clean ... he then comes moaning the same to me and says he wants every other month, as they just get dirty in the winter months... ( all said in a condasending angry tone.)
i asked him to please inspect these windows here ....pointing to 2 windows at the front of his house...are these clean to your standards? i asked him! ... yes these are clean he replies ...
ahhh good i replied ... i havnt cleaned them yet.... so your theory about the bad weather, and no point in cleaning is a bit silly isnt it? i asked ...
he went bright red and was alittle lost for words...
it wasnt his opinion that annoyed me , but the way he rudely spoke to my staff and myself , and it wasnt the first time he has been like this, so im glad hes gone ...
i'v gained another 18 customers to replace him. ;D
-
When people are rude I always put up the price. They get the hint usually
I think some asssume you clean windows cos you can't do anything else as opposed to it being a perfectly sensible way to make a living.
I once offered to move my gear so a guy could get his car out with the words:-
"I'll just move this paraphenalia"
"That's a big word for a window cleaner" he said.
"Well window cleaning and intelligence aren't mutually exclusive" I said.
"Er no" he said sheepishly, so I tutted and carried on working. ;D
-
had one custie hiding behind a corner watching my lad work... then he starts moaning at my lad that it rained after the last clean ... he then comes moaning the same to me and says he wants every other month, as they just get dirty in the winter months... ( all said in a condasending angry tone.)
i asked him to please inspect these windows here ....pointing to 2 windows at the front of his house...are these clean to your standards? i asked him! ... yes these are clean he replies ...
ahhh good i replied ... i havnt cleaned them yet.... so your theory about the bad weather, and no point in cleaning is a bit silly isnt it? i asked ...
he went bright red and was alittle lost for words...
wish i had been there to see the look on his face lol
it wasnt his opinion that annoyed me , but the way he rudely spoke to my staff and myself , and it wasnt the first time he has been like this, so im glad hes gone ...
i'v gained another 18 customers to replace him. ;D
-
Of course people think were scum, I mean come on, we are just cleaners...
Not even good one's! ::)
At least general cleaners clean all sorts of things! ;D
We only clean one thing glass! :D
I mean Wow! ;D ;D ;D
-
why do some custies look at you as if you have just murdered thir mothers? esp when it comes to payment time?
DO THE REALLY RESENT US THAT MUCH
-
;D YES ;D
-
people resent window cleaners because there is very little reason why most people can not clean their own windows, and so you point this out everytime they see you. there is no real point in reacting to nasty people, you will find they are nasty to everyone and not just us. you get over this by thinking on how much higher your deadend job pays per hour than most of theirs.
at least I always smile as i drive away with a wad of their cash in my pocket ;D ;D ;D
-
Don't want to bore anyone so I'll make this as short as poss.
Before I started WC I was in the army. Not a major or RSM but had a bit to say, blokes working under my orders, nice feeling. Finished that and started international truck driving, North Africa and back, great money, prestige job in truck drivers terms. Great feeling. Then decided to start my own biz, WC.
When I started that, I had a major problem with the image, went about with a real piece of 4x2 on my shoulder. Took every coment personally. Dropped custies for looking at me in a funny way or stepping on the cracks in the pavement etc etc.
A few years down the road and I look at it this way; I'm my own boss, I earn very well compared to some of my custies, and if I get remarks from them or anyone, I feel terrible and want to bite back sometimes, but I did get a right rollicking once and she (custy) was a real nasty piece of work on that day, so I gave her a gobfull back and it felt good. Found out off another custy that she had lost her hubby 5 weeks before, so I suppose that was the reason she was feeling nasty. Who knows? Some people may think we are scum, maybe they think truck drivers are scum or bankers are scum. Some people are like that but I wouldn't say generaly that people think we are all scum.
Just my point of view for what it's worth. ::)
-
Why is nobody answering????? Do you all think I'm scum??? :'( :'(
-
i used to get the your scum look in the milk
and they were doing me a faver employing me thats why its great to just leave
and not go back when they dont treat you with respect
-
i'v gained another 18 customers to replace him. ;D
Must have been a big place.
If some ones rude once I'll let it go, had a few apologies in my time a month after. If they are repeatedly rude then I don't keep them. It's nice to go out and work knowing that people are pleased to see you.
Simon.
-
hi SherwoodCleaningSe i do agree with you because after that one went round the corner to another house and told that woman what had gone on and she asked me to take here there because that was below the belt and she would sort it out so i told here it did not matter so she put here arm round me gave me a kiss and made me a cupa. god i love this job.
-
I just let dull remarks go in one ear and out the other. Why bite, put your teeth back in and ignore the stupid, meaningless remarks, I do.
-
just let it wash over you
I had a customer 2 or 3 years back telling me about how prestigious his job was, how he was an Engineer for such and such. I mentioned that I used to work as an Aeronautical Engineer and he nearly fainted - just goes to show.
-
9.20 i`ve done half a morning by then,i hate starting at that sort of time.
-
9.20 i`ve done half a morning by then,i hate starting at that sort of time.
I was only joking about thinking people thought we were scum, only a few would think this way, really!
We offer a good service!
As for the 9.20 start, you are joking... far too early!
I like to get out just before 12, around 11:55!
I like the world to be "Warmed Up" for me! ;D ;D ;D
-
Course u were
-
9.20 i`ve done half a morning by then,i hate starting at that sort of time.
I was only joking about thinking people thought we were scum, only a few would think this way, really!
We offer a good service!
As for the 9.20 start, you are joking... far too early!
I like to get out just before 12, around 11:55!
I like the world to be "Warmed Up" for me! ;D ;D ;D
11:55 what's the rush ;D
anywho, people only think you are scum if you react to what they say in the way they expect you to react, it you just keep smiling, then they only think you are a bit slow witted and not scum :o
-
Perhaps it's to do with the British class system..
I know in Australia and the USA people are less concerned about what you do and more concerned with how much cash you make.
I think people have a tendency in this country to try and identify which class you are from your job and assume that windies are somewhere just above the unemployable. ;D
Whereas we all know that tradesmen/women(thought i'd better put that in) make a decent living compared with the average joe.
To my shame I was the same about 15 years ago, I worked in a Jewellers for a pittance, and was stunned when our windy went to Florida for his holidays. :o
Being young and naive at the time I thought cos I wore a suit to work...well you can guess the rest
-
I know what you mean, and have to be honest window cleaning is not what I had in mind for myself when I was younger, I guess I wanted someting better for myself, but I choose to do it as a living, and now that I am a window cleaner, I think I have the best job in the world, ok apart from a farrari tester. Yes, I do think as far as class goes we are better that someone working in a shop or restraunt. Because we are self employeed we can make more money, and so we should as we take allot more repsonsability that someone who is employeed.
There are definately allot of pro's to the job, but one of the best is you choose who you work for. If someone is getting on your goat, you can drop them. Giving you allot more self-respect that someone who is employeed.
-
One of my customers said to me yesterday "Are you doing this full time now" in a tone so loaded with amazement and pity that I know exactly what he was thinking.
Then he hands me £30 for doing his house and conservatory.
I'm used to it, they can think what they like.
-
I know what you mean, and have to be honest window cleaning is not what I had in mind for myself when I was younger, I guess I wanted someting better for myself, but I choose to do it as a living, and now that I am a window cleaner, I think I have the best job in the world, ok apart from a farrari tester. Yes, I do think as far as class goes we are better that someone working in a shop or restraunt. Because we are self employeed we can make more money, and so we should as we take allot more repsonsability that someone who is employeed.
There are definately allot of pro's to the job, but one of the best is you choose who you work for. If someone is getting on your goat, you can drop them. Giving you allot more self-respect that someone who is employeed.
I'm sure you didn't mean that to come out the way it sounds, did you? "Class" is nothing to do with occupation IMO.
-
i was just thinkin i don't have any customers that think i am less than them, because i run my business and i pick who i clean windows for. and at some point people will ask why i do it. i tell them that i have a roof over my head, the children never go without, and i am finished intime to get them from school when ever i want.
"people only reflect what you think of yourself" ??? that's deep man
-
I'm sure you didn't mean that to come out the way it sounds, did you? "Class" is nothing to do with occupation IMO.
The Registrar General Five Point Scale of Occupation seriously disagrees with you, Mr Gold.
There's also a clue in the phrase Working Class!
Hey, I read The Sunday Times, will listen to Radio 4, eat sushi, and have dinner; not tea (you find most ex squaddies refer to the evening meal as such), but I'm a window cleaner and very much working class. While I don't think occupation is the total difinitive of your class, I think it's a major contribution; combined with attitudes and lifestyle.
-
I know what you mean, and have to be honest window cleaning is not what I had in mind for myself when I was younger, I guess I wanted someting better for myself, but I choose to do it as a living, and now that I am a window cleaner, I think I have the best job in the world, ok apart from a farrari tester. Yes, I do think as far as class goes we are better that someone working in a shop or restraunt. Because we are self employeed we can make more money, and so we should as we take allot more repsonsability that someone who is employeed.
There are definately allot of pro's to the job, but one of the best is you choose who you work for. If someone is getting on your goat, you can drop them. Giving you allot more self-respect that someone who is employeed.
I'm sure you didn't mean that to come out the way it sounds, did you? "Class" is nothing to do with occupation IMO.
I think I used the world class because it was qouted above someone where, but no, dont get me wrong I dont want to offend anyone the works in a shop etc, I actually worked in a shop for 6 years as a team leader, and would take window cleaning anyday over that. But I do remember reading I thread on here that mentioned a guy going into a shop for payment and there being a mixup as to what he did, dont know if the shop assistant though he was starting work there or not, but anyway she said to him, "Ohh I nearly gave you a promotion". Now coming from someone working in a shop, on less money and probably hours as well, there is a pour preseption from the public as to the "class" of a window cleaner, which as one think it is way off the mark.
-
I was referring to "class" as in the "having class" e.g. he/she's got a lot of class.
-
no, sorry I was meaning in the reference of working class, lower/upper class that sort of thing.
-
Yeh theres never been alot of respect in this occupation other than the rare few, Im sure they think you do it for beer & fAgs money..................................................................................SNOBS
-
iv just moved ...well last july... a new propeerty... my neighbours are police... and police... and teachers etc.... the funny thing is they arrive home later than i do :o lol... they must wonder.... one asked if my wife works ... lol
-
iv just moved ...well last july... a new propeerty... my neighbours are police... and police... and teachers etc.... the funny thing is they arrive home later than i do :o lol... they must wonder.... one asked if my wife works ... lol
Hope ones not a taxman ;D ;D
-
class? occupation??
nonsense??
I couldn't care.