Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on August 10, 2009, 01:05:11 pm
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im 100 per cent TRAD and can do virtually any windows including above connys.im v.good with all sizes of extension poles and swivel squeegys,ladders etc.been at it 15 yrs. ;) and im doing well but want to try WFP,im keeping an open mind.ive picked up some work lately of a few WFPolers.mainly cos of water all over the place,spotting,etc and they prefer me with ladders or TRAD pole and dry windows ;Dbut i can imagine cleaner frames and extras being easier and faster to clean?im sure if i had WFP i would pick up more work and fit more in on big houses and leaded/georgian anyway and keep my compact work{2 wks in every month}TRAD?any thoughts?be honest 8)
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i'm 100 percent traditional and am going to be buying a wfp setup in the next couple of months, I'm always picking up work from wfp cleaners who do a poor job, i also pick up work from other trad cleaners for exactly the same reason,
i have a few customers who have said they dont like wfp for stupid reasons, i.e they dont like the idea but i believe if you do a good job of cleaning the windows then everything should be ok.
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i'm 100 percent traditional and am going to be buying a wfp setup in the next couple of months, I'm always picking up work from wfp cleaners who do a poor job, i also pick up work from other trad cleaners for exactly the same reason,
i have a few customers who have said they dont like wfp for stupid reasons, i.e they dont like the idea but i believe if you do a good job of cleaning the windows then everything should be ok.
I vote this "Post of the month"!
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i am 99.9% wfp you can clean leaded windys alot faster its far easier than trad in summer and winter no drying on you can work when it's been snowing or theirs been a heavy frost no slippy paving or decking to worry about increased workload and alot SAFER , I used to have someone working with me before i went wfp don't need anyone now i'm very happy working on my own no more hassel and i feel i spend a bit more time talking to custys instead of feeling rushed all the time as i did when trad
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i dont have to worry about slippy decking etc either.just use the TRAD pole.no freezing hoses etc.but overall i bet WFP is faster
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its far better ,No disrepesct to trad cleaners but how can you garuntee the windys are clean . cleaned shop front which was done trad in past top of windys was dirty and laden with soap, talking about using trad on pole by the way
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i agree that wfp is quicker, but i have gained a lot of customer using trad as they wasnt happy with the wfp system the previous cleaner was using,
the cost of wfp is also a issue, there is a wondow cleaner near me that has spent 16000 this year just on his van, wfp system, and training, and only does it part time as he does maintence as well, he claims that he charges a min of ten pound a house (6 windows and 2 doors),
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i always go over the top edge of window with a scrim/microfibre in a fixi clamp on pole.never had any problems.sounds like prev WC missed the top 3inches :o ;D
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i use a purefreedom trolley and use my car no probs spent around £1,500 to date after 18 months buying better pole and brush heads and replacment parts, Was really nervous at first about spending so much money , But its the best thing i ever did whether trad or wfp do bad job you will lose custys
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6 windows and 2 doors £10 were is he based , not a chance of getting that were i live in county durham
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I think it depends on your round Dazmond. I have a pure freedom trolley but because of the nature of the type of houses that i do i find im quicker trad using a wagtail. I only get the trolley out for 3 storey, leaded windys etc. Trolleys are an inexpensive way to get into it (backpacks even cheaper) so you have nothing to lose mate. I have had a couple of custys that insist on trad having had a wfp wc before me, so some people like it and some dont basically.
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i always go over the top edge of window with a scrim/microfibre in a fixi clamp on pole.never had any problems.sounds like prev WC missed the top 3inches :o ;D
do thay not make a full pole system with attached microfibre/scrim shaped like ^ so you dont scratch window with clamp on pole
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6 windows and 2 doors £10 were is he based , not a chance of getting that were i live in county durham
Pricing seems to be very much based on the area. I'm in Kent and I charge £10 minumum and quote on around 90p per window or door and that is generally accepted.
My daughter lives in North Lincolnshire and pay £5 for her windows to be done on a 3 bed house. The only comment I would make is that the standard of clean isn't nearly as good as I give my customers.
Even the supermarket shopping is a lot cheaper in that area so it looks like there is regional pricing for food etc too - same goes for the beer. As the cost of living is cheaper in the north, then charging less for window cleaning probably leaves you on the same level of income as charging more down south.
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im 100 per cent TRAD and can do virtually any windows including above connys.im v.good with all sizes of extension poles and swivel squeegys,ladders etc.been at it 15 yrs. ;) and im doing well but want to try WFP,im keeping an open mind.ive picked up some work lately of a few WFPolers.mainly cos of water all over the place,spotting,etc and they prefer me with ladders or TRAD pole and dry windows ;Dbut i can imagine cleaner frames and extras being easier and faster to clean?im sure if i had WFP i would pick up more work and fit more in on big houses and leaded/georgian anyway and keep my compact work{2 wks in every month}TRAD?any thoughts?be honest 8)
Once you get used to it, you will earn more money with WFP. The turnover will be higher (or do the same work in less time). The outgoings will be higher too. However, the gap between turnover and outgoings is much bigger than it used to be.
It's all very well customers saying they prefer you on ladders. Maybe ask them again when they are about to scrape you up off their patio?
I haven't lost any work on quality issues for ages - until today. I was thinking of cancelling anyway because she is extremely fussy and used to complain even when I cleaned for her the trad way. It seems odd that she has tolerated WFP for over 3 years without a murmur and suddenly she wants her mother's (trad) W/C to do them. The daft bit is that he probably won't be able to get to them all because that conservatory is BIIIIIIIIIIIIG.
I know what you mean about the swivloc applicators and squeegees. I used them a lot when working trad. It amazes me that most trad W/Cs don't invest in such basic tools - especially the so called zero degree squeegee. In fact, I started using the swivel applicator as standard because I found it saved on wrist ache if the applicator did the swivelling rather than my wrist.
The truth is that I earn more, with the right investment am able to do jobs that I couldn't do at one time, and there is less chance of W/Cing putting me in my box. Although I have lost an occasional job because a customer would rather someone risk their neck, the work I've gained is far, far greater.
I won't say that WFP is a magic wand but on most jobs, most of the time, it's as good as trad - if the operator uses it correctly. Sometimes, it doesn't work so well. I had a job recently where there was dark coated glass in a reception area. I ended up needing to finish the outside trad because it just wasn't taking to WFP. Presumably some chemical in the coating was reacting with the pure water.
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im 100 per cent TRAD and can do virtually any windows including above connys.im v.good with all sizes of extension poles and swivel squeegys,ladders etc.been at it 15 yrs. ;) and im doing well but want to try WFP,im keeping an open mind.ive picked up some work lately of a few WFPolers.mainly cos of water all over the place,spotting,etc and they prefer me with ladders or TRAD pole and dry windows ;Dbut i can imagine cleaner frames and extras being easier and faster to clean?im sure if i had WFP i would pick up more work and fit more in on big houses and leaded/georgian anyway and keep my compact work{2 wks in every month}TRAD?any thoughts?be honest 8)
i never know about wfp antill i came on here i thought it was for office blocks and high rises only but i can see how its worth its weight in gold if you,ve got even a couple of tricky windows on your round say above sloping roofs portable units can be had for about £500 how much would it cost you if you get hurt ? had a fall and cant earn a crust? how long before the h&s make it law and ban ladders were wfp can be used we may miss the [good old days ] of traditional windowcleaners
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I picked up work today in another town because their Trad cleaner has fallen off his ladders. Lucky bloke survived with a few broken bones - he can't remember anything about it, the owners were out but someone over the road spotted him. :-\
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if i was not so considerate, i could take loads of work from trad, unless they get the sack
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you need to cover both wfp and trad to offer a complete service to your custys.
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tony your spot on mate ;D
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i do insides only, i wfp everything else
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I picked up work today in another town because their Trad cleaner has fallen off his ladders. Lucky bloke survived with a few broken bones - he can't remember anything about it, the owners were out but someone over the road spotted him. :-\
if he has quit windowing thats okay, but if he hasnt you know he hasnt you should be ashamed if u take his work
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I picked up work today in another town because their Trad cleaner has fallen off his ladders. Lucky bloke survived with a few broken bones - he can't remember anything about it, the owners were out but someone over the road spotted him. :-\
if he has quit windowing thats okay, but if he hasnt you know he hasnt you should be ashamed if u take his work
i,ll second that, wc,s look out for each other we don,t take advantage
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;D he's welcome to it if he comes back. It's horrible work in a horrible town.
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hummm... what you gonna tell your customers when you go wfp?
forget the sales talk - you can earn more money, its quicker blah blah blah - anyway I assume your mostly domestic therefore the biggest reason that wfp is better than using ladders is simply because you will never fall off a wfp...but as with every thing it comes at a cost - and in this case its a financial cost.
cheers
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so steve allan you only use wfp on 3 storeys and leaded windows how come you have have spent hudreds of pounds on wfp and you dont use it that much can't work that out at all , if custys don't like wfp i talk to them and discuss what issues they have if any and if the end they don't want wfp we part company only lost a few custys said they don't like windys been left wet very strange
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i have been wfp now for 3 years......i now am reverting back to trad for 20% of my runs....reason being: the job was much better, safer, cleaner and quicker HOWEVER the custies in this area are not happy no matter what you do to prove that wfp is better...and because most are either related to each other or are mates etc the word about the window cleaner who leaves the windows wet has spread like wild fire.....and there are no less than 15 other window cleaners working in the area..all trad guys.....i was tempted to get rid of the work, however the run is worth a tidy sum so the only option i have is to revert back to trad and ditch the ones that cannot be done on ladders safely......i have done it trad before and had no probs with safety and dont see any reason why i cant do it again, plus i need to lose my pot belly...a bit of exercise is needed by me. 8)
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thanks for everyones replies.im off to work now.last day for 2 wks ;Dnew york tomoro.ill come back refreshed for the winter ::)i never risk dodgy windows with ladders anymore.TRAD poles all the way{WFP in the future.best wishes to everyone
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so steve allan you only use wfp on 3 storeys and leaded windows how come you have have spent hudreds of pounds on wfp and you dont use it that much can't work that out at all , if custys don't like wfp i talk to them and discuss what issues they have if any and if the end they don't want wfp we part company only lost a few custys said they don't like windys been left wet very strange
I went straight into wc with wfp but have since found my round at the moment is quicker for me using my wagtail. I use the wagtail at height as well with my pole after making the mods that wagga off another forum recommended so only use a ladder when i have to. It works for me anyway, having said that i'm not moth balling the wfp as have just gained some shopwork in my local town centre that will require wfp.
Scrimman has also made some valid points, the kind of resistance to wfp i was getting.