Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: DaveG on September 25, 2009, 08:11:23 pm

Title: not this time
Post by: DaveG on September 25, 2009, 08:11:23 pm
I picked up a new job 3 or 4 months ago and explained to her that i provide a regular service etc etc (you know the drill)..

Anyway the last couple of times ive texted her the eve before to arrange leaving the gate open and she replies "not this time" .....no "thanks" or anything ....which really annoys me!

She saw my van in her road today, so she texts me " can you do mine today"... again no "please" grrrrr!!


I replied " not this time"!!

Lets see how she likes it!
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: EZclean on September 25, 2009, 08:20:37 pm
nicely done  ;D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ccmids on September 25, 2009, 08:31:28 pm
 why turn down a job , i dont understand ? ???
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: EZclean on September 25, 2009, 08:39:53 pm
cos she's a messer  :D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ccmids on September 25, 2009, 08:43:53 pm
up the price its worth it then
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: kenaltobelli on September 25, 2009, 08:46:26 pm
you turn down work if its going to cost you time; ie why do a small job £5.00
when for same time you can get£10.00 plus if they mess you about they take your time plus
 custys that will pay will want to be cleaned end up geting missed and give you the eve ho
 costing more ;) if there not going to play ball do them when its iffy  8)
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 25, 2009, 08:47:27 pm
up the price its worth it then

No it's not.
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: DaveG on September 25, 2009, 08:49:19 pm
cos she's a messer  :D

Excactly!!!
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: Sean Dyer on September 25, 2009, 08:49:29 pm
up the price its worth it then

No it's not.

Exactly

A pita is a pita is a pita
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ccmids on September 25, 2009, 08:50:45 pm
whats a pita?
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: DaveG on September 25, 2009, 08:52:48 pm
pain in the ARSE!!!
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ccmids on September 25, 2009, 08:53:57 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: leapstallbuildings on September 25, 2009, 09:33:24 pm
up the price its worth it then

No it's not.

I agree with you Malc.  I have some ex customers who I wouldn't work for if they paid me 10x.  My peace of mind is more important to me.  If you think I'm exagerating, I'm talking about the sort ofd customer who would start playing on my mind when the job is still days away.
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: leapstallbuildings on September 25, 2009, 09:34:49 pm
pain in the ARSE!!!

I prefer naan  (not another awful numpty)   :)
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: DaveG on September 25, 2009, 09:39:02 pm
up the price its worth it then

No it's not.

I agree with you Malc.  I have some ex customers who I wouldn't work for if they paid me 10x.  My peace of mind is more important to me.  If you think I'm exagerating, I'm talking about the sort ofd customer who would start playing on my mind when the job is still days away.

Ive still got a few like that...the sort you really dont look forward to...but im gradually dropping them when better work comes in
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: Dave Turley on September 26, 2009, 07:23:49 am
messers are demoralising and should be dropped immediately imo.

there's always another custy around the corner!
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ftp on September 26, 2009, 07:29:09 am
One of the great things about being full of work. Had one phone this week from an ex custy who was a complete messer. She was absolutely gutted when I told her there was no way I could clean her house  ;D (yes!).
Did I know of anyone else who could do it?
No sorry.
"when will you be taking more work on?"
No idea
Actually took on a new job half an hour later  ;D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: jonnyald on September 26, 2009, 07:52:19 am
trouble is that "messers" are often skilled players. theyr skilled at mind games too and probably not so bothered about the glass just wanting to keep you on the hook . about a year ago id finally had it with a showroom messer, and quit, but then my missus got invited to a fancy bash by this firm , so i said id give it another go .
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: LWC on September 26, 2009, 07:55:33 am
The ones that you give a regular price to instead of a one off clean and then next time your round they say no thanks winds me summit rotten!
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: pingu on September 26, 2009, 08:15:31 am
When were first starting all work is a 'diamond' but when you start getting to that full point...the playing field changes and it's more about customers fitting into your business model..flash wording but it's true...you lay out your stall and then sell from it.

Numerous times I get asked to do tops only ...this I will generally do but if the whole house price is say 20 then the top price would be 15 and fronts only would be 12, I have been told this is not fair...that it may be but for me that is a part of the way my business operates.

Perhaps at times we all get caught between being a window cleaning business and your local friendly window cleaner chappy. It's a hard nut to crack sometimes.

For me 2009 has been a turning point and at this stage in the year +10% of my business has been removed ranging from Dumped us>Dumped them>moves etc...and to be honest I could do with replacing another 10% customers...

The thing is ...our business's have many re-incarnatons withing the first 10 years I would imagine...but the one thing I have found that has proved its salt is terms and conditions...now we know they are not really legally binding and you cannot really make a customer do something they do not want to...but t&c's or customers charter can help us put over our business 'stall'.

I would recommend anyone starting out to seriously think about t&c's as a part of your customer info pack.

I have had 2 not this times in 3 years...reason...they get billed the full amount if I turn up and they give this reason...

Cheers
Dave.

Title: Re: not this time
Post by: Window Washers on September 26, 2009, 07:10:52 pm
you have to train some people, there are other times it just is not worth it, they get a couple of chances, then price increase, then canceled
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: weetot on September 27, 2009, 10:41:18 am
Messer and a pita (I like it) ;D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: ftp on September 28, 2009, 08:06:26 pm
Today I had "not today - we are doing the gardening!"
"do it wednesday"  ::)
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: bobplum on September 28, 2009, 08:16:55 pm
in a way im glad its happening to others,i keep thinking its me
had a customer text "little johnny poorly in bed",maybe its me but why would that stop someone getting the windows cleaned? ami really nasty >:(
bob
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: Steve CM on September 28, 2009, 08:31:34 pm
i had a woman quibbling with me about this and that. You know the ones that moan about moaning. she owed me £50.00 and after a few phone calls i couldn't be bothered anymore so i said to her. "You keep the money as you sound like you need it more than me"

She was thrown back by that and started to stutter. I had a smug glow! how could i afford to do that....I'm just the window cleaner ::) ;)
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: dave.e on September 28, 2009, 08:32:51 pm
 i have had the same
                        
                                1/ can i leave it this time my dog is poorly
                                2/ i have the painters coming in tomorrow
                                3/ can we leave it till next week
    the way its going i mite take the week off and start again next week and when things get better and I start to price up again and they come out with i can not get a regular window cleaner and i will say A REGULAR WINDOW CLEANER COMES FROM A REGULAR CUSTOMER
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: weetot on September 28, 2009, 08:56:47 pm
Don't clean mine to-day as i'm getting my fingernails painted.................... :-\ ;D
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: GWCS on September 28, 2009, 10:03:27 pm
i have had the same
                        
                                1/ can i leave it this time my dog is poorly
                                2/ i have the painters coming in tomorrow
                                3/ can we leave it till next week
    the way its going i mite take the week off and start again next week and when things get better and I start to price up again and they come out with i can not get a regular window cleaner and i will say A REGULAR WINDOW CLEANER COMES FROM A REGULAR CUSTOMER

nice like that..

think i'll use that  ;)
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: dai on September 28, 2009, 10:47:15 pm
The not this timers are a pain, I had one say not this time.I'm going away for the weekend.
The worst for me are the ones that won't answer the door when I know they are in.
I really wonder about some relationships, some won't answer because they want you to go back when their partner is there so they can pay.
If they had the decency to come to the door and tell me they had no money, but to leave me waiting there for 3 or 4 mins is not funny. It adds insult to the injury.
Have you got any customers that live behind closed blinds? They are the worst, they hide behind them to avoid answering the door.
In some cases parking across their drive is the only way.They cringe with embarrassment when they have to ask you to move the van. Of course you say I'm so sorry I thought you were out. £10 please.
Title: Re: not this time
Post by: leapstallbuildings on September 29, 2009, 06:57:42 am
One of the first ones I ever dumped used to phone me up about 8 AM on the day the job was due in order to get me to come around that day.  After this happened twice, I asked her not to do it as there was sometimes a bit of variation in my schedule.  Later, she sent me away once for some reason I can't recall.  A few visits later she sent me away as her hairdresser was due round.  In between times she had a moan about the quality of my work on one window (trad in those days).  It turned out to be on the inside.
Turning me away due to hairdresser proved to be the point of no return.  The neighbour told me later that she was really offended that I didn't come back and would "never have me clean her windows again".