Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian Mason on February 11, 2010, 08:09:23 pm
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Hi All,
I read a reply earlier from Tosh, where he mentioned using SAE for collecting payment. Do any of you do this, & if so, do you mean Self Addressed Envelope, or Stamped Addressed Envelope?
I have got me envelopes & Avery labels at the ready, do I add stamps or not?
Many thanks.
Ian.
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I dont use stamps custys never moaned about it
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I'm a cheapskate - I just put a payment slip with my address through - no envelope, no nuffink!
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payment faster if sae r stamped also more professional
stamps r cheaper than yr time n fuel
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adressed envelope , no stamp . and some collecting.
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I use 2nd class stamp's on my envelopes, as Lammy says, cheaper than fuel and time!
Tony
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just ask them to jot there name and address down on bk of the cheque as iv sumtimes wondered who the cheque was from and its because there not married and using the other ones chequebook!! saves embarrassment of asking for ya money n they have already paid!!
richy
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I use s/a/e on most jobs. I never used to have stamps for myself so I assume the custy is the same and it would delay getting the cheque.
The thing is you can claim it back on tax so not reaaly a problem. I buy 100 stamps at a time for about £30 2nd class
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Hi again,
Many thanks, stamped addressed envelopes it is then.
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Yeah works for me, but i only give them to custs paying over £15 the rest get no stamps
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Been using stamps on mine, works great, also write on inside to edge customers address, saves any mix ups!
Mr B
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no
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Addressed envelope, never a stamp.
In 7 years only one guy has ever complained and he was a bit, well odd i think is the word.
Only had to collect from one or two people locally who tried it on
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Address envelope only. If you bung a stamp on and people don't send you a cheque its an utter waste of money. And i collect once a month as well. Works well for me.
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Address envelope only. If you bung a stamp on and people don't send you a cheque its an utter waste of money. And i collect once a month as well. Works well for me.
There is a machine you can get that only charges for returned envelopes. does anyone use one think they are called franking machines?
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Franking machines cost a small fortune to run. I looked into getting one, but it wasn't worth the expense.
You can buy envelopes that are specially marked and the post office charge you postage on any that are delivered. I don't know any more than that.
As for stamps, I use them on my envelopes. Make it as easy for customer to pay as possible. I know that others refuse to do this, but it generally works for me. And most of my round is 15 - 20 mile round trip, so fuel to go collect would cost me a lot more.
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Ian....
Franking machines just print the stamp on an envelope. It saves on licking / sticking stamps. You still pay per frank.
The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
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The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
I bet she did. ;D
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I leave stamped addressed envelopes with any customers that are more than 5 miles away
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Franking machines cost a small fortune to run. I looked into getting one, but it wasn't worth the expense.
You can buy envelopes that are specially marked and the post office charge you postage on any that are delivered. I don't know any more than that.
As for stamps, I use them on my envelopes. Make it as easy for customer to pay as possible. I know that others refuse to do this, but it generally works for me. And most of my round is 15 - 20 mile round trip, so fuel to go collect would cost me a lot more.
ANYONE know any more about this ?
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Why are you paying for the stamps i know it doesnt cost much but if you can get them to pay for stamps its all good.
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Why are you paying for the stamps i know it doesnt cost much but if you can get them to pay for stamps its all good.
Looks more professional, get paid quicker(usually)....
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Ian....
Franking machines just print the stamp on an envelope. It saves on licking / sticking stamps. You still pay per frank.
The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
You have to pay for the franking machine, which I was quoted £400 ann then the ink cartridges cost the same as stamps.
Matt
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Ian....
Franking machines just print the stamp on an envelope. It saves on licking / sticking stamps. You still pay per frank.
The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
You dont lick stamps anymore!!
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Ian....
Franking machines just print the stamp on an envelope. It saves on licking / sticking stamps. You still pay per frank.
The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
You have to pay for the franking machine, which I was quoted £400 ann then the ink cartridges cost the same as stamps.
Matt
I meant and, I wasn't making an anne frank jibe ;D
Matt
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I only use stamped addressed envelopes (2nd class) if I miss a customer for the second time or those who are a fair distance away. I always receive payment within a couple of days.
I use envelopes with my address neatly printed on complete with logo. The bill is put in the envelope but I don't seal the envelope so it's ready for the customer to use. This only requires one envelope then.
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We use Freepost Plus, that way you really are only paying for what is posted back to you!
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How much does the freepost cost per envelope and is there a min spend ?
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How much does the freepost cost per envelope and is there a min spend ?
Hi WW
Try this -
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400041&mediaId=22100436
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Ian....
Franking machines just print the stamp on an envelope. It saves on licking / sticking stamps. You still pay per frank.
The receptionists used to use one when I worked at the hospital. Was good fun to use
As Matt said, the machine doesn't come free. You used to have to buy a licence too... ::)
Freepost plus is the thing I am thinking of, but again the cost is quite high for me. I will carry on sticking those 2nd class stamps on printed envelopes. It's a hard life... ;D
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my m8 uses the frankin matchine...... says it loads cheeper than stamps,
as the post office never counts all the 1's that get posted bk 2him.
so he is all ways quids in ::)
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You affluent lot, loads of my customers don't even have a cheque book.
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my m8 uses the frankin matchine...... says it loads cheeper than stamps,
as the post office never counts all the 1's that get posted bk 2him.
so he is all ways quids in ::)
If it works for him, then that's all that matters. :)
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i use blank Envelope s they know were to send it .
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i use freepost address from royal mail then only pay 22p for returned envelopes
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Why are you paying for the stamps i know it doesnt cost much but if you can get them to pay for stamps its all good.
Because it looks unprofessional, I add on 50p-£1 when I quote on jobs just to cover the cost of a stamp or the cost of receiving money to my paypal account.
so when I leave a SAE it doesnt cost me anything.
Matt
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Hi all, I always put custys house no. add and date on inside of envelope flap,save a lot bother later on when you receive a cheque a week later and dom't know who it's from......
I had one (EX)custy who sbutracted the price of the stamp from her £5 job once.......note the EX!....don't you just love 'em??!! ::)
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About five years ago, I didn't have stamps on me, so I put the envelope through the door without a stamp on to post to me.
The customer was very good, sent me the cheque straight away, but with no stamp on the envelope. So I had to collect it from the post office and pay a charge for it!
>:( ;D
Yes, that has happened to me a couple of times. Cheeky buggers. I always pass the cost of it onto there next clean as i don't see why i should be out of pocket. ;D
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Like I said before, take this into consideration when you price jobs up.
add 50p or £1
Matt
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2nd class SAE all the way
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i dont bother wiv SAE, just put my ticket through the door, with price n
all my details on it. & a little note on the bottom sayin....
PAYMENT WITH IN 7/10 DAYS. works well 4 me ;D
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I dont use stamps custys never moaned about it
I agree. Quite a few prefer to pay online though.
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Leave a 2nd class stamped envelope, always have and it works a treat, most of my customers are a long way away and to collect would be a nightmare.
Of course I do have a few who always forget, so mark them on George and collect next time I am working in the area, on the whole its a brilliant way of getting paid for me.
A few customers are now offering to pay online and this is even better, switch on the computer and there is a payment.
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Hi again,
Many thanks for ALL the replies.
I`ve decided to use stamped addressed envelopes, & write the customers address & date of clean inside the envelope as suggested. :)
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just dont use second clas stamps (not that you need toprovide any stamps or envelopes) otherwise your money will take ages to get to you!
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I had a look round our local sorting depot once and was told that 2nd class is generally treated exactly the same as 1st class.
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I read somewhere that the banks are looking to do away with cheques at some point in the future so I imagine the only option will be on-line crediting???? :-\
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Not until 2018 Simon. I guess it will be online only from then on.
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2018? Hopefully I'll be retired by then ;D
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Happy retirement! ;D
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just dont use second clas stamps (not that you need toprovide any stamps or envelopes) otherwise your money will take ages to get to you!
I'm not sure that's right. I'm pretty sure that RM treat 2nd class just the same as first class usually, since its more work for them to separate them out. But even if that wasn't true, 2nd class is still quick.
Well I hope they do! Not usually the case for me though.
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I had a look round our local sorting depot once and was told that 2nd class is generally treated exactly the same as 1st class.
Yes it used to be like that, but most sorting offices have electronic sorters now. The first sort of the afternoon's mail is divided into 1st and 2nd class. The 1st class is handled for 'shipment' that evening and the second class is sorted the following day and will be included with the 1st class of the mail that comes in that day. You very really get a second class letter delivered the following day like used to happen in days gone by.
The post office also needs people to see a justification in paying extra for 1st class mail as there is quite a price difference between them now.
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hopeless.I can't believe how poor the advice and working practice is.I'm convinced the people who know whats what have stopped posting.