Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: thewindowcleaner1 on July 27, 2005, 06:25:08 am
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Here's a copy of an e-mail I recieved 27/7/05 Ive told the sender to put BIG red crosses on the customers doors and I'll avoid them houses,I also sent a list of the area's that I work so that he would know were to drop his leaflets
if any one would like to try and explain the free market place to the sender please feel free to do so, I tried for about an hour, can't grasp the concept of business growth.
Benj2427@aol.com
My husband has bean window cleaning in the Cannock area for 20 years and has built a round of 800+ custumers, but he is getting fed up of you sticking flyers through there doors in many areas.
Could you please respect him and no doubt other window cleaners around Cannock and concentrate on your own customers not theres otherewise he will start doing the same on your round.
Many thanks
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Yes.
We should mail him asking him if he minded if we canvassed for more work in the Cannock area, as we're branching out!
Oh, and we're a team of 5 :)
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He's built a round of 800+ customers!!!
That's approx 40 customers a day, 5 days a week, all year!!
Tell him take a holiday. It's about time he let someone else have a share.
sound's like he has a greedy attitude..It's not as if you are deliberately poaching on his enormous empire.
Pj
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I think that's rather sweet to be honest. A concerned wife who's trying to look out for her husband, who might be getting stressed about losing some work.
I wonder if he knew she sent the email, probably not I would think. I bet he does his nut when he finds out.
-Philip
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ive had other cleaners put leaflets through my customers doors......so what they either bin them or tell them no? i wonder if estate agents email each other telling them its not fair that a million other agents have set up right next door.
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Mail him and tell him you are not trying to take work off him, but you want everyone to know they have a choice, and of course you are not to know who his customers are, any more than you are likely to know which ones he doesn't have!
If he is any good he won't lose more than a handful to you anyway.
Build up your business, but whatever you do, DON'T UNDERPRICE!!
Don't bother trying to undercut the opposition, thats a lose lose situation, no one wins.
Don't beat them on price, beat them on the service you offer instead.
Regards,
Ian
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did u manage to pick up any customers in this guys area
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what is it with this "my area" sfuff, it does not exist, for whatever reasons you will rarely do every house in a given area. It is an area that you have customers that is all, nobody starting out should not leaflet a area just because another window cleaner does some of the houses, that is just rediculous.Having leafletted a street last week of 200 house picked up 5 customers, there are at least 5 diferent cleaners doing this area and i would bet stll 100 house do not have a cleaner for whatever reason (lose customers, so what if you are any good you will get more anyway) good luck to all "good" new starters, as for the cowboys "hang them out to dry"
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Why don't you invite him onto the forum - or suggest that he looks at it to get a feel of what is happening in the wider world,
which, you ought to point out, is round, not flat :)
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I find the best way to get work is by word of mouth or advertise in the local paper. Or nock on the door then they will soon tell you if they have a window cleaner. :o Most of my work came from nocking its simply the best way. face to face :P
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"If a man write a better book, preach a better sermon, or clean a window better than his neighbour, tho' he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door"
With apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882
Baldeagle - in a part of Staffordshire that is not Cannock
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I didn't just send him the following e-mail (or did I?):
WINDOW CLEANING IN THE CANNOCK AREA - DO YOU REQUIRE A WINDOW CLEANER?
Dear Sir or Madam,
We are a large window cleaning company that carries out discount pricing window cleaning on a 4 or 8 weekly service and we are rapidly expanding into the Cannock area.
We offer highly professional service and payment can be made by cash, cheque, pay pal, nochex or standing order.
We promise to slash your current window cleaning bill by upto 50%.
You can visit our website by clicking the link:
www.windupwindowcleaning.co.uk
We hope to see you there.
Regards
Windows Chepstow
Have I done anything illegal? I love a good wind up!
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Update on e-mail warning....
My reply to the original e-mail was as follows.
Please feel free to drop as many leaflets as you like, Myt area,s are Cannock, Great wyrley, Huntington,Heath Hayes,Rawnsley,plus many more will let you have complete list later, as a developing businee operating in a free market-place I have NO intention of stopping leaflet dropping, door knocking and any other way I think of of getting aditional business,and for your information I have been window cleaning in the cannock area since 1991 and it is my intention over the next couple of years to have at least 6 vans operating in this area alone....
Ps . watch out for press adds comming soon, Yellow pages(already in it), and next year car park marketing,
as regards not leafleting your customers if you could arrange to have a large RED cross on thier doors I will avoid those premises..
to which I recieved the reply..
well my husband has never had any need to advertise & push leaflets through doors.
He works 6 days a week, not spending half his time poaching others
we've had several other exchages in which I gave the link to this site, one of the better replys I got was that I must be the profeshional window cleaners Nightmare , he to which I replied call me Freddy then,
on the whole its getting a little silly, the only thing that bugs me is that I can't find out who it is and I hate faceless bullys.
Alan
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Have I done anything illegal? I love a good wind up!
I love it...
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Hi Alan,
You may want to tell this fella to get a life and his wife needs a reality check, she obviously wears the trousers in that house.
Try inviting him out for a one to one meeting, if he has been in the business as long as he says and he has such a vast customer base, what is his problem? Perhaps he is scarred of a professional coming in and providing a better service.
At the end of the day mate, keep doing what you are doing and don’t get stressed over it.
Good Luck
Andrew
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The best thread for weeks!!!!!!
Next episode please!!!!!
Baldeagle
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More replys I'll let you work out what I sent,
CANVASSER. thats how desperate you are. All my husbands work comes from recomendations
no your fliers are littering the streets around the cannock area. We have our bins emptied every 2 weeks now, your rubbish could fill our bin in 1 week
hey be careful, aint you learnt your lesson with all your kids.
IVE BEEN TOLD A LOT ABOUT YOU
This last one concerns me (not)
It is now my goal to find out who he is and go after his trade, not by undercutting but by offering extra's like cleaning frames, checking gutters,and anything else I can think of...
I also will e-mail him with daily updates of area's being canvassed (so that he can red cross the doors) and new accounts gained (hopefully some of his). I might even post his e-mail on my web site and explain that I don't operate restrictive practices and will help any one that wants help, there's always more windows than window cleaners...
thank for the support so far its what makes this forum so good you feel that you are part of something bigger than the area you live and work in.
Alan
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Next episode please!!!!!
Baldeagle
Caution aparently he also works in stafford and Lichfied,
At the end of the day mate, keep doing what you are doing and don’t get stressed over it.
Good Luck
Andrew
Stressed... its the best bit of fun I've had in a long time..
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As quite a few people on this forum know, I'm only a part time W/Cleaner, [I'm "sort of" retired].
I don't need the income like the younger sprogs, so........if it gets to an advanced stage, may I extend an offer?
I'm no good at canvassing, [not a honest face!], but I've a good pair of legs and I'm prepared to give you a day, free of charge, sticking fliers through for you if you want, just to show him!!
I'm only up the road in Stone, and I quite fancy a day out around your part of Staffs.
Good exercise, and anyway, I believe in a good bit of "boggeration factor" now and again.
Baldeagle.
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Update on e-mail warning....
My reply to the original e-mail was as follows.
Please feel free to drop as many leaflets as you like, Myt area,s are Cannock, Great wyrley, Huntington,Heath Hayes,Rawnsley,plus many more will let you have complete list later, as a developing businee operating in a free market-place I have NO intention of stopping leaflet dropping, door knocking and any other way I think of of getting aditional business,and for your information I have been window cleaning in the cannock area since 1991 and it is my intention over the next couple of years to have at least 6 vans operating in this area alone....
Ps . watch out for press adds comming soon, Yellow pages(already in it), and next year car park marketing,
as regards not leafleting your customers if you could arrange to have a large RED cross on thier doors I will avoid those premises..
to which I recieved the reply..
well my husband has never had any need to advertise & push leaflets through doors.
He works 6 days a week, not spending half his time poaching others
we've had several other exchages in which I gave the link to this site, one of the better replys I got was that I must be the profeshional window cleaners Nightmare , he to which I replied call me Freddy then,
on the whole its getting a little silly, the only thing that bugs me is that I can't find out who it is and I hate faceless bullys.
Alan
O alright then. When she gets in I'll get the wife to write to you and apologise. She's just gone out to buy some red crayons to make those crosses on the doors. It has to be crayons because she's not allowed any sharp objects.
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I'm no good at canvassing, [not a honest face!], but I've a good pair of legs and I'm prepared to give you a day, free of charge, sticking fliers through for you if you want, just to show him!!
Thank's for the offer Bald eagle but the only lesson that I've learn't by having all those kids (7) is that when I need to mobilise I can put 15 plus on the streets and they are at that sweet age when they love the chance of a bit of agro.
Used to spend a lot of time around Stone my favourite memory concerns the pub "The Darlaston" it had a name change to "Yesterdays" and some bright spark had a big 6 foot x 6 foot sign put up that read
Yesterdays
food avaliable
happy days
alan
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Still there!
It's back as "The Darlaston" again now.
Baldeagle
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Words of wisdom picked up over the years by yours truly, which I pass om FWIW:-
Don't waste energy being side-tracked by someone who is scared of losing out to you. Simply do what you are doing to gain new business and ignore any messages.
Don't let an irritating or unpleasant person live rent free in your mind.
And from the Bible:- ROMANS 12 v 18
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Words of wisdom picked up over the years by yours truly, which I pass om FWIW:-
Don't waste energy being side-tracked by someone who is scared of losing out to you. Simply do what you are doing to gain new business and ignore any messages.
Don't let an irritating or unpleasant person live rent free in your mind.
And from the Bible:- ROMANS 12 v 18
Malc,
What's 'FWIW'?
And is the Romans 12 v 18 a football match score? Who were they playing against?
I agree with everything else that I understand in your post!
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TOSH
FWIW = For What It's Worth
ROMANS 12 v 18
Bible - Book of Romans (Apostle Paul's letter to the Christian congregation in Rome)
Chapter 12 verse 18
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Bible - Book of Romans (Apostle Paul's letter to the Christian congregation in Rome)
Chapter 12 verse 18
Malc,
I don't own a Bible, so haven't a clue what your reference refers to. I've been given a couple of Bibles over the years, but Christ only knows where they are!
I'm a 'positive' aethiest which means I've had a think about 'God and stuff' and came up with 'I don't believe in it', rather than, 'too lazy to believe in it'.
I'm not knocking your views mate. There's billions of people far brighter than myself that hold strong relious values. I'm just not one of 'em. We're all entitled to our own opinions.
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all is fair in love and war go put you flyers where ever you want,we do! ;D
only the best survives,
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all is fair in love and war go put you flyers where ever you want,we do! ;D
only the best survives,
Terry,
why do you flyer? Without a doubt you're already well established. What sort of work is it you're after?
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Windows Chepstow and Graham Gould - Please do not take my comments as "Bible bashing" - I simply find words of wisdom from many sources and if they strike a chord and seem relevant to helping an individual's predicament I repeat them.
Romans 12 v 18 in the King James version says:-
"If it be possible, so much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
To my way of thinking this doesn't mean you lie down, get walked upon and die. But is it wise to unnecessarily exacerbate the situation by adding fuel to the fire by entering into inflammatory dialogue with an upset wife who is misguidedly leaping to her husband's defence?
Why not just quietly go about your business and build your window cleaning round as you wish without sending text messages that will undoubtedly cause anguish.
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Thanks, Malc.
I did send the e-mail, but the address was incorrect, so no anguish was caused.
Good advice though. I did include a clue in my e-mail (which wasn't received) giving my web address as windupwindowcleaning.
But the Bible is a god-awful thing to read. It can be interpreted in so many different ways. Someone said (the Bear will know - he's hot on quotes) that the Bible was written by the Devil for his own ends.
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But the Bible is a god-awful thing to read. It can be interpreted in so many different ways. Someone said (the Bear will know - he's hot on quotes) that the Bible was written by the Devil for his own ends.
Ouch. MalcG will be pleased. :o
You might have to "mod" yourself at this rate! :D
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Blimey - if I'd quoted Shakespeare would you lot accuse me of Shakespeare bashing?
And if you told me that all Shakespeare's stuff was written by Francis Bacon do you expect me to get upset?
What is it with you guys and me mentioning a perfectly sensible quotation that happens to come from the Bible? It could have just as easily come from the Qur'an (Koran) or something from the pen of Keith Waterhouse. In my experience that particular verse is a reflection of wisdom - judge it by it's content, not it's source.
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Hey Malc...
Nevermind those comments. Some people become very sensitive to any biblical reference. Some might feel that you are telling them that they should be better people than they are.
Everyone here makes suggestions, gives opinions, and sometimes dogmatically insists on their views. One reference to the bible shouldn't offend anyone.
Regards,
Marc
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Hey Alan...
Dealing with someone like that must be unnerving! Look over your shoulder mate. She might be comin after you next time you're in the neighborhood!
Marc
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beat him on quality never on price . Get yourself clients not customers, customers buy price not quality .clients buy quality of work and service .anyway has he never heard of competition ask asda or tescos competition is good (win -win)
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MalcG;
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o :o :o :o ;)
Love it!!!
Texas Girl
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SIMONWONDER : BRILLIANTLLY PUT.
GAZA
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Tosh,
I think this is the quote you mean;
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1 scene 3
1, If the Devil can do this, he must exist, scripture speaks of him, therefore the bible is inspired, God must exist!
2, If you are going to quote Shakespear for your own purpose, please quote correctly.
3, Calm down dear, its only a quote ;)
Malc G,
Dont worry.......
.............He's a Geordie! ;D
1 Pet 2:20
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Hey Bear!
I like Peter. He often seemed to act first and think afterwards! Heart of gold tho' I reckon! Wouldn't mind having him in my corner! And by the time he wrote 1 Peter 2:20 he was a lot older and wiser.
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Romans 12 v 18 in the King James version says:-
"If it be possible, so much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
To my way of thinking this doesn't mean you lie down, get walked upon and die. But is it wise to unnecessarily exacerbate the situation by adding fuel to the fire by entering into inflammatory dialogue with an upset wife who is misguidedly leaping to her husband's defence?
Why not just quietly go about your business and build your window cleaning round as you wish without sending text messages that will undoubtedly cause anguish.
Malc, good quote and excellent summation.
As much as I agree that 'Thewindowcleaner1' has every right to tout for business wherever he likes, his email's to his competitor have been a tad 'bullish' from the start :-\
Before I get 'bullish' I always go for concillitory first, do my best to pour oil on trobled waters, then if it still goes tits up I can always chuck a match on it and watch him burn in HELL ;D
Mind how you go,
Ian ;)
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Romans 12 v 18 in the King James version says:-
"If it be possible, so much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
To my way of thinking this doesn't mean you lie down, get walked upon and die. But is it wise to unnecessarily exacerbate the situation by adding fuel to the fire by entering into inflammatory dialogue with an upset wife who is misguidedly leaping to her husband's defence?
Why not just quietly go about your business and build your window cleaning round as you wish without sending text messages that will undoubtedly cause anguish.
Malc, good quote and excellent summation.
As much as I agree that 'Thewindowcleaner1' has every right to tout for business wherever he likes, his email's to his competitor have been a tad 'bullish' from the start :-\
Before I get 'bullish' I always go for concillitory first, do my best to pour oil on trobled waters, then if it still goes tits up I can always chuck a match on it and watch him burn in HELL ;D
Mind how you go,
Ian ;)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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As much as I agree that 'Thewindowcleaner1' has every right to tout for business wherever he likes, his email's to his competitor have been a tad 'bullish' from the start
The one thing that I did not mention at the start of this thread was that several weeks before the e-mail I recieved a phone call from a windowcleaner (no name given)who used all the same wording in his conversation, I tried to explain that I did not put leaflets through doors with the intention of taking another persons trade but it's impossible to put leaflets through selected doors, he had a very bullshy atitude throughout the conversation and in the end I hung up on him.(stangley enough he had also been cleaning windows for 20 years and had also built his round by recomendation.
The for a couple of morning after this I would recieve a phone call at 6am and when answerd no one was there (strange that the e-mailer also gets up at 6)in the end I had to have the choose to refuse service instaled on my phone...
The e-mail that I posted on this thread has been shown to several local window cleaners and without exception they all agree along with myself that if we loose any customers a) there are plenty more out there, b) if you are giving a good service in the first place loyal customers will stay with you, but none of them to date know who this person may be...
I will help any one that wants help in what ever way I can but I do not like being told what to do or not to do, as far as him not knowing what his missus was up to I think he did..
On one of the latter e-mails a comment was made that she new all about my family and all the kids I have.. this kind of comment I do not like as it involves my family and this is the reason that I'm trying to find out thier identity.
On a lighter note just had delivery of 20,000 flyers...
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On one of the latter e-mails a comment was made that she new all about my family and all the kids I have.. this kind of comment I do not like as it involves my family and this is the reason that I'm trying to find out thier identity.
On a lighter note just had delivery of 20,000 flyers...
Ooh good. Target the houses with the red crosses then. I really can't understand the guy's attitude.
Today, I bowled up at a job. It's a small job on its own. In front of me a couple of lads were parking up too. We cleaned the houses next door to each other, shared a quick joke, and went on our way. They finished before me as there were two of them. We both had white Escort vans with almost identical ladder arrangements on top. If it weren't for there's being sign written, could easily have got in the wrong van :-)
What I'm saying is that it was a happy, stress free experience - just the way it should be.
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On a lighter note just had delivery of 20,000 flyers...
Get 'em out and just ignore the other window cleaner. He's obviously a prat.
A few years ago, I was threatened twice for leafleting areas that 'belonged' to other window cleaners. At the time I received a very poor response anyway, so they had nothing to worry about.
I never door-knocked (at that time) and never undercut; I wasn't even given the chance; no-one phoned, unless they didn't have a window cleaner.
Recently a large company ('PM Window Cleaning' - they describe themselves as South Wales's biggest window cleaning company) leafleted an area where I have a third of my work; they also describe themselves as the 'cheapest'.
I haven't lost one customer.
If a customer is happy with their window cleaner, what-ever he charges, they won't drop him on the strength of a leaflet.
I'd say drop the leaflets and then door knock on the areas where you get a good response.
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If a customer is happy with their window cleaner, what-ever he charges, they won't drop him on the strength of a leaflet
Totaly agree, the main reason for leafleting I find is that it quickly Identifies an area that is lacking a window cleaner, the spin of is that if a window cleaner in that area ain't doing a good job then it gives people the choice..
You would'nt expect customers to keep drinking in your pub if the beer was bad.
What I'm saying is that it was a happy, stress free experience - just the way it should be.
This happens to me all the time we all do the same job, I think to be a window cleaner you have to be a people person,
I,ve even help wc'c since I've had a pole by doing that bloody awkward window thats a pain to get to when i do the house nxt door.
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Romans 12 v 18 in the King James version says:-
"If it be possible, so much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
To my way of thinking this doesn't mean you lie down, get walked upon and die. But is it wise to unnecessarily exacerbate the situation by adding fuel to the fire by entering into inflammatory dialogue with an upset wife who is misguidedly leaping to her husband's defence?
Why not just quietly go about your business and build your window cleaning round as you wish without sending text messages that will undoubtedly cause anguish.
Malc, good quote and excellent summation.
As much as I agree that 'Thewindowcleaner1' has every right to tout for business wherever he likes, his email's to his competitor have been a tad 'bullish' from the start :-\
Before I get 'bullish' I always go for concillitory first, do my best to pour oil on trobled waters, then if it still goes tits up I can always chuck a match on it and watch him burn in HELL ;D
Mind how you go,
Ian ;)
I have no objection to you freezing me out Ian, om my "Pyrrhic victory" post.
I could have been more specific and relevant to some widowcleaners, like you were in the above quote, but I thought I would leave it a bit vague so as to avoid confrontation with some who prefered to resort to direct insults, when the can't get the answers they want, because the question they keep asking has lost it's point due to their attitude. I was highlighting their 'bullishness', whilst keeping my manners and showing respect for this forum.
Anyway, enough said, I shall move on to more relevant matters.
Pj
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to which I recieved the reply..
well my husband has never had any need to advertise & push leaflets through doors.
He works 6 days a week, not spending half his time poaching others
we've had several other exchages in which I gave the link to this site, one of the better replys I got was that I must be the profeshional window cleaners Nightmare , he to which I replied call me Freddy then,
on the whole its getting a little silly, the only thing that bugs me is that I can't find out who it is and I hate faceless bullys.
Alan
If he's working 6 days a weeks she's a little bored by the sound of it - what she needs is a service from a pro window cleaner - who's popping round first ??? :-* :-*