[mlscontractcleaner]

I watched an employee of a bigger, well known Plymouth firm cleaning windows on a shop next to a night club we clean this morning and thought to myself,

 "It's a bloody good job you don't work for me "

His work was shocking; no scrim, no wiping down sills, no wiping water from anywhere really, and as the shop front is grey the soap suds stood out like a soar thumb .

Just the glass was cleaned, with no detailing, and when he left it just looked crap

My question is, why is it that some firms, after being in the job for a long time, stop giving a s**t about their standards

I've taken loads of work from so called big firms; some of the customers being national names, so why don't they look after them better.

I like to think that, even after 20 years doing this, we still care enough to keep our customers happy. I can't imagine that we're the only ones, surely

[Ian101]

I had a clash of conscience yesterday doing a car showroom for the 1st time ... its old stlye showroom not all steel and glass more old glass with even older wooden frames ... bloke wont pay for a proper job so only do the glass the sills looked awful but I only do a proper job or not at all so this time I got a mop off the valeter and gave them all a wipe after I had done the glass but going next time going to show him that crap money gets a sub standard job and see what happens ... oh and hes a mate as well  : .... suppose solution is wfp but will need a lot of water to do it I thinks

[deeege]

I have also noticed a couple of the bigger local companies working like this. I guess it's what happens when your paying an employee £6-£10 per hour and letting them work unsupervised. The employee will do the least possible work without getting complaints.

You should be glad of this type of thing, I certainly am. I've recently picked up 3 schools and 3 care homes that are well priced because one of the larger companies were doing a shocking job. Ie dropping off his worker at 10am and collecting him 2 hours later............ And charging £200   Great work if you can get it, but don't expect to have the work in 3 months time.

I just hope I don't develope the same traits after I have been in business for 20 years.

[Wc Solutions]

that more like staff being treated like crap - low wage and a load of work to get down.

before i went off and started my own business i was treated like crap!

low wage, had a massive list to get through each day and when a crap or high job was around i was always sent to do it!!

then one day i went f this - im doing about £400 a day in work for you guys and getting rubbish money.

when i left and went out on my own i could see my old bosses thought he wont last on his own - well that was in 2005 - now its 2010 and i have 3 vans on the road with 3 full time and a part timer on the books.

it can be a struggle at times with bad payers but im doing my best and you can always learn new things every day...

[mlscontractcleaner]

Good on you mate

I love the fact that bigger companies; or those that are at least perceived as being bigger are generally rough and shoddy as we mop up after them.

Like I said; look after your customers and they'll look after you

[darren clarke]

a lot of big companys work on a splash and dash and quote cheap

they know that if 1 manager is moaning it doesnt matter as the contract is that cheap that the contract manger isnt going to moan

[Londoner]

I posted on here a few days ago about how I used to sit in my taxi and watch window cleaners all over the place. They just ignore you so its possible to really observe their technique/skills.

Many are so bad it does make you wonder how they get away with it but they do. My wife works in the NHS, her office windows get cleaned about once a year. They were done about two months back, really rubbish. Now my wife knows a fair bit about window cleaning so she complained to supervisor ( ie the one who could speak a little English). He just shrugged his shoulders couldn't care less. Just like others have said what is anyone going to do about it? 

[Dean Taberner]

I have also noticed a couple of the bigger local companies working like this. I guess it's what happens when your paying an employee £6-£10 per hour and letting them work unsupervised. The employee will do the least possible work without getting complaints.

You should be glad of this type of thing, I certainly am. I've recently picked up 3 schools and 3 care homes that are well priced because one of the larger companies were doing a shocking job. Ie dropping off his worker at 10am and collecting him 2 hours later............ And charging £200   Great work if you can get it, but don't expect to have the work in 3 months time.

I just hope I don't develope the same traits after I have been in business for 20 years.

£10 per hour is very good wage in the real world fella.

[deeege]

For a non skilled job it is yeh, but I wrote £6-£10 per hour.

[darren clarke]

m bro in law is a spark with 20 years exp and he is only on 12 ph and he works for a national company

depending where u live 6-8 ph is good for a wc

[deeege]

Still doesn't mean the bigger companies will get a good standard of work from paying £6-£8 ph though, which is the thread topic. Not saying all staff will be doing a shoddy job though by all means.

[darren clarke]

so what would you have to pay to get a good standard of work from an employee?

[deeege]

I guess it would vary from person to person. Some would graft hard for £6 ph and others would cut corners and moan about getting £8 ph.

The particular firm that I was thinking of, I think the main problem is working unsupervised by any 'higher ups'.

[Londoner]

The particular firm that I was thinking of, I think the main problem is working unsupervised by any 'higher ups'.

I do a couple of shops in a little parade near me. Its opposite an office building. The previous window cleaners  that were supposed to be doing the office building came touting round the vicinity to try and drum up a bit of cash work on the side which they would do when they should be doing the office.
No wonder the company they worked for lost the account. Lack of supervision, like you say.

[karygate]

i have worked for 3 pound an hour right up to 15 pound an hour but never felt i was doing a bad job.i think those that do a bad job do it regardless of how much they get paid.

[cat9921]

i have worked for 3 pound an hour right up to 15 pound an hour but never felt i was doing a bad job.i think those that do a bad job do it regardless of how much they get paid.

I would not get out of bed for less then £4 

[Central Window Cleaners]

I have quoted for 6 large jobs in the Mindlands in the last 4 weeks for a cleaning company because the large window cleaning companies they are using from the London areas are sending invoices out without even bothering to clean the sites.

So far I have got 5 of the jobs and have been told there will be lots more to come.

[Wc Solutions]

I have quoted for 6 large jobs in the Mindlands in the last 4 weeks for a cleaning company because the large window cleaning companies they are using from the London areas are sending invoices out without even bothering to clean the sites.

So far I have got 5 of the jobs and have been told there will be lots more to come.

nice one 

[rg1]

i have worked for 3 pound an hour right up to 15 pound an hour but never felt i was doing a bad job.i think those that do a bad job do it regardless of how much they get paid.

I agree. if your heart isn't in the job then it doesn't matter how much you get paid per hour.