[Marc Stock]

You know what, i'm seething. I don't normally let this kind of thing get to me but I need to vent.

Was cleaning a doctors surgery, and an older chap approached me, "ooh can you come and do us a quote". So i'm like yes of course, so i take his address details and his telephone number, but as he is giving me his number he is getting the digits all wrong and confused, and i'm sure that there were 2 more digits than their should be, so i asked him to confirm it again and it was another variation of the same digits, as i knew there would be a problem trying to call him, so i asked him if i could quote him later on that day. "ooh no i am away this afternoon in the midlands" i thought that's a bit strange its like 2:45pm anyway i said can i come to quote over the weekend sat or sunday, his reply was yes of course we are about all weekend, and your more likely to get us in on a sunday.

So i popped over about an hour ago to do the quote and he was like "oh its not convienent right now" can you come back during the week. So i'm like yeah OK, no worries...when? Monday Tuesday etc?  "come back Monday" im like ok.. see you Monday. Just as i turn round to go back into the van, he calls out "just....how much would....it be roughly?" i turn back and i say to him "sorry?" "how much would it be to have them cleaned" well sir..i reply, that's what i am here for now, or Monday to quote you, it wont take long"    Ok he says...I want you to quote for all windows and the UV solar heaters at the back (small ones), so im like ok yep..£32 its not a big job, about 20 mins work.

I can do them this week if you like. Ohh your too expensive our current window cleaner only charges £21. I look at his windows and they are FILTHY there is no way anyone is cleaning them. I say to him that price does include the UV solar heaters. "no" he said "i said DONT clean the solar heaters", (so im thinking to myself like well if you don't want them cleaned, why draw attention to them?) Ok so your adjusted price is £28, ok he goes that's reasonable (what?? i know). Now...i have some free time on Wednesday, cant do wednesday, how about Monday? cant do Monday either so i suggested some other dates, and he wouldnt commit, I just turned round to him and said, you know what sir, your wasting my time. I have come out to you when i could be sitting down relaxing at home with my kids for you to mess me about...good day to you and i walked off.

Dont normally do that kind of thing, but honestly.

[Nick Day]

Have you considered that if he's an older gentleman he might have the onset of an illness? That what it sounds more like to me.

[Marc Stock]

You know what, you have hit the nail on the head there. Why didn't i consider that?

 

[robbo333]

Marc come on mate...'stupid old fool' is a bit harsh!
You've been in this game long enough and should be able to spot a messer (or someone with a disability!)
As soon as they come out with...'can't do this or can't do that' they are not going to be your best customer. Just be polite, dump 'em but don't get annoyed with it. It's the nature of our job.

[Marc Stock]

Yeah you know what..I have been a bit harsh.

I did take my Citalopram late the other day.

[robbo333]

I'm going to add a bit...
Bad bits or our job:
1. Customers
2. Hose catching on everything.
3. Weather...occasionally
Good bits of our job:
1. Everything other than the above

[nathankaye]

Thats the good thing about this forum, you can come on here just to blow some steam off and feel better about it.  Because we've all been there or experienced that or similar. Then afterwards feel a whole lot different.
But come on chaps, why have a pop at his comment, he started by saying just letting some steam off, why play the old man card or old age card at him, hes just having a rant. In addition, some older people play the old card just for the sake of it or to have a laugh. I kno my grandparents did it all the time and then have a good laugh about it with their friends. They felt it was a perk of getting old

[bravo20]

I'll also add a bit:
Good bits about our job;

1. Customers
2. Weather... Occasionally
3. Hose doesn't catch for a whole day
4. No idiots telling you what to do
5. Flexibility
6. Good forum to share ideas

Bad bits about our job;

1. Everything apart from the above

[Johnny B]

It sounds as if the old fellow may be unwell, but I personally would have not pursued this particular enquiry beyond the point that he mentioned what his 'current window cleaner' charges, whether it was true or untrue that he actually had one.

I would have said that I don't want to tread on his toes, and the price he charges is one I can't and won't compete with. I would thank him for his time and politely bid him goodbye.

John.

[Soupy]

What you have managed to achieve without even noticing is the ancient secret art of; the flounce.

[dazmond]

You know what, i'm seething. I don't normally let this kind of thing get to me but I need to vent.

Was cleaning a doctors surgery, and an older chap approached me, "ooh can you come and do us a quote". So i'm like yes of course, so i take his address details and his telephone number, but as he is giving me his number he is getting the digits all wrong and confused, and i'm sure that there were 2 more digits than their should be, so i asked him to confirm it again and it was another variation of the same digits, as i knew there would be a problem trying to call him, so i asked him if i could quote him later on that day. "ooh no i am away this afternoon in the midlands" i thought that's a bit strange its like 2:45pm anyway i said can i come to quote over the weekend sat or sunday, his reply was yes of course we are about all weekend, and your more likely to get us in on a sunday.

So i popped over about an hour ago to do the quote and he was like "oh its not convienent right now" can you come back during the week. So i'm like yeah OK, no worries...when? Monday Tuesday etc?  "come back Monday" im like ok.. see you Monday. Just as i turn round to go back into the van, he calls out "just....how much would....it be roughly?" i turn back and i say to him "sorry?" "how much would it be to have them cleaned" well sir..i reply, that's what i am here for now, or Monday to quote you, it wont take long"    Ok he says...I want you to quote for all windows and the UV solar heaters at the back (small ones), so im like ok yep..£32 its not a big job, about 20 mins work.

I can do them this week if you like. Ohh your too expensive our current window cleaner only charges £21. I look at his windows and they are FILTHY there is no way anyone is cleaning them. I say to him that price does include the UV solar heaters. "no" he said "i said DONT clean the solar heaters", (so im thinking to myself like well if you don't want them cleaned, why draw attention to them?) Ok so your adjusted price is £28, ok he goes that's reasonable (what?? i know). Now...i have some free time on Wednesday, cant do wednesday, how about Monday? cant do Monday either so i suggested some other dates, and he wouldnt commit, I just turned round to him and said, you know what sir, your wasting my time. I have come out to you when i could be sitting down relaxing at home with my kids for you to mess me about...good day to you and i walked off.

Dont normally do that kind of thing, but honestly.

1.i wouldnt go and quote a job on a sunday as i dont work weekends generally(sometimes the odd sat).

2.id of said" i can quote your property without you being there as i have your address now." then simply phoned him up with a price later on.

3.if he said that he wanted to be home when quoting then id refuse the job if we couldnt come to a suitable time thats good for both of us.

4.if we arranged a time and he gave me the "its not convenient at the moment" i wouldnt go back and would not be happy.

[Spruce]

The early stages of dementia are  a possibility with this man. Sufferers live in a world of confusion, frustration and a loss of dignity. Their bodies are in the present but their minds are in the past.

From personal experience I've seen it with both of my parents, my Dad with Alzheimers and my Mom with dementia.

[lee_dewing]

Sorry to hear about this, we all get it

Maybe the guy is losing his marbles, sad if that's the case.

To be honest I would have left it at the doctors surgery, with a wrong phone number.

New customers have to tick alot of boxes now.

[Soupy]

To be honest I would have left it at the doctors surgery, with a wrong phone number.

I never take details in the street, only pass mine on. If they can't be arsed phoning they probably didn't really want done.

[Johnny B]

I had a customer years ago who was a good, regular and reliable payer. She would alway tell me not to forget her next month etc.

One day I was cleaning her house , when she came out and asked who I was.

'I'm John, your window cleaner' I replied, slightly puzzled.

'But I've never had a window cleaner' she protested.

'Oh  right  Sorry to have troubled you then' said I, realizing what was wrong and beating a dignified retreat.

I used to clean for her sister as well (the former had recommended me to the latter).

Quite sad really, and I also had a retired school teacher (lovely lady) who also deteriorated simililarly very rapidly.

John.

[nathankaye]

I think most who have been in this game have had experience with customers like that. Thankfully for myself ive mostly always cleaned a family member of theirs as well. So ive always been able to communicate with them as they still want there nannas or parents windows still to be cleaned.
I had one customer who was getting forgetful, not down to illness but nust age, they died just before being 101. But when she sas in late 90's her son used to pay me and thankfully lived just over rd from his mother. He took over payments etc as noticed her money going down fast. They worked it out; it was the priest going to hse once a week, the old dear liked to give money but would forget she gave them some and would end up giving some more and more again later (all in same visits).
You would have thought he would have kindly said thank you but youve already have me some.....but no!

My close friends parents have  gone down same route and my wife's nanna is on that same path.

[robbo333]

I cleaned for an old couple who both had dementia or amnesia...I don't know which.
I went to do the second clean and they had no idea who I was. I remembered that I had left them my leaflet, last time, with my picture on it. So I said if they could get the leaflet it would prove that I was their window cleaner. Alas they couldn't remember where they put the leaflet!!! Game Over!
Funny thing is I was cleaning above some shops about 2 weeks later and the old guy came by walking his dog. He didn't recognise me but looked at me and said "my window cleaner has one of those pole things". Not looking forward to getting old.