[Oakley Windows]

I was out today, had about an hours work to do (God its a hard life!  ) to get to my weeks target. So bearing in mind the last 2 houses I had to do were well out in the sticks I thought Id take a drive across the rolling hillsides of Hampshire and select a few prime properties to door-knock. Well, why not?

So I happened across what was obviously a large detached property in its own grounds, old converted farmhouse, 60' frontage, plush.....nice place.

I drove up the drive and the owner was sat out in the sun.

I introduced myself, they didnt have a window clenaer she told me and was curious to know the price. Anyway, she said the back was the same as the front (the front had 12 windows) so in that case how much would it be. I said well the fron would be £15.00 so with the back it'd be £30.00. She bit my hand off, 'Yes please she said, can you do them? Our last window cleaner charged us £50.00' she said.

Fine I says. Just let me pop round the back to check out the windows so Im happy in myself about it.

So I gets round the back and they have a 45' x 20' solid oak-framed floor to ceiling glazed kitchen extension !!!


Probably 1'200 square foot of glass!!

How does she equate that as being the same as the 12 poxy windows out the front?

No wonder the last guy charged her £50.00

I went out the front and said 'Umm, thers a little more than you said, it'll be £50.00 

She said.......Okay I'll let you know.

Do they think we're blind, dumb, mugs or counts?

[[GQC] Tim]

Hahahaha, that made me laugh.

They always do don't they? It's simply hilarious, I always check the back anyway, just because of that.

[sparklebright]

it always sets off alarm bells if the customer looks pleased with the price 

I think sometimes they think you should be grateful, like you do this for fun.

I had a customer used to try and get me to put eye drops in her dogs eyes, I kid you not! Dirty big alsatian it was too. I did it once, and thought hang on what am I doing...

[cozy]

it always sets off alarm bells if the customer looks pleased with the price 

I think sometimes they think you should be grateful, like you do this for fun.

I had a customer used to try and get me to put eye drops in her dogs eyes, I kid you not! Dirty big alsatian it was too. I did it once, and thought hang on what am I doing...

  Then they say, don't worry he wont bite, if you don't annoy him, then you find out, your breathing annoys him. 

[sparklebright]

it always sets off alarm bells if the customer looks pleased with the price 

I think sometimes they think you should be grateful, like you do this for fun.

I had a customer used to try and get me to put eye drops in her dogs eyes, I kid you not! Dirty big alsatian it was too. I did it once, and thought hang on what am I doing...

  Then they say, don't worry he wont bite, if you don't annoy him, then you find out, your breathing annoys him. 

Or even better is, 'don't be nervous he can smell fear'

[cozy]

I've got a few scars from dogs that don't bite 

[windowswashed]

I had 2 new customers today stopped their cars, got out and asked: "how much to clean my windows", to which I reply: "I have no idea, where do you live?. I'll take your name, address and telephone number. I'll have a look and give you a call. If you're happy with the price for a regular 6 weekly clean as I don't do one off, end of tenancy cleans,etc then I'll fit you in soonest".

They must think we have crystal balls and can tell if they have extensions, conservatories, access issues, etc, never give a price until I've seen a property unless they want a daylight robbery, over estimated price to start with, which suits me fine.

[macmac]

Yeah, there are some thicko's out there.

Bloke walking past "are you a window cleaner?"

Me (up ladder with all gear on, cleaning windows) " no, I'm a peeping tom"

Him "how much do you charge"

Me "as much as i can get away with"

Him "ok, I'll give you a call" & walkes off without my number

[gerard mcmanus]

Him "how much do you charge"

Me "as much as i can get away with"

       Very funny!

You get this all the time, over the phone, up ladders, while in gregs the list goes on. But I never qoute a job until I've had a good look around and seen every window. I had a lady just yesterday tell me she had 7 windows at the back then went round and there was eight. Dont think she did it intentionally though.

[Captain Scarlet]

Ive made that mistake a few times, these days I NEVER give even a hint of the price until me and the customer walk around the property together, then finally I walk around it one last time by myself, it pays to really think things over.

And for commercials i send the price on a few days later, as it gives me plenty of time to muse about it, as I've found if you price a very large commercial the same day, you quite often are in the wrong frame of mind, but relaxed in your home you have a better idea.

[s.hughes]

Ive made that mistake a few times, these days I NEVER give even a hint of the price until me and the customer walk around the property together, then finally I walk around it one last time by myself, it pays to really think things over.

And for commercials i send the price on a few days later, as it gives me plenty of time to muse about it, as I've found if you price a very large commercial the same day, you quite often are in the wrong frame of mind, but relaxed in your home you have a better idea.

same here

[WCE]

Ive made that mistake a few times, these days I NEVER give even a hint of the price until me and the customer walk around the property together, then finally I walk around it one last time by myself, it pays to really think things over.

And for commercials i send the price on a few days later, as it gives me plenty of time to muse about it, as I've found if you price a very large commercial the same day, you quite often are in the wrong frame of mind, but relaxed in your home you have a better idea.

Know what you mean, I had one phone me up this week, She had gone through the yellow pages looking for local shiners (there were 3 including me) and decided that she would "go compare" the prices. Thats fair enough but when I told her that to give an accurate price I needed to see it she gave me the impression that she thought I was a criminal wanting to case her house for my next job. She insisted that I give her a price over the phone. By now she was sounding like the pain in the rear type although reluctantly I offered to give her a "guide" price. "how many windows do you have?" I asked "oh I couldn't tell you that, it's just a std 3 bed semi".  "Well we price per window" "oh" she said "well the other guy (and this was the first I heard about the other two shiners BTW), he was able to give me a price over the phone but I didn't really like him after he added £5.00 for the conservatory" "HANG ON" I replied "what conservatory?" It turns out that in this womens mind a conservatory (which after further probing) that runs the width of the ground floor is all part of a standard 3 bed semi! At this point I had had enough, I told her that without seeing I wouldn't be able to give her an accurate price. We left it that she was going to speak to her husband to see if I was "allowed!!!" to pop round to take a look! I haven't heard anything yet, thank god!     

[Niall McAllister]

I have had ones that tell me they are sure whatever i charge will be fine, i then tell them it will be £500 site unseen, funny they get the point of me looking at what i'm cleaning at that point.

[s.hughes]

I've had people email me asking for pricing info for their property.

When I ask to arrange to see it, they make excuses..

I gathered they are other cleaners (or newbies) trying to figure out how much I charge!

I think people feel obligated to take your price when they see you face to face.