[AuRavelling79]

I hadn't dumped a custy for a month or two so yesterday was a refreshing change.

This woman was recommended to me by a good custy and I broke my usual rule of charging extra for the first clean as I took it for granted it would be a reliable customer.

So I give this minging semi and conservatory a clean for £16 two months ago and agree that I will do the house only for a tenner one month and include the conny every other for a total price of £16.

Clean the first time and it's all sweetness and light and "wonderful job" etc.
2nd time it's "I didn't expect you back so soon but I suppose you'd better carry on as you're here."

(Alarm bells ringing)

This time, I knock, no one home so I put out the cones, use the ladder to reach over and release the gate bolt, run the hose and at this point Mrs. Lady comes to the door and says:-

"Can you leave it this time?"

Me: "Oh! Well I've called as per our monthly arrangement and I've got all my stuff out - is there a pressing reason why you don't want your windows cleaning, Mrs Mxxxx?"

Her: "I'm not feeling very well. So leave it."

Me: "I'm sorry to hear that ... but I won't bother you - I'll clean your windows and put a "ticket" through and you can deal with that at your leisure."

Her: "Well they don't need doing really, do they?"

Me: (pointing) "Well there's that big bird's mess on your bedroom window and the thunderstorm yesterday afternoon appears to have thrown up muck onto your door but as your happy to live with that then so am I..."

Her (interrupting): "I'll have you next time."

Me: "... Ah, an occasional misconception - I do encounter folk who get their filthy windows cleaned cheaply and then think they can pick or choose when they will deign to let the window cleaner come back. However, I'm afraid I don't work on that basis and so wish you all the best in finding yet another new window cleaner. Good day to you!"

And that was that!  I know - I had it about me yesterday!

[Dave Willis]

Brilliant. I normally say it in two words though. 

[Smudger]

Fair play and well handled.

Darran

[elite mike]

Brilliant. I normally say it in two words though. 

whats that then dave

BTW nice one malc

[darren clarke]

i went out pricing jobs this morning  nice cushy job then turns around only want it done when he can be bothered,  ok  give price then walked away

got paid off a custy who hasnt paid for a few months then they cancelled,  saying no longer need,   and dumped an other as got sick of can u come back next week

[Jack Wallace]

I dropped one this week,
She has messed me about for a while. "not this time" "can you call next week" the usual stuff.

Then she stopped paying, I had not noticed it had got to 4 cleans till earlier this week so dropped her a note. (Below)

The cash dropped through my door this morning and she was dropped from the list 


Dear Mrs xxxx
Despite numerous attempts at recovery your debt for our services remains outstanding,
This will be my final request at recovery personally.
 
If this debt is not cleared within 7 days I am left with no choice but to either refer it to her majesty’s court service, or pass the debt onto a recovery agency, the £75 cost incurred by passing it on will be charged to your account.
Please note: Interest will be charged from the date the debt became due as set out in the Late Payment of Commercial Debt Act 1998.
Current outstanding debt £36.

If you wish to discuss this matter personally please do not hesitate to contact me, Ignoring a debt does not make it go away.



Yours sincerely.

[Walter Pole]

Malcolm

Truthfully do you really think windows need cleaning every month by WFP...they don't.  And really they don't. Traditionally with sticky detergents maybe.  I have pushed all my customers to 2 months for ethical and also commercial reasons.  I dont like cleaning clean windows and by cleaning every 2 months I charge more and have more customers.

If I had filthy windows I would be pleased to have them cleaned the first time but maybe surprise to see you/me back in 4 weeks doing it again.

I have great respect for the posts an advice you offer on this forum but on this one I really can see it from the customer's persepective.

[bobby p]

Malcolm

Truthfully do you really think windows need cleaning every month by WFP...they don't.  And really they don't. Traditionally with sticky detergents maybe.  I have pushed all my customers to 2 months for ethical and also commercial reasons.  I dont like cleaning clean windows and by cleaning every 2 months I charge more and have more customers.

If I had filthy windows I would be pleased to have them cleaned the first time but maybe surprise to see you/me back in 4 weeks doing it again.

I have great respect for the posts an advice you offer on this forum but on this one I really can see it from the customer's persepective.

ah ,but you are seeing it thru a MANS eyes view , and as we all know thats totally different from a womans . im forever being told ,"werent they filthy this time " when in my opinion they looked immac before i clean

[Spruce]

Hi
They pay us to keep them clean, not clean them when they are dirty.

I find the fine line between the two is difficult to find, especially when it keeps moving. Hence the reason why we clean them on an agreed cycle. The customer agrees that cycle and if they then change their mind then they must negotiate a new cycle convenient to both of us.
The problem is that many are quite happy to to have dirty windows, but then want our services for maybe a special occassion - wedding etc.

If this is Gold second clean, then Malc's been conned by a customer's lie as we all have  - "I have been looking for a window cleaner for ages", "yes I want my windows cleaned everyday", "no this is not a once of". If they told you the truth you would refuse the job or charge more and they would lose.

The only solution to this is to be determined in your own mind before quoting a new job is to charge more for the initial clean, and so when they start with "can we leave it this time", you can walk away knowing that you got a good price for the initial clean. Treat each new customer as a once off even though they say differently, but most of all rely on your gut instinct. Why do they suddenly need my services when they have been living here for ages and not needed them previously?

Spruce

[Paul Coleman]

Malcolm

Truthfully do you really think windows need cleaning every month by WFP...they don't.  And really they don't. Traditionally with sticky detergents maybe.  I have pushed all my customers to 2 months for ethical and also commercial reasons.  I dont like cleaning clean windows and by cleaning every 2 months I charge more and have more customers.

If I had filthy windows I would be pleased to have them cleaned the first time but maybe surprise to see you/me back in 4 weeks doing it again.

I have great respect for the posts an advice you offer on this forum but on this one I really can see it from the customer's persepective.

I disagree.  There is a verbal contract in place that the customer wishes to rescind with no notice and at a cost (in time) to the service provider.  Try, for example,  telling your broadband provider that you want to stop the broadband for a month as you are going away and see what response you get.
As far as I'm concerned, that is a 100% justified dumping and I would have done exactly the same as Gold - hopefully as politely.
It's not just about doing it this time.  Once they've done it once they will do it again.  I'm not in the business of using my earning time turning up at properties on the offchance that someone wants their windows cleaned.

[Steven Shoreditch]

You could have played this song down the phone line to her...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1P4_YCFtkQ&feature=avmsc2

[Martin ccs]

well handled mate - i just dont go back - then when they phone - i just interupt them whilst they are rabbiting on about how late i am! and i just say - sorry but im far too busy looking after my more reliable and regular customers.

[AuRavelling79]

>Walter Pole

I understand your point but I do offer to all new custies monthly or two monthly options (at a higher price) as I did to this one and she said she wanted monthly.

To compound the issue (but not relevant to agreed frequency) there was (as I mentioned in my first post) an obvious bird strike on the bedroom window and lots of grit (classic from a thunderstorm splashing up muck) on the bottom of the front door panel and frame.

If she had said (as I suspect was the true reason) I can't afford £10/£16 a month, can we change it in the future then fine.

[Steven Shoreditch]

A live version here...  recommended for all greenhorn w/cers who come against this kind a sh*te ...
.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WUD-nhsmkw&feature=related

[dr clean]

it hits  home : end of it all: we are window cleaners. last thing on their minds is the window bloke? people now are too busy or too far up thier asse to be takein to you> want it doing be dont want to pay it . like anything else jobs you take on is for money .getting its how you agree as and from the start. if you dont" you will end up with two jobs .cust is money getting it is on how busy or skint your are but its work .