[Bay View WCS]

Hey all

I am still out knocking 3-4 nights a weeks trying to build up my round.  However, I have noticed recently that more and more houses now have signs issued by our county council- along the lines of 'No Canvassers/ No Cold Callers.  I still put leaflets through those doors and I got a call job from one old boy who had a sign on his door.  I explained that I hadn't knocked on his door because of the sign on display.  He said that the sign was not meant to discourage the likes of me but the Gas/Electric sales people and religous groups.

From my perspective, I get most of my work by knocking and talking to the custy's face to face so if I am relegated to only putting a leaflet through their door that could mean the loss of a lot of potential jobs. 

What are your views? Would/do you knock anyway and hope they don't get too mad or just post a leaflet? 

Cheers, Tom

[Johnny B]

If it were me would leave it. If they later see you cleaning their neighbours' windows they can approach you then.

John.

[Londoner]

There have actually been blokes going round door to door selling these notices, I couldn't help being struck by the irony of that situation.

Also "no junk mail" stickers. They have quite a smooth sales patter worked out and only ask for a "donation" of £1 towards their costs. As one of my customers pointed out it hasn't made a scrap of difference, they still get all the pizza and takeaway menus that they got before.

[Smudger]

it's down to personal preference wether you choose to knock a door or not, these stickers have no legal standing,
even the 'official' no cold calling zones can stop you from knocking - at worst they can report you to
trading standards, but as a bona fidi local biz you wouldn't have any issues.

the stickers and no cold calling zones are intended to deter your 'want a cheap drive'  brigade that pressurize the old
and vunerable not to stop local business - but like most things these guidelines get abused or taken to far.

personally i knock every door, maybe once or twice i've had a comment that they have a sticker on the door. but
it's never been unpleasant.

Darran

[Paul Coleman]

"No cold callers" I leaflet only.
"No junk mail" I knock.
If both, I walk on and leave alone.

[Blue Frog Systems]

Ive had one person say about the no knocking stickers.... quite crappy about it too.

I replyed with i didnt see the stickers cos i was looking at your dirty windows

[George Gardner]

I think actually as you arent selling them anything its ok.

Do you need a window cleaner? Yes/No answer really isnt it.

You get a feel for which houses have elderly people in like the car on the drive and they usually have walking sticks by the front door or in the porch etc. I would never ever recommend knocking on the door of anyone elderly after say 7 oclock at this time of year.

Whats your % canvassing rate of uptakers?

[Bay View WCS]

I might just start knocking anyway and see how people react.  I don't think window cleaners are the type of canvassers/cold callers they are trying to deter but we'll see how things go.

Last week I canvassed 92 houses and got 13 jobs- then 1 more the next day from seeing me out doing a first clean. So that works out about 15% which I am very pleased with; this area didn't seem to have a window cleaner.  Leaflets alone bring in about 1-2% so I don't bother posting very often if they are out - instead I will call back to catch them in or if I am cleaning in the area shortly I will post leaflets in the houses with the dirtiest windows and call back the next night. 

I keep a canvassing sheet on which I have loads of boxes and mark down the house number in each box.  I will then knock on the door and explain that I am a window cleaner and that I clean in the area and ask if they have a window cleaner.  I will then make a note of their response on my canvassing sheet to use later on:

HW= Has Windowcleaner
NI= Not Interested
PL= Posted Leaflet
FS= For Sale
TL= To Let
Q= Quoted (with price)

For the HW and NI these may be quite useful in the future because as I also keep a note of those houses that are for sale/to let then as soon as I see the sign has gone I will call and introduce myself to the new owner/tenant- I've got a couple of clients this way already.

I think I'm a bit anal about this canvassing lark!!

Cheers, Tom

[alfynokes]

Friend of mine has a gutter clean and repair business, we often pass work on to each other. Last year he was in a village near York cleaning a customers gutters out, looking round on the street he noted gutters in need of attention.
One he knocked and quoted with the lady. The lady says I'll speak with hubby tonight to ok it if he says ok, then clean tomorrow.
My friend gets the phone call, turns up next day and the lady has a policeman there who b******s my mate saying this is a no cold calling area you're lucky I'm just warning you this time

[john stracey]

my leaflets are not junk mail, they promote my 100% legit, honest, trustworthy,reliable service, junk implies that no value is attached to what im offering which is just not true every house gets a leaflet.

[George Gardner]

You cant argue with circa 15% Tom, fair play!

I find flyers are less than 1% but again its the areas you do.
 

[Ian Lancaster]

Ignore the 'no canvassers' sign - knock anyway.  When they open, say 'I'm sorry, I knocked before I saw your sign, and then it seemed rude to walk away without apologising'.

Works every time, they all say 'Oh, that's ok, don't worry'

[Smudger]

nice one Ian 


Darran

[Bay View WCS]

Ignore the 'no canvassers' sign - knock anyway.  When they open, say 'I'm sorry, I knocked before I saw your sign, and then it seemed rude to walk away without apologising'.

Works every time, they all say 'Oh, that's ok, don't worry'

I have actually done that as an honest mistake- I will be making a few more from now on- great idea thanks.

Cheers, Tom