[Pete10]

...obviously the letters a good start. My thoughts on presenting the fact that you worki in the wet are this, i would leave out any benefit that working in the rain has for YOU, i.e. i wouldnt mention that it helps you to keep up etc or run a good business, as this implies a compromise on the part of the customer....which in turn implies the windows are not cleaned as well in the rain. e.g. "please let me clean in the rain i need the money"

I would stick to the fact that it works, so why not work in the rain? and the work is gauranteed so there is no issue. I'm designing my "windows cleaned today" receipt, on it somewhere i will put a rain gaurantee....with a brief description of why we can clean in the rain, presenting it as an already accepted fact, rather than a point they can challenge you on.

Another thing i am going to start talking about verbally with customers was tipped to me by a very experienced window cleaner.......they said to me the only reason they werent cleaned when guys were trad is becuase ladders are slippery when wet!!!! I think customers can relate to this..makes it more tangeable for them. And also means they were kind of fooled in the past with their old window cleaner rather than being fooled now by you for cleaning in the rain. comments welcome....

[C o z y]

IMHO .... just get out there and do it.

If anyone objects just say fine no problem see you next month .............. if they ask can you come back on Friday when its not going to rain then just say no sorry as will be in somewhereelsetown then .... so ur telling them in a nice way its now or next month.

I have a theory that messers love the rain as gives them (in their eyes) a valid reason to say not today thanks.

You need to bin ALL you not todays if your going to have a great round ... takes time to weed em out once you have ditched all the messers that you have already identified ... you know who they are  

So onto part 2 ............... as you will be culling a few customers you will need somemore .... if only your missus had some spare time ..... oh hang on she will have come August  

Good post.

[Roy Cauldery]

IMHO .... just get out there and do it.

If anyone objects just say fine no problem see you next month .............. if they ask can you come back on Friday when its not going to rain then just say no sorry as will be in somewhereelsetown then .... so ur telling them in a nice way its now or next month.

I have a theory that messers love the rain as gives them (in their eyes) a valid reason to say not today thanks.

You need to bin ALL you not todays if your going to have a great round ... takes time to weed em out once you have ditched all the messers that you have already identified ... you know who they are  

So onto part 2 ............... as you will be culling a few customers you will need somemore .... if only your missus had some spare time ..... oh hang on she will have come August  

Good advice
Get your missus canvassing up some new business-it will benefit both of you(she might even like getting on the glass-as per Tosh)

Good luck
Regards
Roy

[lee_dewing]

Granny, sorry to hear about you and your wife's redundancies

Take it your a newbie to the wonderful world of window cleaning.

Good luck. Just do the opposite to me and you'l be fine

Do you work with your wife then?

Hows that going, will have to put a seperate post up about working with the wife.
Probably just end up rowing 

[Bay View WCS]

...obviously the letters a good start. My thoughts on presenting the fact that you worki in the wet are this, i would leave out any benefit that working in the rain has for YOU, i.e. i wouldnt mention that it helps you to keep up etc or run a good business, as this implies a compromise on the part of the customer....which in turn implies the windows are not cleaned as well in the rain. e.g. "please let me clean in the rain i need the money"

I would stick to the fact that it works, so why not work in the rain? and the work is gauranteed so there is no issue. I'm designing my "windows cleaned today" receipt, on it somewhere i will put a rain gaurantee....with a brief description of why we can clean in the rain, presenting it as an already accepted fact, rather than a point they can challenge you on.

Another thing i am going to start talking about verbally with customers was tipped to me by a very experienced window cleaner.......they said to me the only reason they werent cleaned when guys were trad is becuase ladders are slippery when wet!!!! I think customers can relate to this..makes it more tangeable for them. And also means they were kind of fooled in the past with their old window cleaner rather than being fooled now by you for cleaning in the rain. comments welcome....

Very good advice.

Last week and this have been the first times I have deliberately gone out to clean windows when it was already raining.  There have been times in the past when I have carried on and finished off when out cleaning and rain has started but this was new to me.  I just got sick of staring outside hoping the rain would stop so I could go and do some work.

I got myself some decent waterproofs and boots and the rain isn't going to stop me again - period.  Most custys this week felt sorry for me cleaning in that weather - I explained my rain guarantee and no-one had a problem.  If custys don't like it then I'm afraid they are going to end up dropped.  I am the professional/expert (well nearly  ) and I can decide when it is acceptable weather to produce an acceptable standard of clean. 

I can't be having them telling me how to do my job - would they nip in the garage and start telling the mechanic how they prefer their car to be serviced or the type of oil they should be using - no, it would happen, ever. 

Sorry, went on a bit of a rant there - feel better now - going for a lie down 

Tom

[Richard iSparkle]

IMHO .... just get out there and do it.

If anyone objects just say fine no problem see you next month .............. if they ask can you come back on Friday when its not going to rain then just say no sorry as will be in somewhereelsetown then .... so ur telling them in a nice way its now or next month.

I have a theory that messers love the rain as gives them (in their eyes) a valid reason to say not today thanks.

You need to bin ALL you not todays if your going to have a great round ... takes time to weed em out once you have ditched all the messers that you have already identified ... you know who they are  

So onto part 2 ............... as you will be culling a few customers you will need somemore .... if only your missus had some spare time ..... oh hang on she will have come August  

i think ians right here.  there really is no need for this type of letter.

firstly, great decision to work in the rain.  i have never not worked because of the weather even when it is bucketing it down, in the snow, or in the gales we had.  there's no need.  customers dont say a thing, and if they do they seem pretty impressed that we're so regular and hard working.

customers dont need to know you might be working on saturdays.  just turn up and clean.

customers dont need to be pre warned you'll be cleaning in the rain.  just turn up and clean.

i worry you re creating problems for yourself by raising it as an issue.  customers may now get in touch if they dont like it!  if you didnt write the letter most of them wouldnt notice, wouldnt mind, or wouldnt say anything.  the ones that do say something, will just be checking it out with you. so long as you give them a good explanatino theyll be fine with it.

also you want to focus your explanations on the benefit to the customer.  by the way you write the letter, mentioning financial difficulties, you are saying you are cleaning in the rain because of these difficulties.  the reason should be that the process works just as well, or better in the rain (and youll come back if it doesnt). 

good luck 

[lee_dewing]

Hi Richard,

I think imo, i'm just being honest.

If they don't want it doing in the rain you can't make em.

I work because I need the money we all do.

I made a mistake when I started by being to accomadating, I'm trying to address that now.

I don't want to just show up on saturdays and in the rain without informing people first, will probably end up in lengthy disscusion/arguement.
Maybe I have got a low opinion of myself but I am a window cleaner and I don't think people find me that important.

Yes if they have a problem they will phone me or address it next time and i'l deal with it.

Bayview the reason most people don't tell the mechanic his job is because they don't understand it and wouldn't have a clue how to do it.

Most people can clean their own windows but are too lazy or don't fancy risking it on a ladder,
But the reason they can; is why unfortunately some like to try and tell us what to do.

Thanks for your views guys I see many see it as a begging letter as said I think I'm just telling it how it is,
I think most people appreciate the truth.

thanks Lee.

[Londoner]

I think you are making a rod for your own back. Sensitising people to something they may never have thought about.
The ones who don't want you to clean in the rain are not going to change their mind. They are also not responsible for your family.
Bad weather is a fact of life, you can't be a window cleaner in Britain and moan about the weather.

[lee_dewing]

True about the weather, will see soon enough putting letters out.

Ian lancaster does it re-working in the rain and puts rain gaurantee through the door before custie has chance to open door and moan.

I think he knows what his doing.

I have worked for most of my custies from 3 to 8 years.

I think i'l be o.k

Did letters explaining wfp system before i started it.
Had a bit of opposition most excepted it.