[AuRavelling79]

Working today in Sth. Glos. - Bit self-conscious in my shiny new van and "Ian Giles" uniform type jacket -  I  pull up in the light drizzle to do a "not home" £12 modern detached house.

Lady comes over (who I've seen several times before) and says can you do mine? I say I'm so pushed, what with the weather and looking after my regulars and short daylight hours etc. And I only do regulars - monthly or two monthly.

Oh, she says, two monthly would be OK. But they haven't been done in over a year. So I say I'll go over to quote after finishing the house I'm on.

Saunter down, have a look - it's minging, bigger than the £12-er I've just done and has a conservatory.

It's raining - I don't care whether I get it or not and I say first clean will be double (£50) and then it will be £25 every two months (not the roof by the way) - she says OK when can you do it?

If you're in I can do it on Friday even if it's drizzly can I start at 8 o'clock? - she says I won't be in but if I pay you now can you do it anyway? Gives me £50 cash on the spot!

They're out there guys!

(Now - would she have done that if I'd been dressed like "penny for the guy", fag on the go and in my old Honda? Maybe, maybe not - but this time she did!)

[windows_chepstow]

Malc,

Don't ever go back there.  You don't need the work and you're fifty quid up.

That'll teach the miserable old woman for judging a book by it's cover.

[AuRavelling79]

Malc,

Don't ever go back there.  You don't need the work and you're fifty quid up.

That'll teach the miserable old woman for judging a book by it's cover.

 

I couldn't sleep if I diddled her.
My name would be "mud" in the area.
I gave her a receipt (not asked for) with my address and phone number.

[simon knight]

Tosh, how can you say that? Please God I find a customer like that!

[Fast 1 *]

After a few washes i can imagine her beginning to say"can you leave it this month"

[Paul Coleman]

When I first started W/Cing, I was getting work by knocking on peoples' doors.  I knocked at one door and when the guy was interested I told him I would be around the next day to start work.  He told me that he was away a lot and gave me two payments up front right there on his doorstep.  That was in early 1992.  I had those people as customers right up until about two years ago.  Lovely people too.  Unfortunately he died and she moved away.
I'm amazed at the trust some people have.  I justified it too.

[S_RICHARDSON]

Keep hold that customer because they are far and few between!

[Sir Squeaky]

Alright for some Malc!

But £25 extra for a the first clean?
You're getting like Gilesy.

[marc al]

  I have a customer who works in the Middle East for 3 months at a time, he lives on his own and likes me to go round and clean the windows while he is away to make it look like someone is there!!

  Anyway, it is a 10 pound job, he always pays me the 3 months up front in cash plus a 20 pound tip and last time I saw him he had just come home on his motorbike, got chatting about bikes as I also ride and he asked me if I would mind taking his bike out every couple of weeks while he is away!!  Would I mind?? It is a limited edition, 50th anniversary Yamaha R1 (rare and very trick), makes my Fireblade seem dog slow!!

[AuRavelling79]

  I have a customer who works in the Middle East for 3 months at a time, he lives on his own and likes me to go round and clean the windows while he is away to make it look like someone is there!!

  Anyway, it is a 10 pound job, he always pays me the 3 months up front in cash plus a 20 pound tip and last time I saw him he had just come home on his motorbike, got chatting about bikes as I also ride and he asked me if I would mind taking his bike out every couple of weeks while he is away!!  Would I mind?? It is a limited edition, 50th anniversary Yamaha R1 (rare and very trick), makes my Fireblade seem dog slow!!

Now I'm envious - R1? - drool!

[Matt_Benton]

Hi there,

Reminds me of a customer i got a couple of months back. I must admit, when his PA phoned me, alarm bells started ringing. Went round that weekend to give a quotation and there was a brand new Ferrari sitting in the driveway, so i'm thinking " okay, the price is going up by 25%"  Spoke to the guy, really nice fella and quoted him £15 (mid-terrace town house, seven windows and a conservatory). He looks at me and says "call it twenty, can i pay six months in advance", before proceeding to pull out a roll of £20 notes, peeling off six and giving them to me!

Went home quite happy that day!

Cheers, Matt

PS. I asked and he said he was a dealer in stocks or something, dunno what that means...