[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

I`d just like to express and `air` my views on whats been happening to me this past week or so
regarding  the pure water side of window cleaning.On some of my long standing high class
residential  accounts my customers are starting to complain about not `spotting` or `smearing`at the time
but for such a long lenth of time that the windows are left in a wet state leading to `spotting`.During
the drier months this dos`nt happen. I have got to say some I`ve cleaned at between 7 and 8 a.m. and at
early pm. or around noon time there`s still some spots and beads of water still there.I just wonder if
it were possible to take a t.d.s or p.p.m. reading of those water droplets that are still there at noon time
what would be their reading?? I`ve gone back to `blading` these jobs as I am an avid believer that the
`customer is always right`. I have got to admit most of these clients have put it to me that its a waste of
money  and I have to say myself I would think the same thing if I were in `their shoes`. Its never happened yet on any of my high end commercial accounts although I have had a few `raised eyebrows`
from various members of the office staff and computor programmers etc. etc. etc. What are other members experiences and findings,because I`m seriously considering putting my pure water side of  things on `hold` until either the weather warms up or somone can advise accordingly as to the course of
action to take.I have had  just a  couple of outright cancellations,which I would have prefered to have kept.All replies,comments etc. much appreciated.




Lewis Doubtfire, Gleem Clean ( The Blade Runner )

[Duke]

sorry, not quite sure what you're saying...is the complaint merely the fact that the glass was left 'wet' ?...or that after drying, there were water marks (spot's)..?
If that's the case..then it really is down to the final rinse. I'ts always more difficult to get a brilliant job on the first clean with the pole....but subsequent one's will work out fine. It's REALLY important to rinse well, especially on the first clean...not just the glass, but the whole frame...especially the tops of the frame...and anywhere that got wet in the process, even a drip. I had quite a few complaint's in the beginning, and lost a few...but now it all seems fine...I had to learn and grow, (quicker than 'they' got pi**ed off)....but I persevered. No problem's at all with new customers...they had nothing to compare it to...and were just happy to get a cleaner.

[choice.clean]

been there done that. we lost 50% of all our customers due to spotting but the answer is getting them up to speed properly on day 1. I always clean twice and scrub like mad to give you some idea 2 houses took me 3 hours to clean a few months ago and the further the window is away from you the more effort you have to make. I always warn the customer that it takes time to get your windows up to speed but i don't care how many times you call me back i will keeep going until you are happy this gives you the opportunity to get it right. it nearly killed me to get the business i have now but after 3 years we are cracking it p.s. i never collect cash it is too easy for them to cancel at the start i insist the customer pays by standing order and uses the service for a minimum of a year. I am tough but then it took me 3 years to get where i am majority of our work is domestic but we have high quality customers cause all the rubbish won't do standing order. we now do vrtually no collecting and i work 4 days a week no weekends and employ 2 men to do the bulk of the work stick with it but don't expect any favours from all those people trying to tell you that waterfed is the best thing since sliced bread it only works if you adopt there methods i.e. heavy marketing with a capital M this is what you have to do with the customers. watrerfed poles are not for the fainthearted but they will make you a good business if you apply thinking ability as opposed to graft.

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

The lady said that because the windows with the droplets of water being left so long before
drying was that dust,yes she said dust was getting onto the windows and leaving them the way
they were which was `spotty`.I`ll see how I go on with the job next clean anyways.Regarding
standing orders for customers,how many agree to that? Most of my `resi` customers would look
at me as if I`d two heads or something if I suggested anything like that! It is a good idea though
I must say.What happens if you `miss` a clean?



Lewis Doubtfire Gleem Clean ( The Blade Runner )

[windows_chepstow]

Choice Clean,

What an excellent reply, apart from your lack of paragraphs.

I plan to raise my prices in the Spring and start a 'Standing Order' drive to reduce my collection times.  I doubt I'll ever get a 100%, but even a 20% in the first year would be good and a few customers I've spoken to have said they'd go for it.

I know how to set up a standing order, but how did you get your customers to go for it?  Any tips would be appreciated.

[Duke]

ahh, I see, then that was just bad luck then, maybe. What's the chances of just finishing a window/house with the pole, then a duststorm whips across the estate. Lol.....unless she lives in the outback or something, that should'nt happen too often ! 

[AuRavelling79]

Just a resurrection of a thread here:-

About six weeks ago during a cold snap I had a few "spotty" complaints and I remember a similar day last year too.

The weather was very cold, followed by strong wind (and some rain) and in all cases the droplets took hours to dry out and the area around was dusty (new drives laid or lot's of traffic nearby.)

Next time the temperature drops to just above freezing I will blade the bottoms if in "high traffic" areas.

[Tosh]

I reckon it's the wind; not the cold; that's the culprit!

[Pj]

I reckon you're short of things to talk about

look at the date of this thread

[S.Carpenter]

interesting to c how this turned out then.