[Feen]

Big changes in the town due to the most and longest established wc leaving. He said he was keeping one day a week, but I'm not sure about that now. However, some of his work has been handed out through the "brotherhood" for want of a better term. Now I have people coming to my door, phoning me and speaking to my wife in the supermarket asking me to clean their windows, because the new guy has upset them e.g "don't like the look of him", "he missed two windows out" and "I told him not to come, but he still did". There is work here for all of us and I try to operate like this, but I know these people and they have asked me to do their windows. The problem all stems from the guy who'd done them for years leaving, but not telling his customers or anyone else what he was doing. I am happy to take on new work, but I have never poached work. What would you do?

[jampot]

if the guy has gone go for it mate. otherwise the people will only find someone else,


dont waste time 

[Feen]

Jampot, Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'll do their windows. My point is I hate this handing round of jobs, some of the customers don't like it (or don't like the new guy) and then ask me to do the job instead. The customers don't always tell the guy not to come back. I know a guy who will not let the new guy clean his windows. He was happy with the previous wc, but says "I decide who cleans my windows". He won't let someone come along and say "I"ll be cleaning your windows from now on".

[jampot]

i know what your saying people need to know where they are and dont like different people comming around
id go for it and stick at it, you will be sorry if you dont
good luck 

[gary999]

if somebody is requesting your services its hardly poaching is it!!

[Feen]

Jampot, Thanks. Gary, No, it's not poaching. And yes I will do their windows, because they have asked me to, but I think you've missed the point a little. These jobs have been "handed out".

[poles apart]

Jampot, Thanks. Gary, No, it's not poaching. And yes I will do their windows, because they have asked me to, but I think you've missed the point a little. These jobs have been "handed out".

You're missing the point, the jobs are at the whim of the customer not the w/c'er so they can hardly 'hand it out' to their brethren so to speak!
Rod

[Tosh]

If someone asks you to give them a quote; don't think about it too much; just quote.

But use a bit of common sense too.  If this account is a favourate of your best window cleaning buddy's; then reapraise the situation, but if not; stick a good quote in.

I've doubled some of the prices of the stuff that Squeaky has dropped!