Luke, thanks!
Dave, I priced a job up last week and told the custy Wednesday afternoon. Get there Wednesday and there is ladders laid ni front of the job, which I thought nothing of. Speaks to the custy and they turn out to be another window cleaners that he had asked for a quote from. The guy came in at the same price as me although I'm wfp and he is trad! It was 4 hours cleaning with water fed and I priced on that, trad would have been 2 days work. So I gets started on the job and the window cleaner pulled up, nice bloke started chatting. Then the custy comes out and says sorry to him. They both walk off and start discussing price I had agrred for that job and his new premises and got quote for it. Whoever the customer had already agreed that I was quoting on the new premises. Honestly if I hadn't been giving somebody money from that job I would have just walked off there and then.
So I asked the custy once finished if he wanted me to quote. he said yeah but was in the sort of tone as if to say ' just to keep you happy' So I quoted on it which was also met with a ' don't call us, we'll call you attitude.'
Was fuming over this so I said the next day when I took written quote in" Well if you are going to use this other window cleaner then take this into consideration. I have a uniform. Modern equipment and everything is above board. On the other hand this guy you had here yesterday was in scrags, had ladders that were that old and battered that the rubber feet had worn away and some of the metal too. Basically them ladder will go from under him one day and lets hope it not on your premises. Because the other window cleaner knows that I have offered you a ladderless alternative so if he falls, which is highly likely and he knows his salt. He would know that the Working At Heights Legislation states. That you can get done for causing injury by using a ladder if there was an alternative method available. If he fell 30 foot from a ladder and broke his legs, he would probably get desperate and try doing you for that. And you would be liable as you chose the alternative."
The guys face was a picture. I don't understand how at the same price he picked a guy that looks a mess when I turn up uniformed, with magbnetic adverts on my car doors, with the latest equipment. The last thing I said to the custy before I left was consider this " You asked him this morning, he has been trading 20 years so by now will have a full work load. But managed to fit you in this afternoon. So he must be dumping a customer or to considering it will take him at least 8 hours to do. What happens when he is supposed to be at your premises but had a better offer?"
Bloody annoying!