[nat]

we've had loads of various storys, i have come to the conclusion there are just some very odd people out there...i just put up with it, i have a 3 strike system then there out, i give people the benifit of the doubt the first time, second time i may think there a bit of a problem third time then their off the database.

The problem with that is that if the customer does it once and youy say nothing, they think it's OK to do it again.  Do you actually tell them about your cancellation policy when they start messing about or do you just say nothing then walk if the messing about continues?

I don't say nothing no i have found that not everyone is a total messer, i've had customers give excuses not to have there windows cleaned once then they've been fine after. if your that cut throught with your customers you could be trhowing some away for no real reason, everyone has a bad day every now and then so if they take it out on you the window cleaner, you throw them away for no real reason other than there having a bad day...give them a chance if they do it twice three times then throw them away you know there not worth it...you need to give them a chance otherwise the next window cleaner comes along and poaches a potentially good customer...thats how i think anyways

[mark dew]

I had one customer, who has known me since i was a baby tell me to only clean her windows if her bedroom curtains are open as she does shiftwork and might be asleep. :

I clean in a rural area and am always cautious when dumping customers as many people know each other. But not as much as a few years ago.
I try to operate a 3 strikes policy but it is more based on instinct and feeling than a set number of runarounds.
Pingu had good advice when he said not to do anything until the next day.
I have come really close to dumping several customers in the past but thought against it the following day. Many become good customers in the end.
The thing is to keep lines of communication open with them rather than expecting them to know the score.
The ones i tend to dump the most are the ones who resent sending me a cheque and expect me to drive twice to a job for payment. I will never do that again.
I always say when i take on new work that i expect to be paid before the next clean by cheque if they are not home.

[Russell Macdonald]

I had one customer, who has known me since i was a baby tell me to only clean her windows if her bedroom curtains are open as she does shiftwork and might be asleep. :

I clean in a rural area and am always cautious when dumping customers as many people know each other. But not as much as a few years ago.
I try to operate a 3 strikes policy but it is more based on instinct and feeling than a set number of runarounds.
Pingu had good advice when he said not to do anything until the next day.
I have come really close to dumping several customers in the past but thought against it the following day. Many become good customers in the end.
The thing is to keep lines of communication open with them rather than expecting them to know the score.
The ones i tend to dump the most are the ones who resent sending me a cheque and expect me to drive twice to a job for payment. I will never do that again.
I always say when i take on new work that i expect to be paid before the next clean by cheque if they are not home.

I have some shift workers on my round & have arranged with them i phone a couple of days before, if they arnt in i leave a message & they phone back letting me know the best times of the day due would be best. Most of the time i can work it in without much hassel.

As for payment, most send in a cheque by post within a week, some a few weeks, others ive had for years & just don't post one but i know i will get paid. Over time you get to know your customers, 1 got to 6 cleans but in my opinion are 1 of my best cutomers.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I've had the few odd ones with new pets that they don't want scared, or new babies for that matter. 

The one that cheesed me off the most though was a customer that had asked to go every 8 weeks instead of 4.  So I did and put the price up accordingly, she then proceeded to only have the back open every other clean.  And then one day as I was halfway through the front of the house me doing the ups and my Mrs doing the downs, she comes out and says she only cleaned them yesterday and doesn't want them done today.  She wouldn't open the door again afterward either.  So we didn't blade off the windows and left her.

Nowt so queer as folk.

Simon.

That sounds pretty unprofessional.

Well done though   

I didn't sud her windows up deliberatly. She came out when we were halfway through and said she was not going to pay as she had done them all ready. She then didn't answer the door. We just didn't finish of the job we had all ready started. She may have had an off day but not to answer the door after was a real cheak. She's never spoken to us since and isn't having any one else do her windows even though there are plenty of us to choose from in her road. I normally operate a three strike stratergy but if its a bad first or second strike then they're off my books.

Simon