[lee_dewing]

exactly, Tim
 

[windowswashed]

Most customers prefer a reliable, regular, trustworthy window cleaner. Look after yours customers and the majority will stick with you.

[Londoner]

Most of the Pikeys and cowboys round here seem to be doing drive cleaning at ridiculous prices. Some are ridiculously high, others ridiculously low. Strange world.

There are so many new window cleaners round here I don't even notice them. Very rarely ever see them again.

[leapstallbuildings]

In my experience, if you get to know your customer and are friendly and take time to ask how they are etc, instead of grabbing the money and running, you're more likely to keep them for ages, no matter who comes around undercutting you!

Normally I find it like that too.  However the two jobs I lost to the black economy recently were (1) the son in law is going to clean them (2)  the guy already does a load of other maintenance (such as painting) to their house.  I doubt I would have lost either job to a cold call.  On number (2) the guy was painting inside the house when they were on holiday so is clearly well trusted.  There are a load of windows that can only be done from the outside by WFP but could probably be cleaned from the inside.  I had a feeling I was going to lose that one because he was asking lots of questions and wanted to give no answers.  It was like a verbal chewss match and I had a gut feeling he was goping to snatch the window cleaning away.  Both were decently priced jobs at £58 and £30 respectively.  Add that to the £12er I lost the same week (moving due to marriage split) and that's £100 gone from a 6 weekly income.  Normally no prob but budget very tight right now.  However, I picked another up at £100 a quarter and a couple of £12 - £15ers at 6 weekly so it wasn't too bad in the end.  A loss overall but a more manageable one.

[pjulk]

Now whats a cowboy is that someone who cleans windows from a horse.

Or is it someone with an old van or works out of there car.

I think its just a name these flashy ones with all there new gear and new van call people as they are not as flash as them.

But a lot of the time the chap with old van or car will do a better job than the chap with all the flash stuff.

Anyway there are loads of window cleaners where i am and i still pick up work hand over fist.

If you do a good job you will never be short of work

[wozzza007]

Essex is no diff from all your posts.

I have seen so many new cleaners starting up and usually do each may, but by the time late october is here they will be all gone.

If you are regular reliable and take the time to say hello, mention your kids if you have any, then no matter what you drive, what ladder or pole you use, you will stand in good stead for future cleans.

Lets face it, customers have all had the chance to jack us all in due to this years reccession, but like a post said before we all keep going and many have for a long time.

Free enterprise is how we all got started & long may it continue.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

a Recesion isnt the easiest time to run a business, It just means work harder, canvass more, and look after your customers, you will gain customers but it will be slower in a recesion, there's lots of people who make money from a recesion. so its all swings and roundabouts.
I must admit though when I first started out I was being undercut by guys who werent insured, behaving in an aggressive manner when it came to collecting. When I gained customers from these guys the trust wasnt there.
With regards to these guys quitting in the winter, it will be too late for some genuine newbies.
I agree with Dave that everyone is intitled to earn a living, but they are not intitled to give the rest of use a bad name.
remember mud sticks!!!!

[tacky]

as trigger said .look after ur broom n ur broom will look after you .

[windowcleaninginessex.co.uk]

WE WERE ALL NEWBIES ONCE, ME OVER 15 YEARS AGO, BUT I WAS A NEWBIE.
WE ALL HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, AS LONG AS THEY PAY THEIR TAXES ETC, LET THEM BE.
ALSO IF THEY ARE ANY GOOD THEN THEY WILL BE COMPETION, IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEN ITS NO PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WILL BE GONE SOON.
DARREN

[martinsadie]

as trigger said .look after ur broom n ur broom will look after you .

cracker that one 

[david68]

In my experience, if you get to know your customer and are friendly and take time to ask how they are etc, instead of grabbing the money and running, you're more likely to keep them for ages, no matter who comes around undercutting you!

I agree with this qoute,

[Fieldsy]

In my experience, if you get to know your customer and are friendly and take time to ask how they are etc, instead of grabbing the money and running, you're more likely to keep them for ages, no matter who comes around undercutting you!

I agree with this qoute,

 totally agree, have a chat with your customers, get on their level with regards to kids, holidays,work, general chit chat and it seems to work wonders. I know this takes up invaluable work time, but if the customers trust you, thats half the battle of keeping them 

[drive surgeon]

i agree with tim as thats how all my customers contact me as i do a great job. 

[simon knight]

as trigger said .look after ur broom n ur broom will look after you .

cracker that one 

Hate to contradict Stan but it went:

Trigger: "Look after ur broom..."
Rodney: "...and ur broom will look after you?"
Trigger: No, just look after ur broom"