[bobby p]

i admire yo wfp fellahs ,  but how do you convince the elderly ?    round my way theres a deep set mistrust of  the mess and  my rounds totally trad  and  probably 90% are elderly .    iv often wondered wat became of the water fedders who  have given such bad service  and did they goback to trad .

[pingu]

I suppose like with most things it's all about the selling but no over-complicating the 'sale' ...I have found that once you have got an 'allie' then they will sing from the roof-tops how super wonderful it all is.

I have 1 very elderly customer that was very sceptical but in the past 2 years has put me in contact with many of the surrounding neigbours and I now have a whole days work in that area now....of course she now gets a couple of free cleans per year

Then again some whether old or young just do not like change...

Whether it's trad or wfp it's just window cleaning...the bad service is generally down to the individual rather than the method as with most things.

Cheers
Dave.

[Jeff Brimble]

I am the only local wfp guy, my trad brothers are happy to put out myths like, does a rubbish job etc. I was at one time worried about them casting aspertions about my work. But I have loads more than I need so am happy to let them carry on being negative. There will come a day when they may have to swallow their own words and go waterfed, at that time they may realise they have created a rod for their own back.
Go waterfed and save your life, or leave the door open so that you can do one day. 
The elderly I aint interested in, it is the young ones that aint going to snuff it any day soon that you should be building your future business on.

[bobby p]

cheers for that info .   i spose the best way to get a toe hold into wfp is to  find new customers? the younger set.  i was thinking i could play the health and safety card by saying  iv been told ladders are forbidden  .  in my area  theres very few tradders yet lots of polers  in fact its swimming in them  including hot water types  but altho i see them driving about ,iv never seen them cleaning what i call "everyday " type housing . i spose the truth of it is i just fancy a go at wfp to see if its slightly more interesting .

[Craig 72]

I've got plenty of old folk who are happy to let me use wfp.Some are so old I bet they don't buy green bananas.There are one or two admittedly that just want their windows done trad just for the sake of it being the old fashioned way but the vast majority are more than happy with wfp,once they've seen it does a good job.

[Jeff Brimble]

Get a backpack, buy or borrow some water, adapt your trad pole and practice. Dont lie to them, ladders are not banned for most houses, just tell them you want to use it on the upstairs to save your life.  :
Sounds like you have an open mind, you didnt fall for my hook lines above, so go for it.

[SteveAllan]

Go waterfed and save your life... Brilliant.

[leapstallbuildings]

i admire yo wfp fellahs ,  but how do you convince the elderly ?    round my way theres a deep set mistrust of  the mess and  my rounds totally trad  and  probably 90% are elderly .    iv often wondered wat became of the water fedders who  have given such bad service  and did they goback to trad .

If someone is set against it, I don't try to convince them.
No point trying to change a closed mind.

[Mike #1]

bobby p if 90% 0f your work load is elderly folk you're going to lose a large amount of work over a period of time

[Niall McAllister]

I agree with  the thought of keeping it simple. explain it uses purified water, it been used for over 10 years and works. and anyone unsure gets told if they're not happy I'll come back and do it again.
If that doesn't work, I tell them it's magic water, that usually works

[daz1977]

i too was worried about moving over, but just did it and have only lost one customer, who was a pain anyway, so wasnt bother, just said ok no problems, u will have to get a new wc, as she maon about the windows being wet, the others aint bothered,  i just some times say about h and s and most people agree, besides ladders should eb footed and taht means employing someone to hold the ladders adn then doubling the prices which usually makes peopel come around to wfp, 

also there frames come clean easier, a lot of house where i live have green type mould on them as they havent been cleaned in years and they come up pretty good with wfp, as most custy are convienced by that

just say to the custy that u will do it for 3 months and if they dont like it you will go back to trad for them, jsut say to them that this will give them enougth time to make up there own mind rather that being told by other people that wfp is crap

[ian1972]

just offer them a free demo on a window thats filthy specially the frame clean it and watch there faces they wont want you doing them trad again

[landy2]

i had a old lady ask me to do hers trad from now on as she is scared of falling on the water at winter when it freezes over the pig is its leaded as well but its a bungalow so got to take the ruff with the smooth

[lcwalker]

Hi i have a few customers and i do trad,but i do have a few problems windows i cant get to and i try to stay away from lead,so i can see where a wfp would be great, ive never used a wfp but i do find it hard to belive they can do a job as good as trad.Mine really shine there are other that do the shops and some houses they do trad aswell but they dont shine like mine do.As for wfp id like to use that method 1 because i belive its quicker,2 better for conservatories,3 hard to reach windows,4 facias but i do get satisfaction at looking when ive done when they shine would a wfp give that siny finish?.