[Paul-pp]

Working on a main rd Thurs, spotted a windy working opposite with ladders & shiny new Unger pole, working a couple of houses in the rd, looked for his van etc - turns out he's working out the back of an old mondeo - if the guys a genuine windy then fair enough, but over the last few days have seen several blokes with old ladders over their shoulders or stuck on old saloon car roof racks, with builders buckets & dirty chams etc.
Do the toppin up the dole boyz really annoy you or do you just let them get on with it?
I find it really annoying that ive invested thousands in decent kit/van/insurance/training/marketing etc for them to turn up & undercut me & drag down this trade

[Lee GLS]

Why would he be topping up his dole just because he works out if a car. I have worked out of a mondeo estate for 6 years, there are plenty of wc's in my area who have been going fir years working out of a car.


This is a case of the wfp guys thinking that all trad guys are on benefits and just want some money for a beer

[cozy]

Working on a main rd Thurs, spotted a windy working opposite with ladders & shiny new Unger pole, working a couple of houses in the rd, looked for his van etc - turns out he's working out the back of an old mondeo - if the guys a genuine windy then fair enough, but over the last few days have seen several blokes with old ladders over their shoulders or stuck on old saloon car roof racks, with builders buckets & dirty chams etc.
Do the toppin up the dole boyz really annoy you or do you just let them get on with it?
I find it really annoying that ive invested thousands in decent kit/van/insurance/training/marketing etc for them to turn up & undercut me & drag down this trade

Unbelievable arrogance 

[Lee GLS]

Unbelievable arrogance 

What he said

[Johnny B]

When I started in 1997 I was using my Mini for work. I wasn't then, and have never been a 'doleboy'.

I used what I had then to get me started and have progressed to a Fiesta van (not sign written or expensive, but clean and tidy.

I have probably annoyed others who feel that expensive kit/van etc are what customers really want to see, rather than a regular guy who does a good honest job for an affordable price, irrespective of their choice of equipment.

I don't look over my shoulder worrying what other w/c's are doing. As long as my customers are happy with me, and I continue to do what they pay me to do for the price I ask, I will not see the need to change my view of things.    

Just an afterthought. My previous van was a 1988 mk2, resplendent in rust and two tone paint job, which I (reluctantly) replaced earlier this year for a mk4 model. Since then, I have had many comments from customers and non customers alike who told me how much they miss the old van, as they always knew I was about. Not one comment was ever demeaning.  

Moral: Let us respectfully mind our own business and let others mind theirs.  

John  

[clearlyclean]

I use a WFP and work out of a Volvo v40 so not all water fed pole guys have vans and a mondeo is a great cheap car for window cleaning and I know you can wfp with a fiesta.I know a couple of guys work same streets as me and get round on a bike.AS long as you do a good job doesnt matter how you get there and what you use.

[Johnny B]

I use a WFP and work out of a Volvo v40 so not all water fed pole guys have vans and a mondeo is a great cheap car for window cleaning and I know you can wfp with a fiesta.I know a couple of guys work same streets as me and get round on a bike.AS long as you do a good job doesnt matter how you get there and what you use.

Agreed. (I neglected to mention that I am trad though!)
John.

[david watts]

if i see em in an old car do think dole or fireman both same i supose

[JUST GUTTERS]

true dave...me thinks these firemen our worse the doleys at least the firemen have jobs and  should have enough money to feed there kids..

[kate1]

Not sure if you can assume anything really, on the surface, might look like one thing, in reality could be completely different

[david watts]

nobody with any class would drive a mondeo these days

[JUST GUTTERS]

seen a guy the other day with old clio and ladder hanging out the back..  had bucket and belt on
you gotta start some where...

[kate1]

Thing is cant judge, because as you say everybody has to start somewhere. 

You have the corporate van image, latest gear, logos, websites.

Then you have people trying to make a go.  Think there is room for all.

In any business there is a starting point, if there were not, then there would be no room for progression.  If you have capital great, if you dont, you have to have a starting point

[mlscontractcleaner]

Just having a brand spanking new van, all sign written, the best wfp set up available means nothing; yu can buy that any where. It looks good but you may be just starting out and have no customers to clean yet

[jonboywalton75]

Mondeo estate, 18 yrs cleaning.
Its my living!!!!!

Why would he be topping up his dole just because he works out if a car. I have worked out of a mondeo estate for 6 years, there are plenty of wc's in my area who have been going fir years working out of a car.


This is a case of the wfp guys thinking that all trad guys are on benefits and just want some money for a beer

[NJWindowCleaning]

 I work out of a citreon synergie with wfp and do trad too and another window cleaner i know work out of a old rover, he is trad only and another window cleaning I know works out of a citreon piccasso, he is trad only too.
And neither of them or me are on the dole as the taxman sends me a nice letter at the end of the year for there bit.

Guys with new gear and vans are more likely have those vans on the never never and never owns it. I prefer not to be in debt and like to sleep with ease, having no worries.

The only way is to save for what you want in life  and not try to keep up with jones in which most can't afford it.

[Richard Neal]

I worked out of our family Tyota estate for first year or so then R reg escort van amd now T reg Movano SWB, all brought and paid for, same with all my trad and wfp gear, i started with nothing and built it up without loans or finance and i bet i have more work than a lot of the new van wfp cleaners i see driving around.

[Bin Juice]

He was proberbly looking over at you thinking , what a wally
 must have wasted  thousands of ££££ on all that kit .
 

[CLEANCARE WC]

THE WINDY WITH THE MONDEO MIGHT BE A PROPER JEDI, WINDOW CLEANING FOR YEARS....SHOW SOME RESPECT. A SHINY VAN WITH LOTS OF TOYS DOESNT MEAN WE ARE ANY BETTER.

[mci services]

  I know window cleaners that don't even have cars they walk the rounds and are legit,

last year I saw a young lad licensed and insured and legit, about 4 miles from his home walking up the steepest longest hill in town at 7.30am going to work