[Clive McDonald]

Dear Customer

Due to the adverse weather and extreme low temperatures in December i was unable to clean your  windows prior to christmass. I apologise for this, and weather permitting will resume service as normal. Thanks for your patience.

Clive.


What do you think? Anyone think of better phrasing.The forecast is that we are stuffed untill the new year.

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

i havent bothered informing my customers, as they will (or should) all realise why we havent been?

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

but all in all, yeah its a good letter to explain

[Clive McDonald]

Either when i go in january or mail the lot of them in january.

[lee09]

That's really good Clive.
I will nick it and apologise for calling you a numpty in a earlier thread.
Lee

[james44]

Due to the adverse weather and extreme low temperatures in December i am unable to clean your  windows prior to christmass. I apologise for this, and weather permitting will resume service as normal. Thanks for your patience.

Clive.

Slumpbuster you could alter it to read like above change (i was )to (i am) and post them now rather than wait until january!

This way it keeps your customers informed.

[Clive McDonald]

Some good suggestions.

Last january i didn't work at all, and december is shaping up the same.The loss of income isn't an issue but losing customers is.The problem i found when the weather warmed up and work resumed is that all of them thought that after a week of good weather i had had enough time to visit them.

[Tom White]

Is this any help?

Dear Customer

Due to the adverse weather and extreme low temperatures in December iI was unable to clean your  windows prior to christmassChristmas.  I apologise for this, and (it seems daft apologising for the weather; but we British apologise for everything, I know). Weather permitting, I will resume normal service as normal soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.  Your continued custom and patience is appreciated.

If you have any questions regarding this, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me on the above number.

Yours faithfully,

Slumpy

[Clive McDonald]

Good amendment.

I could probably do with a 'with compliments slip' to put this on. Anyone got any good ideas for the layout of this?

I'd get dp print to do it, but does anyone use compliment slips, i would probably use the for quotes too and would be tempted to have a piccy of myself.Is this inappropriate for a compliments slip?

[Dave Willis]

Yes, I would have it printed in full colour with a picture of your good self on it too, maybe have it made into a glossy Christmas card? Oh, and stick a fiver inside too 

[BORBRYCE]

Waste of time and effort. Almost all of them wont give a monkey's pump weather you'v been or not.
Us windies are just not so that so important. Show up every now and again to keep them from looking manky and they will all be happy enough.
This fact is actually the reason why I continue to clean windows for a living.
It's the stress free part of it all that has me hooked. :

[Paul Coleman]

I really can't see the point of an apology letter.
Anyone with half a brain cell will realise that your work will take longer to get through in these conditions.  If a customer ditches you because you didn't risk your neck, then you are better off without them.

[Stewart01]

I dissagree with most, I think its good business, it shows you care about them as much as you can as a window cleaner and shows you haven't packed it so if anybody else goes knockinng during this down time there less likely to take them on because they don't know the current situation with there normal cleaner. I informed all mine that were due to be cleaned over the next 2weeks by txt message last week. Its not like we haven't got the time or anything???


Why is it to every suggestion on here there's so many people jump in and knock it (usually the same doom mongers everytime).

How can keeping your customer well informed not be worth it?

[Stewart01]

Dan I see what your saying but on most other forums I find it all a lot more constructive than here, to advise somebody that something "isn't worth it" on a topic of customer relations when this is high up on peoples business priorities isn't helpfull, its that kind of thinking that gives people the impression that window cleaners are just scruffy folk that turn up every now and then and extort some money fom them with a bucket of water and a dirty cloth!!!
And besides I think it was input into the wording he was asking for not if it was worth it as its something he obviously wants to do.

[Helen]

Dear Customer

Due to the adverse weather and extreme low temperatures in December i was unable to clean your  windows prior to christmass. I apologise for this, and weather permitting will resume service as normal. Thanks for your patience.

Clive.


What do you think? Anyone think of better phrasing.The forecast is that we are stuffed untill the new year.

This is a great idea, for those that want to offer high customer service levels and be different from the "pack".
Just an idea, why not get some Xmas cards, pop the explanatory leaflet inside and send to your custies the start of this week coming.

"Dear........
Unfortunatley with the continuing adverse weather conditions, it is unlikely that I shall be able to clean your windows prior to Christmas, therefore let me take this opportunity of wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Many thanks for your patience and understanding.
Regards Slumpy (lol)

NB I shall be back to normal schedules in January."

We always used to do this sort of thing:
Great for customer service
Great for getting the custie to remember your name
Great for advertising (listing your services on the back of the leaflet)

[Helen]

i havent bothered informing my customers, as they will (or should) all realise why we havent been?

Or perhaps they will think that you are one of the "summer clean only brigade?" and find someone else..........

[NJWindowCleaning]

Always good to keep customers inform as for some will always say where you been or on  your hols even with this sort of weather.  :

[windolene]

Hi,

My opinion is what does the customer care if you have been or not!


Kevin WINDOLENE.

[GB Window Cleaning]

i just text or phone all my customers

[G Griffin]

I would ask them to still forward Christmas tips, even though you might not be able to clean before.