[GB Window Cleaning]

Its a £12 clean. It's a customer off a round we bought couple of years ago and he always rang first. She's dumped.

i dont quite follow this! who rang who first? 

[Poles R Us]

A.J do yourself a favour dont knock just clean them,you are giving them a chance to make excuses,its like your asking for permisson to clean them your the boss remember

he is right you know , what do you say "please sir can i clean your windows"

[Nick_Thompson]

Hay Dennis

Man, I had the same thing happen a little while back.

It’s just unbelievable.

 

[tom2009]

A.J do yourself a favour dont knock just clean them,you are giving them a chance to make excuses,its like your asking for permisson to clean them your the boss remember

No he's not, the customer is king. Without your customers you have a big fat zero!

Good customers are king. With a shed load of 'not todayers' you could have a big fat zero.Thats why you've got to sort through them periodically.

[Helen]

Its a £12 clean. It's a customer off a round we bought couple of years ago and he always rang first. She's dumped.

£12!!!!!! I really don't know what all the fuss is about then £120.00 monthly is a cause for concern

As others have said though, no way knock the door when you arrive at any customer, just get started and get on it with it, half the time they don't even realise you are there.

[Helen]

A.J do yourself a favour dont knock just clean them,you are giving them a chance to make excuses,its like your asking for permisson to clean them your the boss remember

No he's not, the customer is king. Without your customers you have a big fat zero!

Good customers are king. With a shed load of 'not todayers' you could have a big fat zero.Thats why you've got to sort through them periodically.

I totally agree, it just gets my back up when the "dump brigade" starts on......
As AJ said before....

"She's been OK before so she's now got a 'black mark' against her - which means she does something similar a couple more times she's gone AND she immediately goes on the replace list so if we find another one of similar value she goes"

One little knockback should not really cause you to sack them

[Helen]

and the trouble with kings is that they "look down" on there subjects! your not running a business to lose money or to clean when the "king" says its ok you agree times, dates,frequency of cleans,price etc so in effect your equal until one decides to terminate

"Customer is King " is a figure of speech : as is "he who pays the piper calls the shots" and so on.......

But then I see that we really do think along the sames lines anyway as per one of your previous posts to a similar situation.

"cant see the problem you have no control over this situation therefore dont worry you will always get this in this business if some one doesnt want the windows cleaned you cant do alot about it.
when you go back next year? put her up £1.00 then after 12 cleans you will have the months money back"

Personally I would have touted for a gutter clean etc etc where the bill would have been considerably higher than £12 quid

[tom2009]

and the trouble with kings is that they "look down" on there subjects! your not running a business to lose money or to clean when the "king" says its ok you agree times, dates,frequency of cleans,price etc so in effect your equal until one decides to terminate

"Customer is King " is a figure of speech : as is "he who pays the piper calls the shots" and so on.......

But then I see that we really do think along the sames lines anyway as per one of your previous posts to a similar situation.

"cant see the problem you have no control over this situation therefore dont worry you will always get this in this business if some one doesnt want the windows cleaned you cant do alot about it.
when you go back next year? put her up £1.00 then after 12 cleans you will have the months money back"

Personally I would have touted for a gutter clean etc etc where the bill would have been considerably higher than £12 quid

Good ideas - still annoying when customer miffs you off.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

Certain customers actually get really miffed if you don't knock the door before you start cleaning them. We have one bloke who has a tantrum if you don't knock the door - God knows why they care but some do and although I don't think you should pander to people if they prefer a door knock before you start why on earth not - its very rare that they say not today thank you.

I don't know why my other half is miffed - we wanted a few to say not this time anyway so we get round to everyone!

She doesn't like wfp anyway and her house is dangerous to clean without it which is the real reason why I've dumped it. Us ladies are far more practical about such things - the other half takes it all personal

[Londoner]

Many round here you need to knock to get them to unlock the gate. Besides I echo what the previous post said. Some get really miffed if you don't.

I had one a week or so back who came to the door and said "SURELY you are not going to do the windows in this weather??" Actually, it was the best day we had for a while. But I just ignore it and move on to the next. I can understand them not wanting it done. I would be the same. It only the OC ones who have to have it come what may.

[steven ainger]

i always knock on every door and never get any knock backs, probably because im always late and they are always glad to see me.

[Helen]

Certain customers actually get really miffed if you don't knock the door before you start cleaning them. We have one bloke who has a tantrum if you don't knock the door - God knows why they care but some do and although I don't think you should pander to people if they prefer a door knock before you start why on earth not - its very rare that they say not today thank you.
No, you shouldn't pander to people, but you do have to "work" with them as you have said.
We used to have a couple of custies who asked us to knock when we arrived for differing reasons. OK, we said we didn't mind, but we made sure they understood that the "knock" was for courtesy" reasons only and not as a request for permission. One of these custies was a real snooty above their station type and I used to knock/ring bell and say "hello" just announcing we are here! (i really was taking the p***), you could see they loved it, being like they were. Did I take take offence...no cos insides I was laughing as they were charged the most in their street!
You are right MOST custies appreciate the fact that you still provide a service even when the weather isn't so good and it is rare  to get turnaways.

I don't know why my other half is miffed - we wanted a few to say not this time anyway so we get round to everyone!
Exactly! We used to work out the ones who wouldn't mind being missed and contact them!

She doesn't like wfp anyway and her house is dangerous to clean without it which is the real reason why I've dumped it. Us ladies are far more practical about such things - the other half takes it all personal

[andyM]

I usually just knock the door and go straight back to the van to grab the pole so im not waiting at the door for permission to clean but letting them know im around.
I try and put myself in the position of the customer, and I wouldn't be too keen that someone appeared at the window without knowing they were around.
Some of the oldies might even have a dodgy ticker.
As for being turned away, yes it is a pain in the rear, but you probably have others to do in the road anyway so not a complete wasted trip.
But think first before dumping them because you could use it to your advantage.
If they only want cleaning part of the year increase their prices on the understanding they are not regular customers and bung the money into your winter fund throughout the year.

   

[ant french]

the bloke who did my nans before i took over used to turn up knowing my nan was out and then put a slip in the letter box saying she owes xxx amount

[Helen]

the bloke who did my nans before i took over used to turn up knowing my nan was out and then put a slip in the letter box saying she owes xxx amount

Is that not how it works for people that are out?

Or do you mean he used to sit and wait for her to go out?

[weetot]

the bloke who did my nans before i took over used to turn up knowing my nan was out and then put a slip in the letter box saying she owes xxx amount

i THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORM TO MISS THE BATHROOM WINDOW OUT, THEN PUT A TICKET THROUGH

[richard jagger]

The c concept that the customer is always right or the customer is king is out moded idea in business today. As the customer cannot dictate to you in your business. Each owner of a business must take up his or her own rule or policies under which he is prepared to trade. The more modern idea is the customer is treated with due respect. If one is nor prepared to face3 up your own policies and practices them it time to get out of business and give someone else a CHANCE.

[Leeroy]

If a customer cancels during a clean just say

"I am so sorry but I am busting for the loo....I think I have disgraced myself and can I use your loo"

once in just stay in the toilet with the door locked until they pay

[dazmond]

ive never ever knocked before i clean in 17 years!!and only occasionally get a "not today".ive never even considered the customer!i just get on with it unless they come out and say something to me!!



dazmond

[Helen]

The c concept that the customer is always right or the customer is king is out moded idea in business today. As the customer cannot dictate to you in your business. Each owner of a business must take up his or her own rule or policies under which he is prepared to trade. The more modern idea is the customer is treated with due respect. If one is nor prepared to face3 up your own policies and practices them it time to get out of business and give someone else a CHANCE.

As mentioned there were some figures of speech used in previous posts.

Working "with" the customer is the best idea and flexibilty from both sides is a must.  It would be a shame to lose a £100 monthly clean, just because you don't phone ahead and they wish to receive a courtesy call". Maturity and professionalism at all times will make you stand out from the norm.

I guess the following is the "modern" way of running a business though.....
"The custy was not fit but poo.I had this couple messing me around owed money for 4 months always saying collect at a certain time and then been out. IT drove me nuts 15 quid it was.I had some super glue in the in the van so pushed a tooth pick in the key followed by some super glue. I then moved on to my next job 5 houses down. The poor sucker came home 10 minutes and could not get into his home and it was icy cold .He had to get the locksmith out.That cost him more than 15 quid.I felt a bit better"

Criminal damage and all over £15.00 :