[Window Washers]

Just got back in from doing 7. All were fine with it, just one comment from an old lady (my very first custie, gawd bless 'er), but then she gave me a small tip which I appreciated. Her windows were sheets of ice when I left her - at least it's pure water, so should be ok come the thaw....

I've got 10 lined up for 2morrow and 11 on the 24th. In this weather for me that's a full day.

I've not had a holiday this year or last whilst I got the business up and running (started April 09), but have had plenty of down days because of rain. We get a hell of a lot here in Pembrokeshire. I reckon i've lost 25 working days to rain in the last 6 months, so much so I schedule 4 or 5 catch up days in a month. Might take a holiday next year.

Happy Christmas you lot.

Will you be stopping for rain next year?

Stopping for rain, do people still do that 

[prestige cleaners]

im carrying on cleaning windows, if they dont want me to they can call me, im not going to give them a chance by calling them if i can help it.

[cozy]

Keep it simple. Clean windows, if custy is in, collect, if not leave a note. At this time of year and in this weather, don't think about what custies are thinking. Earn the money and worry later.

[formb]

Keep it simple. Clean windows, if custy is in, collect, if not leave a note. At this time of year and in this weather, don't think about what custies are thinking. Earn the money and worry later.

I'm with you Cosy.

Binned houses for the rest of this week though.

Just too damn cold.

[Window Washers]

Keep it simple. Clean windows, if custy is in, collect, if not leave a note. At this time of year and in this weather, don't think about what custies are thinking. Earn the money and worry later.

I'm with you Cosy.

Binned houses for the rest of this week though.

Just too damn cold.

If I lived where you did, I would have probably stopped about september time

[john stracey]

just ask your customer if they want you this time this will keep them onside for next clean.  if they say not today they are not a good  customer for you. so replace them with a better one as soon as possible

[LWC]

In my experience ive had some ok ones. Ive got a good bunch of customers but they just didnt look that impressed with me trudging through a foot of snow and icing up their windows (not everyones).

I tried to carry on but it was hard. Like i said some were ok...i even lost a couple giving me the "leave the windows now and we'll call you for the next clean" and we all know what that means.

To be fair guys, unless your desperate to have your windows done why would anyone want us round? Few people have called me mad and i try and say in a polite way i still have my bills to pay unfortuantly which kind of works but its not really their problem is it.

The people who were out when i go to collect say "if i had of been in i would told you not to bother".

So do custies really want us there in this weather? ... personally i dont think so unless THEY requested it. Whether or not we offer a all year round service, this month has not been a month to be out cleaning in it really.

[prestige cleaners]

i dont understand the problem with having clean windows with snow on the ground? as long as your not cleaning during a blizzard! the thing is, this weather might be here til end of feb, and i know i cant afford to wait til then. on a positive note, i did have my hot fogwash turn up today, so will be fitting it tomorrow. all custs up to date for xmas! and £25 in tips today! (by post)

[Matthew Bateman]

Had probably one of the most depressing days today re: custards, their lack of concern and unpredictability.

Turned up at the first house:he comes out (never met him before) when I knocked to ask them to unlock the side passage so we could get round the back. He looked at Me as if to say 'YES'?. 

So unasked him to unlock the door. He calls out, 'Do we want the windows cleaned' to his missus. She comes out and says 'Oh not today the passage isnt clear,'come back in January' 

'Oh really, well thatll remain to be seen' and off I goes.

Next house: unreeling hose to the back gate. Guy comes out, 'Not today mate'

'Oh really and why's that?'

'Well, they'll just get dirty again'.

'Sorry I can't run a business like that, consider our agreement finished' says I.The thing is it was this place that sacked their last window cleaner so they could have someone more local.


Next house: Turns up, cleans it. Bloke comes out and pays. Then says 'Well call you next time we want them done, we've beenmade redundant' So I says 'Sorry mate, we don't operate like that'

Sacked!

Next house: cleaning away when another cleaner turns up. He's a carpet cleanr but does a bit of windows now and then. He then told me about a customer he'd had whose carpets he'd done who were looking for a window cleaner and if he suggested phoned me, he was unaware I was already their window cleaner. Turns out it's the
same lot who had just told me they'd been made redundant. The guy who did their carpets had in the course of the conversation with the custards given them a price to do their windows. They seemed to think his price was reasonable so they agreed for him to do them. When he turned up they turned him away and just said not to bother.

What is it with some people?

 

[cozy]

Keep it simple. Clean windows, if custy is in, collect, if not leave a note. At this time of year and in this weather, don't think about what custies are thinking. Earn the money and worry later.

I'm with you Cosy.

Binned houses for the rest of this week though.

Just too damn cold.

If I lived where you did, I would have probably stopped about september time

If we only used WFP mate, we would.

[prestige cleaners]

Had probably one of the most depressing days today re: custards, their lack of concern and unpredictability.

Turned up at the first house:he comes out (never met him before) when I knocked to ask them to unlock the side passage so we could get round the back. He looked at Me as if to say 'YES'?. 

So unasked him to unlock the door. He calls out, 'Do we want the windows cleaned' to his missus. She comes out and says 'Oh not today the passage isnt clear,'come back in January' 

'Oh really, well thatll remain to be seen' and off I goes.

Next house: unreeling hose to the back gate. Guy comes out, 'Not today mate'

'Oh really and why's that?'

'Well, they'll just get dirty again'.

'Sorry I can't run a business like that, consider our agreement finished' says I.The thing is it was this place that sacked their last window cleaner so they could have someone more local.


Next house: Turns up, cleans it. Bloke comes out and pays. Then says 'Well call you next time we want them done, we've beenmade redundant' So I says 'Sorry mate, we don't operate like that'

Sacked!

Next house: cleaning away when another cleaner turns up. He's a carpet cleanr but does a bit of windows now and then. He then told me about a customer he'd had whose carpets he'd done who were looking for a window cleaner and if they'd phoned me
as he recommended me tomthem, unaware we were already their window cleaner. Turns out it's the
Same lot who had just told me they'd been made redundant. The guy who did their carpets had in the course of the conversation with the custards given them a price to do their windows. They seemed to think his price was reasonable so they agreed for him to them. When he turned up they turned him away and just said not to bother.

What is it with some people?

 

man thats a bad day, ive had a few skippers over the phone, but not too bad. im sure i will have some complaints in the post about doing it in the snow, but not to worry.

[Feen]

They won't care if you don't come. Most are probably letting it go ahead as they're being kind and friendly. Here in the Midlands there is 20cm of snow now - having clean windows right now is bottom of the list.

Bottom of the list for most, but as noted above "don't second guess the bast..oops customer  ) Some want a pre- Christmas clean come what may. Usually to impress the mother in law/daughter in law

[Feen]

I think most angles have been covered here, but carl were you serious ? You left a window iced over ? Pure water or not.

[Neil Williams]

Had probably one of the most depressing days today re: custards, their lack of concern and unpredictability.

Matt would I know where these places are and who the carpet cleaner is?

[Matthew Bateman]

They are all places in Oakley mate theyre just scattered randomly about the place here, you didnt used to do them; and the carpet cleaner isn't the one you've mentioned to me before


 

Happy Xmas to you and yours Neil.

[Clive McDonald]

Sorry to here this Matt. I've had similar and just accept that people aren't nice.

I'm hoping the customers don't want us because i've done hardly any in december and i'm wondering how many are going to sack me over it.

What a good idea by Tom Crother and i can tell you, you don't get many good totally original ideas on here.Tom consider your idea nicked.It'll take me a while to figure this out properly.If anyone wants to help me put a bit of gloss on this, Tom himself, or vin,or gold etc i'm game.But just between us eh, no sharing

[Carl2009]

Hi Feen, yep I am serious. Start cleaning and some shady windows freezed up. Little I could do and custie cool about it (forgive the pun)...

[Rob Knapman]

Seen a local supermarket after the window cleaner had called this week, water had frozen on glass (wfp), what a mess, dirt hadnt had chance to get rinsed off, still frozen on glass. Bad practice in my opinion, working like this wont do you any favours in the long run .

[boldy1304]

ive not been able to get my van out of my estate for a week now but i went with another windy yesterday he has the hot system witch is very good but got turned away by 3 of his big big custys that wanted them done before christmas one said that it was a stupid and iresponsable thing to do in this weather glad they were his custys not mine and got stuck on a big posh driveway in the van we must have looked rediculas

[Londoner]

I had three on wednesday say no but its their right in this weather I would feel. Others were delighted I made the effort to turn out.

Just be a cork bobbing on the waves. Take what you can get but don't worry about the rest.