[SB Cleaning]

Have any of you guys bought traditional work and switched it to Wfp straight away if so how did it go?

[Ian101]

Yes I did.

Bought a compact round of approx 55 houses in August last year and did it trad until I switched over to WFP in November last year.

Took ages explaining the benefits to every single customer and showing them the van, the system and how it get filtered etc etc .. then in second month explained it again to those who were unsure in the end lost ZERO customers.

Then in I think Feb this year I lost 1 PIA customer cos she didnt like the noise of the water from upstairs landing on the floor ?? 

Since then the round has grown to over 80 customers who all love it ... sacked 1 twit last month as I didnt like him and he didnt like the fact I could now do his house in 10 minutes where previously it took 25 minutes.

Would I do it again .... yes without hesitation !

[Ian101]

Possibly helped that the guy I bought round from had to pack in cos he fell off ladder whilst working the round and all the customers knew he had taken a fall so I emphisised the safety angle a little more than perhaps I would have done otherwise

[wpclean]

When buying a round, a lot of the customers are very weary of a new cleaner to start with, but to introduce a whole new way of cleaning the windows with wfp !!!!!
You can expect to lose a lot more customers than you would if you carried on trad( if you were just converting your own customers they would give it a try as they already have a relationship with you).
When I see window cleaning rounds for sale saying that the custies are trad, and would easily convert to wfp I have a little chuckle to myself  

[andyjm1]

Chances are, the trad cleaner will have been constantly preaching how crap wfp is, to anyone who cares to listen. Buying a list of customers who've had that drummed into them for years, and then turning up with a wfp, is only asking for trouble.

I would never buy a trad round, work comes in all the time anyway and if we wanted more we can always canvass.

[Tom White]

Canvassing is fine, but you can't beat decently priced compact work, compared to decently priced scattered work.

I think with some good communication, trad customers could be won over without a problem.

Ian101's post speaks of experience.

[andyjm1]

Ian101's post speaks of experience.

I have bought some trad work, worst decision I ever made. 

[Scrimble]

i took over a trad round and wfp'd the lot, lost 2 custys due to wfp and it wasnt due to the finish as i went up the ladder and checked after they were just a pair of old moaners. i did however lose some due to old wooden painted windows where they just would not dry without milky white runs all over them and i was not prepared to start climbing ladders,

 i didnt bother explaining anything i just poled them all and then let the results speak for themselves.

[Neil Gornall]

I  have bought loads of Trad work which we swapped to wfp from day one.

You just need to keep one word in mind and you wont have any problems.

INFORMATION

Thats all thats required to keep them sweet. I give them a well worded letter explaining who we are, why we are taking over, how we work and why.

Do that and you will lose hardly any.

[Steve CM]

When buying a round, a lot of the customers are very weary of a new cleaner to start with, but to introduce a whole new way of cleaning the windows with wfp !!!!!
You can expect to lose a lot more customers than you would if you carried on trad( if you were just converting your own customers they would give it a try as they already have a relationship with you).
When I see window cleaning rounds for sale saying that the custies are trad, and would easily convert to wfp I have a little chuckle to myself  

Bullpoop!

I have done it 3 times and had minimal fuss. i have had more fuss from buying another wfp business than i did off the trad rounds

[SB Cleaning]

Thanks for all the comments guys

Im still undecided what to do so i will tell you a few more details of the round.

Its been done traditional for around 10 years, very compact, well priced the smallest job is 2 windows at front and 2 at back for £8,  he has always cleaned the cills and frames too, there is about a £1000 PCM and he is asking £3500, has already explained to some custys that the likelyhood of someone taking over and using WFP as thats the way its going these days, and he is more than happy to work the round with me to introduce WFP and me to custys, also he says that 75% are never at home any way!!!!

What would you do?

[wpclean]

It looks like decent priced work, and at the price he is asking good too.  You will need to stick to your guns when you are doing them wfp and if any one complains just explain the safety factors and the frames getting cleaned as a bonus.       I lost a few when I converted but I would not go back to ladders now for anyone