[Paul Coleman]

If you want it, its all out there. Get off your arse and go find it. Most people fall by the wayside and can't make it work

my sentiments entirely 

the harder I work the luckier I become is so so true in this business

Pretty much what I said to someone recently who reckoned I was lucky to have a job.  I started up when I couldn't get a job in 1991.  Nothing lucky about that.

[Londoner]

One reason why there are so many window cleaners now is that the authorities are clamping down on rubbish removal men who don't have a waste licence and harrassing the ones that have by snooping on their loads with CCTV and sending them forms to fill out on what they carry for every job they do and conning more money out of them in fines and taxes. (The guys that drive old vehicles are not safe either.) Therefore these guys give up on the rubbish game and go for another trade - such as window cleaning.

I know this may sound a bit off-topic but it is also a warning that the government may make it compulsory for window cleaners nationwide to have a licence so they can snoop on us, introduce more red tape by getting us to fill out a form for every house cleaned and sponge more money out of us in taxes. (My ol' man's a rubbishman.)

Well, I for one would be happy to see window cleaners with licences and CRB checks.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

There are always a lot of window cleaners about in the summer....one winter will sort them all out 
Saw a newbie today - he looked as if he was hating every minute of the job!

[cozy]

One reason why there are so many window cleaners now is that the authorities are clamping down on rubbish removal men who don't have a waste licence and harrassing the ones that have by snooping on their loads with CCTV and sending them forms to fill out on what they carry for every job they do and conning more money out of them in fines and taxes. (The guys that drive old vehicles are not safe either.) Therefore these guys give up on the rubbish game and go for another trade - such as window cleaning.

I know this may sound a bit off-topic but it is also a warning that the government may make it compulsory for window cleaners nationwide to have a licence so they can snoop on us, introduce more red tape by getting us to fill out a form for every house cleaned and sponge more money out of us in taxes. (My ol' man's a rubbishman.)

What's wrong with that? Rubbish collectors should ave a licence to handle rubbish. Or doesn't fly tipping bother you? Why will all these rubbish collectors turn to window cleaning? The money they earn dumping rubbish is alot more than a windy can bang out in a week.

If all these redundant people and waste disposal bods were interested in such a crap job as window cleaning, there would be millions of windies roaming the streets bullying people into having their windows cleaned! Why are people so ready to believe that everybody sees things like they do? Just because we landed in this malarky, doesn't mean it's the first choice for every poor sod who loses their job.

I've been wiping cr@p off peoples windows for over 20 years and I've only been on this forum for about 2 of those. One thing is certain, every few months, someone says "There are window cleaners on every corner where I am".

Surely, there wont be any point in canvassing or leafleting now, because  everyone will have a window cleaner. If you read the threads on here often enough, you'll notice that guys are getting bigger rounds and new kit and even more new custies etc etc. How is that possible? Answer is, stop looking over your shoulder and concentrate on your own business.

The summer brigade and the redundant office workers were, and always will be there. If you don't feel safe as a window cleaner, take a job as an airline pilot. Not many from the waste disposal club are trying to get a job in that line of work.

[Klean07]

Give it a year or 2 and a lot of the so-called newbies won't be around.
First of all its harder work than they imagine, they don't know how to price a job correctly, they worry about other window cleaners, they only like working outside in the summer, the list goes on.

just look online, there are loads of van systems up for sale and rounds for sale now.




Matt

I totally agree with you Matt!!!

[davids3511]

Dave, so did you start window ploishing because you found a forum? Or did you start at crap prices and find a forum? Or did you find a forum and start posting THEN started window cleaning? 

This was how I started. My first ever post - http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=38824.0

I don't think I would have got started without this forum. Now I have the guts of 5k worth of domestic work 90% within 10 mins of my home.

[cozy]

Well you've got nothing to worry about then  Do you think that's how most guys end up in this game?

[gary999]

panicky lot aint we!

i tend to look at what im doing and where im going
rather than constantly looking over my shoulder worrying
what everybody else is doing.

[davids3511]

Well you've got nothing to worry about then  Do you think that's how most guys end up in this game?

I never said I was worried and I have no idea how most guys end up in this game. I was simply pointing out that people do read this forum and then decide to go for it.

I was lucky, woods_windows ( who posted on that first post) helped me out, taught me how to do the work, gave me an idea on pricing, sold me a little work to get started. Still friends to this day, spoke to him a few times today and working together on sat on a few gutter jobs.

I was internet savy though, when I got the idea I researched it and found this forum. I guess most wouldn't. They would hit bnq, get a ladder and off they go. However, nmore people are internet savy these days. Cleanitup isn't hard to find.

[cozy]

That's obvious that at least a couple of people will read about WCing on a forum before going for it, but from 22,000 members, I bet less than 99.999%  started after reading about earnings on here. But the way some members seem to think that all these summer brigade are there because of forums. That's silly. Like Gary said, better to concentrate on your own business and not on what other people are doing.

You've been on here for longer than I have and you know how often this subject comes up. If a WC has his work set up properly, he has very little to fear from the newbies that turn up every summer.

[davids3511]

That's obvious that at least a couple of people will read about WCing on a forum before going for it, but from 22,000 members, I bet less than 99.999%  started after reading about earnings on here. But the way some members seem to think that all these summer brigade are there because of forums. That's silly. Like Gary said, better to concentrate on your own business and not on what other people are doing.

You've been on here for longer than I have and you know how often this subject comes up. If a WC has his work set up properly, he has very little to fear from the newbies that turn up every summer.

That's true. If you do a good job, charge a reasonable price and get on ok with your custies you will be fine. About a year ago a guy canvassed most of my custies offering to do them for £5.00. I think I lost one but I can't even be certain he left for the £5.00 guy

Recently a customer who I charge £12.00 picked up a leaflet as I was cleaning offering to do them for £8.00. He said he would stay because "if you pay £8.00 you get £8.00's work of work." I always try to make sure the windows are spotless and I think that stands me in good stead when newbies come knocking. Hopefully anyway.

[davids3511]

I first though of window cleaning when there was this 'guess how much he earns' gameshow on one day. I think it was actually Terry Burrows. I guessed the windy was on 15k but was on 49k. That got me started then I found clean it up.

[steve rix]

Well, I for one would be happy to see window cleaners with licences and CRB checks.

ARE YOU MAD??

[dave f]

the thing is when you get your round canvased 4 times in as many months it dose start to pi## you off .esspecialy when the toe rags can planley see that the windows frames are gleaming .fair doose if they canvase mankey windows aint got a problem with that or go and buy work and stop trying to nick other guys work  twats. im sick of seeing fleets of cars all 2 up crusing around . theres a guy who picks up a young scroat on the end of my road every day and ive seen canvasing part of my round but what he dosent know is that ive seen the young en comeing out of the dole office.and getting into his mates motor whith ladders still on. the question is do i stick him in the dole office

[david watts]

dave f ;yes you do

[cozy]

the thing is when you get your round canvased 4 times in as many months it dose start to pi## you off .esspecialy when the toe rags can planley see that the windows frames are gleaming .fair doose if they canvase mankey windows aint got a problem with that or go and buy work and stop trying to nick other guys work  twats. im sick of seeing fleets of cars all 2 up crusing around . theres a guy who picks up a young scroat on the end of my road every day and ive seen canvasing part of my round but what he dosent know is that ive seen the young en comeing out of the dole office.and getting into his mates motor whith ladders still on. the question is do i stick him in the dole office

I would, they are stealing off the tax payer, YOU.

[Dave Willis]

Why is it everybody hates newbies? We were all one once and not very long ago for most of us.

[dave f]

its not a problem wi newbies it itsthe fact that alot of poeple dont care think ho i know ill do window cleaning easy  tax free income dont do any reasurch give silly quotes do it in summer then dissaper in winter never to be seen ive lost afew to this sort of thing ive had a call this week from an old custy of mine full of apoliges for there mistake for going for the cheaper opption dose mi tits in

[cozy]

Why is it everybody hates newbies? We were all one once and not very long ago for most of us.

I don't think they hate newbies Dave, just the cowboys. Read the whole thread mate.

[Dave Willis]

I've had several eastern European gentlemen ask me how much I charge - I make out I can't understand them. It's pretty obvious what they are after. although I've not come across any on the glass yet.