you cant sell work then pinch it back if he is still in the area
As a general principle I agree - but if (especially after two years) a custy doesn't want him due to his unreliability or poor work quality) and they approach you then it is fair game IMO. Out of courtesy I would tell him the custy approached me and that I would take them on.
I wouldn't approach a custy I had sold or canvass in the immediate vicinity but if they approach me on the above terms then that's tough.
How about this? About 5 years ago a mate's brother moved down from Manchester after being robbed at knifepoint while driving a taxi - he wanted to stop taxiwork and set up as a windy and I said he was welcome (for free) to about ten custies that I could spare and who were low priced at the end of a street.
Over the next year or two three of them asked me to take them back on and I refused. One of them begged and I said my prices were double and that I didn't want to go back on my "deal" with the other windy. Finally he said - look the other guy is rubbish, leaves spots and is unreliable.
So I took him back and then six of the others came back over the last year and finally one who had left the other windy for yet another windy was let down by the last windy (if you follow that!) and came over last week and begged me to take him back which I did plus his mother in a nearby house.
So yes in extreme circumstances I would have them back if I needed them.
What do you think?