[AuRavelling79]

And what is your reasoning please?

[andyatkinson]

if its a good house and a nice customer and they were genuinely skint or something i would, but not usually, in future im not too fussed though as ive designed a new custie sign up form with the different prices for different intervals and they know that if they change 4 weeks to 12 weeks they now pay the set 12 wk price, they also know that anything over 12 wks reverts to the one off/initial clean price, so now with a new one i would happily have them back at raised prices!

[cozy]

You have so many potential custies out there. Millions of houses that have windows that can't be accessed, so need a windie to clean them. Why make an exception? If any custie tells enough other custies that you can leave it in the winter, what would happen to your compact work?

I know we provide a service, but for maximum profit and efficiency, you need to have order. Start moving goal posts and you open up to all sorts of complications. I've got a lot of my custies who are off to Afghanistan for the next 6 months. If their wives are going back to UK to stay with relatives, then that's OK. Who needs a windie when you aren't there? Any other reason, like holidays, no problem either. However, if someone wants an 8 weekly or 12 weekly, "get another firm."

I'm the sort of guy that puts all the plant pots back where they were when I've moved them or the garden chairs back as they stood etc. I like to collect and the chat with custies is enjoyable too. So it's not arrogance.

Nothing personal, it's all about money though in the end. Good thread Malc.

[Llaaww]

In the summer I have a high street with 28 shops. In the winter more than half of them close completly, then they re-open the following easter. I would be a fool burn my bridges so I just roll with it and replace them with new stuff. I always pick them up again the following year.

[bobplum]

cuckoo, cuckoo

[bobby p]

i like to be turning on my heel before the "Ing" of "spring " is uttered .   

[andyatkinson]

loads of my custies are 12 weekly and most are 8, its a rural area with some pretty big houses, so im really not bothered as long as i price accordingly im happy

[AuRavelling79]

I politely refuse for the same reasoning as Cozy - if you let one get away with it, especially on compact work then others will want to do it.

As for the shops situation - I did say domestic customers.

That's not to say that if it was agreed as part of the terms at the start on a "cream" domestic job (say £50 plus) on its own that I would always refuse, but on general £10 - £25 domestics it's a no-no.

I do have a few that are monthly in the summer and every other month in the winter but that was my suggestion not theirs.

[Catherine10]

Andy Atkinson, excellent idea, youve laid it out in terms.  Covering all bases, one step ahead.

[cozy]

Andy Atkinson, excellent idea, youve laid it out in terms.  Covering all bases, one step ahead.

Eh? laid out what terms? How long have you been a window cleaner Kate?

[AuRavelling79]

Cozy - Catherine's a canvasser/sales person/marketing guru thingummy. She doesn't know a waterfed pole from a banjo! 

[cozy]

Yeah I know Malc. She's OK when she's sober. She doesn't post on here then.

[Catherine10]

Cozy - Catherine's a canvasser/sales person/marketing guru thingummy. She doesn't know a waterfed pole from a banjo! 

Fair do's very flattered that you call me a guru???

[gary999]

yep agree no problem

then i dont go back!

[stuart mc]

yep agree no problem

then i dont go back!

yes agreed

[richard jagger]

I think our customer need educating, so one needs to explain how things work. The customer also need to make a informed decisions and if you do not tell them they will never know how they need to respond to you and other windies.If they want there windows cleaned in the spring they need to support you through the winter.

[Ian101]

I think our customer need educating, so one needs to explain how things work. The customer also need to make a informed decisions and if you do not tell them they will never know how they need to respond to you and other windies.If they want there windows cleaned in the spring they need to support you through the winter.

Very true ..... had this last month with a customers who asked what happens in winter .... asked her what did she mean ? she said dont want them cleaned in winter and could I stop in October and restart in the March .... said yep no problem she could cancel at anytime however probably not be able to take you back on in the spring.

explained that I had bills all year around so would have to find another customer to replace her therfore here space would go to someone else .... she said she hadnt thought of it like that and was genuine so we went to every other month during the winter - which Im happy to do

[Dave Mills]

I love them doing it.  Im overfull for the summer so a few cancellations for the winter help.  I charge them double for the first clean in spring "for the extra dirt".

I get what I want, they get what they want, so I guess thats not the end of the world.

[P @ F]

As Dave said , longer days in summer so you can do more , in the winter these (messers) drop off and it leaves less on the books , you dont fall behind so much , they get what they want , the only thing i think i will put in place for the next year is 50% extra on first clean when the start up again .

Rich

[Londoner]

I'm glad of it, theres no way I can do so many customers in the winter as I do in the summer so to have a few go into hibernation is good for me . But I always fix a firm date to return. Mid March.